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Tuesday 16 May 2023

Major Barrhead to Glasgow upgrade work set to begin

Region & Route:

Scotland’s Railway: Scotland

The next stage of preparing the line for electrification gets underway next month.

Engineers will be working around-the-clock for six weeks to deliver a £63.3m upgrade to prepare the Barrhead to Glasgow line for electrification.

The critical milestone on the project includes activity at four key stations – Kennishead, Priesthill & Darnley, Nitshill and Barrhead - as engineers install the overhead power cables needed to introduce electric services on the route, as well as carrying out ducting work and parapet modifications. 

The work, which is part of a Scottish Government investment to decarbonise Scotland’s railway passenger services, will take place between Saturday 24 June and Friday 4 August.

Activity during the six weeks also includes the removal of the existing footbridge at Nitshill station on 6 July, as it doesn’t provide the required clearance height for the new overhead equipment.

The bridge will be replaced by a new, longer ramp which introduces step-free access to Platform 2, making it easier for people with impaired mobility or those travelling with luggage, children or cycles to access the platform.

Ahead of the works starting at Nitshill station, Network Rail is holding community drop-in events for residents to find out more about the bridge replacement work and to meet members of the project team to ask any questions.

Details about the drop-in events will be available at: www.scotlandsrailway.com/projects/barrhead-glasgow-electrification

To help minimise disruption for passengers, replacement bus services will operate between Kilmarnock and Glasgow during this period.

Once the Barrhead to Glasgow electrification project completes later this year, it will enable future electric services to operate on the route and further encourage more passengers on to the railway.

Paul Reilly, Network Rail senior programme manager, said: “Electrification continues to transform travel, with 325 single track kilometres of new electric railway delivered across the central belt over the last decade.

“The Barrhead to Glasgow electrification project represents the current phase of our wider decarbonisation programme and our drive to create a greener, cleaner and more reliable railway.

“The six weeks of work marks a major milestone for the project, as our engineers work around-the-clock to complete this critical final phase of the programme, as this will then allow us to test the new overhead equipment in the run up to the line being fully energised on 6 August.”

We do appreciate the impact this activity will have on those living closest to the work and are grateful to the community for their continued patience while we complete this vital part of the project.”

“We also understand the inconvenience these works will cause to passengers and are encouraging customers to leave extra time for travel and plan journeys in advance.”

David Simpson, ScotRail Service Delivery Director, said: “This project is another fantastic step forward for Scotland’s Railway, electrifying more of the network, and supporting our journey to carbon zero.

“We will do everything we can to keep our customers moving during the works, and we urge people to plan ahead, taking alternative routes to and from Glasgow, or using our replacement bus services.

“Customers should check our social media channels, website, and app for up-to-date information on how to complete their journey.”

In addition to a replacement bus service operating between Glasgow and Kilmarnock, there will also be reduced services to/from Glasgow to Crossmyloof and Pollokshaws West stations and trains between Carlisle, Dumfries, and Glasgow will terminate at Kilmarnock for a connecting replacement bus service.

Customers are being advised to check before you travel at www.scotrail.co.uk/glasgow-kilmarnockclosure or via www.nationalrail.co.uk

If you have any questions about this work, you can contact Network Rail’s 24-hour national helpline on 03457 11 41 41.  For the latest information and progress updates follow on Twitter @NetworkRailScot.