Media centre

Wednesday 14 Mar 2018

Major Stirling-Alloa upgrade work set to begin

Region & Route:

Scotland’s Railway: Scotland

Engineers will be working around-the-clock for the next four weeks to deliver a multi-million-pound upgrade to prepare the Alloa line for electrification.

Hundreds of engineers will work over 16,000 hours as they install the overhead power equipment needed to introduce electric services on the route – delivering more seats for customers on quieter, greener trains.

The work, which is part of a Scottish Government-funded programme to electrify lines throughout the central belt, will take place from Saturday, March 17, until Monday, April 16.

A replacement bus service will operate between Alloa and Stirling during this period to help minimise disruption for passengers while we deliver this vital investment in Scotland’s railway.

Over the four weeks, engineers will be working from Stirling to Alloa along the six miles of the route, installing 261 masts, and supporting cantilevers, and stringing overhead power cables.

The project is part of the wider programme to electrify the lines linking Stirling, Alloa and Dunblane to Glasgow and Edinburgh.

Once complete, the electrification of the Stirling-Dunblane-Alloa lines will mean:

• Many services will be operated by electric class 385 trains, which will offer a better experience and reduce some journey times from Stirling to Glasgow and Edinburgh.
• More seats on services between Alloa, Dunblane, Bridge of Allan, Stirling and Edinburgh.
• Less noise and better air quality for those who live and work near the railway.

Paul Reilly, Network Rail programme manager, said: “Electrification will transform travel across the central belt of Scotland and is part of our commitment to delivering the best railway Scotland has ever had.

“Our engineers will be working around-the-clock to complete this complex programme as quickly as possible.

“We understand the inconvenience these works will cause to some passengers and residents and we are working hard to keep disruption to a minimum.

“We are encouraging customers to leave extra time for travel, and plan journeys in advance. All train and bus times are available at www.scotrail.co.uk/alloaworks as well as on the ScotRail app.”