MEDIA CALL: AIRDRIE-BATHGATE CONSTRUCTION WORKS BEGIN

Wednesday 20 Jun 2007

MEDIA CALL: AIRDRIE-BATHGATE CONSTRUCTION WORKS BEGIN

Region & Route:: Scotland’s Railway: Scotland

Date: Thursday 21 June 2007 Time: 0845hrs Event: Stewart Stevenson MSP, Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change and Ron McAulay, Network Rail's Director, Scotland mark the start of advance works on the Airdrie-Bathgate Railway Link Project Location: Livingston North Railway Station Contact: Network Rail Media Relations: 0141 555 4108 Transport Scotland and Network Rail mark the start of advance works on the Airdrie-Bathgate Rail Link on Thursday 21 June with a ceremonial sod cutting event. Stewart Stevenson MSP, Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change and Ron McAulay, Network Rail's Director, Scotland will visit Livingston North station to mark the start of work on-site. The building work will ultimately result in a brand new GBP 300 million railway between Airdrie and Bathgate and a vital new route linking Edinburgh and Glasgow to communities in central Scotland. ENDS Please meet at Livingston North Station at 0845hrs. Mr Stevenson and Mr. McAulay will be available for interview.

Notes to editors

Royal Assent was granted to the Airdrie-Bathgate Railway and Linked Improvements Act 2007 on 8 May 2007, which followed wide consultation with key stakeholders on issues relating to the project and unanimous cross-party support from the Scottish Parliament. The first phase of the project is the upgrade of the Edinburgh-Bathgate line (double-tracking) which will see commuters in West Lothian benefiting from enhanced performance on this line as early as 2008. It is anticipated that services will be running the length of the new railway in December 2010. When complete, the rail link will bring passenger benefits including four more trains per hour in each direction between Glasgow and Edinburgh; shorter travel times; improved reliability of existing services; better access to employment, education and social opportunities; and a reduction in passenger congestion. The environmental benefits include offering a public transport alternative to travelling by car via the M8, a relocated cycle-path and a reduction in congestion. Transport Scotland has committed funding for the project to a maximum of GBP 299.7 million. Work will be carried out by Edmund Nuttall Ltd and Jarvis plc. For further information on the Airdrie-Bathgate rail link proposals see: http://www.airdriebathgateraillink.co.uk

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