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Monday 4 Mar 2024

Network Rail completes first bridge on EK enhancements

Region & Route:

Scotland’s Railway: Scotland

Network Rail has opened a new railway footbridge next to Hairmyres station.

The bridge installation is one element in a wider engineering programme on the £140m electrification project and is part of a Scottish Government investment to decarbonise passenger services.

Alongside contractor Story, Network Rail opened the footbridge on Friday 1 March, having started work in December 2023 to replace the footbridge next to Eaglesham Court and leading to Peel Park Place.

It’s one of several along the East Kilbride to Glasgow railway corridor being raised to provide the safe height clearance to run the overhead line equipment underneath.

At 22 metres in length, the footbridge is more than double the span of the former stone arch structure (8.3 metre span) it replaced.

This is to allow a 1.4km track extension to the existing Hairmyres loop, which will improve the operational resilience of the branch line particularly during times of unplanned disruption.

Simon Humble, Network Rail’s project manager for the bridge works, said: “The new footbridge is necessary in allowing us to electrify the line in this location.

“This work also represents the completion of the first piece of structural engineering on the East Kilbride enhancement project and as such, is an important milestone achieved by the team.

“I want to thank the community, particularly our nearest neighbours at Eaglesham Court, for the patience shown throughout delivery of the works.”

This bridge is one of three in the Hairmyres area demolished over the Christmas and New Year period, with work to replace the road bridge at Thornton Road due to complete next month.

The East Kilbride enhancement project follows on from the recent electrification of the Glasgow - Barrhead line, with electric Class 380 trains introduced on to this route in December 2023.

Electric services will be introduced on the East Kilbride line following completion of the project in December 2025 and will offer enhanced operational performance and flexibility of service on the route.

To find out more on the East Kilbride Enhancement project email EKEnhancements@networkrail.co.uk or call the Network Rail helpline on 03457 11 41 41. For the latest information and updates as the project progresses, follow on X (Twitter) @NetworkRailScot or visit www.scotlandsrailway.com