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Thursday 27 Aug 2026

One month to go until Balgray station welcomes first passengers

Region & Route:

Scotland’s Railway: Scotland

There's just one month to go until the new Balgray station opens in Barrhead, welcoming its first passengers on Sunday 27 September.

Built to improve rail connections to and from Glasgow, the station will help people travel for work, education and leisure while providing easier access to destinations including Dams to Darnley Country Park.

It’s part of the Glasgow City Region City Deal, funded by the UK and Scottish Governments and East Renfrewshire Council. The new station’s being delivered by Network Rail in partnership with East Renfrewshire Council, Transport Scotland, ScotRail and Story Contracting.

Ashley McDonald, scheme project manager at Network Rail Scotland, said: "With just one month to go, Balgray station is really starting to look and feel like part of the railway. A huge amount of work has gone into getting us to this point and, over the coming weeks, our focus is on completing the final testing and preparations needed to welcome passengers safely in September. We're looking forward to seeing the first trains call at the station and the difference it’ll make for people travelling across the area."

While the main construction work is complete, teams are continuing with final testing, safety checks and other behind-the-scenes preparations ahead of opening day.

The new station will feature two platforms connected by a footbridge with lifts, waiting shelters, cycle storage, ticket machines and an 80-space car park, with new walking routes linking the station to nearby housing developments and paths around Balgray Reservoir.

Phil Campbell, ScotRail customer operations director, added: "It’s fantastic to see Balgray station now just one month away from opening, and we’re looking forward to welcoming our first customers in September.

The new station will make it easier for people in the growing local community to choose rail for work, education, and leisure, while providing convenient connections to Glasgow and across Scotland.

We’re committed to encouraging more people to choose the train as their preferred mode of transport, and new stations like Balgray play an important role in making rail a more accessible and attractive option.

We’re proud to have worked alongside our partners to help deliver this investment, and we look forward to seeing the benefits it brings to the community for many years to come."

East Renfrewshire Council leader, Owen O'Donnell, said: "There’s huge excitement from local residents about the opening of Balgray station – the first new train station in East Renfrewshire in almost 100 years. Balgray station will make it much easier for our growing community in Barrhead to travel by public transport, and for visitors to access Dams to Darnley Country Park. On a recent visit to the station site, I was really impressed by the new facilities on offer and it was great to see that final preparations are underway for the opening in one month's time."