Media centre

Thursday 17 Dec 2009

‘ONE YEAR TO GO’ AS NEW YEAR WORKS PLANNED FOR AIRDRIE-BATHGATE RAIL LINK

Region & Route:

Scotland’s Railway: Scotland

- New Year weekend services affected on Bathgate branch
- ScotRail introduces replacement bus services to minimise disruption

With the opening of the Airdrie-Bathgate rail link just one year away, construction work is set to reduce over the Christmas holiday period before intensifying again in the New Year. Work will finish up on 23 December and restart on 4 January, with several weekend closures required on the Bathgate-Edinburgh branch during January.

Bathgate-Edinburgh services will remain unaffected during the Christmas holiday period, However, crucial bridge and electrification works will require Network Rail to close the line on three weekends in January (9^th and 10^th, 16^th and 17^th, 23^rd and 24^th) and for four days from the 30^th January. 

Replacement bus services will be provided where required by ScotRail.

Hugh Wark, senior project manager for Network Rail said:

“We are reaching an advanced stage of the project with just one year to go before opening. Closures such as these allow us to work on the operational sections of railway and are vital to the delivery of the new line.

“These closures are specifically required for us to install two bridges under the railway in the Uphall area. On completion, we will be able to remove the single lane restriction which is currently in place on Pumpherston Road. This work will also allow access to the new Uphall Station car park for the first time.”

Jacqueline Dey, ScotRail’s Operations Director, added: “We have done everything possible to keep inconvenience to an absolute minimum.  Full plans are in place to provide alternative transport arrangements where required.”

Rail passengers are advised to plan their journeys in advance. More information can be found at www.scotrail.co.uk.