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Monday 25 Feb 2008

PASSENGER REMINDER: VITAL MAINTENANCE AND RENEWALS WORK BETWEEN GLASGOW CENTRAL AND EDINBURGH

Region & Route:

Scotland’s Railway: Scotland

Passengers are reminded that Network Rail will be carrying out a series of essential weekend engineering works on the line between Glasgow Central and Edinburgh in the coming weeks.

A multi-million-pound investment in the rail network, these maintenance and track renewal projects are vital to the continued operation of a regular and reliable service on the line.

Full-day Saturday closures on the line will take place between Saturday, March 29, and Saturday, May 17, affecting train services between Livingston South and Edinburgh.

The track renewal work will require bus replacement services to operate between Livingston South and Haymarket on these dates and Network Rail is working closely with First ScotRail to minimise disruption.

First ScotRail’s Glasgow Queen Street-Edinburgh Waverley services will continue to run every 15 minutes on Saturdays and are not affected by the engineering works.

David Simpson, Network Rail Route Director for Scotland, said: "The planned works are essential for maintaining our infrastructure and replacing sections of track which have reached the end of their working lives.

"We appreciate the impact this work will have on passengers and are focused on ensuring our activities are completed as quickly and efficiently as possible. We have also confined the work to weekends to reduce the impact on passengers.”

Steve Montgomery, First ScotRail's Operations and Safety Director, added: “Replacement buses will be in operation in both directions and we will do everything possible to minimise inconvenience for customers. We would also advise anyone looking to travel on these days to allow extra time as journeys will take longer than normal."

Details of revised services are available from National Rail Enquiries at www.nationalrail.co.uk or phone 08457 48 49 50.