Media centre

Thursday 3 Jul 2008

REMINDER: SUMMER RAIL UPGRADE WORKS TO AFFECT EAST CENTRAL SCOTLAND PASSENGERS

Region & Route:

Scotland’s Railway: Scotland

Network Rail has reminded rail passengers that, owing to major upgrade works this summer, services in East Central Scotland will be subject to timetable alterations.

Work to double track the Edinburgh-Bathgate line will affect passengers between West Lothian-Edinburgh-Newcraighall and Edinburgh to Dunblane for a two week period from 5 to 20 July and between Edinburgh and Glasgow Queen Street over the weekend of 12 and 13 July.

Further work by Transport Initiatives Edinburgh (TIE) will affect Fife, Dunblane and Glasgow services over two consecutive weekends in mid-July (5 / 6, 12 / 13 July).

The first stage of the £300m, Transport Scotland-funded, Airdrie-Bathgate Rail Link Project is set for completion at the end of October. The newly double-tracked railway will see improved reliability of services on the busy Bathgate to Edinburgh commuter route.

David Simpson, Network Rail route director, Scotland commented:

“The Airdrie-Bathgate Rail Link is progressing extremely well, with the double tracking of the branch line to Bathgate nearing completion. New platforms at Livingston North and Uphall will also be completed by October, providing passengers with better journies.

“Network Rail needs to integrate the newly double tracked line with other parts of the rail network. This will require new track and signalling at Newbridge Junction, on a section of line also used by the Edinburgh to Glasgow Queen Street and Edinburgh to Dunblane services.

“This will require passengers to review their transport arrangements. To reduce inconvenience, we have timed the main closures to coincide with weekends and the summer holiday season. We are working with First ScotRail to provide bus services to replace rail journeys during this time. There is no ideal time to carry out this type of work but this short term interruption to services will contribute to long term improvements for the rail network in Scotland.”

Steve Montgomery, Operations and Safety Director at First ScotRail commented:

”Long term benefits to rail users will be delivered as a result of these enhancement works. There will be disruption to customers but we are working closely with our industry partners to minimise the impact and advise people to leave more time for their journey and plan ahead, wherever possible.”

Joe Ross, project manager for Transport Scotland said:

“The Airdrie–Bathgate project will introduce a high quality public transport link for communities in North Lanarkshire and West Lothian. Linking them with the country’s two biggest cities Glasgow and Edinburgh will open up new employment opportunities as well as encouraging more people to choose public transport over their cars.

“An investment of this scale in Scotland’s transport infrastructure will inevitably mean some disruption as the project is being delivered. We have worked closely with our rail industry partners and everything is being done to ensure that disruption is kept to a minimum. In the meantime, we would thank people in advance for their patience.”

For further information on how the works may affect your journey and for replacement timetable information, customers should check the First ScotRail website on www.firstscotrail.com, call customer relations on 0845 601 5929 or ask at a First ScotRail staffed station.

Further information about the Airdrie-Bathgate Rail Link can be obtained from: www.airdriebathgateraillink.co.uk