Media centre

Wednesday 11 Nov 2009

SERVICE UPDATE: VITAL IMPROVEMENT WORKS ON WEST HIGHLAND LINE

Region & Route:

Scotland’s Railway: Scotland

 

• Vital maintenance and improvement works to affect Oban services between November 13 and 20.
• ScotRail providing replacement bus services to minimise disruption for passengers

 

A major railway improvement programme will be taking place on the West Highland line between Crianlarich and Oban over the next week.

The improvement works will include vital maintenance to sections of the track and sleepers, vegetation clearance, earthwork strengthening and rock stabilisation programmes.

Working closely with train operators to avoid the peak tourist season, and to deliver the improvements as quickly and efficiently as possible, Network Rail will need to close the line between the evening of Friday, November 13, and the afternoon of Saturday, November 20.

The 18:21 Glasgow-Oban will be replaced by a bus service from Crianlarich on Friday, November 13, while from Saturday 14 through to Friday 19 all Glasgow-Oban trains will start and terminate at Crianlarich with journeys being completed by replacement bus. The 08:11 Oban-Glasgow service on Saturday, November 21, will also be affected.

David Simpson, Network Rail route director for Scotland, said: "This work is essential to the continued running of a safe, reliable rail network in the West Highlands.

"Closing the line at this time will allow us to complete all of this work quickly and efficiently and means that maintaining and improving the railway causes the minimum of disruption during peak tourist times."

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.”

For further travel information, customers should check the ScotRail website on www.scotrail.co.uk or call National Rail Enquiries on 08457 48 49 50 http://www.nationalrail.co.uk