Wednesday 19 Sep 2018
Station redevelopment is step-up for Breich
- Region & Route:
- Scotland’s Railway: Scotland
Breich station has re-opened to passenger service following a 12 week closure to enable a £2.4m redevelopment.
The West Lothian station is benefiting from a £2.4m investment to ensure that the platform lengths and heights are compliant with the electrified railway environment and suitable for the new electric trains that will be introduced on the route.
As well as the full reconstruction of both platforms, the redevelopment has delivered a new ramped footpath to the Edinburgh bound platform on the north side of the station, re-profiling of the access ramps and the embankment on the south side to make it easier for customers to get in and out of the station.
There are also improvements to the lighting, CCTV, customer information systems, ticket machines and validators and waiting shelters at the West Lothian station during the line closure – with the work set to complete fully next month.
The station redevelopment is part of a £160m Scottish government funded investment to upgrade and electrify the line to improve reliability and enable the introduction of electric trains on the route by March 2019.
The work is a key part of the Scottish Government funded investment to upgrade and electrify the line to improve reliability and enable the introduction of electric trains on the route by March 2019.
Brian Mallon, Network Rail programme manager for the Shotts Line electrification project said: “We know that closing stations is never a popular choice for passengers but in this case , it was the most efficient way to deliver the work while trains continued to operate on the line and carry passengers to and from nearby stations.
“Redeveloping Breich station is part of a wider programme of station upgrades on the route being delivered during the electrification project to enable the new faster longer electric trains
“It is important that we have stations that are safe and compliant in the newly electrified railway environment but also that provide a better overall experience for passengers using the railway.
“We appreciate the cooperation of station users and the local community and thank them for their patience as we deliver this investment to upgrade the station.”
The full redevelopment of Breich station will be complete by October 2018.
Notes to Editors
Notes to Editors
No services on the Edinburgh Waverley to Glasgow Central via Shotts route have called at Breich station since Saturday 23 June. Services resumed Tuesday 18 September 2018
Work to redevelop Breich station included the removal of the station footbridge, demolition and reconstruct of both platforms concurrently. In total more than 1700 tonnes of spoil were removed from site by rail.
A new access ramp from the A708 road bridge over the station was created linking to platform 2 on the north side. Access was improved from the south side and station facilities – including CCTV, customer information systems, ticket machines and waiting shelters were significantly enhanced.
New platforms in the station are 98m in length to accommodate the new 4 carriage Class 385 electric trains that will be introduced on the route post electrification
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