Media centre

Wednesday 6 Dec 2023

Transport Minister takes first electric passenger train on Glasgow-Barrhead line

Region & Route:

Scotland’s Railway: Scotland

Scotland’s Transport Minister, Fiona Hyslop, has today travelled on the first electric passenger service from Glasgow Central to Barrhead.

The minister joined railway colleagues to travel on a ScotRail Class 380 in a final test of the new infrastructure ahead of the start of public passenger services from Monday, December 11.

The Glasgow-Barrhead Electrification Project is a £63m investment by the Scottish Government and is the latest phase of the rolling programme to decarbonise Scotland’s Railway passenger services.

Ms Hyslop said: “It’s fantastic to join industry partners today as we celebrate the first electric passenger train between Glasgow and Barrhead.

“This latest milestone in our rolling programme of electrification demonstrates this Scottish Government’s commitment to greener public transport as we work towards our low carbon economy and Net Zero goals.

“I’d also like to thank everyone involved in delivering this project and the investment it represents.”

Alex Hynes, managing director of Scotland’s Railway, said: “It’s a privilege to be able to welcome the Minister to travel on the first electric passenger train from Glasgow to Barrhead. We are incredibly proud to be delivering this project on behalf of the Scottish Government.

“Electric trains are faster and greener, offering a better travelling experience and they’re more reliable too. They encourage people to switch from road to rail and help us build on the railway’s reputation as one of the greenest forms of public transport.

“We look forward to welcoming the communities along the Barrhead line onto our electric network and will continue to further expand our decarbonisation of Scotland’s Railway in the years ahead.”

Over the last two years, Network Rail engineers have electrified over six miles of the railway and renewed 130 metres of track.

Major modifications have been carried out to bridges along the route, including the replacement of Nithsdale Road bridge at Strathbungo and the removal of the old lattice footbridge at Nitshill station.

Bridge sidewalls were raised in height at Kennishead and Priesthill and Darnley stations to make them compliant for an electrified railway.