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Thursday 18 Jul 2024

Transport Secretary sees progress on enhancement project

Region & Route:

Scotland’s Railway: Scotland

Cabinet Secretary for Transport Fiona Hyslop visited the site of the relocated Hairmyres station yesterday (17 July) to see progress on the East Kilbride Enhancement project.

Work started on the project at the beginning of this year and the visit offered a chance for the Cabinet Secretary to see what has been achieved during that time.

Two platforms at the relocated station, which will accommodate the double tracking on this section of the route, are nearing completion.

Double tracking allows trains more opportunities to pass each other rather than having to wait, and helps keep trains running on time, improving reliability.

Over the last week, the team has installed 24 steel foundations to support the new footbridge and lift towers as work gets underway on those and the new building.

Extensive earthworks will take place at Hairmyres this weekend to create the clearance needed to extend the existing two-track section of the railway by 1.4km.

Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Fiona Hyslop said: “I have thoroughly enjoyed this opportunity to visit the East Kilbride Enhancement project and meet the team that is delivering real progress towards the programme. It is clear there is a great deal of activity taking place along the route to deliver the rail electrification and improvement works.

“This £140m investment by the Scottish Government will improve rail services and facilities for local communities, making them even greener as we work towards our ambitious Net Zero goals.”

Stephen McCall, Network Rail Senior Programme Manager, said: “It was a pleasure to welcome the Cabinet Secretary to site and for the team to have the opportunity to highlight the significant progress that has been made across the enhancement project to date.

“The positive collaboration between Network Rail and our contractor partners has fostered a one team approach that has been wholly beneficial in dealing with any challenges, developing solutions and maintaining delivery to programme.

“We’ve achieved a lot over the first half of this year and have much more to deliver over the coming months. People will start to see the new station buildings, at Hairmyres and East Kilbride, emerge from the ground, as well as steel masts along the tracks as we transform the East Kilbride to Glasgow route into a more sustainable railway environment.”

Meeting representatives from the project team also provided an opportunity for the Cabinet Secretary to hear about progress at East Kilbride station, where the platform has been extended by 51m ahead of construction of the new building here.

When work finishes at both stations in the summer of 2025, they will offer a more modern and accessible space, with improved passenger facilities. This includes a new booking office, waiting area and a retail unit at East Kilbride.

Outwith the stations, two new bridges have been completed and work is underway on a further two, at Thornliebank Road and Westerton Lane near Busby station, with three more planned across the route.

Piling work is due to finish at the end of this month between Thornliebank and Busby, with over 165 foundations already in the ground to provide the base for the overhead masts currently being erected which will support the overhead line equipment.

Over the remainder of the summer and up until the end of this year, piling activity will take place between Thorntonhall and East Kilbride.

Network Rail and contractors SPL Powerlines, Story, AmcoGiffen, Siemens, Rail Systems Alliance Scotland and QTS are delivering the £140m East Kilbride Enhancement project, part of a wider Scottish Government investment to decarbonise railway passenger services.

The enhancement project is scheduled to be completed in December 2025.

For the latest information and updates on our works, follow Network Rail Scotland on X/Twitter, LinkedIn or visit ScotlandsRailway.com