Tuesday 24 Sep 2024
Two bridges to be replaced as £140m East Kilbride and Barrhead railway project reaches next phase
- Region & Route:
- Scotland’s Railway: Scotland
Two railway bridges will be demolished and replaced with more modern structures this weekend as part of the £140m East Kilbride enhancement project.
Network Rail will remove the bridges on Thornliebank Road in Glasgow’s southside, Westerton Lane near Busby station.
Both bridges are being replaced from 28 September to 1 October to create enough space underneath for new overhead line equipment that will allow electric trains to run on the route.
At the same time, a new accessible bridge will be craned into position at the new Hairmyres station, with drainage works also taking place between Hairmyres and East Kilbride stations.
In addition, a separate £5m track renewal project, designed to improve service reliability, will begin at Busby Junction, where the East Kilbride and Barrhead lines meet.
No trains will run on both lines from 1:15am on Saturday 28 September until 5:30am on Tuesday 1 October, to allow the work to take place, with replacement buses running for passengers.
Paul Reilly, senior programme manager, Network Rail, said: “We’re advising passengers to plan ahead as no trains will run on both the East Kilbride and Barrhead lines on Saturday 28 September, Sunday 29 September and Monday 30 September.
“Closing both lines is the only way we can safely deliver the bridge demolitions.
“We’re also using this closure to deliver other critical elements of the project, such as the bridge lift at Hairmyres, so that an additional closure of the line will not be required.
“Our thanks to go passengers and the wider community for their patience and understanding while we deliver these vital parts of the project.”
Customers can check the status of their journeys for East Kilbride to Glasgow and Glasgow to Barrhead/Kilmarnock services at www.ScotRail.co.uk or www.nationalrail.co.uk.
For the latest information and updates on the works, follow Network Rail Scotland on X (Twitter) @NetworkRailSCOT or visit www.ScotlandsRailway.com.
Notes to Editors
Over 2,200 yards of new rail and 1,400 sleepers will be installed and over 4,500 tonnes of ballast laid to renew Busby Junction, which will help improve reliability by reducing the need for ongoing maintenance.
Network Rail and contractors SPL Powerlines, Story, AmcoGiffen, Siemens and QTS are delivering the works for the £140m East Kilbride Enhancement project, as part of a wider Scottish Government investment to decarbonise railway passenger services. Rail Systems Alliance Scotland is carrying out the renewal to Busby Junction.
Pedestrian and cycle access is being maintained at Thornliebank Road throughout the works except during the weekend of 28 September until 1 October, when the footpath and temporary footbridge will be closed to allow the demolition of the road bridge.
Thornliebank Road bridge is due to re-open in June 2025 and Westerton Avenue footbridge in May 2025, with the enhancement project overall scheduled to complete in December 2025.
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