Upgrade work set to increase on Stirling-Dunblane-Alloa lines: Network Rail engineer

Thursday 30 Aug 2018

Upgrade work set to increase on Stirling-Dunblane-Alloa lines

Region & Route:
Scotland’s Railway: Scotland

Work to electrify the Stirling, Dunblane and Alloa railway ahead of the introduction of ScotRail’s new electric Class-385 trains is set to intensify from this Sunday.

Along the 50km route engineers will be working both day and night to complete overhead line electrification (OLE) work including mast and cantilever installation, cable ducting work on platforms at stations along the route and aligning newly-installed infrastructure. 

The work being delivered by Network Rail is part of the Scottish Government’s rolling programme of electrification and is another step forward as we build the best railway Scotland has ever had.

To deliver this work for the December introduction of ScotRail’s new fleet of longer, faster, greener modern electric trains, Sunday service alterations will start from September 2 until October 22 (01.10am Sunday morning – 04.30am Monday morning). Then from October 28 until November 25 in place (21.45pm Sunday evening– 04.30am Monday morning).

Services will be diverted where possible and buses will replace trains on part of the journey on each route during these works.

Paul Reilly, Network Rail programme manager, said: “Electrification will transform travel across the Central Belt of Scotland and is part of our commitment to delivering the best railway Scotland has ever had.

“Our engineers will be working around-the-clock to complete the electrification in time for the introduction of the new fleet of electric trains in December.

“We understand the inconvenience these works will cause to some passengers and residents and we are working hard to keep disruption to a minimum.

“We are encouraging customers to leave extra time for travel, and plan journeys in advance. All train and bus times are available at www.scotrail.co.uk as well as on the ScotRail app.”

Routes affected by changes are:

Sundays 2 September until 21 October 2018

Glasgow Queen Street – Aberdeen

Glasgow Queen St – Inverness / Elgin

Edinburgh – Dunblane / Perth

Glasgow Queen St – Alloa

 

Sundays 28 October until 25 November 2018 (from 21.00 Sunday evening)

Glasgow Queen St / Edinburgh – Inverness / Elgin services

Glasgow Queen St – Aberdeen services

Edinburgh – Dunblane / Perth services

Glasgow Queen St – Alloa services

Once the new fleet of longer, faster and greener modern electric trains is introduced significant customer benefits will be realized including a 15% reduction in journey time and up to 20% more capacity on morning and evening peak services to Glasgow and Edinburgh.

The completion of the electrification will also enable a 42-minute journey time on the Edinburgh-Glasgow, via Falkirk High, line.

Contact information

Passengers / community members
Network Rail national helpline
03457 11 41 41

Latest travel advice
Please visit National Rail Enquiries

Journalists
Network Rail press office - Nick King
Media relations manager (Scotland)
0141 555 4108 / 07515 617073
nick.king3@networkrail.co.uk

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