MORE than £120 million of Scottish Government funding is to be invested into boosting the electrification of the country’s railway network.
Network Rail said that the investment will see six feeder stations at strategic locations across the network, as well as a further nine sites being upgraded to improve resilience and reliability.
New connections to the national grid via the feeder stations will increase the overall capability of the 25kV electrified network, it added – with this accommodating future passenger and freight growth and reduction of the railway’s carbon footprint.
The investment will be made over three years, with SPL Powerlines securing the contract for the initial phase of works.
Scottish Government transport minister, Jenny Gilruth, said, “Upgrading the power supply network will enable the introduction of electric trains on services to East Kilbride and Barrhead, on the Borders line and across Fife but will also support increased traffic on existing routes such as the east coast mainline.”
Alex Hynes, MD of Scotland’s Railway, added, “Investing in the power supply infrastructure will not only make the current electric network more resilient, it also delivers the significant growth in capacity needed as we continue to electrify our railway.
“Introducing quieter, quicker and greener electric trains on more routes across the country will enable both passengers and lineside communities to experience all the benefits that electrification of the rail network brings.”
Lee Pounder, regional director of SPL Powerlines, commented, “We’re delighted to be awarded this phase one contract and to be working on the fully integrated delivery of Scotland’s Railway’s traction power requirements alongside Network Rail.”
