WORK has been completed on the £11.2 million project to improve train performance and reliability at Dunblane Railway Station.
The project was delivered by Network Rail and contractor Rail Systems Alliance, with final signalling and commissioning works being completed at the weekend.
The main element of the project involved the installation of a new crossover that allows trains to switch tracks, with trains now able to arrive and depart from platform three towards Edinburgh and Glasgow.
Previously, due to there being no turnback facility at the station, trains arriving at platforms two and three had to continue north to use existing crossovers in order to turn around and return to their station of origin – a manoeuvre that took 13 minutes to complete.
This meant the railway between Dunblane and Perth could become congested, constraining the timetable and network resilience during times of disruption.
Adrian Osmond, Network Rail project sponsor, said, “This significant investment in the railway is a game changer for trains travelling south from Dunblane station to Stirling and for the wider route north of the station.
“It will free up capacity through the route and ease congestion; it also improves capacity for freight and reduces the impact of unplanned disruption. By upgrading the signalling equipment, this too contributes to improving resilience.
“With works now complete, I would like to thank those living closest to Dunblane station and the wider community for their patience throughout delivery of the project.”
