(Network Rail)
THE East Kilbride-Glasgow Central railway line is on track to reopen in May, Network Rail has announced.
The news comes as the organisation works ‘around-the-clock’ during a 16-week closure of the line to install new infrastructure required to power electric trains as part of a £140 million investment by the Scottish Government.
So far during the closure, Network Rail has double-tracked 1.4km of railway between East Kilbride and Hairmyres; installed over 22km of overhead electric power lines; erected new footbridges at Busby, Clarkston, and Giffnock stations; renewed the railway bridge over East Kilbride Road in Busby; and lowered the track under three key bridges.
Over the next four weeks – ahead of the reopening of the line on May 18 – engineers will finish the installation of new signalling systems on the route and complete work on the new Hairmyres station.
The new Hairmyres Railway Station will also reopen next month, featuring two platforms and an accessible footbridge at a site located around 500m west of the old station.
Once the overall project completes in December 2025, the investment in the line will see the electrification of the railway from Glasgow to East Kilbride; a new station at East Kilbride; a new footbridge at Busby Railway Station; improved access at Giffnock, with a new accessible footbridge; and improved access to Platform 2 at Clarkston Railway Station.
Gerry McQuade, Network Rail capital delivery director, said, “The complex engineering work we have completed over the past three months is critical to the successful electrification of the line. Our engineers have been working around-the-clock to deliver these enhancements as quickly as possible and we remain on course to welcome passengers back onto the railway in May.
“We understand the inconvenience the closure has caused for both customers and some of our neighbours and we thank them for their patience while we build a better, greener railway for the local community.”
