MAJOR engineering work is to take place at Kilmarnock Railway Station this summer in a £13.5 million project.
Network Rail Scotland will deliver the upgrades in August and September to modernise the track layout through the station, tackling infrastructure constraints that currently slow trains down.
Once complete, the upgrades will allow trains to run faster and more smoothly through Kilmarnock, aiming to deliver more reliable rail services, the organisation said.
Engineers will improve the track layout for trains arriving from the south into platforms three and four, allowing them to enter the station at higher speeds. For southbound services leaving platform four, sections of track will be rebuilt and simplified to reduce wear on equipment and improve day‑to‑day reliability.
On platform three, part of the track that allows trains to change lines is being moved further away from the station, giving southbound trains a smoother and quicker exit.
During the project, engineers will install 5.5 kilometres of new rail; 3,200 new concrete sleepers will be laid, with around 800 existing sleepers reused; around 7,500 tonnes of ballast will be replaced; and 31 engineering trains will operate over the 16‑day period, with two large rail cranes used.
Gerry McQuade, capital delivery director at Network Rail Scotland, said, “This work is about strengthening a busy part of the railway so it can perform even better in the years ahead. By upgrading the track at Kilmarnock, we’re improving how trains move through the station and supporting a more consistent service for the communities it serves.
“Keeping the railway in good shape means continuing to make improvements that help services run as smoothly as possible. Although there will be some short term disruption, the aim is to deliver lasting benefits for the future.”
