Passengers travelling between East Kilbride and Glasgow are just weeks away from experiencing the benefits of a cleaner, quieter and more reliable railway, as the electrification of the line enters its final phase.
With only one month to go until electric trains begin running on the route, teams across Network Rail and industry partners are working at pace to complete the final upgrades ahead of the first passenger services on 14 December.
It’s part of a £144 million investment from the Scottish Government to modernise the route and support Scotland’s wider ambitions to decarbonise the transport network. Once complete, it’ll enable ScotRail to introduce electric trains on the line, offering passengers a more comfortable and environmentally friendly journey.
Electrification also helps to reduce noise and air pollution for lineside communities, while supporting a shift from car to rail by making train travel more attractive to people travelling for work, school and leisure.
Cabinet Secretary for Transport Fiona Hyslop said: “The wait is almost over for passengers along this route looking forward to enjoying the improvements electric services will bring. I am sure they will be as appreciative as I am of the hard work of everyone involved in bringing the project to this stage. I look forward to visiting East Kilbride next month to mark the start of a new era in train travel for those making journeys to and from East Kilbride.”
In addition to electrification, the project has delivered a wide range of infrastructure improvements including a new £16 million station at Hairmyres and a £9 milliom station at East Kilbride. Bridge modifications were carried out to accommodate the new overhead lines, and £7 million of accessibility improvements were delivered.
Stephen McCall, senior programme manager at Network Rail Scotland, said: “We’re in the final stretch of the project, delivering lasting improvements for passengers and communities. Seeing electric trains on the line for the first time last month was a huge moment, and now we’re even closer to customers boarding them for the first time.
“It’s taken an incredible amount of work behind the scenes, but we’re proud to be building a railway that will stand the test of time. We know how important this line is to the people who use it and are excited to see them benefit for decades to come.”
Last month, electric trains ran on the East Kilbride line for the first time during a series of successful test runs. The trials were a crucial step in commissioning the new infrastructure, allowing engineers to assess the performance of the overhead line equipment and confirm readiness for full operation.
Mark Ilderton, ScotRail Service Delivery Director, said: “This is a really exciting time for everyone at ScotRail as we prepare to introduce electric trains on the East Kilbride line for the first time.
“Electric trains will offer customers a more comfortable, reliable, and sustainable journey between East Kilbride and Glasgow, helping to cut noise and air pollution, and support Scotland’s transition to a net zero transport network.
“We can’t wait to welcome customers on board, and for them to experience the benefits of a cleaner, greener railway.”
Network Rail has worked with contractor partners including SPL Powerlines, AmcoGiffen, Story, QTS, Rail Systems Alliance Scotland and Siemens to deliver the project.
Image credit: Network Rail
