Bathgate rail upgrades set for Autumn completion

The contract covers doubling the 2 km line between Airdrie and Drumgelloch, reinstating double track on the 24 km alignment between Airdrie and Bathgate, and electrifying the entire route at 25 kV. Ground investigation work has commenced, and main works are due to begin early next year for commissioning in late 2010.

This upgraded section of line will see improved reliability of service on the busy Bathgate to Edinburgh commuter route from November this year.

A major engineering project, the final phase of these advance works requires a nine-day closure of the Bathgate branch line which will coincide with seven consecutive days of planned rail improvement works to the main Edinburgh-Glasgow Queen Street line.

The Bathgate line will be closed between October 11 and 19 for double tracking and signalling works and the new line will then be integrated into the existing rail network. There will also be a number of weekend closures in September and October. Buses will replace trains between Edinburgh and Bathgate on those dates.

Work at Newbridge Junction, to the west of Edinburgh, will affect the Edinburgh-Glasgow line on October 11-17 and October 26. Services will be half-hourly throughout the day ? with additional services running in the morning and evening peaks. Journeys will be extended by 20 minutes.

Passengers travelling between Stirling and Dunblane and Edinburgh will change trains at Linlithgow. An additional express bus service from Linlithgow will operate during the morning peak.

David Simpson, Network Rail Route Director, Scotland said: "The Airdrie-Bathgate Rail Link Project will create a vital new link between Edinburgh, Glasgow and the communities served by this new railway. The first package of improvements that this project can offer is the double tracking of the line between Edinburgh and Bathgate and that is what we will deliver this autumn."

"To enable the work to take effect, Network Rail has to integrate the newly double-tracked Bathgate line with other parts of the rail network. In this case, that will require new track and signalling at Newbridge junction, a section of line also used by the Edinburgh to Glasgow Queen Street and Edinburgh to Dunblane services. This will require temporary timetable changes and replacement bus services to operate during this period.

"Network Rail has been working closely with Transport Scotland and the train operators who will be affected by this enhancement work. In particular, we are working with First ScotRail to provide its customers with a strengthened train service between Edinburgh and Glasgow Central as well as two trains per hour between Edinburgh and Queen Street via Dalmeny. Bus services will be provided on other routes."

Steve Montgomery, Operations and Safety Director at First ScotRail, added: "We have done everything possible to keep inconvenience to an absolute minimum by running as many services as possible.

"Full plans are in place to provide alternative transport arrangements where required. Journeys will take longer than normal and passengers should allow more time for travel."

Joe Ross, project manager for Transport Scotland, said: "The Airdrie?Bathgate project will introduce a high quality public transport link for communities in North Lanarkshire and West Lothian. Linking them with the country?s two biggest cities Glasgow and Edinburgh will open up new employment opportunities as well as encouraging more people to choose public transport over their cars.

"An investment of this scale in Scotland?s transport infrastructure will inevitably mean some disruption as the project is being delivered. We have worked closely with our rail industry partners and everything is being done to ensure that disruption is kept to a minimum. In the meantime, we would thank people in advance for their patience."