A saga of funding fears and delays

The East Kilbride rail line issue has rarely been out of the headlines — but has much progress been made throughout this year?

JANUARY – East Kilbride SNP MSP Linda Fabiani hits out at Network Rail for their role in the saga and urges them to take“more responsibility”.

FEBRUARY – Joe Fagan, now a councillor for East Kilbride Central North, slams figures which said less than one in

four passengers were satisfied with ScotRail.

APRIL – It’s revealed that three of the most crowded rail services in Scotland ran on the East Kilbride line.

MAY – Labour’s Central Scotland list MSP Monica Lennon re-issues a call for the line to be electrified.

JUNE – Transport bosses refuse to commit to electrification but vow to upgrade carriages and increase capacity.

JULY – Tory Central Scotland list MSP Graham Simpson argues that City Deal money should be spent on a rail line upgrade instead of dualling Stewartfield Way.

AUGUST – Councillor Fagan scoffs at another survey which states that nine out of 10 passengers are happy with their rail service. SEPTEMBER – Transport Minister Humza Yousaf is urged to come up with a “timetable for electrification”by Councillor Fagan.

OCTOBER – The Labour group at South Lanarkshire Council say East Kilbride residents should not be made to choose between City Deal investment and a rail line upgrade.

NOVEMBER – Ms Fabiani fears a £600 million funding gap for future rail projects due to UK Government changes in 2019.