EK rail improvement assurances called for
FRASER WILSON
Joe Fagan has asked for assurances and proper leadership to ensure plans to electrify the East Kilbride rail line actually happens.
The Labour councillor was speaking after Transport Secretary Michael Matheson confirmed last week that the route would finally be upgraded.
That’s as part of the Scottish government’s Rail Decarbonisation Action Plan (RDAP). But Mr Fagan was sceptical about the news, adding that it had taken decades to get to this stage.
The East Kilbride councillor said: “If we are finally seeing some progress and interest at a ministerial level in the East Kilbride line, then that is of course welcome.
“Remember, this is a campaign that has been ongoing in some form not just for years, but arguably for decades. Political leadership is needed to make sure that it actually happens.”
We told you at the start of the month how preparatory work being carried out by Network Rail was paving the way for major improvement works to the line.
Owners of Scotland’s rail infrastructure, their engineers restarted preparatory work on the 11-mile railway corridor between Glasgow and East Kilbride after it was paused because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Work to clear trees and vegetation along on the line will be ongoing until December, allowing for the implementation of overhead wires for electrification, as well as dualling of some parts of the track.
Demolition, modification and renewal of existing bridge structures, as well as “capacity enhancement” is part of that work, as well as proposals for the “relocation of station building at East Kilbride”.
This RDAP aims to decarbonise rail passenger services in Scotland by 2035, furthering the government’s efforts to reduce emissions in transport, while helping contribute to a green economic recovery following the health pandemic.
Mr Fagan said he had written to the Transport Secretary to ask for confirmation on what was announced and for a commitment from the government for the upgrading of the line.
He told the News: “I want to know the level of investment is being made available because we don’t want the project derailed through funding disputes or delays further down the line.
“I have also repeated my calls for clear timescales on the commencement and completion of works.
“Jobs are being shed in East Kilbride right now due to the fall out of the Covid crisis and we need to have shovel-ready projects ready to go that can help boost economic activity and help the town recover and rebuild.”
Further details of the government’s decarbonisation plan can be found on Transport Scotland’s website.