Green light for electric railway

Plans to fully electrify the Barrhead to Glasgow railway line have been given the green light, with work set to get underway in April.

The £63million project is due to be completed by December 2023.

It will support passenger and freight services and will also be used as a key diversionary route for cross-border trains.

Passengers boarding at Barrhead station will benefit from greener, more reliable electric trains, with improvements also being made to stations along the route linking the town to Glasgow.

Transport Minister Graeme Dey said:“I’m pleased that work on the full electrification of the Glasgow to Barrhead railway line is expected to start early next year.

“Delivery of the East Kilbride and Barrhead Electrification Project will not only ensure the decarbonisation of two critical corridors on this strategic network but will allow efficiencies to be achieved and disruption minimised for passengers during this period.

“It will also help towards the delivery of our Rail Decarbonisation Action Plan, which will see the removal of all diesel on passenger services by 2035 through the deployment of existing rolling stock.”

Katie Vollbracht, of Network Rail Scotland, added:“The East Kilbride and Barrhead Electrification Project is at the centre of our plans to decarbonise domestic passenger services by 2035.

“It will deliver high-quality public transport choices for passengers through the introduction of greener, more reliable electric trains, with improved stations and passenger facilities along the two routes.

“We are working closely with the government and our industry partners to ensure the enhancements deliver best value for taxpayers’money and meet the changing needs of our customers.”