Edinburgh-Glasgow via Falkirk High route is energised ahead of first electric passenger trains in December.

ELECTRIFICATION on the Edinburgh-Glasgow via Falkirk High route was energised on September 2, ahead of the first electric trains running in passenger service this December.

The 46-mile route is the first of four phases of the Edinburgh-Glasgow Improvement Programme (EGIP) to be energised. However, the electrics will enter traffic a year later than planned.

ScotRail spokesman Angus Duncan told RAIL the plan was for Class 380s to begin testing on the route from October, once the safety testing process that started on September 2 was complete, with the Hitachi Rail Europe-built Class 385s then entering traffic from December.

“We’re building the best railway Scotland’s ever had, and the electrification of the route between Edinburgh and Glasgow is a key part of that. The new Class 385s will mean faster journeys, more seats and better services for our customers,” he added.

It’s planned that journey times of 48 minutes will remain this year, but be cut to 42 minutes next year. ScotRail Alliance Managing Director Alex Hynes told RAIL in early July that the route is designed to be the flagship in Scotland.

Delays to the electrification have been caused by the need to rework various designs to the overhead line equipment through some stations and under some bridges, to further enhance clearances in line with current European standards.

When this was confirmed in September 2016, Network Rail said industry guidance on these standards were issued after work on the delivery of the route clearance had begun in 2012. Electrification and remodelling of Glasgow Queen Street was completed in summer 2016.

The other three phases of the EGIP work to be completed are to Stirling, then on to Alloa and Dunblane, and then finally the Edinburgh-Glasgow via Shotts route. When the latter is completed, it will mean all four routes between Scotland’s two major cities are electrified.