Trains back to normal after first phase of electrification

Train services between Stirling, Dunblane and Alloa are to return to normal after the completion of the first phase of an electrification project.

Passengers have been forced to take replacement bus services from both Glasgow and Edinburgh to Stirling, Dunblane, Alloa, Perth and Dundee in the evening and at weekends since September 2016 while the major improvement works were carried out.

Now, services are to return to normal from Sunday, May 20.

Network Rail is delivering the next phase of electrification of central Scotland’s railway. The first section to be electrified as part of the StirlingDunblane-Alloa electrification project covers 26 single track kilometres and includes Falkirk Grahamston and Camelon stations.

The remaining work to electrify the route will take place at night, when no trains are running, meaning there will be no further disruption to customers’ journeys.

Once complete, in 2019, the electrification of Stirling-DunblaneAlloa will mean that many services operated by electric Class 385 trains, which will offer a better experience and reduce some journey times from Stirling to Glasgow and Edinburgh and there will be more seats on services between Alloa, Dunblane, Bridge of Allan, Stirling and Edinburgh.

The fleet of trains will also create less noise.

ScotRail Alliance Head of Customer Experience, Graham Heald said:“This is an important milestone in the electrification of the route.

“We’d like to thank our customers for their patience over the past 19 months while we’ve progressed our plans to build the best railway Scotland’s ever had.

“Once complete, this work will deliver more seats, faster journeys and better services for our customers.”