On track to go live

Power lines to be tested

A warning about the dangers of railway overhead power cables was issued this week.

It came as lines from Larbert through Stirling, Dunblane and Alloa were due to go live on Sunday.

Electric trains are to be introduced on central Scotland lines later this year following testing and safety work.

The new overhead wires carry 25,000 volts of electricity and Network Rail is highlighting the dangers an electrified railway poses to those who trespass on the tracks or accidentally make contact with overhead lines.

Network Rail delivery director for the Stirling-DunblaneAlloa electrification Iain McFarlane said: “Energisation is an important phase of work to test and validate the new equipment and ensure it is operating as it should.

“As well as live testing the equipment, the energisation phase of the work is critical to ensuring the safe introduction of the electric trains that will operate on the route from December.

“Electrification also marks a significant change to the railway in terms of risk for those living or working nearby so it is important we do what we can to make people, particularly young people, aware of this change and encourage them to stay safe.

“Electric trains will be quieter and accelerate faster than the diesel ones they replace.

“The overhead power lines we have installed carry enough electricity to kill anyone who comes into contact with them.”

More than 40,000 safety leaflets are being delivered through every door in lineside communities.

Network Rail has also been working in schools and through groups to highlight the safety message.

Electrification of central Scotland’s railway is part of the Scottish Government’s investment to modernise and upgrade railway infrastructure.

It involves the introduction of class 385 electric trains which, it is said, will reduce some journey times from Stirling to Glasgow and Edinburgh and add more seats on services from Alloa, Dunblane, Bridge of Allan and Stirling to Glasgow and Edinburgh.