Scottish network gets £120m electrification boost

NETWORK Rail is to invest more than £120m of funding provided by the Scottish Government over the next three years, to boost the electricity power supplies on the ScotRail network. Under the scheme, six new feeder stations will be built at strategic locations with a further nine sites upgraded to improve the resilience and reliability of the infrastructure for electrically powered traffic. A contract has been awarded to SPL Powerlines for the work. The new feeder stations will increase the overall capability of the 25kV network as Scotland embarks on wider electrification in line with the Scottish Government’s commitment to decarbonise the passenger rail network by 2035. Scottish Government Transport Minister, Jenny Gilruth said: “Upgrading the power supply network will enable the introduction of electric trains on services to East Kilbride and Barrhead, on the Borders line and across Fife but will also support increased traffic on existing routes such as the East Coast Main Line.”