ScotRail has released details of its alternative travel plan for customers during major improvement works by Network Rail set to take place on the East Kilbride line.
From Saturday, 25 January until Sunday, 18 May no trains will run on the line between East Kilbride and Glasgow Central while engineers work around-the-clock to deliver major works to modernise the railway between East Kilbride and Glasgow.
The £140million project will see work carried out to the track, signalling, bridges, and overhead line equipment along the route, and is part of a Scottish Government investment in the line to decarbonise rail services as well as improve reliability for passengers.
Once complete, in December 2025, the investment in the line will see:
- A new station at East Kilbride.
- A new station with two platforms and accessible footbridge at Hairmyres.
- A new footbridge at Busby station.
- Improved access at Giffnock, with a new accessible footbridge.
- A new station entrance at Clarkston.
- Electrification of the railway from Glasgow to East Kilbride.
To keep customers moving during the works, ScotRail will operate a rail replacement bus service that will serve most of the stations on the route and, at locations where rail replacement is not available, the train operator has detailed alternative transport options to support travel.
Customers travelling between East Kilbride and Glasgow Central are asked to consider alternative rail routes, where possible. Services on the Barrhead line and other neighbouring routes will continue to operate as normal, providing options to still travel by rail during the works. ScotRail will add additional carriages to services on nearby routes, but services at peak times are expected to be busy.
Customers along the route who regularly travel to and from Glasgow city centre should consider local bus services as an alternative to rail replacement services.
A comprehensive list, detailing all available alternative travel options for each of the affected stations is available on the ScotRail website at www.scotrail.co.uk/east-kilbride-enhancement-project.
Phil Campbell, ScotRail customer opperations director, said: “The works being carried out by Network Rail are absolutely critical in the latest phase of the project to modernise the railway on the East Kilbride line.
“We know the inconvenience that extended works on the railway has on customers, and we appreciate their patience and understanding while Network Rail complete these vital improvements.
“By providing detailed information in advance, we hope to give customers enough time to plan their journeys and consider what alternatives are available to them.
“We urge customers to plan ahead and know their travel options. During the improvement works, some journey times will be longer, but we will keep you moving.”
Image credit: ScotRail