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Passenger benefits:
Economic benefits:
The rail link will help to stimulate economic growth by:
Network Rail is a national company that owns, operates and enhances Britain’s rail network. Network Rail owns around 20,000 miles of track, 40,000 bridges and tunnels, 2,500 stations that we lease to train operators and 17 stations that we run ourselves.
On Airdrie-Bathgate, Network Rail is responsible for managing the delivery of the project on behalf of Transport Scotland. This means making sure it is constructed on time and on budget.
After the Airdrie-Bathgate line was closed to rail in 1982 the railway solum became a public footpath and cycle path, known as National Cycle Route 75. To ensure the best and least disruptive solution for reinstating the railway the new route will once again follow the line of the old solum.
Network Rail will therefore be investing £7.3 million to relocate the cycle path adjacent to the new railway. The new cycle path will be open to coincide with the end of the railway project.
For the last twenty five years, the cycle path has been enjoyed and well used by many cyclists and walkers. In recognition of this, Network Rail has made a commitment to reinstate the cycle path as close to the original route as is technically practical. The replacement of the cycle path is integral to the railway scheme and funding was provided for the new route as part of the Act.
The new cycle path has been developed in consultation with Sustrans, Railway Paths Ltd and the land access officers of North Lanarkshire Council and West Lothian Council. A group of relevant bodies has also been consulted during the detailed design of the path, including the bodies above as well as CTC - the UK’s National Cyclist Organisation, Spokes and North Lanarkshire Access Forum.
Following extensive consultation, it was clear that the majority of cyclists wanted the National Cycle Route 75 to closely follow its original and most direct route. Therefore, the new cycle path, where possible, will run alongside the re-opened railway line. There are parts of the route where, for safety or engineering reasons, the path moves away from the railway.
When we were planning the relocation our main objectives were to:
The Cycle Path plans can be found here.
The new cycle path will open at the same time as the new railway. This is expected to be the end of 2010.
The cycle path between Airdrie and Bathgate closed on the 19th October 2008 to allow work to begin on the new rail link. The cycle path is closed to the general public as it is now a construction site and is unsafe for people to use.
In the interests of safety and in order to ensure no interference occurs between cyclists and construction works, it will not be possible for the cycle route to be open until the project is complete.
For alternative cycling routes, please visit www.sustrans.org.uk.
Network Rail has given consideration as to whether a temporary cycle route could be provided during the construction of the railway.
However, as we do not own any additional land on which an alternative could be built, this would not be cost-effective and it would also have a greater impact on the environment, which cannot be justified for such a short-term measure.
To view the construction timeline please visit the The Project page.
Network Rail is delivering the project and acting as Project Manager. Different elements of the project will be contracted out to specialist engineering and construction firms, including:
Network Rail and its team of contractors are carrying out the work in three distinct stages, these include:
1. Advanced Works (Construction work between Newbridge Junction and Bathgate):
For more detailed timing of these stages, please see the Project Timetable.
Advanced Works are broadly those elements of the project that have be undertaken on the existing railway without acquiring additional land – in this case, these included the works associated with the double tracking of the Bathgate branch line and upgrade of stations which was completed in October 2008. It also includes construction of Livingston North and Uphall Station which will be completed by spring 2009.
Throughout 2007 and 2008 works between Bathgate and Newbridge junction included:
To date we have been busy undertaking extensive site and ground investigations to complete the detailed design for the new railway, associated structures and cycle path.
On the ground, work to remove vegetation and stabilise the ground along the new route began in December 2008 and will be completed in the spring. Our main civil engineering contractor – Carillion plc – will start work at a number of sites in March 2009. The work will include extensive earthworks, bridge replacements and building new stations along the route. The full construction timeline can be found on The Project page.
Detailed design is quite simply when we put the ‘detail’ into the maps, plans and sections document originally submitted as part of the Airdrie-Bathgate Railway and Linked Improvements Bill. This mainly covers the new railway between Drumgelloch and Bathgate.
Work on the detailed designs started in May 2007, when the Bill became an Act of Parliament.
As the original plans submitted to the Scottish Parliament and passed by the Act showed the maximum area of land that would be required by the rail link, we have refined them to indicate exactly where structures such as bridges will go, how much land is required and the specific location of each station platform.
The maps and route plans on this website are a mixture of pre-detailed design and post detailed design. Once the final plans are available, they will be uploaded to this site.
We take the environment very seriously. A key part of the project’s development was to complete a full Environmental Impact Assessment and develop a Landscape and Habitat Management Plan with SNH (Scottish National Heritage) and SEPA (Scottish Environment Protection Agency).
These documents included full assessment of the impact of the new rail link on local residents and endangered species (such as badgers, newts and bats), for example. It also established how the effect of the railway and its construction could be minimised – an example is that Network Rail is timing its activities to ensure no disturbance of birds during nesting season.
For more information on how we minimise the impact of construction on the environment, you can download our environmental factsheet.
The Code of Construction Practice also details the way Network Rail will seek to minimise the impact of construction on the environment and local residents.
The completed rail link will run from the west – either Helensburgh or Milngavie, depending on the train services – through Glasgow Queen Street to Edinburgh Waverley in the east. Detailed in the Airdrie-Bathgate Railway and Linked Improvements Act are two additional stations at Caldercruix and Armadale. The Act also includes the relocation of Bathgate and Drumgelloch stations as well as the upgrade of Airdrie, Uphall Station and Livingston North stations.
Separately, West Lothian Council is taking forward plans for an additional station at Blackridge.
To view the route maps please visit The Rail Link page.
Network Rail anticipates a commuter journey time of approximately 74 minutes between Glasgow Queen Street low level and Edinburgh Waverley. Between Airdrie and Edinburgh and between Bathgate and Glasgow, the journey time is expected to be approximately 46 minutes.
There will also be express services which will skip Drumgelloch, Caldercruix and Armadale Stations and which will have a journey time between Edinburgh and Glasgow of 64 minutes.
The original proposal to reopen the rail link did not include plans to build any new stations between Drumgelloch and Bathgate. However, following public consultation in 2004, the proposals were reviewed and amended to include Caldercruix and Armadale.
A detailed study in 2005 showed that introducing these two new stations provided the best compromise between quick journey times and improved accessibility for local communities.
The locations of these were confirmed through the engineering work of the Initial Technical Feasibility Study and the business case work of the Design Development Appraisal Report. Both documents are available to view on our Info page.
The proposed new stations within the Airdrie-Bathgate Railway and Linked Improvements Act are at Caldercruix in North Lanarkshire and Armadale in West Lothian.
West Lothian Council is also promoting a station at Blackridge. The council is working very closely with Network Rail and Transport Scotland to secure the necessary funding, planning permissions and land so that plans for a station at Blackridge can be taken forward.
Armadale and Caldercruix were the two stations which delivered the highest level of additional passengers, the best value for money and which would be easily accessible to the travelling public.
Armadale is one of West Lothian Council's designated Core Development Areas and has seen considerable new housing over the last few years, including in the vicinity of the proposed station site. It is the biggest community along the new stretch of the railway and the proposed station will also be accessible from Blackridge and Harthill.
The proposed sites for Caldercruix station car parks have space for around 170 car parking spaces. The station is centrally located, west of Main Street with access to the station car park from Station Road and pedestrian access to the station from Station Road or Main Street.
Transport Scotland has committed to providing a station at Blackridge and has asked Network Rail to deliver it alongside the Airdrie-Bathgate Rail Link project.
West Lothian Council approved Network Rail’s planning application for the station site in May 2009 and has also agreed funding commitments with Transport Scotland. WLC is looking to conclude the acquisition of land for the new station and is looking to secure the land through compulsory purchase following submission of an application to the Scottish Government.
Network Rail has been working behind the scenes to design the new station and integrate the construction of the station into the project programme. If the land is secured as planned, Blackridge station will be ready in time for opening the new railway at the end of 2010.
All stations will be equipped with waiting shelters on each platform, ticket machines and help/information communication with the control room via a call point located on each platform.
24 hour CCTV for both stations and car parks will be monitored from regional control rooms. A bridge with ramps and stairs will provide access between platforms and there will also be cycle storage/lock up and park and ride facilities. In addition, Airdrie and Bathgate stations will have staffed ticket offices, WCs open during staffed hours and lift access to each platform.
For more details on individual station facilities, go to The Rail Link page and click on the stations stops on the map.
Following detailed ground investigation surveys, Network Rail has taken the opportunity to review options for the station location.
Locating the station at the site of the old Caldercruix station will:
To view the proposed location click here. More information can be found on the Caldercruix page.
The previous site for the station would have built on part of the old Caldercruix Lagoons where the old paper mill once was.
There are five lagoons in total and they are interconnected, acting as a natural filtration system through which the contaminated material is filtered before draining into the North Calder Water. Removing three of the lagoons would have had an adverse effect on the other two lagoons and compromise the effectiveness of the natural filtration system. This would therefore require the entire area to be drained and decontaminated.
The area would then require extensive work to make the site suitable for use as a station car park and would expensive and difficult ‘bioremediation, stabilisation, thermal treatment and specialised landfill for contaminated materials.
Network Rail has been undertaking Ground Investigation works along the length of the Airdrie – Bathgate route over several months. The samples taken from the ground investigation works have now been analysed.
These samples have identified significantly more contamination at the proposed site of Caldercruix station than was originally anticipated.
Network Rail then examined options for de-contamination of the site and at the same time has also been investigating the feasibility of relocating Caldercruix station. These studies have only recently been completed.
Locating the station at the site of the old Caldercruix station will:
Car parking provision at each station is envisaged as follows:
Car parking facilities are being increased at all existing stations and provided at the new stations in line with the numbers of passengers forecast to travel on the service.
Due to its town centre location, it proved problematic to increase the number of car parking spaces at Airdrie. This was one of the key reasons for the selection of the relocated site at Drumgelloch as it has the land available for a large car park and the ease of access from the A89. In effect, Drumgelloch will act as an overspill car park for Airdrie.
Signs were erected around the car park and at stations to alert motorists. Leaflet drops were carried out on cars in the car parks and on train services from Bathgate.
A press release highlighting the closure was issued to local media including the West Lothian Courier. The news release can also be found on the News page of the Airdrie-Bathgate website:
http://www.airdriebathgateraillink.co.uk/news/bathgate_station_car_park_makes_way_for_new_300m_rail_line/
Through land referencing, stakeholder consultation and public meetings we identified individuals who may be affected by the rail link. In the first phase of consultation in 2004, individuals and bodies were contacted by letter with notification of dates and times for community meetings where concerns could be discussed.
During the second stage of consultation, (April 2005 to March 2006), the project impact on householders was reviewed with communities affected by the works. We have since undertaken a detailed programme of consultation with as many of the affected parties as possible. We will continue to keep individuals, organisations and the general public informed about this project and the construction works. Please visit the Contact Us page for more details.
You can view a copy of the Airdrie-Bathgate Railway and Linked Improvements Act 2007 on the following link:
http://www.opsi.gov.uk/legislation/scotland/acts2007/20070019.htm
Copies of the original Bill submission, along with the accompanying documents, can be downloaded from our Info section.
You can also view hard copies of the documents at many council offices and libraries in West Lothian, North Lanarkshire, Glasgow and Edinburgh:
| Edinburgh Central Library | George IV Bridge, Edinburgh EH1 1EG |
| Blackhall Library | 56 Hillhouse Road, Edinburgh EH4 5EG |
| Wester Hailes Library | 1 West Side Plaza, Edinburgh EH14 2FT |
| Linlithgow Library | The Vennel, Linlithgow EH49 7EX |
| Carmondean Library | Carmondean Centre, Livingston EH54 8PT |
| Airdrie Library | 6 Wellwynd, Airdrie ML6 OAG |
| Ratho Library | 6 School Wynde, Ratho, Newbridge EH28 8TT |
| Corstorphine Library | Kirk Loan, Edinburgh EH12 7HD |
| City of Edinburgh Council | Planning Department, 1 Cockburn Street, Edinburgh EH1 1BJ |
| West Lothian Council | Planning Department, County Buildings, Linlithgow EH49 7EZ |
| North Lanarkshire Council | Planning Department, Fleming House, Tryst Road, Cumbernauld G67 1JW |
| North Lanarkshire Council | Planning Department, Municiple Buildings, Kildonen Street, Coatbridge, ML5 3LN |
| The Mitchell Library | 201 North Street, Glasgow, G3 7DN |
| Bathgate Library | Hopetoun Street, Bathgate, EH48 4PD |
| Armadale Library | West Main Street, Armadale, EH48 3JB |
| Uphall Pumpherston Library (part time) | Pumpherston Primary School, Main Street, Pumpherston, West Lothian |
| Blackridge Library (part-time) | Craig Inn Centre, Blackridge, EH48 3SP |
We take the environment very seriously. A key part of the project’s development was to complete a full Environmental Impact Assessment and develop a Landscape and Habitat Management Plan with SNH (Scottish National Heritage) and SEPA (Scottish Environment Protection Agency).
These documents included full assessment of the impact of the new rail link on local residents and endangered species (such as badgers, newts and bats), for example. It also established how the effect of the railway and its construction could be minimised – an example is that Network Rail is timing its activities to ensure no disturbance of birds during nesting season.
For more information on how we minimise the impact of construction on the environment, you can download our environmental factsheet.
The Code of Construction Practice also details the way Network Rail will seek to minimise the impact of construction on the environment.
• Providing a realistic alternative to the already congested M8 motorway
• Encouraging use of more environmentally friendly public transport such as park- and-ride schemes
• A relocated cycle track from Edinburgh to Glasgow
The Environmental Statement included a full assessment of the predicted noise levels for the new rail link. The assessment categorised the predicted levels of impact and indicated locations where mitigation may be required to reduce it.
Network Rail has produced a Noise and Vibration Policy which shows the steps that will be taken to reduce the impact of noise and vibration. Broadly, it is a hierarchy of measures, starting with minimising noise at source (i.e. designing the track to reduce the likelihood of noise being created when pass trains over).
It is not expected that people living in areas where there is presently an operational railway will experience any significant change when the new services start running.
Network Rail has acquired specific areas of land along the route that are required for the construction and operation of the new rail link. In addition some land will be temporarily used during construction of the project – i.e. for temporary work compounds, site access and storage of materials.
All affected parties have been informed about the extent of the land required for the work. Only the land specifically referred to by the Airdrie-Bathgate Railway and Linked Improvements Act can be acquired and Network Rail is committed to minimising the acquisition of private property where possible.
Network Rail has produced a Guide to Compulsory Purchase Procedures and Compensation which is available on the Info page of this site.
All those who qualified for compensation have been contacted by Network Rail. Compensation is determined in accordance with all the relevant legislation and in line with the Compensation Code.
Click here to view the Guide to Compulsory Purchase Procedures and Compensation which is available on Info the page of this site.
Safety on the railway is one of the key concerns and Network Rail is keen to educate local communities about the dangers associated with the new rail line.
Our No Messin' campaign aims to educate young people about the dangers of railway crime while offering them alternative healthy activities to playing on the railway.
For more information visit: www.no-messin.com
Network Rail is regulated by the Office of the Rail Regulator and other bodies such as the Health and Safety Executive. As well as Network Rail’s company standards on safety, this project also has a Code of Construction Practice (available on the info page of this site), which details all elements of Network Rail commitments and obligations during construction of the new railway.
All persons working on or near the railway are fully trained and qualified to do so and are regularly assessed for Personal Track Safety permits.
If your question has not been answered, please write it here and we’ll get back to you.
24 hours a day, seven days a week on 08457 11 41 41.
Funded by Transport Scotland, delivered by Network Rail.