BATHGATE RAIL UPGRADES SET FOR AUTUMN COMPLETION
Thursday September 04, 2008
• Double-tracked Bathgate-Edinburgh line to begin operation in October
• Edinburgh services to/from Bathgate, Dunblane and Glasgow to be affected in September and October by vital works. First ScotRail introduces revised timetable and replacement bus services to minimise disruption
Network Rail will complete the first phase of the Airdrie-Bathgate Rail Link Project when double tracking of the line between Bathgate and Edinburgh is commissioned in October.
This upgraded section of line is part of the £300 million Transport Scotland-funded Airdrie-Bathgate Rail Link Project, and will see improved reliability of service on the busy Bathgate to Edinburgh commuter route.
A major engineering project, the final phase of these advance works requires a nine-day closure of the Bathgate branch line which will coincide with seven consecutive days of planned rail improvement works to the main Edinburgh-Glasgow Queen Street line.
The Bathgate line will be closed between October 11 and 19 for double tracking and signalling works and the new line will then be integrated into the existing rail network. There will also be a number of weekend closures in September and October. Buses will replace trains between Edinburgh and Bathgate on those dates.
Work at Newbridge Junction, to the west of Edinburgh, will affect the Edinburgh-Glasgow line on September 28, October 11-17 and October 26. Services will be half-hourly throughout the day – with additional services running in the morning and evening peaks. Journeys will be extended by 20 minutes.
Passengers travelling between Stirling and Dunblane and Edinburgh will change trains at Linlithgow. An additional express bus service from Linlithgow will operate during the morning peak.
David Simpson, Network Rail Route Director, Scotland said: “The Airdrie-Bathgate Rail Link Project will create a vital new link between Edinburgh, Glasgow and the communities served by this new railway. The first package of improvements that this project can offer is the double tracking of the line between Edinburgh and Bathgate and that is what we will deliver this autumn.
“To enable the work to take effect, Network Rail has to integrate the newly double-tracked Bathgate line with other parts of the rail network. In this case, that will require new track and signalling at Newbridge junction, a section of line also used by the Edinburgh to Glasgow Queen Street and Edinburgh to Dunblane services. This will require temporary timetable changes and replacement bus services to operate during this period.
“Network Rail has been working closely with Transport Scotland and the train operators who will be affected by this enhancement work. In particular, we are working with First ScotRail to provide its customers with a strengthened train service between Edinburgh and Glasgow Central as well as two trains per hour between Edinburgh and Queen Street via Dalmeny. Bus services will be provided on other routes.”
Steve Montgomery, Operations and Safety Director at First ScotRail, added: “We have done everything possible to keep inconvenience to an absolute minimum by running as many services as possible.
“Full plans are in place to provide alternative transport arrangements where required. Journeys will take longer than normal and passengers should allow more time for travel.”
Joe Ross, project manager for Transport Scotland, said: “The Airdrie–Bathgate project will introduce a high quality public transport link for communities in North Lanarkshire and West Lothian. Linking them with the country’s two biggest cities Glasgow and Edinburgh will open up new employment opportunities as well as encouraging more people to choose public transport over their cars.
“An investment of this scale in Scotland’s transport infrastructure will inevitably mean some disruption as the project is being delivered. We have worked closely with our rail industry partners and everything is being done to ensure that disruption is kept to a minimum. In the meantime, we would thank people in advance for their patience.”
Services between Glasgow Queen Street and Edinburgh will be affected by unrelated maintenance works in the Falkirk area on Sunday, October 5, with buses operating between Falkirk High and Waverley.
Notes to Editors:
Service Alteration Details:
Bathgate / Edinburgh / Newcraighall services
Saturdays 13 and 20 September and 11, 18 and 25 October
Monday 13 October to Friday 17 October
A replacement bus service will operate between Bathgate and Edinburgh.
A train service will run between Edinburgh and Newcraighall.
Saturdays 27 September and 4 October
A replacement bus service will operate between Edinburgh and Newcraighall.
Bathgate / Edinburgh services
Sundays 14 September to 26 October
A replacement bus service will operate between Bathgate and Edinburgh.
Edinburgh / Glasgow services
Sundays 28 September to 12 October
Trains will operate between Glasgow Queen Street and Falkirk High connecting with replacement bus services operating to/from Edinburgh Waverley.
Additional services will also operate between Glasgow Central and Edinburgh Waverley throughout the day.
Saturday 11 October
Monday 13 October to Friday 17 October
Trains will be reduced to half hourly calling at Croy, Falkirk High, Linlithgow, Polmont and Haymarket with extended journey times throughout. Some of these services will call additionally at Lenzie and Bishopbriggs.
Some additional services will operate between Glasgow Central and Edinburgh Waverley during peak hours. On Saturday 11 October additional services will also operate from Linlithgow to Glasgow Queen St from mid-morning to lunchtime.
Sunday 26 October
Services will have extended journey times throughout.
Edinburgh / Stirling / Dunblane services
Sundays 28 September to 12 October
Trains will operate between Dunblane and Falkirk Grahamston connecting with replacement bus services operating to/from Edinburgh Waverley.
Saturday 11 October
Monday 13 October to Friday 17 October
Trains will operate between Dunblane and Linlithgow connecting with rail services operating to/from Edinburgh Waverley with no direct service to Edinburgh Park.
A replacement bus service will operate between Linlithgow and Edinburgh Park.
Please note on Saturday 11 October an early morning and a late evening service will operate between Edinburgh and Dunblane. From 13-17 October, an early morning service will operate between Edinburgh and Dunblane.
Sunday 26 October
Trains will have extended journey times throughout with no direct service to Edinburgh Park. A replacement bus service will operate between Linlithgow and Edinburgh Park.
For more information contact:
Media Relations (Scotland)
t:0141 555 4108
e: mediarelations@networkrail.co.uk
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