LAND ACQUISITION FOR AIRDRIE-BATHGATE RAIL LINK PROJECT BEGINS
Tuesday January 08, 2008
Network Rail today began the land acquisition process for the construction and operation of the new Airdrie-Bathgate Rail Link.
Although most affected landowners have previously been contacted, Network Rail will be contacting land and property owners in the coming weeks and formal notices are being delivered to all affected parties along with guidance notes and a Q&A.
The serving of pre-General Vesting Declaration (GVD) notices will mark the formal process which will transfer land ownership along the route to Network Rail. Some land and property has already been acquired through an Advance Purchase Scheme.
It is anticipated that all the necessary land will be transferred to Network Rail by summer 2008 and construction work on the main section of the new line between Bathgate and Airdrie will begin in the Autumn. Survey work along the route, essential for informing the detailed design for the railway, is already underway.
Advanced work for the new rail link began in June 2007 with work taking place along the Bathgate branch line, including extensive track replacement, soil excavation and the removal and replacement of five bridges.