NEW AND IMPROVED STATIONS ARRIVING SOON AT AIRDRIE AND DRUMGELLOCH
Tuesday April 13, 2010
• Work begins on state-of-the-art new station at Drumgelloch
• Major improvements for Airdrie, including easier access and new platform
• ScotRail introduces replacement bus services to minimise disruption
The Airdrie-Bathgate Rail Link takes a major leap forward next month when Network Rail begins work on Drumgelloch’s brand new station and undertakes major station improvements at Airdrie.
To allow for construction of the new station – as well as a 358 new car parking spaces - the existing Drumgelloch Station will close from 9 May, with bus replacement services running until the new station opens along with the Airdrie-Bathgate line in December 2010. Until then, Airdrie will be the nearest station except between 17-26 July when it will also close temporarily to allow a new platform and footbridge to be constructed and easy-access lifts and stairs to be installed. During this short period, alternative transport will be arranged between Airdrie and Coatbridge Sunnyside.
Ron McAulay, Network Rail’s director, Scotland said:
“With less than nine months to go before the line is up and running, local residents will start to see some exciting developments taking place.
“As well as work on Airdrie and Drumgelloch stations, we’ll also be widening a bridge over Carlisle Road to double track it so that trains can run in both directions at once. To minimise disruption we have scheduled as much work as possible for during the school holidays and we’re working with ScotRail and North Lanarkshire Council to make sure alternative transport and road diversions are in place.”
To allow for the bridge construction, Carlisle Road will be closed at weekends and overnight during May and for up to eight weeks from 14 June when a clearly marked traffic diversion route, organised by North Lanarkshire Council, will be in place.
Mr McAulay continued:
“‘Network Rail is aware that our work is sometimes disruptive, despite our best efforts to keep this work to a minimum, so we’ll keep local people as up-to-date with developments as we can, starting with a drop in session at Gartlea Community Centre between 5.30 and 7.30pm on 28 April, when anyone interested in finding out more about what we are doing is welcome to come along.”
Kirsty Watson, ScotRail’s manager for the Airdrie-Bathgate project, said:
“We have done everything possible to keep inconvenience to an absolute minimum. Full plans are in place to provide alternative transport arrangements where required.”
Graham Mackay, head of roads and transportation for North Lanarkshire Council, said:
“We understand that the work required may cause inconvenience for local people. However, we have worked in partnership with Network Rail and Strathclyde Police throughout the planning stages to ensure that disruption will be kept to a minimum, for example by ensuring that the bulk of the work requiring road diversions is carried out during the summer period.
“Suitable diversions will be in place to minimise disruption while this important development is carried out.”
Residents can find out more about the works and what they will mean for them during a drop-in session at Gartlea Community Centre on Wednesday the 28th of April from 5.30 to 7.30pm.
The £300m Airdrie-Bathgate rail link is funded by Transport Scotland.*
Key dates at a glance:
28 April – Drop-in session with Network Rail representatives at Gartlea Community Centre
9 May – Drumgelloch station closes for relocation and will remain closed until the reopening of the line in December 2010
22/23 May – weekend closures begin on Carlisle Road for four weeks
24 May – night time closures (10pm – 6am) begin on Carlisle Road for eight weeks
14 June – Carlisle Road closed for up to eight weeks
17 to 26 July – Airdrie station closed for a period of nine days
16 Aug – Carlisle Road reopens
Ends
* Costs stated at Q1 2006 prices