Balgray station
Balgray station
We're building a new railway station at Balgray, on the line between Glasgow Central and Neilston.
The station will have a car park, bus stop and active travel links, and will provide rail connections to Glasgow for several new housing developments in the area and the existing Barrhead community, as well as providing direct access to Dams to Darnley Country Park and Balgray reservoir.
East Renfrewshire Council, with funding from the Glasgow Region City Deal, is working in partnership with Network Rail, STORY Contracting, ScotRail and Transport Scotland to build the new station.
The Glasgow City Region City Deal is a £1.13 billion partnership between eight local authorities, the Scottish Government and the UK Government. It includes 27 projects, with 21 of them major infrastructure schemes.
Project Timeline
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October 2023 - Preparatory work (outline design, ground and site investigations)
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August 2024 - Final Business Case submitted to City Deal Cabinet
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September 2024 - Final Business Case approved and further preparatory work underway
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Summer 2025 - construction begins
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Autumn 2026 - station opens to passengers
Project Updates
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Green signal for new station at Balgray
The final business case for the new station has now been approved by Glasgow City Region City Deal panel - the latest milestone in the project that will connect the existing community and new housing development to the rail network.
A funding award of £18.3m from the Glasgow City Region City Deal will see the new Balgray station built on the Neilston line near to Balgray reservoir.
It’s the latest milestone in the project that will connect the existing community and new housing development to the rail network..
Over the past few months, Network Rail and East Renfrewshire Council have been working with Transport Scotland, ScotRail and Story Contracting to plan and design the new station.
The station will have two platforms connected by a footbridge with lifts, as well as waiting shelters, cycle storage and ticket machines.
There will be an 80-space car park for passengers, with ten charging points for electric vehicles.
Footpaths and cycle paths will lead into the station and will be easily accessible for residents in nearby homes by walking, wheeling or cycling.
As part of the build, a direct path from the station to Dams to Darnley Country Park will be created, allowing easier access for visitors arriving for a day out.
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Breaking ground on Barrhead’s new £18.3m Balgray station
Ground is officially broken on the £18.3m Balgray station, marking the start of construction on a new rail link serving Barrhead and its growing communities.
The station will make it easier for people to travel to and from Glasgow for work, education and leisure, while also improving access to local destinations like the Dams to Darnley Country Park. Once complete, it’ll feature two platforms connected by a footbridge with lifts, along with waiting shelters, ticket machines and secure cycle storage.
The project is part of the wider Glasgow City Region City Deal, with funding provided by the UK and Scottish Governments, which is focused on improving transport links, supporting economic growth and encouraging more sustainable development. It’s being delivered by Network Rail in partnership with East Renfrewshire Council, Transport Scotland, ScotRail and Story Contracting.
Margaret Gibb, commercial director at Network Rail Scotland, said: “Breaking ground at Balgray is a major step forward in improving transport for the Barrhead area. The new station will make it easier for people to travel to and from Glasgow, and for locals and visitors to connect with places like Dams to Darnley Country Park.
“It’s exciting to see work begin on a project that also supports active travel, encouraging more walking and cycling too. We’re proud to be part of a partnership delivering real change and long-term benefits for people in Barrhead and the surrounding area.”
An 80-space car park at the station will include electric vehicle charging points, with new walkways linking the platforms directly to nearby housing developments and reservoir paths.
Councillor Owen O’Donnell, leader of East Renfrewshire Council, said: “I’m delighted to see work start on the new Balgray station which will greatly improve transport links between Barrhead and other parts of East Renfrewshire with stations on the Neilston line - Williamwood, Whitecraigs and Patterton.
“Like many of our communities, Barrhead is growing, and this new station will also provide another route from the town into Glasgow. We’re proud to be working with our partners on delivering this new station which is one of our biggest City Deal projects.”
Preparatory work and planning for the station began in October 2023, with the final proposal approved by the Glasgow City Region City Deal panel in September 2024. Construction will continue into next year, with the station expected to open to passengers in Autumn 2026.
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Balgray station platforms take shape
Significant progress at the site of Barrhead’s new £18.3m Balgray station, with the steel platform structures rising from the ground and the layout beginning to take shape.
New overhead line structures have been installed, and drainage and earthworks have helped prepare the ground.
Once complete in Autumn 2026, Balgray station will feature two platforms connected by a footbridge with lifts, along with waiting shelters, ticket machines and secure cycle storage.
The next phase of work will focus on building the foundations for the footbridge and starting construction on the new car park. More earthworks and drainage will be carried out, and platform construction will continue. Early 2026, the lift and footbridge will be installed.
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New station footbridge and lifts installed at Balgray
A new £18.3m train station in East Renfrewshire is a step closer to opening after engineers successfully installed its footbridge and lifts this week.
Since construction began in July 2025, the project has made strong progress with platforms and a new car park taking shape. The footbridge links the platforms and introduces step-free access, making journeys easier and more inclusive for passengers.
Next, work will continue on the station and car park construction, including new cycle parking, a footpath link to the country park, accessible parking spaces, and electric vehicle charging points, all in preparation for the station’s opening later this year.
Why?
A new station will improve connectivity for passengers, especially those in the south of Barrhead who cannot access the town's railway station easily, as well as future occupants of the new housing developments to the south and west of Barrhead.
It will provide a direct public transport link to the Dams to Darnley Country Park and the walking route around Balgray Reservoir.
It will help facilitate growth, encourage modal shift and assist regeneration, long-term sustainability and accessibility.
What will change?
The new station will have two platforms connected by a footbridge with lifts, as well as waiting shelters, cycle storage and ticket machines. There will be an 80-space car park for passengers, with charging points for electric vehicles included.
Walkways from the platforms will connect directly with Balgray reservoir paths and provide access to the proposed future housing developments in the area.