Barrhead to Glasgow Electrification

Major Barrhead to Glasgow engineering works from 24 June – 3 August 2023.

Trains services will resume on Friday, 4 August.

Visit ScotRail or National Rail enquiries for journey information.

SCOTLAND'S RAILWAY GREENER IN THE MAKING

PROJECT ACTIVITIES

The Barrhead to Glasgow electrification project is part of a Scottish Government investment to decarbonise Scotland’s railway passenger services by providing greener trains onto the route.

From Saturday 24 June, engineering work will intensify over a six week period as we prepare the Barrhead to Glasgow line for electrification

This critical phase of the project allows us to work 24/7 to install overhead power cables and associated equipment, and also deliver works at four key stations – Kennishead, Priesthill & Darnley, Nitshill and Barrhead.

This means the rail line between Kennishead and Kilmarnock stations will be closed and no train services will be running during this time.

Services that operate between Kilmarnock and Glasgow Central will be replaced by buses.

Customers are being advised to check before you travel at www.scotrail.co.uk/glasgow-kilmarnockclosure or via www.nationalrail.co.uk

Normal train services will resume on Friday 4 August.

At Kennishead and Priesthill & Darnley stations, we’ll be carrying our platform ducting work, cope adjustments and parapet modifications to ensure they are compliant for an electrified railway.

Platform ducting work and cope adjustments will also take place at Barrhead station, and installing new track at Platform 3.

Part of the work involves removing of the existing footbridge at Nitshill station, as it does not provide the required clearance height for the new overhead equipment.

This will be replaced with a new ramp to Platform 2, providing step-free access that makes it easier for people with impaired mobility or those travelling with luggage, children or cycles to access this platform.

This project forms part of a rolling programme of decarbonisation and follows on from the electrification of the main Edinburgh to Glasgow line via Falkirk High, the Stirling to Dunblane and Alloa line and the Shotts to Edinburgh line, with 325 single track kilometres of new electric railway delivered across the central belt over the last decade.

Project Timeline

May 2022 to February 2023 - Route wide piling work to accommodate overhead line stanchions
June 2022 - Removal of Carstcraig Road footbridge
August 2022 - Removal of bridge deck at Nithsdale Road to allow higher clearance bridge deck to be built, with the road reopening in January 2023
June to August 2023 - Six week period of major engineering works between Kennishead and Barrhead stations to prepare the line for electrification.
December 2023 - Project Completion

Why?

Large numbers of passenger and freight journeys are already made on electrified routes in Scotland. By converting the remainder of the diesel-powered railway network to being powered by electricity and low carbon sources, this will result in fewer greenhouse gas emissions, generating an even greener railway.

What will change?

As part of the Scottish Government's action plan to decarbonise the railway, the Barrhead to Glasgow electrification project represents the current phase of the wider decarbonisation programme, as one of two priority lines for electrification, with the other being East Kilbride. The existing railway between Barrhead and Busby Junction consists of 12 km of non-electrified railway.