East Kilbride Enhancements

Project Updates

• First electric passengers services run on newly electrified line

  Time: 7.00 | Date: 14-12-25

  Passengers travelling between East Kilbride and Glasgow will benefit from a cleaner, quieter and more reliable railway as electric trains begin operating on the route.

  The first electric services began running on Sunday 14 December 2025, marking the completion of a £144m investment from the Scottish Government to modernise the line and deliver a more sustainable transport network.

• Major works along the route

  Time: 13.00 | Date: 20-08-23

  Major works along the route...

  On 13 October, an electric train ran on the East Kilbride line for the first time ever, completing a successful test journey from Glasgow.

  The Class 380 train travelled along the newly electrified line overnight, with engineers onboard to monitor how the new overhead line equipment and electric train performed.

  First test run for electric trains on East Kilbride line

  The testing phase is a major milestone for the project, with further test runs being carried out ahead of the introduction of the first ScotRail electric passenger services on the line in December 2025.

  

  On 20 August, the new £9m East Kilbride station opened. Delivered by Network Rail and contractor AmcoGiffen, this is the latest milestone in the overall enhancement project.

  

  The modern facility replaces the previous station building and offers a significantly improved passenger experience, with a new ticket office and barriers, waiting area, and accessibility improvements.

  From 25 January until 18 May 2025 - extensive engineering works took place over 16-weeks along the East Kilbride line by Network Rail and our contractor partners AmcoGiffen, Story, SPL Powerlines, QTS, Rail Systems Alliance and Siemens.
  
  The 16-week programme included:

  • Double-tracking 1.4km of railway between East Kilbride and Hairmyres
  • Installing over 22km of overhead electric power lines
  • Erecting new footbridges at Busby, Clarkston and Giffnock stations
  • Renewing the railway bridge over East Kilbride Road in Busby
  • Lowering the track under four key bridges.

  Work also completed to the £16 million new Hairmyres station, enhancing travel opportunities for a wide range of passengers and connecting them to essential services, employment, and education.

  The new building was officially opened by Fiona Hyslop MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Transport, on Monday 19 May 2025.

  

  The new station enhances travel opportunities for a wide range of passengers, connecting them to essential services, employment, and education.

  

  Located 600 metres west of its original site, the station features modern waiting areas and step-free access to ensure a safe, comfortable and accessible journey for everyone.
  

  

  

  From January to mid-March 2025 - This critical period in the electrification project has achieved the extension of the existing loop at Hairmyres to provide the double tracking section that runs through the new station.

  

  Three track lowers have been completed near Busby and between Giffnock and Thornliebank. New footbridges at Busby and Giffnock stations have been lifted into position, with Clarkston station to follow.

  

  At Hairmyres, glazing installation to the new station building is underway, while at East Kilbride the steel framework is in place and the focus is on making the new building wind and water tight over the coming weeks.

  

  
  Mid-March to May 2025 - With the track works now complete, the emphasis over the remaining weeks is on completing the installation of the overhead line equipment and installing the last footbridge which is at Clarkston station.
  

  During closure of the line, the bridge over East Kilbride Road (A727) at Busby station is being replaced.

  The railway bridge is frequently struck by high sided vehicles and will be replaced with a steel and reinforced concrete structure. This will reduce the impact of future strikes to the bridge causing rail disruption and local road closures

  To allow safe delivery of the work, traffic management measures will be in place including a three-day full road closure:
  

  17 - 21 March: Overnight 23:00 until 06:00 (contraflow in place during the day)

  22, 23, 24 March: Fully closed

  25 - 28 March: Overnight 23:00 until 06:00 (contraflow in place during the day)

  *A contraflow may remain in place after the 28 March to allow the completion of finishing works
  

  Over the 16-weeks the line is closed, a replacement bus service will be in place during this time. Check at www.scotrail.co.uk/east-kilbride-enhancement-project when planning your journeys over this period.

  

  2024
  November 2024 - Here's an update from the project team on the new Hairmyres station and what we've been up to over the last few months.

  https://youtu.be/6Sf-ot9N9LY
  

  The the new station is really starting to take shape and will open in summer 2025.
  
  September to October 2024

  We’ve upgraded the railway bridge next to Thorntonhall station on Peel Road by raising the parapets (side walls).

  

  The parapets had to be raised from between 1.55m to 1.85m to allow the overhead line equipment that’ll power the electric trains to run underneath.

  We've used similar stone to ensure the extended walls are in keeping with the existing Victorian bridge.

  

  Over the last weekend in September, the project reached a significant milestone with the demolition of two bridges at Thornliebank Road and on Westerton Lane near Busby station.
  

  

  The replacement bridge was craned into position at Westerton Lane following the demolition. The bridge beams of the new structure at Thornliebank Road were lifted into place over the first week in October

  

  Both bridges now have enough space underneath to install the of new overhead line equipment.
  

  Over the last weekend in September we also craned an accessible bridge into position at the new Hairmyres station.

  

  At Giffnock station, preparatory work is underway ahead of a new, accessible footbridge being installed next year.

  Part of the work involves removing vegetation adjacent to Platform 2 to create a safe working area to install the new footbridge in 2025.

  

  We will also be undertaking piling work this autumn until the end of this year to install the foundations that will support the new footbridge.

  The new bridge will provide significant improvements, as it will have lift access to both platforms. This will make it easier for people with reduced mobility or those travelling with luggage, children, or bicycles to travel by train.

  

  To deliver the footbridge works, the site compound already in place at Giffnock station has expanded so we can safely mobilise of plant and machinery.

  This involves utilising 68 parking spaces in total, from 16 September 2024 until June 2025. The remainder of the station's parking continues to be available, including accessible spaces.
  
  July 2024 - Engineers delivered a significant phase of the project over the summer months.

  During an extended period of activity from 19 until 22 July 2024, the project to take a considerable step forward and deliver some elements more quickly. You can find out more here 👇
  

  Major works complete on the East Kilbride Enhancement project (networkrailmediacentre.co.uk)

  

  The project team welcomed the Cabinet Secretary for Transport Fiona Hyslop to the site of the relocated Hairmyres station on 17 July to see progress on since work started at the beginning of this year.

  

  Two platforms which will accommodate the double tracking on this section of the route were approaching completion.

  Double tracking allows trains more opportunities to pass each other rather than having to wait, and helps keep trains running on time, improving reliability.

  We've also installed 24 steel foundations to support the new footbridge and lift towers as work gets underway on the new Hairmyres station building, which will start to emerge from the ground over the comings months.

• East Kilbride station

  Time: 13.30 | Date: 04-03-24

  A 16-month programme to construct a new, accessible building at East Kilbride station began in February 2024 by Network Rail and AmcoGiffen.

  Once work completes in June 2025, the new station will provide a more modern and accessible building, with improved passenger facilities, a new booking office a waiting area and a small retail unit.

  

  To allow the safe delivery of the construction works, 129 parking spaces at the station are being used to house a site compound from March 2024 and throughout the works.

  The compound provides welfare and office facilities for staff, and the necessary space for the plant and materials needed to safely deliver the works.

  
  

  

  The new station building will be located within the existing station footprint, between Torrance Road and West Mains Road.

  

  To enable the construction of the new building at the buffer end of the station, the platform was extended by 51 metres to the Glasgow bound side.

  

  This then allowed the buffer to be moved a few metres along the track from its current position.

  

  Extending the existing platform also makes it possible to accommodate longer trains.

  During the summer, a 58-tonne piling rig installed 71 foundations that will support the the new station building to depths of 6 metres.

  

  

  In the run up to the end of the year, concrete pours have taken place as part of the foundation work to the new station building

  

  

  This is in advance of the start of construction works to install the steel framework from early January 2025.

  

  Although the current station building will operate as normal during delivery of the works, the kiosk demolished in the spring of 2024 will be replaced by a small retail unit included inside the new building.

• Busby Station

  Time: 13.30 | Date: 03-03-25

  We're replacing the railway bridge over East Kilbride Road, at the station from 17 until 28 March 2025.

  This £1.85m investment in the railway has been timed to take place during the ongoing closure of the East Kilbride line to deliver the electrification works.

  

  The new bridge will be stronger and more resilient, reducing the risk of damage to the railway if struck by high-sided vehicles using the road below.

  To allow safe delivery of the works the A727 (East Kilbride Road) at Busby station will close between the following dates/times:

  17 - 21 March: Overnight 23:00 until 06:00 (contraflow in place during the day)

  22, 23, 24 March: Fully closed

  25 - 28 March: Overnight 23:00 until 06:00 (contraflow in place during the day)

  Clearly signed diversionary routes for motorists will be place during the road closures, including an all-vehicle diversion route over the three-day closure via the Carmunnock Bypass (B766).

  

  The contraflow will involve having temporary traffic lights in place and motorists are advised to add in some extra journey time.

  

  With Busby station closed until 18 May, a bus replacement service is currently operating.

  During the bridge works the last replacement bus to Busby departs Glasgow Central station at 21.49 and from East Kilbride station at 22.28.

  During the three days full closure, a minibus will run between Busby and Clarkson, with an additional local minibus in Busby, to keep the community connected.

  Details on rail replacement services can be at: www.scotrail.co.uk/east-kilbride-enhancement-project.
  

  Work takes place from October 2024 until May 2025 to replace the existing footbridge at Busby station.

  This is to create the necessary height clearance to run the new overhead equipment underneath that will power greener, electric trains on the route.

  

  Piling work started in November for six-weeks to install 28 foundations (14 on each platform) to provide the support for the new bridge.

  To safely carry out this work, the stair access to the station from Glenville Gate is closed. The ramp access to Platform 1, near the turning circle, will remain open.

  

  We removed the existing footbridge in late January 2025 and craned the new structure into position on 28 February, with work underway to complete this by 18 May 2025.

  

• Thornliebank Road bridge works

  Time: 0.00 | Date: 01-03-24

  Network Rail opened the new Thornliebank Road bridge on Tuesday 22 April 2025 – seven weeks ahead of schedule.
  
  

  

  This vital work delivered was needed to create enough space underneath the bridge to install the overhead line equipment to allow electric trains to run on the line.

  East Kilbride Enhancement project - Thornliebank Road bridge reopens early for community

  Network Rail, along with contractor Story, who started the £5.5m project in April 2024, was due to complete the bridge work in June 2025 but delivered ahead of schedule.

  

  Over 50,000 hours were worked over the last 12-months and 1,500 tonnes of concrete was used for the new bridge structure, including 165 tonnes of steel reinforcement.
  

  The majority of the work over the first five-months was to divert a number of utilities onto a temporary footbridge.
  

  This then allowed our engineers to complete a major milestone over the last weekend in September 2024 - demolishing the old bridge.

  

  Following this, the focus was on constructing the new bridge and then safely re-housing a number of utilities back on to this.

  

  

  

  Thornliebank Road re-opened to traffic on 22 April 2025.
  

  

  
  

• Hairmyres new station

  Time: 0.00 | Date: 04-01-24

  As well as constructing an accessible new building at East Kilbride station, Network Rail and AmcoGiffen are delivering the new Hairmyres station, a critical element of the East Kilbride Enhancement project.

  

  We're relocating the station about 600m west of its current location, as the footprint of the existing station doesn't provide the required space for the new station.

  

  Over a 16-month programme, we're delivering the new £16m station building which will have an accessible footbridge with lifts providing access to both platforms.

  The first phase of the platform works started in spring 2024 and involved a three-month programme to lift 184 separate precast concrete units into position.

  East Kilbride Enhancements - Hairmyres new station update - April 2024 (youtube.com)

  

  In July 2024, we mobilised a 58-tonne piling rig to drive 24 steel pile foundations to depths of between 2 metres to 5 metres to support the new footbridge and lifts.

  

  In August 2024, construction got underway to erect the new station building. This is really starting to take shape and is visible to passengers from passing trains.

  

  

  Over the last weekend in September, during a three-day period of extended engineering works as part of the wider enhancement project, the new accessible footbridge was craned into position.

  

  

  The new bridge will provide significant improvements for passengers, as the lifts provide step-free access that will also make it easier for people with reduced mobility or those travelling with luggage, children, or bicycles to travel by train.

  

  Here's an update from the project team on the new Hairmyres station and what we've been up to over the autumn.

  https://youtu.be/6Sf-ot9N9LY
  

  The the new station is really starting to take shape and will open in summer 2025.
  

  During 2025, we will be extending the existing track loop at Hairmyres by 1.4km. This allows us to double the track at this section of the railway and is why the new station can provide two platforms, which will also help improve future performance and reliability on the line.
  

• Full funding granted by Scottish Government

  Time: 13.00 | Date: 06-09-23

  

  On 06 September 2023, Minister for Transport, Fiona Hyslop MSP, approved full funding for the delivery of the East Kilbride Enhancement Project.

  This £139.8m investment from the Scottish Government will deliver:

  • Electrification of the route between East Kilbride and Glasgow,
  • A relocated accessible station at Hairmyres,
  • A new accessible station at East Kilbride,
  • A 1.4km extension of the existing loop at Hairmyres,
  • A new accessible station footbridge with lifts at Giffnock Station and platform extensions,
  • A new footbridge and additional station entrance at Clarkston station,
  • A new footbridge at Busby Station
  • The introduction of greener and cleaner electric trains from December 2025.