East Kilbride Enhancements

This project is being carried out in support of the Scottish Government’s target to decarbonise the railway. It will encourage modal shift from car journeys in and out of Glasgow city centre, reduce overall transport emissions, and provide a better service to our passengers.

The East Kilbride Enhancement Project represents a £139.8m investment in the railway infrastructure by the Scottish Government.

Our intention is to create an enhanced loop at Hairmyres. This would involve extending the existing loop by 1.4km at the current Hairmyres station and installing a second platform at the site of the new station.

This would provide greater resilience onto the railway corridor and improve the passenger experience during service disruption.

This enhanced loop will allow services to run to/from the new station at Hairmyres during disruption, removing the current need for trains to reverse, or for passengers to alight at Busby station. It also provides the opportunity to increase services to meet future demands.

By electrifying the line, we are enabling the introduction of electric services as part of the Scottish Government's Decarbonisation Action Plan. These electric trains are lighter, cleaner and quieter than their diesel equivalents, causing less wear and tear to the infrastructure - meaning less need for maintenance on the track.

More sustainable, cleaner, quieter and energy efficient trains contribute to a better environment.

Overall, the project will deliver faster and more reliable trains that provide a railway capable of meeting passenger needs now and in the future.

Rail is also the lowest carbon mode of mass transport and so is an essential part of a future low carbon economy.

Working in collaboration with South Lanarkshire Council, the new location for Hairmyres station creates an opportunity to provide an improved transport interchange for the local community, with increased capacity, car parking and upgraded station facilities.

The transport interchange will include the provision of two new traffic signal-controlled junctions for the south and north areas, park and ride provision including disabled spaces and EV charging spaces, as well as integrated public transport access and the potential for a community EV charging facility.

There is also provision of connections to the wider active travel network and secure cycle storage at the station building area. Street lighting and CCTV will also be provided.

Much of our works will be delivered overnight when trains are not running, but you will gradually see the outputs from this along the route as our construction programme progresses.

This will include steel foundations installed into the ground next to the railway track. These provide the base to support the new steel stanchions that in turn will support the overhead wires to power electric trains.

We will also replace several bridges to ensure they provide the necessary clearance for the overhead equipment that runs underneath them and raise the height of bridge parapets, so they are safe and compliant for an electrified railway.

Much of our work will involve using heavy plant and machinery, which will be mobilised along the tack mainly at night to deliver a range of engineering works.

At the new site for Hairmyres station, there will be significant volumes of work to construct the new station building and the new station building at East Kilbride. We will also be replacing the footbridges at Busby, Clarkston and Giffnock stations.

Some engineering work can only take place during longer closures of the railway. However, piling activity can take place during nightshifts when trains do not run and at a time that causes the least disruption to train services, as this is a requirement of our operating licence - which is to keep the railway network open as much as possible.

We will be engaging with the community through a series of public drop-in events during the autumn of this year to share information on our programme and the works being delivered.

We will also be updating this dedicated project page on a regular basis, so please continue to visit or look out for us on social media on X (formerly Twitter) - @NetworkRailSCOT

If you have any questions about the project, you can email us at EKEnhancements@networkrail.co.uk