East Kilbride/Barrhead electrification updates

[snowball]

This press release has been up since Friday but i ignored it at first because I didn't notice it related to this thread.

Network Rail delivers £1.3m package of platform works in Glasgow and East Renfrewshire

Network Rail has delivered a £1.3 million investment of platform works at Giffnock and Pollokshaws West stations.

www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk

Network Rail has delivered a £1.3 million investment of platform works at Giffnock and Pollokshaws West stations.

The five-month programme at Giffnock station in East Renfrewshire, on the East Kilbride to Glasgow line, replaced the 153-metre long section of Platform 1 that’s been in place for over 80 years.

Precast units were laid on top of 85 concrete foundations that spanned the platform and 75 per cent of materials on site were processed and reused as a backfill.

Part of the work also involved engineers extending the section to the south end of the platform by 15-metres to improve future signalling in this location.

At Pollokshaws West station, on Glasgow’s southside, more than 65 tonnes of brickwork was removed and the wall rebuilt to improve the existing condition of the platform that serves both the Glasgow-Barrhead and East Kilbride to Glasgow lines.

For safety reasons, trains with only four carriages were in operation on both lines during the works but trains of up to six carriages will restart from tomorrow (20 April).

Ian Clark, project manager for the works at Giffnock station, said: “The work at Giffnock station is part of our wider maintenance strategy to run a safe and reliable railway by protecting and improving our assets.

“We thank residents living close to Giffnock station for their patience, given much of our work could only be done overnight, and also passengers who had to contend with a four-carriage service to allow the safe delivery of the project.

“However, the renewal work to Platform 1 means that it shouldn’t require an intervention on the scale again for at least another 80 years.”

Michelle McCaig, project manager for the works at Pollokshaws West station, said: “The platforms works at each station were necessary to improve the railway so that it continues to remain fit for purpose for our passengers and freight customers.

“We are very grateful for the support shown by the wider Pollokshaws community during delivery of the works.”

With the majority of work at Pollokshaws West station now complete, the final element will involve resurfacing Platform 2 and will be carried out later in the year.

Throughout the works at Giffnock, 33 parking spaces at the station were utilised to house the site compound – this will continue to remain in place to deliver the East Kilbride Enhancement project.

-------------- the dreaded automerge --------------------------



Press release announcing reopening yesterday of Thornton Road bridge.

Thornton Road bridge reopens

Network Rail reopened the bridge over the railway at Thornton Road in East Kilbride today, Monday 22 April.

www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk

Network Rail reopened the bridge over the railway at Thornton Road in East Kilbride today, Monday 22 April.

The bridge has been replaced as part of a wider £140m Scottish Government investment in the East Kilbride Enhancement project to decarbonise passenger services.

Thornton Road bridge is one of several along the East Kilbride to Glasgow railway corridor being raised to provide more space underneath.

This will allow engineers to install the required overhead line equipment so that electric trains can run on the route.

Network Rail, along with contractor Story, started work in December 2023 and the bridge is the second to be completed after a new footbridge near Hairmyres station opened last month.

Simon Humble, Network Rail’s project manager for the bridge works, said: “The team’s made incredible progress since starting the bridge replacement works towards the end of last year. This hasn’t been without its challenges given the very wet and windy weather, particularly over the last few weeks.

“The re-opening of Thornton Road represents an important milestone on the enhancement project overall, as it marks the final element of our bridge replacement works in East Kilbride.

“I would like to thank the community for their patience both during the delivery of this work and the on-going activity across the wider route.”

After the old bridge was demolished at Thornton Road over the Christmas period, the team focused on building the new one by craning six precast concrete units into place that each weighed up to 35 tonnes.

Elsewhere, progress is continuing at the site of the new Hairmyres station, where the team recently installed 184 concrete units to create two new platforms.

At East Kilbride station, work to extend the existing platform by 51m is nearing completion. This will accommodate moving the station buffer to allow the construction of the new station building.

In addition, a 14-month programme to replace Thornliebank Road bridge in East Renfrewshire started earlier this month, with the old structure due to be demolished in the autumn.

Electric services will be introduced on the East Kilbride line following completion of the project in December 2025 and will offer enhanced operational performance and flexibility of service on the route.

Here's what it looked like before (Streetview link):

Google Maps

Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps.

www.google.co.uk

I've updated my list of bridges in #1826.

 

[OB23Gone]

Some photo updates:-Pollokshaws Road fence now all renewed. Shaws West Station strange happening at platform 1. Giffnock:- Good work on platform, 2 masts in

Some photo updates at Thornliebank Station and Bridge works. Station:- Some masts nearer from Busby Junction, Cantilever in & some poured piles. Bridge Works:- Difficult to see much progress on the actual Road bridge as 3 sides are behind boarding but Work progressions in preparation for temporary pedestrian footbridge

 

[E400Lover101]

Some photo updates:-Pollokshaws Road fence now all renewed. Shaws West Station strange happening at platform 1. Giffnock:- Good work on platform, 2 masts in

Some photo updates at Thornliebank Station and Bridge works. Station:- Some masts nearer from Busby Junction, Cantilever in & some poured piles. Bridge Works:- Difficult to see much progress on the actual Road bridge as 3 sides are behind boarding but Work progressions in preparation for temporary pedestrian footbrige

We are definitely getting somewhere with the electrification, A few piles seen at Clarkston Station and a few poured piles outside the station. The vegetation works at Busby bridge is presumably where a pile will be placed.

 

[OB23Gone]

Big Crane Wee Bridge. Thornliebank Station Temp. Footbridge main section now in position

 

[E400Lover101]

Network Rail have posted on Twitter that they'll be starting work on getting steelwork installed on the Overlee Viaduct (Between Clarkston and Busby) over the next few weeks.

 

[och aye]

Network Rail press release regarding the rebuilding of EK station. The project is due to be completed by December 2025.

Three key pieces of work completed at East Kilbride station​

Three key pieces of work completed at East Kilbride station

Network Rail has hit three important milestones as part of its ongoing improvement works at East Kilbride station.

www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk

Network Rail has hit three important milestones as part of its ongoing improvement works at East Kilbride station.

Engineers demolished the kiosk building, removed part of the platform at one side and extended it at the other to allow the construction of a new station building and installation of overhead line equipment.

The platform work is vital in allowing the station to accommodate longer trains on the East Kilbride to Glasgow route as part of the East Kilbride enhancement project.

In addition, the railway buffer, which is used to mark the end of the line, was moved in preparation for the platform to be extended by 25m next year - a move which will create space for more passengers.

 

[Southsider]

Work has started to raise the parapets on the Church Road bridge.

 

[E400Lover101]

385 105 doing a test on Barrhead tonight working the following

5D10, 20:00, Edinburgh - Glasgow Central via Shotts (20:57)
2Z10, 21:19, Glasgow Central - Barrhead (21:41)
2Z11, 21:50, Barrhead - Glasgow Central (22:10)
5D11, 22:29, Glasgow Central - Millerhill EMU Yard via Shotts (00:04)

 

[Southsider]

Raised parapets on Church Road bridge.

 

[snowball]

Raised parapets on Church Road bridge.

Thanks. Bridge list in #1826 updated.

 

[E400Lover101]

Any more progress seen along the route?

 

[route101]

OLE has nearly reached Busby and work ongoing to new Hairmyres Station from what I saw.

 

[Southsider]

Any more progress seen along the route?

There’s piling going on from Busby out towards Thorntonhall.

 

[Frankton Junct]

OLE has nearly reached Busby and work ongoing to new Hairmyres Station from what I saw.

The attached photo is of the new Hairmyres Park and Ride Station taken last week. It is being built without the car park due to a council budget cut.

 

[najaB]

The attached photo is of the new Hairmyres Park and Ride Station taken last week. It is being built without the car park due to a council budget cut.

Does that make it an 'and Ride' station?

 

[Southsider]

The attached photo is of the new Hairmyres Park and Ride Station taken last week. It is being built without the car park due to a council budget cut.

There’s an article in the Daily Record suggesting that Transport Scotland have come up with the cash to move the car park.

 

[E400Lover101]

The attached photo is of the new Hairmyres Park and Ride Station taken last week. It is being built without the car park due to a council budget cut.

Some progress (from what I can see) has been made on the EK bound platform.

 

[Southsider]

New piles between Clarkston Road and Clarkston Station.

 

[snowball]

Press release

Major weekend works on the East Kilbride to Glasgow line next month

Engineers will be working around-the-clock from 19 until 22 July as work to support electrification of the East Kilbride to Glasgow railway line continues.

www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk

Engineers will be working around-the-clock from 19 until 22 July as work to support electrification of the East Kilbride to Glasgow railway line continues.

Passengers are being advised to plan ahead as no trains will run on the route from 00:20am on Friday 19 July until services resume at 05:30am on Monday 22 July, with replacement buses running instead.

Network Rail and contractors SPL Powerlines, Story, AmcoGiffen, Siemens and QTS are delivering a range of activities including installing the remaining steel pile foundations between Busby and Thornliebank.

Overhead masts are being installed at Busby Viaduct near Overlee Park and will continue throughout July before similar work begins along other parts of the route later in the year.

Track side cabinets that power signalling equipment are being moved closer to the new Hairmyres station site and several metres of new cabling is being installed.

A significant amount of earthworks will create the necessary ground clearance to allow a 1.4m extension to the existing Hairmyres passing loop to take place next year.

Stephen McCall, Network Rail senior programme manager, said: “The three days of continuous works allow the delivery of several engineering elements at the same time, some of which can only be done when trains are not running, such as relocation of the track side signalling equipment and the associated testing of this.

“We do appreciate the impact this activity will have on passengers and those living closest to the railway and we thank them for their continued patience.”

 

[hux385]

I rode the line today (no pictures sorry!) and was quite impressed with the progress so far. I'm wondering how they will go about extending the Hairmyres loop? It's tricky to see which side of the current track they will use for the double tracking, or whether the existing tracks will also be ripped out in order to facilitate the new configuration.

It certainly seems like the rest of the line is coming along quite nicely, I can envision the section between Busby Jn and Thorntonhall being completed without too much further disruption, but it looks like the section around Hairmyeres has got a lot still to do. I have no idea whether there are any plans for further blockades going forward.

 

[snowball]

I rode the line today (no pictures sorry!) and was quite impressed with the progress so far. I'm wondering how they will go about extending the Hairmyres loop? It's tricky to see which side of the current track they will use for the double tracking, or whether the existing tracks will also be ripped out in order to facilitate the new configuration.

Past the existing Hairmyres platform I imagine the new track will be on the non-platform, or north, side.

Here's Streetview from Redwood Drive bridge looking east towards EK. The available space here seems to be on the south side:

Google Maps

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I forget how far west the proposed loop extends so the following may not be relevant, but here's Streetview from the GSO A726 bridge looking west towards Thornton Road bridge and on towards Glasgow:

[Edit: following link now hopefully corrected. Thanks to MadMac below for pointing out the error.]

Google Maps

Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps.

www.google.co.uk

Here again the available space appears to be on the south side.

It certainly seems like the rest of the line is coming along quite nicely, I can envision the section between Busby Jn and Thorntonhall being completed without too much further disruption, but it looks like the section around Hairmyeres has got a lot still to do. I have no idea whether there are any plans for further blockades going forward.

I think there is a blockade proposed circa January 2025. I seem to remember comments upthread about working outside in rotten weather.

 

[hux385]

Past the existing Hairmyres platform I imagine the new track will be on the non-platform, or north, side.

Here's Streetview from Redwood Drive bridge looking east towards EK. The available space here seems to be on the south side:

Google Maps

Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps.

www.google.co.uk

I forget how far west the proposed loop extends so the following may not be relevant, but here's Streetview from the GSO A726 bridge looking west towards Thornton Road bridge and on towards Glasgow:

Google Maps

Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps.

www.google.co.uk

Here again the available space appears to be on the south side.


I think there is a blockade proposed circa January 2025. I seem to remember comments upthread about working outside in rotten weather.

Interesting stuff, so I'm guessing it's going to be quite disruptive to get the extra track in, especially if the new track isn't just slotting in on the northern side for the whole section.

 

[MadMac]

Past the existing Hairmyres platform I imagine the new track will be on the non-platform, or north, side.

Here's Streetview from Redwood Drive bridge looking east towards EK. The available space here seems to be on the south side:

Google Maps

Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps.

www.google.co.uk

I forget how far west the proposed loop extends so the following may not be relevant, but here's Streetview from the GSO A726 bridge looking west towards Thornton Road bridge and on towards Glasgow:

Google Maps

Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps.

www.google.co.uk

Here again the available space appears to be on the south side.


I think there is a blockade proposed circa January 2025. I seem to remember comments upthread about working outside in rotten weather.

Maybe it’s just me, but the links are going to the same view here.

 

[snowball]

Maybe it’s just me, but the links are going to the same view here.

Sorry, try this for the second one:

Google Maps

Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps.

www.google.co.uk

 

[OB23Gone]

Just in from NR Weekend Closure in July

https://www.networkrailmediacentre....-the-east-kilbride-to-glasgow-line-next-month

 

[snowball]

Just in from NR Weekend Closure in July

https://www.networkrailmediacentre....-the-east-kilbride-to-glasgow-line-next-month

Same one linked and quoted in #1999.

 

[MadMac]

Sorry, try this for the second one:

Google Maps

Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps.

www.google.co.uk

All well now!

 

[OB23Gone]

Some Hairmyres ( Old ) Station on run up to Electrification in pictures. Didn't appreciate how much foreshortening Telephoto Lens doe's compared to Google Earth View which makes the distance look so much further. Hope these help for envisioning the works to be carried out

East Kilbride New Station Building Ground Works

 

[GRALISTAIR]

Absolutely fantastic thank you. What I appreciated is the way you have annotated the photos. Makes it so much easier to visualize. Thanks again.

 

[Charged up]

Plans for a Park and Ride facility at Hairmyres Station in East Kilbride have taken another step forward. South Lanarkshire Council has agreed to fund a £2M shortfall in the budget
for the project, which will then be reimbursed by Transport Scotland. A letter of comfort from Transport Scotland outlines the agreement.

Hairmyres Park and Ride plans - South Lanarkshire View

The full report can be found on the council’s website.

4.8. Hairmyres Station Park and Ride: The estimated cost of completing the new park and ride facility at Hairmyres Station is £4.6 million, funded from Glasgow City Region City Deal (£2.000m) and Developer Contributions from the East Kilbride Community Growth Area (£0.600m). The balance of £2 million was originally anticipated from Strathclyde Passenger Transport (SPT) however due to funding reductions to their 2024/2025 budget, this was not added to the original programme.

4.9. Following extensive discussions, Transport Scotland have agreed to provide a letter of comfort stating that they will reimburse the Council in future financial years, if the Council agree to forward fund the £2 million shortfall in funding (through additional borrowing) to allow the project to progress. This letter of comfort is being finalised through Transport Scotland/South Lanarkshire Council discussions before final sign off. Based on this letter of comfort, it is proposed that the Council borrows on a short-term basis, to fund the balance of the project spend (£2 million). This borrowing will be repaid when the funding is received from Transport Scotland. Because the money from Transport Scotland is a future funding stream, the Council is not liable to make any principal repayments on this borrowing until the income is received. The Council will however be liable for interest on the outstanding amount until such times as the balance is repaid. This is estimated at £0.090 million per annum. It is expected that Transport Scotland will provide the funding by 2026/2027.

4.10. The 2024/2025 Capital Programme includes an allocation of £1.979 million for this project, funded by City Deal. It is proposed that the budget be increased by a further
£2.6 million to include the additional borrowing (£2 million) as outlined at section 4.10, as well as the developer contributions (£0.600 million). However, because of the anticipated profile of spend, the additional borrowing will be slipped into 2025/2026. When the results of the tender exercise and a programme of works is known, this may be reprofiled.
Increase to Budget: £2.6 million / Slippage: (£2.0 million)