Frankton Junct
Member
I visited the exhibition too. There were staff there from Network Rail and South Lanarkshire Council. There was a steady stream of visitors, mostly retired folk.
Yes, there were engineering drawings. I prefer these to a 'PR speak' interpretation - I want to see what is actually proposed. There is another presentation in an empty shop nearby in the mall on the proposed redevelopment of the East Kilbride Town Centre - this uses some of the worst 'Town Planner speak' terminology I have seen in a public presentation.
Some of the retired folk complained about the limited opening hours of the ticket office in East Kilbride station - they were not pleased when they were told that the rebuilt station will have ticket machines but no ticket office. (The Scotrail ticket machines do not sell concession tickets, although they may be bought from the guard on the train or at the excess fares desk in Glasgow Central)
It is clear that the relocated Hairmyres station will become the main station for East Kilbride. The engineering drawings refer to it as Hairmyres Park & Ride Station. It will have two large car parks with room for further expansion. There will be an EV charging station too. This will be a two platform station on the extended double track section with lifts and a pedestrian overbridge. South Lanarkshire Council will own the car parks, not Network Rail.
There isn't space to expand the car park at East Kilbride station - it will remain a single platform station. The station is located beside the old village rather than the town centre malls and bus station - it is about a 15 minute walk, partly in a trench - not good in the dark, rain, snow, sleet - this won't change.
There was nothing about the other stations on the line - I hope that the project team will host another public event in Clarkston or Giffnock.
The project plan is for the new stations to be completed and open by Summer 2025 with electric trains running in December 2025.
