Network Rail has announced that the Edinburgh to Glasgow Central line via Shotts line has reopened after a 10-day closure to let part of the £3.5m redevelopment of Livingston South station to take place.
Engineers have been working round the clock since the start of the blockade on March the 29th to rebuild both platforms at the station so they are wider and longer to ensure they are compliant for the electrified route and long enough for the new six carriage trains that will be introduced on the route.
The work to the station also involved new lighting, work to the access ramp, CCTV, customer information systems, ticket machines and waiting shelters were delivered to the station.
With trains reintroduced, work continues to install lift towers and upgrade the staircases.
The full redevelopment of Livingston South will be complete by September 2018.
What did the officials say?
Brian Mallon, Network Rail project manager for the Shotts Line electrification project said:
“While we acknowledge that closing the line is never a popular choice with passengers, the volume of work and the efficiency with which it was delivered during the 10-day blockade, demonstrates that it was the best way to reduce disruption overall for passengers as we redeveloped the station.
“The staff and contractors on the ground did fantastically well in difficult and challenging weather conditions to get the job done. Though the weather made underfoot conditions treacherous at times; bringing some activities to a halt and slowing others, full credit to the team as they just got the snow cleared and got straight back to the job in order to get the station operational in time for the reintroduction of service.
“We appreciate the cooperation of the local community and thank them for their patience as we deliver this massive investment to upgrade the railway. We hope that they enjoy the benefits of the redeveloped station for many years to come”
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That is also part of the EGIP (Edinburgh to Glasgow Improvement Programme) scheme to electrified the Shotts Line aswell the Falkirk High Line between Edinburgh and Glasgow and other lines in Central Scotland that are also to be electrified. That will cater for Class 380’s and Class 385’s EMU’s to operate on those lines once the electrification is completed. And with the postponement of the Class 385’s that might not enter passenger service until early or mid next year if that has been rearranged or re-planned.
Is the Shotts Line also part of the EGIP (Edinburgh to Glasgow Improvement Programme) scheme to electrify not just the Shotts Line (Glasgow-Edinburgh via Shotts) but also the Edinburgh-Glasgow via Falkirk High Line that is also to be electrified. And the electrification on the Stirling, Alloa and Dunblane Lines as part of the EGIP.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edinburgh_to_Glasgow_Improvement_Programme