Work has now been completed at Dunblane station as part of an £11.2 million investment programme, which has been delivered by Network Rail and contractor Rail Systems Alliance.
The project aims to bring improvements to train performance and reliability across the route, with engineers completing final signalling and commissioning works over the weekend.
A major part of the project has seen the installation of a new crossover due to the being no ‘turnback' facility at Dunblane station.
The lack of a ‘turnback' facility meant that trains arriving at platforms 2 and 3 had to carry out a 13-minute manoeuvre which involved travelling further north than necessary to use crossovers to turn around and return to Dunblane station.
This inconvenience meant that the railway between Dunblane and Perth could become congested, impacting the timetable and affecting the network, especially during times of disruption.
The new crossover now allows trains travelling towards Edinburgh and Glasgow to arrive and depart from platform 3 without the need to leave the station.
Due to the introduction of alterations for platform 3, passengers travelling from Dunblane station are being advised to add extra time for their journey to get used to the new departures, especially those heading to Sterling, which previously saw services depart from platform 1.
Prior to the work on the new crossover, Network Rail also carried out a £6.8 million programme of enhancement work for the route during 2023, which involved:
- Replacement of a curved section of track at Barnhill, east of Perth station
- A new single line and the remodelling of the junction
Thanks to this work, trains travelling through the area have seen speeds increase from 20mph to 50mph.
This significant investment in the railway is a game changer for trains travelling south from Dunblane station to Stirling and for the wider route north of the station.
It will free up capacity through the route and ease congestion; it also improves capacity for freight and reduces the impact of unplanned disruption. By upgrading the signalling equipment, this too contributes to improving resilience.
With works now complete, I would like to thank those living closest to Dunblane station and the wider community for their patience throughout delivery of the project.
Adrian Osmond, Network Rail Project Sponsor
