A new footbridge next to Hairmyres station has become the first bridge to open as part of the Scottish Governments £140m East Kilbride enhancement project.
A ceremony to open the new bridge was undertaken on Friday 1st March by Network Rail and contractors Story.
The original stone arch bridge footbridge next to Eaglesham Court leading to Peel Park place was demolished in late 2023, along with two other bridges on the line.
Its replacement has been built and raised to a suitable safe height to enable future overhead power lines to pass underneath.
The new bridge is 22 metres wide, almost three times wider than the original, this will enable a future track extension of the Hairmyres loop which will increase by 1.4km and will aid the reliability of the branch line, especially during times of unscheduled disruption.
Simon Humble, Network Rail's project manager for the bridge works, said: “The new footbridge is necessary in allowing us to electrify the line in this location. This work also represents the completion of the first piece of structural engineering on the East Kilbride enhancement project and as such, is an important milestone achieved by the team. I want to thank the community, particularly our nearest neighbours at Eaglesham Court, for the patience shown throughout delivery of the works.”
The second replacement bridge on the line at Thornton Road is nearing completion and is scheduled to open next month.
The East Kilbride enhancement project builds on from the electrification of the Glasgow to Barrhead line, which went live with the Class 380 Electric units last December.
Electric trains are scheduled to start on the East Kilbride line once the project is completed in December 2025, where the service will boost flexibility and operational performance.
OK, the old (Goods) continuation beyond East Kilbride might not have forecast heavy passenger use. But the West Mains to Nerston/Calderwood should never have fallen to the ‘Beeching axe’. Also, re-extending Barrhead to Ayrshire would increase patronage on the EK line, also allowing S. Lanarks’–Ayrs’ passengers to connect at Pollokshaws West rather than C/Centre.
Footbridge to where exactly??
Millions spent on a toy train set.
Double tracking should have gone ahead a scheduled.
How can it be green? It out of date and not even compleated.
Another H2 Millions pored down the drain.
EAST KILBRIDE is the fastest growing town in scotland. You insult us by giving us a toy trainset. Standing room only.
Will need up graded by 2025
Get your act together before its too late
Interesting that the plans still show dual tracking at the proposed new Hairmyres station. I accept line can’t be dual tracked past Queensway Bridge but for a town the size of East Kilbride and the huge housing development at Jackton – which will almost double the size of East Kilbride – it won’t be long after the upgrade that Network Rail and the Scottish government will have to rethink their plans. A toytown railway for an up and coming new city. Very disappointing.
How on earth do you calculate that Jackton doubles the size of East we Kilbride ?
Yes, EK does need a dual line, and for the trains to run later at the weekends.
So good to see the improvements in the town since Joe Fagan took charge. Potholes are still a issues in places, but I’ve no doubt the council will sort them.
Amazing what can be achieved if the ‘political will’ is there!
Shame they didn’t dual the track as promised. Its not the bridge that needed widened it’s the train line! Upgrade is premium economy rather than first class
Millions spent on a toy train set.
Double tracking should have gone ahead a scheduled.
How can it be green? It out of date and not even compleated.
Another H2 Millions pored down the drain.
EAST KILBRIDE is the fastest growing town in scotland. You insult us by giving us a toy trainset. Standing room only.
Will need up graded by 2025
Get your act together before its too late
As usual they missed the best improvement out. Busby Jn should have been remodeled as a grade separated junction to aid scheduling with Barrhead. Also when is Kilmarnock going to be upgraded. We have only been waiting since 1960!!!.
Any chance they could help fill the potholes?