A 16-week project to electrify the line between Glasgow Central and East Kilbride is nearing completion, with the line expected to be reopened next month.

Specialist teams have been working 24/7 since January on a £140m investment by the Scottish Government to install the new infrastructure required to power electric trains, which includes:

• Converting 1.4km of line between East Kilbride and Hairmyres to double track.
• Installing over 22km of overhead electric lines.
• Erecting new footbridges at Busby, Clarkston, and Giffnock stations.
• Renewing a railway bridge over East Kilbride Road in Busby.
• Lowering the track under three bridges.

The line is due to reopen on May 18th, and before then, engineers will complete the installation of new signalling systems on the line and finish work on a new station at Hairmyres Station.

The new station is about 500 metres west of the old station, and will also open next month with two platforms and an accessible footbridge.

The new station at Hairmyres is being delivered in partnership with South Lanarkshire Council in a £7.2 million project to provide a transport interchange with park and ride and bus interchange facilities.

It will include approximately 500 parking spaces, traffic light-controlled access to the car parks, new active travel connections, and cycle parking.

On the nearby Eaglesham Road, a road junction will be upgraded, and a new pedestrian crossing will be installed.

Although the south car park and approximately half of the north car park at the station will be ready by the station’s opening on 18th May, there is still work required to complete the rest of the north car park, but that will be open by this summer.

Along with the electrification of the line to East Kilbride, there will be a new footbridge at Busby Station, improved access, and a new accessible footbridge at Giffnock Station, as well as better access to platform 2 at Clarkston Station.

“The complex engineering work we have completed over the past three months is critical to the successful electrification of the line. Our engineers have been working around-the-clock to deliver these enhancements as quickly as possible and we remain on course to welcome passengers back onto the railway in May. We understand the inconvenience the closure has caused for both customers and some of our neighbours and we thank them for their patience while we build a better, greener railway for the local community.”

Paul Reilly, Network Rail senior programme manager