Network Rail has announced that an electric train has run on the East Kilbride line for the first time ever, having completed a successful test journey from Glasgow.
The train involved was a Class 380 train, and it travelled along the line, which was recently electrified, overnight on Monday 13 October. Engineers travelled on board the train and monitored the performance of both the new overhead line equipment and the electric train.
The successful testing of the electric train marks what Network Rail calls “a major milestone” in the East Kilbride Enhancement project. The project, which is costing £144m, is being funded by the Scottish Government and will see the route electrified in full.
Network Rail will now carry out further testing and will also arrange training of the workers involved in operating the new electrified service. The first ScotRail electric passenger services are due to start running on the line in December.
Preparation for the successful test run has included engineers installing more than 22km of overhead lines and double-tracking 1.4km of railway between East Kilbride and Hairmyres. Workers have also built new footbridges at Busby, Clarkston and Giffnock stations, renewed a railway bridge in Busby and lowered the track under four other bridges.
The project has also involved constructing two new stations, which have improved facilities for passengers and which Network Rail boasts will “support future growth”. Hairmyres station cost £16 million to build and opened in May. The new East Kilbride station building cost £9m and began serving passengers in August.
“Seeing the first electric train run on the East Kilbride line is a proud moment for everyone involved in the project. It’s such a visible sign of the progress we’ve made, and the scale of work delivered to get us to this point.
“By upgrading the infrastructure to enable electric trains to run, the project supports a move towards more sustainable rail travel, while also bringing improvements in reliability and the overall passenger experience.
“This milestone is the result of an incredible effort from our teams who work around the clock to deliver the project safely and efficiently, and I look forward to seeing the first electric passenger trains running later this year.”
Gerry McQuade, capital delivery director at Network Rail Scotland
Responses
I do think that Network Rail should electrify the rest of the Glasgow South Western Line to Kilmarnock and possibly Dumfries. With the Fife Circle Lines planned to get electrification in the next future. And other lines in the Glasgow area that aren’t electrified to perhaps get electrified. And ScotRail to order new electric trains to replace the Class 318 and Class 320.