Work is 'nearing completion' on the site of two new train stations near Glasgow as they will start to 'emerge from the ground' in the coming months.
Network Rail is continuing its huge £140 million East Kilbride enhancement project to build a new relocated Hairmyres station and a more modern space with accessible facilities at East Kilbride station.
The scheme is also part of a bigger plan to decarbonise the railway and electrify the East Kilbride to Glasgow line.
READ MORE: No trains to run on busy Glasgow line to allow 'major works'
Two platforms at the relocated Hairmyres, which will accommodate the double tracking on this section of the route, are almost finished.
Double tracking allows trains more opportunities to pass each other rather than waiting and helps to keep them running on time.
Over the last week, the team has installed 24 steel foundations to support the new footbridge and lift towers as work starts on them and the new building.
READ MORE: Network Rail £61.5m project for East Kilbride and Hairmyres
READ MORE: Work begins on footbridge at brand-new train station near hospital
Next, extensive earthworks will take place at Hairmyres this weekend to create the clearance needed to extend the existing two-track section of the railway by 1.4km.
Cabinet Secretary for Transport Fiona Hyslop visited the site on Wednesday to see the progress.
Fiona said: “I have thoroughly enjoyed this opportunity to visit the East Kilbride Enhancement project and meet the team that is delivering real progress towards the programme.
"It is clear there is a great deal of activity taking place along the route to deliver the rail electrification and improvement works.
“This £140m investment by the Scottish Government will improve rail services and facilities for local communities, making them even greener as we work towards our ambitious Net Zero goals.”
READ MORE: Network Rail re-opens new and improved bridge near Glasgow
Stephen McCall, Network Rail's senior programme manager, added: “It was a pleasure to welcome the Cabinet Secretary to site and for the team to have the opportunity to highlight the significant progress that has been made across the enhancement project to date.
“The positive collaboration between Network Rail and our contractor partners has fostered a one-team approach that has been wholly beneficial in dealing with any challenges, developing solutions and maintaining delivery to programme.
“We’ve achieved a lot over the first half of this year and have much more to deliver over the coming months.
"People will start to see the new station buildings, at Hairmyres and East Kilbride, emerge from the ground, as well as steel masts along the tracks as we transform the East Kilbride to Glasgow route into a more sustainable railway environment."
Meanwhile, the platform at East Kilbride has been extended by 51 metres before the crew begins work on the new building.
Work is expected to finish in the summer of 2025 and will include a new booking office, waiting area and a retail unit at East Kilbride.
READ MORE: Busy road to close for over a YEAR as bridge is demolished in £140m project
The entire project is scheduled to be completed in December 2025.
Comments & Moderation
Readers’ comments: You are personally liable for the content of any comments you upload to this website, so please act responsibly. We do not pre-moderate or monitor readers’ comments appearing on our websites, but we do post-moderate in response to complaints we receive or otherwise when a potential problem comes to our attention. You can make a complaint by using the ‘report this post’ link . We may then apply our discretion under the user terms to amend or delete comments.
Post moderation is undertaken full-time 9am-6pm on weekdays, and on a part-time basis outwith those hours.
Read the rules here