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East Kilbride/Barrhead electrification updates

AMD

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And the headlines from the project website - https://scotlandsrailway.com/projects/east-kilbride-enhancements

An outline of some of the changes we hope to make:

  • Line of route electrification, enabling quieter and greener trains
  • Double tracking from Busby>East Kilbride, that facilitates a future enhanced timetable with more frequent services
  • Extended platforms at existing stations, to allow for longer trains
  • Bridge replacements at Giffnock & Clarkston, with possible step-free-access solutions being explored at Giffnock
  • Active travel improvements at all existing stations
  • A second platform at Thorntonhall that will be made fully accessible
  • The relocation of Hairmyres Station, with two fully accessible platforms and a large carpark with; EVC provisions, bus interchanges and active travel improvements
  • Brand new East Kilbride Station building, with two fully accessible platforms
 
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route101

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I guess there wont be service improvements at first after electrification? In the long term I would like earlier and later services.
 

clc

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That’s good news about the single track section being fully doubled. It’s a very comprehensive upgrade. If I was being picky I’d say they could also improve access to Clarkston station by building a footpath from the EK bound platform to the big car park, but that’s a minor gripe. As an ex resident of Clarkston I’m really pleased to see this project finally happen.
 

d9009alycidon

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I would guess that the relocated Hairmyers Station would be behind the St James Retail Park, plenty of unused ground there for the proposed car parking. Would imagine the current owners of the convenience store at the existing Hairmyers station will be viewing the plans with some dismay.
 

davetheguard

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The signalling plan I’ve seen has double track Busby - East Kilbride.

I'd be interested to know: was this line ever double before; or was it only single but built on a double track formation; or is it going to need a serious intervention to widen a currently single track formation?
 

route101

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I would guess that the relocated Hairmyers Station would be behind the St James Retail Park, plenty of unused ground there for the proposed car parking. Would imagine the current owners of the convenience store at the existing Hairmyers station will be viewing the plans with some dismay.

Perhaps the store will move. Hairmyres is very much a park and ride station, even though the 201 bus stops nearby.

I'd be interested to know: was this line ever double before; or was it only single but built on a double track formation; or is it going to need a serious intervention to widen a currently single track formation?
Always been single I'm sure, though I think there was a loop at Thorntonhall. Looks like there is ample space for doubling outwith the bridges.
 

ScotTrains

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Hopefully they will open the new Barrhead South station on the Neilston line before any closure of the Barrhead line. It would help to minimise disruption for residents.

A pop up station was meant to open a few years ago yet never materialised. The new road going to the new station has now been built, ready for construction to start.
 

d9009alycidon

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Perhaps the store will move. Hairmyres is very much a park and ride station, even though the 201 bus stops nearby.


Always been single I'm sure, though I think there was a loop at Thorntonhall. Looks like there is ample space for doubling outwith the bridges.

There has never been a signalbox at Thorntonhall so I doubt there could ever have been a loop. There were some sidings at various points on the line shown on the 1925 large scale map, one to the south of the running line at Thorntonhall Station and two to the north on the Busby side of the road bridge
 

MadMac

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There has never been a signalbox at Thorntonhall so I doubt there could ever have been a loop. There were some sidings at various points on the line shown on the 1925 large scale map, one to the south of the running line at Thorntonhall Station and two to the north on the Busby side of the road bridge
Never been a double line. There was a siding in the Hairmyres area that served Waterlow’s printers, who produced the Radio Times.
 

Speed43125

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Never been a double line. There was a siding in the Hairmyres area that served Waterlow’s printers, who produced the Radio Times.
Certainly was pretty common to have built into the line redundancy for future doubling though.
 

Tobbes

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Great news. And interesting that the consultation offered a big-band 12 month closure - I presume this offers real savings, as well as producing much earlier benefits realisation; I'd love to see them do this, and set a precedent which could have big savings elsewhere.
 

NotATrainspott

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https://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/#zoom=18&lat=55.77754&lon=-4.26115&layers=170&b=1

The line doesn't appear to have space for doubling. This map series shows a fair amount of detail, including specifics like railway sidings and junctions.

The map series includes some tiles that show early stages in the development of East Kilbride. You can see how many of the new houses were built alongside the now-closed section linking to Hamilton.
 

Southsider

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Great news. And interesting that the consultation offered a big-band 12 month closure - I presume this offers real savings, as well as producing much earlier benefits realisation; I'd love to see them do this, and set a precedent which could have big savings elsewhere.
It’s a pity they’re not doing it now while it’s hardly being used by passengers.
 

clc

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Great news. And interesting that the consultation offered a big-band 12 month closure - I presume this offers real savings, as well as producing much earlier benefits realisation; I'd love to see them do this, and set a precedent which could have big savings elsewhere.
Agreed. Many passengers on the EK line have alternative rail options thanks to south Glasgow’s extensive network - people in Busby, Giffnock and Clarkston can use the Neilston line; people in Pollokshaws and Crossmyloof can use the Cathcart Circle. The bus replacement service would go past the entrance to Williamwood Station so passengers from East Kilbride, Hairmyers and Thorntonhall could transfer to the Neilston line there for a faster journey to the city centre than the bus would provide.
 

snowball

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It's clear from old large-scale maps that the formation on Busby-EK was only designed for the original single track except where there were sidings, so earthworks will be required.

However the representation of one or two of the bridges on these maps and and on Google satellite view led me to suspect that the bridges were designed for double track.

Bing Maps oblique aerial views don't seem to be available so I searched for a cab video and found a shaky old hand-held 8mm film which seems to confirm that the bridges were designed for double track.

However the original bridges are arched so may be such that they would allow either double tracking or electrification (with slewing to the centre) but not both. I don't claim to know.

The video is here:

 
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route101

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Agreed. Many passengers on the EK line have alternative rail options thanks to south Glasgow’s extensive network - people in Busby, Giffnock and Clarkston can use the Neilston line; people in Pollokshaws and Crossmyloof can use the Cathcart Circle. The bus replacement service would go past the entrance to Williamwood Station so passengers from East Kilbride, Hairmyers and Thorntonhall could transfer to the Neilston line there for a faster journey to the city centre than the bus would provide.

Busby is still fair whack away from Williamwood walking distance wise. Would have to be a good connection onto the Neilston line service, no waiting.

The survey alluded to the length of works, 2023 to 2024. Not sure if its being fast tracked or not.
 

clc

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Busby is still fair whack away from Williamwood walking distance wise. Would have to be a good connection onto the Neilston line service, no waiting.

The survey alluded to the length of works, 2023 to 2024. Not sure if its being fast tracked or not.
Yes Busby is too far to walk but there is the option to park and ride at Williamwood or transfer from the rail replacement bus. Perhaps run extra Neilston services using the unused East Kilbride paths.
 

route101

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Used the East Kilbride line other week. Looks like vegetation clearance is complete.
 
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A few days ago, Network Rail wrote to neighbours advising them of a compound next to the railway at Haggs Gate, adjacent to the railway bridge over Haggs Road.

East Kilbride Enhancement Project - Compound Haggs Gate

As part of the next phase of our project, we are building a compound next to the railway at Haggs Gate.

We have made good progress with the enhancement project so far, with vegetation work and ground investigation work having taken place across the whole of the East Kilbride line over the last few months.

In order to prepare for the next phase of the work, we need to build a compound to act as a base for machinery and materials that will be used for carrying out piling work along the line. This piling work will form the foundations for the stanchions and overhead lines that we will be installing in order to facilitate the electrification of the railway.

We will begin removing vegetation on:
Saturday 13th March & Sunday 14th March
Saturday 20th March & Sunday 21st March

These works will be dayshift.

After the vegetation work has ended, construction of the compound will begin, taking around one month to complete. The majority of this work will be carried out during the day, however some night shift work will also be needed for work taking place closer to the railway track. The compound will potentially remain in operation for the next 3 years, however the exact duration of use is still to be confirmed.
 
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66C

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Has work started at Barrhead yet to level and extend the bay platform line. The migration of signalling from Barrhead to West of Scotland must be due to happen soon.
 

JModulo

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Has work started at Barrhead yet to level and extend the bay platform line. The migration of signalling from Barrhead to West of Scotland must be due to happen soon.
I could be wrong, however I'd last read the migration isn't due to happen until sometime in 2022.
 

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