Scotlands Transport Minister, Fiona Hyslop, has today travelled on the first electric passenger service from Glasgow Central to Barrhead.
(Permalink) Barrhead Electrification

A 'significant' milestone has been reached as part of the £63.3million Barrhead to Glasgow railway electrification project.
(Permalink) Barrhead Electrification

Network Rail has achieved a significant milestone on the £63.3m Glasgow-Barrhead electrification project with the first electric test train running on the route.
(Permalink) Barrhead Electrification

It's a dispute that has bedevilled ScotRail and other train operators for years - and I can't believe I'm still writing about it more than a decade on.

The vexed issue of who controls the opening and closing of train doors has returned to haunt Scotland's main operator with the impending launch of electric services on the Glasgow - Barrhead line in a month's time.
(Permalink) Barrhead Doors RMT ScotRail

Train operator's biggest union vows to oppose plans for drivers to take charge when route electrified.
(Permalink) Barrhead Electrification RMT

New electric trains are set to be introduced in December along the Barrhead to Glasgow railway line as part of ScotRail's upcoming timetable change.
(Permalink) Barrhead Electrification

ScotRail customers along the route between Barrhead and Glasgow Central will see the introduction of electric trains as part of the train operators upcoming timetable change.

From Sunday, 10 December, ScotRail will operate modern Class 380 trains on its local services between Barrhead and Glasgow Central. The recent electrification of the route has paved the way for more sustainable, eco-friendly journeys, ensuring that customers benefit from a more comfortable and reliable service.

The timetable change will also see an hourly service operate on the Cathcart Circle throughout the day Monday to Saturday. This improvement will nearly double the number of services calling at Langside, Pollokshaws East, Shawlands, Maxwell Park, and Pollokshields West. It will provide passengers at other stations in south Glasgow with more options and flexibility, making it easier to plan their daily journeys and leisure trips.

Eighteen additional limited stop services will be introduced on the route between Glasgow and Edinburgh via Shotts each day, Monday to Saturday. This will provide customers at Livingston South, West Calder, and Shotts with fast journey opportunities and more convenient connections to both Edinburgh and Glasgow.

Sundays will also become even more accessible and convenient for customers traveling between Gourock and Glasgow with the introduction of additional trains. Recognising the demand for weekend travel, a new half-hourly service will operate between Gourock and Glasgow Central on Sundays.

The new timetable will see changes between Dundee and Inverurie, delivering improvements to service reliability, particularly at local stations between Dundee and Aberdeen.

Additional stops are being added to services between Glasgow Queen Street and Aberdeen, and between Edinburgh Waverley and Aberdeen, creating new direct journey opportunities between communities in Angus and Aberdeenshire.

The change will see a reduction in local services for customers in the northeast, however, the timetable introduced in December will better connect them with Aberdeen, Dundee, Perth, and Glasgow whilst maintaining the overall number of journey opportunities.

Customers in East Lothian will benefit from ScotRails Dunbar to Edinburgh services calling additionally at Wallyford to access the mobility hub there, as well as East Linton when the new station opens.

A later service will operate between Inverness and Elgin on a trial basis to benefit customers in Moray. This will depart Inverness at 22:12. The 21:34 Inverness to Aberdeen service will continue to operate as at present.

The new timetable is introduced during the train operators off-peak all day fares trial which started on 2 October and will run for six months.

With the new timetable coming into place, customers are encouraged to check their journey on the ScotRail website, mobile app, and through social media channels as train times may have changed.

Customers can check train times at scotrail.co.uk and on the ScotRail app. Timetables will also be available to download from the ScotRail website.
(Permalink) Barrhead Electrification ScotRail

Network Rail has launched a radio campaign tomorrow (Wednesday 11 October), to warn the public that overhead power equipment on the Glasgow-Barrhead line is live.
(Permalink) Barrhead Electrification Glasgow

Train services from Glasgow to Barrhead have been cancelled due to a signalling fault on the line this morning.
(Permalink) Barrhead Signalling fault

The Scottish Government has today confirmed funding of £140m that will see the delivery of the East Kilbride Enhancement Project.

In addition, the Transport Minister, Fiona Hyslop confirmed that the Barrhead route electrification and associated station improvement works remain on track for completion in December this year.
(Permalink) Barrhead East Kilbride Electrification

The Glasgow - Barrhead line will fully reopen to passengers tomorrow morning, Friday 4 August, following a £63.3 million upgrade.
(Permalink) Barrhead Glasgow Kilmarnock

ScotRail has vowed to explore any possible options that would improve accessibility at Barrhead railway station after concerns were raised by an MSP and disability campaigner.

Politician Neil Bibby and Savio DSouza are both calling for the internal door at the ticket office to be replaced with an automatic one.
(Permalink) Accessibility Barrhead

Train services from Barrhead to Kilmarnock are set to be 'more reliable' following a month-long closure of the line. It comes after signalling work refurbishments have been completed near Lugton while the route has been closed to allow electrification works between Barrhead and Glasgow.
(Permalink) Barrhead Electrification

Barrhead's train station is set to reopen next week following a month-long closure to electrify the line.

It comes after ScotRails managing director, Alex Hynes, revealed images showing the progress that has been made during the works, while he confirmed the route will reopen on Friday, August 4.
(Permalink) Barrhead Barrhead Electrification Electrification

The rail replacement bus which is taking passengers from Barrhead to Glasgow has changed pick-up locations. It comes after ScotRail announced they have moved the bus stop further down Calibar Road in Barrhead due to improvement works being carried out that require temporary traffic management systems in the area.
(Permalink) Barrhead Replacement bus

Scotland's Railway is reminding passengers that the railway will close between Kennishead and Kilmarnock for six-weeks as part of a £63m upgrade.
(Permalink) Barrhead Electrification Glasgow Kennishead Kilmarnock

Scotland's Railway is reminding passengers that the railway will close between Kennishead and Kilmarnock for six-weeks as part of a £63m upgrade.
(Permalink) Barrhead Electrification Kennishead Kilmarnock

A new footbridge was installed last weekend (June 10 -11) at Strathbungo in Glasgow's southside.
(Permalink) Barrhead Electrification Strathbungo

Residents are being invited to community drop-in sessions to find out more about the Barrhead railway lines electrification work.

Network Rail is inviting locals along to attend the events which will take place on Tuesday, June 20 and Thursday, June 22, from 4.30pm until 7.30pm at Cleeves Primary School on Househillmuir Road.
(Permalink) Barrhead Electrification

Safety campaign educates young people about railway dangers along the Glasgow to Barrhead railway corridor.
(Permalink) Barrhead East Kilbride Electrification

The UK infrastructure agency, Network Rail, is never really guilty of underplaying its hand, but they might be accused of being a little modest over a project about to get under way in Scotland. The price tag, at nearly £64 million pounds (around 75 million euro), is certainly high enough to merit the headlines, but the overall scheme is delivering a step-change to more than just the single commuter route. Its not much short of modernising the second biggest metro in Britain.
(Permalink) Barrhead East Kilbride Electrification

The next stage of preparing the line for electrification gets underway next month.
(Permalink) Barrhead Electrification

Network rail has provided more information about works which will see trains to Barrhead on the Glasgow Central to Kilmarnock line replaced by buses.
(Permalink) Barrhead East Kilbride Electrification Glasgow Central Network Rail

Trains on a busy line from Glasgow Central to Kilmarnock will be replaced by buses for the entirety of July, ScotRail has announced.
(Permalink) Barrhead Dunlop East Kilbride Electrification Glasgow Central Kilmaurs Network Rail ScotRail Stewarton

Construction of a new £18 million railway station for Barrhead has been given the green light to start next year. The station will be located off Balgraystone Road, between St Lukes High School and the Dams to Darnley car park, on the existing Glasgow to Neilston line.
(Permalink) Barrhead Lyoncross Neilston Line

The new bridge on Nithsdale Road, in the southside of Glasgow, will open this evening.
(Permalink) Barrhead East Kilbride Electrification Nithsdale Road

A historic Glasgow footbridge has been removed and local people give their reactions.

The Strathbungo Bridge, in Glasgow's Southside, has been dismantled yesterday by Network Rail staff.

It is part of the Barrhead to Glasgow electrification project, in turn, part of a bid to decarbonise passenger services on Scotlands railway by 2035.

A Grade C-listed structure, the footbridge was constructed in 1877 and will be fondly remembered by some residents.

One person described the construction as a 'sorry sight'.
(Permalink) Barrhead East Kilbride Electrification Strathbungo

Scotland's Railway is working to deliver the next in a series of enhancements to the power supply supporting our electrified railway network.
(Permalink) Barrhead East Kilbride Electrification Glasgow Glasgow Central Network Rail

Support for disabled passengers at East Renfrewshires train stations has been slammed as woefully insufficient after it was revealed none of them has step-free access at all times across all platforms. New figures from ScotRail show stations such as Barrhead and Neilston do not offer full access, whilst Williamwood does not have step-free access to any platform.
(Permalink) Accessibility Barrhead Neilston Williamwood

Locals have criticised the loss of mature trees that have been felled to make way for new railway infrastructure.
(Permalink) Barrhead Darnley Road East Kilbride Electrification Strathbungo Tree felling

Despite valiant community efforts to save it, a Southside landmark has now been demolished as part of railway works.
(Permalink) Barrhead Electrification Strathbungo

Network Rail is removing the bridge on Nithsdale Road as part of the Barrhead to Glasgow electrification project.
(Permalink) Barrhead Bridge replacement Electrification Nithsdale Road Strathbungo Strathbungo Junction

Work will soon start on re-decking the railway bridge on Nithsdale Road as part of the Barrhead electrification project.
(Permalink) Barrhead Electrification Nithsdale Road

Commuters in Glasgow are facing some disruption on Friday morning.
(Permalink) Barrhead Kilmarnock Signalling fault

Work on the East Kilbride and Barrhead Electrification Project has moved a step closer.
(Permalink) Barrhead East Kilbride Electrification

A signal fault has sparked commuting chaos after overhead cables were struck by lightning near Glasgow Central.
(Permalink) Barrhead Lightning Signalling Weather

Due to the 'bridge's poor condition and low usage', it was argued demolition was the only way to go.
(Permalink) Barrhead Busby Junction Cartcraigs Road East Kilbride Electrification Footbridge Pollokshaws West

The cost of building a new train station in Barrhead has increased by more than £9m.
(Permalink) Auchenback Barrhead

Additional park and ride spaces at Barrhead station have been created by the Council after purchasing a piece of land from Arthurlie Junior Football Club for the project.
(Permalink) Barrhead car park

Preparatory work for the electrification of Barrhead's railway line is underway.
(Permalink) Barrhead Electrification

Joe Fagan has asked for assurances and proper leadership to ensure plans to electrify the East Kilbride rail line actually happens.

The Labour councillor was speaking after Transport Secretary Michael Matheson confirmed last week that the route would finally be upgraded.
(Permalink) Barrhead East Kilbride Elecrification

Commitment to decarbonise passenger rail services by 2035. Plans to decarbonise Scotland's rail passenger services by 2035 have been launched by Transport Secretary Michael Matheson today.



Railscot note - PDF page 8 shows electrification of lines by 2035:

- Glasgow - Aberdeen - Inverurie

- All lines in Fife including Levenmouth

- Highland Main Line

- Borders line

- Glasgow - Barrhead - Dumfries - Carlisle

- East Kilbride

- Kilmarnock - Ayr

- Anniesland - Maryhill

Partial electrification or alternative technology:

- Ayr- Girvan

- Inverurie - Inverness - Tain

Battery or alternative technology:

- West Highland Lines

- Far North Line

- Kyle Line

- Girvan - Stranraer
(Permalink) Aberdeen Barrhead Battery train Borders line Dumfries East Kilbride Electrification Far North Line Fife Girvan Highland Main Line Inverurie Kilmarnock Kyle Line Levenmouth Maryhill Stranraer Tain West Highland Lines

Work being carried out by Network Rail on the East Kilbride line is believed to be for the proposed upgrading of train services.
(Permalink) Barrhead East Kilbride Elecrification

Network Rail has announced that tree cutting work on the line between Glasgow and East Kilbride / Barrhead, paused due to the COVID-19 pandemic, will now resume.
(Permalink) Barrhead Covid-19 East Kilbride Electrification Network Rail

Network Rail has announced that tree cutting work on the line between Glasgow and East Kilbride will resume in March.
(Permalink) Barrhead East Kilbride Elecrification

Plans unveiled this week would see Hairmyres station relocated further west, near to St James Retail Centre, with improved park-and-ride facilities.
(Permalink) Barrhead East Kilbride Elecrification Hairmyres

A delay to the delivery of Barrhead's new station has been branded 'very disappointing'.

(Permalink) Auchenback Barrhead

ScotRail has announced a boost for customers in South Lanarkshire, with more seats to be made available for the increasingly popular East Kilbride and Barrhead services.

Additional Class 156 trains will be provided during the morning and evening between Glasgow Central and East Kilbride / Barrhead from May 2019.
(Permalink) Barrhead Class 156 East Kilbride

Moves to fast-track plans for a new Barrhead train station have been welcomed.

The Auchenback station, near Balgraystone Road, on the outskirts of town, was first mooted as part of the Glasgow City Region Deal that will see millions of pounds pumped into major projects across the west of Scotland.

However, under those proposals, the new stop wasn't expected to open until at least 2021.

[The site will be immediately west of Lyoncross Junction alongside Balgray Reservoir. - RAILSCOT Ed]
(Permalink) Auchenback Barrhead

From the 6th of January the full pre-dispute timetable will be reinstated with the return of peak expresses at Balloch and Milngavie and the half-hourly daytime Dalmuir-Bellgrove via Yoker trains. Under the terms of the compensation package agreed between ScotRail and SPT for the impact of the special timetable during the dispute, there will also be new peak hour trains at Ayr, Barrhead, Busby and East Kilbride.

A half-hourly service will be introduced to Wishaw, Carluke and Lanark by diverting the hourly electric train via Hamilton that until January 2002 ran to Coatbridge Central (which will however regain Argyle Line services in the evening and morning peak - and after the evening peak the Motherwell-Cumbernauld service will run until 2126/2159). So as to avoid reversal at Motherwell, most of the new trains to/from Lanark will run via and call at Holytown, providing a direct Hamilton-Lanark service.



Prior to 6 January the Motherwell-Wishaw via Holytown route was 'served' only by the 0643 Motherwell-Lanark and at the Mossend east-to-south curve by the 1721 Edinburgh-Shotts-Motherwell. The last regular service was the Lanarkshire diesel 'Green Trains' which ceased in 1974 on the electrification of the West Coast Main Line.
(Permalink) Ayr Barrhead Bellgrove Busby Carluke Coatbridge Central Dalmuir East Kilbride Hamilton Lanark Lanark ScotRail Wishaw

ScotRail's summer timetable (2 June to 28 September) is now available. It is available in two books; ScotRail services and connections excluding Strathclyde, ScotRail services covering Strathclyde.


The following routes continue to see a reduced timetable while a backlog of driver training is made up in the aftermath of the dispute :


Edinburgh-Glasgow (half-hourly plus extras in peak hours)

Glasgow North Bank (evening timetable)

Argyle Line (no services to Coatbridge Central)

Maryhill (hourly)

Barrhead (locals hourly)

West Calder (two Edinburgh-Glasgow trains each way don't run east of Shotts, there are no weekday terminators from Edinburgh)

Cowdenbeath (hourly daytime terminators suspended)



There are the following innovations :

Edinburgh Crossrail with new stations at Brunstane and Newcraighall - runs across Edinburgh from Bathgate to Newcraighall to Dunblane

Full Class 322 timetable to North Berwick with twice-daily services each way from/to Glasgow Central High Level

Additional services at 0809 from Prestonpans and 0737 from West Calder to Edinburgh

Sunday evening service to/from East Kilbride extended to weekday last train times

Far North/Kyle Sunday trains retimed to improve connections



Other Train Operating Company changes effecting Scotland include :

GNER 1900 Kings Cross-Edinburgh terminates Newcastle FX and 2300 Edinburgh-Newcastle withdrawn. Kings Cross-Glasgow services stepped back to allow longer turnround time, some call additionally at Haymarket

Arriva Trains Northern reinstate 0947 Leeds-Glasgow and 1410 return

(Permalink) Barrhead Brunstane Cowdenbeath East Kilbride Far North Line Kyle Line Maryhill Newcraighall ScotRail