News - Electrification
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Themes ScotRail Far North Line Inverness Timetable Network Rail Flying Scotsman Station Statistics Weather Bridge strike East Linton ORR Glasgow District Subway Ticket prices Caledonian Sleeper Pitlochry Footbridge Anti-social behaviour Dumfries LNER Leven Electrification OLE Inverness Airport The Jacobite Elizabeth Line
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Those travelling to and from Edinburgh via Newcastle on Christmas Eve have been warned to expect delays after damaged overhead electric wires were causing travel chaos.
(Permalink) East Coast Main Line Electrification OLE |
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Train services have been disrupted following the fourth major issue with overhead electric wires on Britains railways in nine days.
(Permalink) Electrification OLE |
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Scotlands Transport Minister, Fiona Hyslop, has today travelled on the first electric passenger service from Glasgow Central to Barrhead.
(Permalink) Barrhead Electrification |
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A 'significant' milestone has been reached as part of the £63.3million Barrhead to Glasgow railway electrification project.
(Permalink) Barrhead Electrification |
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The project is part of the government's wider aim to decarbonise passenger services.
(Permalink) East Kilbride Electrification |
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Network Rail has announced the awarding of £61.5m worth of contracts for the delivery of the East Kilbride Enhancement Project.
(Permalink) East Kilbride Electrification |
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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 |
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Train operator's biggest union vows to oppose plans for drivers to take charge when route electrified.
(Permalink) Barrhead Electrification RMT |
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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 |
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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 |
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An East Lothian railway line has been closed by Network Rail after a power transmission line above the line fell onto the tracks, as the yellow weather warnings continue to be in place.
(Permalink) East Linton Electrification OLE Weather |
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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 |
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Some trains have been cancelled or diverted because of a telegraph pole which fell on the wires.
(Permalink) Electrification OLE Robroyston Springburn Telegraph Pole |
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ScotRail say the issue has now been cleared but delays may still be possible.
(Permalink) Delays Electrification OLE Saltcoats |
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ScotRail received a report of a balloon being caught in overhead wires outside the station.
(Permalink) Balloon Cancellations Electrification OLE ScotRail |
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The two most common methods of electrification are overhead lines and third rail power. What are the benefits and disadvantages of each?
(Permalink) Electrification OLE Third rail |
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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 |
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Buckingham Group announced on 17 August that it is no longer able to continue trading due to 'rapidly escalating contract losses and a sharp reduction in liquidity'.
(Permalink) Bolton Electrification Wigan |
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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 |
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British Transport Police have urged parents and carers to speak with their children about the dangers of the railway.
(Permalink) British Transport Police Carfin Edinburgh Electrification Electrocution Holytown Lanarkshire Murrayfield |
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Engineers said three spans of wire and a number of registration arms were damaged and require replacement.
(Permalink) Alloa Blackgrange Cambus Electrification Stirling Tree |
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Plans to electrify the UK's railways are running so far short of what is needed that it would take 240 years at current rates to reach the net zero goal, data has shown. Over the next three years, to the end of 2025, the UK is set to electrify 162.5km (101 miles) of railway track, which is only about 12% of what is estimated to be needed over that period to be in line with the goal of reaching net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
(Permalink) Electrification |
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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 |
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A negative reaction to Britains energy cost crisis has short-circuited the environmental ambitions of another rail freight carrier. This time, its DB Cargo UK that has has been forced to sideline an electric traction fleet on the grounds of cost. The fiasco of rocketing electricity prices has forced the Doncaster headquartered operator to pull the plug on its class 90 locomotive fleet. The twenty-four locomotives were reengineered from their original deployment on passenger express services.
(Permalink) Class 90 DB Cargo UK Electrification  Brock: A northbound Pendolino passes a pair of DBC Class 90s on a Mossend to Daventry intermodal service at the site of Brock station on 04 March 2019. |
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A diesel locomotive has been officially named to celebrate the 50th anniversary of west coast main line (WCML) train travel coming up to speed in north Cumbria and beyond. Carlisle Power Signal Box (PSB) is celebrating half a century of operation after being created as a central hub to control all rail movements during modernisation of the WCMLs northern section in the 1970s.
(Permalink) Carlisle Power Signal Box Electrification West Coast Main Line |
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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 |
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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 |
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A new footbridge was installed last weekend (June 10 -11) at Strathbungo in Glasgow's southside.
(Permalink) Barrhead Electrification Strathbungo  Strathbungo: Planned replacement footbridge for Strathbungo, after the original was removed to allow electrification. |
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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 |
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The Labour-led Administration at South Lanarkshire Council say the new interchange is needed to 'get East Kilbride moving again'.
(Permalink) Doubling East Kilbride Electrification Hairmyres Interchange South Lanarkshire Council  Hairmyres: Plans to relocate Hairmyres station have moved closer as Scotland’s Railway, South Lanarkshire Council and Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT) have agreed to fund and develop an expande ...  Hairmyres: A Glasgow service calls at Hairmyres on 17 November 2018. Running 4 cars on all Saturday services on the East Kilbride line is a good move as these trains can be busy. The feathers for the Hairmyres l ...  Hairmyres: View from the footplate of Standard tank 80047 passing through Hairmyres in the mid 1960s with ecs for East Kilbride. [Ref query 9287] |
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Safety campaign educates young people about railway dangers along the Glasgow to Barrhead railway corridor.
(Permalink) Barrhead East Kilbride Electrification |
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Suggestions that the Transpennine Route Upgrade may be scaled back in response to funding constraints were rejected by Transport Minister Huw Merriman when questioned by Rail Business UK.
During a visit to Manchester Victoria on May 25 Merriman insisted that rumours that electrification through the core section between Stalybridge and Huddersfield was being cancelled or postponed were not correct. (Permalink) Electrification Huddersfield Stalybridge Transpennine Route Upgrade |
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The Scottish Government should commit to the electrification of the rail network in the south of Scotland, according to a local MSP.
(Permalink) Ayr Electrification Girvan Stranraer  Girvan: The 13.54 arrival from Stranraer at Girvan on 2nd March 2023. Girvan station is being 'improved' with better CCTV and these 'trip-strips'.
 Stranraer: The 09.23 from Ayr on arrival, 8-10-19. The vast majority of passengers (11) was from our photoclub. |
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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 |
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John Mason, MSP for Glasgow Shettleston, said that the new station at Glasgow Cross would allow trains to run from Ayr to Edinburgh, stopping in Glasgow, but not using Central or Queen Street.
(Permalink) CGU City of Glasgow Union Railway Electrification Gallowgate Glasgow Cross  High Street Junction: 334025 on an Edinburgh - Milngavie service begins the descent to High Street station and the low level tunnel section of the line on 24th January 2015. The tracks of the little used City of Glasgow Un ...  Shields Road [CGU]: Shields Road station had platforms on lines serving both Glasgow Central and St Enoch. These are the St Enoch (and City Union) lines looking west on 5 February. The Glasgow and Paisley lines can be se ...  Gallowgate: Ex NBR 0.6.2T 69195 passing Gallowgate with brake van in 1957. Looking to High Street Junction. |
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The next stage of preparing the line for electrification gets underway next month.
(Permalink) Barrhead Electrification |
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SNP MSP John Mason has called for the electrification of a railway line running through Glasgow city centre, as well as a new station that would 'take pressure off' Queen Street station and Central station. The MSP says a new station at Glasgow Cross would allow trains to run directly from Ayr to Edinburgh and stop in Glasgow en route but not at either of the city's two main stations.
(Permalink) Ayr CGU City of Glasgow Union Railway Edinburgh Electrification Gallowgate Glasgow Cross |
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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 |
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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 |
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Rail passengers are being advised of a six-day railway closure between Wigan and Bolton from this Saturday while work continues on the electrification of the line.
(Permalink) Bolton Electrification Wigan |
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Project to install new railway footbridge on Glasgow's southside begins.
(Permalink) Electrification Strathbungo Strathbungo: Planned replacement footbridge for Strathbungo, after the original was removed to allow electrification. |
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Work to complete the re-opening of the Leven branch line will see the parapets of a bridge raised, according to a new planning submission. Network Rail has submitted a prior approval notice to Fife Council to carry out the work at Elmpark Sawmill, Leven. Its focus is a metal bridge over the railway which is also a designated core path [The Sawmill Bridge]. In a planning statement, Network Rail said: The existing parapets comprise metal girders. The parapets are approximately 1.4 metres high and as such are non-compliant with electrification standards.
(Permalink) Bridge parapets Electrification Levenmouth Line Planning permission  Kirkland Loop: Looking east towards the mouth of the Leven, with the river on the right, on 3rd November 2021. Up to four lines occupied the track bed. Behind the camera, in a corner of the former Kirkland Yard, lif ... |
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Vital work to adapt three bridges and lower track to clear the way for an electric railway between Kettering and Wigston will get underway this March.
(Permalink) Electrification Kettering Wigston |
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CILT's research has highlighted a significant opportunity for the electrification of the UKs rail network.
(Permalink) CILT Electrification |
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Electricity contracts must be subject to renegotiation immediately, says the French rail association AFRA. Many rail freight operators in France struggle with the increased electricity bills, which threaten their viability. Infrastructure manager SNCF quadrupled traction prices in early January, and diesel locomotives already substitute electric ones to reduce operational costs.
(Permalink) ARFA Electrification Railfreight SNCF |
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This weekend, engineers will have installed half of the foundations needed for an electrified railway between Kettering and Wigston as part of the Midland Main Line upgrade.
(Permalink) Electrification Kettering Midland Main Line Wigston |
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The new bridge on Nithsdale Road, in the southside of Glasgow, will open this evening.
(Permalink) Barrhead East Kilbride Electrification Nithsdale Road  Strathbungo: 156 467 passes the site of Strathbungo station and the demolished Nithsdale Road bridge with the 16.10 from Glasgow Central to Kilmarnock. The works are in connection with electrification of the rout ... |
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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  Strathbungo: The former Strathbungo station footbridge, dating from 1877 and Grade C-listed, has been refurbished as seen here on 26th April 2021.
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Dundee gaming entrepreneur Chris van der Kuyl has said he is stunned and amazed bosses created rail electrification plans without giving communities a say. [Article requires subscription. -RS]
(Permalink) Electrification |
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Over 30 miles of train-powering electric wires are now in place to help deliver cleaner, greener journeys in the future as part of the multi-billion-pound Transpennine Route Upgrade.
(Permalink) Electrification Transpennine |
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Major long-planned rail works which would have halted all Fife-Edinburgh trains between Christmas and New Year have been postponed by ministers to avert festive disruption to passengers dissatisfied with ScotRail's service, The Scotsman has learned.
(Permalink) Dalmeny Edinburgh Haymarket Electrification |
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A Glasgow road is set to be closed for nearly three weeks due to Network Rail work.
(Permalink) Electrification Network Rail Nithsdale Road Strathbungo: 156 467 passes the site of Strathbungo station and the demolished Nithsdale Road bridge with the 16.10 from Glasgow Central to Kilmarnock. The works are in connection with electrification of the rout ... |
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A project developing so-called self-charging trains is among the winners of a Government funding competition to transform the future of transport.
(Permalink) Battery train Electrification |
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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 |
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Winner: Network Rail Design Delivery, Baker Hicks and Wardell Armstrong - Rolling programme of decarbonisation. Network Rail Scotland's rolling programme of decarbonisation aims to remove diesel passenger trains from the Scottish railway network by 2035. ... These determined a high level process for assessing the geotechnical risks and ground conditions relating to overhead line electrification foundation design.
(Permalink) Electrification Geotechnical survey Network Rail Network Rail Scotland |
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The first drills have broken ground to launch the next phase of electrification along the Midland Main Line between London and Wigston, Leicestershire.
(Permalink) Electrification Midland Main Line |
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Scotrail warned commuters of disruption after an electricity fault left trains unable to leave Glasgow Queen Street.
(Permalink) Electricity fault Electrification Glasgow Queen Street Low Level  Glasgow Queen Street Low Level: A 6 car eastbound service with 334033 leading, enters Glasgow Queen Street station on 22 November 2015. See image [[13711]] for an almost matching shot from 41 years earlier. |
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Commuters are being asked to avoid using one Glasgow service if possible, following a 'small fire'.
(Permalink) Bellgrove Electrification Fire Glasgow Queen Street Low Level |
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The A2CB route travels through Gleneagles, Perth and Invergowrie but the works could see local commuters face seven years of disruption.
(Permalink) A2CB Aberdeen Dunblane Dundee Electrification Gleneagles Invergowrie Perth  Perth: Class 170 170470 arriving into Platform 1 at Perth at 1538 on Thursday 23 August 2018 with the 1513hrs Dundee-Glasgow service.
 Aberdeen: Aberdeen Station 150th anniversary; this photo shows ScotRail Alliance MD Alex Hynes with Steve Ewen, ScotRail Customer Experience Manager (Acting) for the North-East of Scotland after today’s ...  Dundee: A Glasgow to Aberdeen HST approaches Dundee on 15 May 2019. The odd coach out is still in the (very) dark green of GWR. |
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Work to lay the foundations that will pave the way for the electrification of the Levenmouth Rail Link is about to get underway.
(Permalink) Electrification Levenmouth Line |
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Plans to electrify the train line through Dundee could create a significant problem for people trying to visit the shops in Broughty Ferry.
(Permalink) Broughty Ferry Electrification |
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Tayside passengers face seven years of travel disruption as railway engineers electrify the east coast line, demolishing scores of local bridges.
(Permalink) Aberdeen Dundee Electrification Perth |
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North Yorkshire County Council has pledged it will do everything possible to avoid triggering a public inquiry over Network Rails £11bn upgrade and electrification of the York to Leeds line.
The authority has estimated if it feels duty bound to object to plans to close three level crossings in the Church Fenton area, south of Tadcaster, and replace them with a road bridge it would lead to a not inconsiderable delay of probably over a year for the scheme as it would trigger a public inquiry. (Permalink) Electrification Leeds Level crossings York |
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Electrification plans which would lead to a greener future for part of the rail network in the Borders have been disclosed.
(Permalink) Borders Railway Electrification  Gorebridge: View north over Gorebridge station from Lady Brae road bridge as the 0947 Tweedbank - Edinburgh service calls on a cold and grey Sunday morning in January 2022.  Eskbank: The 5-car 1011 Edinburgh Waverley - Tweedbank pulls away from the platform at Eskbank on 28 April 2019. The curve onto Hardengreen Viaduct is just visible beyond the bridge.  Tynehead Junction: Probably the most short-sighted piece of infrastructure on the entire Borders Railway - Overbridge 41 at Cowbraehill between Tynehead and Falahill, looking south on 15th July. Under Transport Scotland ... |
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For decades, catching a train in Scotland came with the risk of being caught by an acrid blast of diesel exhaust. It was an occasional and unpleasant reminder of what we were throwing up into the atmosphere that we have suffered, then forgotten about, for far too long.
(Permalink) BMU Battery train Electrification Hydrogen power  Inverkeithing: Vivarail battery multiple unit 230001 crawls (thankfully) through Inverkeithing heading for an overnight stop in the Yard. 29 October.  Jamestown Viaduct [Inverkeithing]: The first emission-free fully-electric train to cross the iconic Forth Bridge is seen, at the Jamestown Viaduct with the Forth Bridge beyond, in this Network Rail and Vivarail aerial view as the Unite ... |
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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 |
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Network Rail say trains between EK and Glasgow Central will not run next weekend due to preparation works on the line.
(Permalink) East Kilbride Electrification  Busby: An East Kilbride service calls at Busby on 20 June. It will shortly enter the single track section through Throntonhall and Hairmyres which sadly limits the capabilities of this line.  East Kilbride: A train for Glasgow Central about to depart from East Kilbride in August 2006.  Thorntonhall: Running approximately 10 minutes late, an East Kilbride - Glasgow Central service passes under the bridge carrying the A726 on the approach to Thorntonhall on 11 February. |
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Despite valiant community efforts to save it, a Southside landmark has now been demolished as part of railway works.
(Permalink) Barrhead Electrification Strathbungo  Strathbungo: The former Strathbungo station was demolished on 6th August 2022. Seen here on 26 April 2021, latterly used as a shop.
 Strathbungo: Network Rail is removing the bridge on Nithsdale Road as part of the Barrhead to Glasgow electrification project.
Work to demolish the railway bridge on Nithsdale Road, in Glasgow's southside, will ... |
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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 Strathbungo: Network Rail is removing the bridge on Nithsdale Road as part of the Barrhead to Glasgow electrification project.
Work to demolish the railway bridge on Nithsdale Road, in Glasgow's southside, will ...  Strathbungo: The 18.57 from East Kilbride to Glasgow Central, formed by 156513 and 156462, passes underneath the old Strathbungo station on 26th April 2021.
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The Transpennine Route Upgrade is no longer the series of piecemeal interventions and partial electrification that regional stakeholders had feared, with the programme now including significant works to increase speeds and capacity as well as full electrification of the Transpennine North Railway between York and Manchester.
(Permalink) Capacity Electrification Line speed Transpennone |
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Network Rail will invest more than £120m of Scottish Government funding in the next three years to boost the electricity power supply into Scotland's railway network.
(Permalink) Electrification Network Rail Scotland Scottish Government  Cadder Yard: Demonstration of attaching droppers to overhead line at Cadder Electrification Depot during a visit by the North British Railway Study Group, courtesy of Network Rail/EGIP. |
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More than £120 million of Scottish Government funding is to be invested into boosting the electrification of the countrys railway network. Network Rail said that the investment will see six feeder stations at strategic locations across the network, as well as a further nine sites being upgraded to improve resilience and reliability.
(Permalink) Electrification Network Rail Scotland Scottish Government |
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Work to lay foundations that will pave the way for the electrification of the Fife Circle is about to get underway.
(Permalink) Dalmeny Electrification Haymarket  Dalmeny: Work to lay foundations that will pave the way for the electrification of the Fife Circle is about to get underway.
The £55million Scottish Government investment in the line between Haymarket an ... |
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The first phase of a rail decarbonisation scheme to electrify the Fife route has been approved to move to construction phase.
The scheme has been developed by Transport Scotland and Network Rail and will commence with electrification of the section between Haymarket and Dalmeny (south of the Forth Bridge). Construction work is expected to get underway on the estimated £55 million scheme in June 2022 and is due to be completed by December 2024. It forms part of a rolling programme that is expected to see electrification extended to Dundee and Aberdeen. (Permalink) Aberdeen Dalmeny Dundee Electrification Fife Circle Haymarket |
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The Scottish Government has published a new report on the renewable energy requirements projected to be needed for the transport sector between now and 2045.
The key finding from the report is that the amount of electricity and hydrogen the transport system is expected to need is well within the limits of what the energy sector is expected to generate. (Permalink) Electrification Hydrogen Power Scottish Government Transport Scotland |
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Major progress made to electrify the railway between Manchester and Stalybridge as two bridges are raisedTranspennine Route Upgrade will help to create a cleaner, greener railway between York, Leeds, Huddersfield and ManchesterPassengers should check before they travel this Early May Bank Holiday as work continues.
(Permalink) Ashton-under-Lyne Bridge replacement Electrification |
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Much has been written about the challenge of decarbonising the railway. Commentators debate the merits of 25kV electrification, or hydrogen and/or batteries (on self-powered trains). In the end, the discussion is about the relative energy density (whether measured by volume or mass) of the various energy sources compared with diesel fuel. 25kV electrification, of course, ...
(Permalink) Electrification Railfreight |
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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 |
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An MP has been assured by a minister that the Government will look at electrifying the Wolverhampton-Shrewsbury railway line 'as soon as possible'.
(Permalink) Electrification Shrewsbury Wolverhampton |
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There is little disagreement over the large scale of the challenge facing railway bosses when the ScotRail franchise passes into Scottish Government hands on April 1.
(Permalink) Electrification Green New stations Punctuality ScotRail Scottish Rail Holdings Timetabling |
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A rail freight terminal in Northamptonshire has become the first in the UK to demonstrate an innovative overhead electrification system, which could spell the end for diesel on electrified rail routes and boost the industrys net zero ambitions. Freight trains are typically loaded and unloaded from above, preventing the use of the high voltage overhead cables used on mainline railways. As such, they still rely on diesel to move in and out of terminals and passengers can be held up by slower diesel freight trains on mainlines, or those waiting to be moved into a depot by a shunter.
(Permalink) Electrification Railfreight Wellingborough |
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A popular manned railway crossing in Batley looks set to be replaced with a footbridge, ramp and steps in a £2.7m plan by Network Rail.
(Permalink) Batley Electrification Level crossing Signal box |
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West Fife looks set to be on track for electric trains after the proposal was included in Transport Scotland's latest Strategic Projects Review.
(Permalink) Electrification Fife Circle |
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The date for the demolition of the former Susie's Store has been confirmed as rail bosses reveal the extent of disruption locals can expect during major bridge works.
(Permalink) Bridge works Demolition Electrification Strathbungo Strathbungo: The 18.57 from East Kilbride to Glasgow Central, formed by 156513 and 156462, passes underneath the old Strathbungo station on 26th April 2021.
 Strathbungo: The former ticket office of Strathbungo station on Nithsdale Road in September 1997. Strathbungo station closed in May 1962. |
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Mass transit schemes in big cities and bridges or tunnels to replace some island ferry links are among the recommendations.
(Permalink) Electrification Glasgow Airport Waverley Route |
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Moving road haulage onto railways can dramatically cut carbon emissions and Siemens Mobility employees such as project manager Claire Whitehouse are currently involved in a major transformation of transport infrastructure that will not only drive decarbonisation but also improve journey times for passengers and freight
(Permalink) Electrification Scotland Siemens Mobility |
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Rail passengers face slower journeys between Edinburgh and Newcastle because of a shortage of electric power on the east coast main line. TransPennine is now investigating whether software adjustments can be made to its Nova 1 trains so that they would draw less electric power from the overhead wires, permitting them to be switched from diesel.
(Permalink) East Coast Main Line Electrification Overhead Line Equipment Power Supply |
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And there were calls for even more ambitious plans to be put in place.
(Permalink) Double Track East Kilbride Electrification Hamilton  East Kilbride: 156495 and 156511, on arrival at East Kilbride, with the 12.17 departure from Glasgow Central. Flats occupy the former goods yard.
 East Kilbride: Ongoing work in February 2013 involving the upgrading of the cycle track which nowadays replaces the the siding that once ran from East Kilbride Station to Mavor and Couson's engineering works at Ners ...  East Kilbride: Bridge over the trackbed of the line that once served the Mavor & Coulson works at Nerston, East Kilbride. Photographed in July 2008. |
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Clean transport advocates point out £30bn price tag for railway electrification is in the same ball park as budget for road building.
(Permalink) Electrification |
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A local politician has hit out at Network Rail, accusing them of watering down proposals to electrify a key route.
(Permalink) Anniesland Ashfield Electrification Gilshochill Glasgow Queen Street Maryhill Possilpark and Parkhouse Summerston Westerton  Maryhill: An Anniesland to Queen Street service calls at Maryhill on 21 July 2018. This is the only intermediate station with any features. The indefatigable Gaelic translator of station names has rendered this ...  Glasgow Queen Street High Level: 170416 and 158709 at a wet Glasgow Queen Street on 5th May 2009  Anniesland: With an autumnal Dawsholm Park forming the backdrop a 156 crawls to a halt at Anniesland on 17 November 2018 with a service from the Maryhill line. It is guaranteed at least one passenger for the retu ... |
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Only time will judge whether COP26 was a success. To many it achieved real progress, to others not enough, and to some it was all 'blah, blah, blah'. Whatever camp you are in, one thing is for sure, all eyes were on Scotland and the hospitality industry had much to cheer about after the covid lockdowns. [Note the mention of electrification of the Glasgow and South Western Main Line. -RS]
(Permalink) Blackford Electrification Glasgow and South Western Railway Highland Spring Mossend Yard Rail Freight Group Railfreight Russell Group Timber WSP  Mossend Marshalling Yard: 90039, just after its 'Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport' naming ceremony at Mossend, showing off its black 'Backbone' livery on 9th November 2021.
 Blackford: The 12.43 from Glasgow Queen Street to Dundee, powered by 43012 and 43146, passes the Highland Spring terminal at Blackford on 27th September 2020. No sidings laid yet.
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The managing director of Scotland's Railway, the partnership between Abellio ScotRail and Network Rail Scotland, has called on the transport sector to decarbonise in memory of the Stonehaven rail crash victims.
Alex Hynes claimed Scotland was reminded of the 'devastating impact of climate change' when three people were 'tragically killed on our rail network'. (Permalink) Alex Hynes Carron Water Bridge [West Carmont] Derailment Electrification Green Landslide ScotRail Stonehaven derailment |
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A revolutionary hydrogen-powered train coming to Glasgow to take rail industry chiefs on trips round the city during COP26 will run on electricity instead, The Scotsman has learned.
(Permalink) Electrification Hydroflex Hydrogen Power  Evesham: The Birmingham Centre for Railway Research and Education / Porterbrook / Jeff Vehicles 'HydroFLEX' crosses over River Avon east of Evesham station. |
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It has now been revealed the number of park and ride spaces at a new Hairmyres transport hub will be scaled back.
(Permalink) Doubling East Kilbride Electrification Hairmyres  Hairmyres: Glasgow Central - East Kilbride service approaching Hairmyres on 22 May 2009.  East Kilbride: The 4-car 16.43 Glasgow Central to East Kilbride service, approaching its destination on 4 April.  East Kilbride: 156442 with a morning Glasgow Central - East Kilbride service approaching its destination on 2 December 2010. |
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The energy and fuel crisis is currently hitting Europe hard. In the rail freight sector, increased electricity prices gave space even to rumours that companies would stop using electric locomotives. How does this situation affect the industry, and is it something to really worry about? The topic attracts different opinions as the situation alters according ...
(Permalink) Electricity Costs Electrification Railfreight |
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Transport Scotland now say the line between East Kilbride and Busby will only be single-tracked with cash used elsewhere.
(Permalink) Doubling East Kilbride Electrification Single track  East Kilbride: The rear of the 16.43 Glasgow Central - East Kilbride service approaching East Kilbride station (seen in the background) on 4 April 2009.
East Kilbride: The 4-car 16.43 Glasgow Central to East Kilbride service, approaching its destination on 4 April. East Kilbride: 156442 with a morning Glasgow Central - East Kilbride service approaching its destination on 2 December 2010. |
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Work on the East Kilbride and Barrhead Electrification Project has moved a step closer.
(Permalink) Barrhead East Kilbride Electrification  Barrhead: Full house at Barrhead with a stopping train for Glasgow in the bay, a
non-stopper at Platform 2 and a Kilmarnock service pulling in to Platform 1.  East Kilbride: The crew of 156431 changes ends during a short stop at the functional terminus of the East Kilbride line before dropping back down the branch with another service for Glasgow Central. |
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Transport for the North has welcomed news that what it describes as a 'key section of the North Wests rail network' will be electrified. [Announced on 1st. -RS]
(Permalink) Bolton Electrification Liverpool and Bury Railway (Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway) Lostock Junction Transport for the North Wigan North Western  Westhoughton: Looking towards Crow Nest Junction at Westhoughton as 156480 calls on a Manchester Victoria to Wigan service. At Crow Nest this line joins the direct line from Manchester via Atherton and Walkden.  Lostock Junction: View west at Lostock Junction sees 156466 dropping down from Westhoughton to join the line from Preston and Chorley and run to Bolton. When the station reopened in 1988 (as plain Lostock) the platform ...  Westhoughton: 1959 one-inch OS map extract showing the railway junctions around Westhoughton. Top right is Lostock Junction on the Bolton and Preston. Bottom left, just outside Hindley, is Crow Nest Junction. Today ... |
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The line between Bolton and Wigan is to be upgraded in a move described as a 'game changer'.
(Permalink) Bolton Electrification Liverpool and Bury Railway (Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway) Lostock Junction Wigan North Western Westhoughton: Looking towards Crow Nest Junction at Westhoughton as 156480 calls on a Manchester Victoria to Wigan service. At Crow Nest this line joins the direct line from Manchester via Atherton and Walkden. Lostock Junction: View west at Lostock Junction sees 156466 dropping down from Westhoughton to join the line from Preston and Chorley and run to Bolton. When the station reopened in 1988 (as plain Lostock) the platform ... Westhoughton: 1959 one-inch OS map extract showing the railway junctions around Westhoughton. Top right is Lostock Junction on the Bolton and Preston. Bottom left, just outside Hindley, is Crow Nest Junction. Today ... |
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The electrification of rail and introduction of self-powered trains is essential if Scotland is to meet its climate targets.
(Permalink) Electrification Green Scotland |
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Dunbar cement plant to host prototype for electrified rail freight Prototype aims to help make diesel redundant near to electrified railways Innovation will help UK transport hit governments net zero targets and improve local air quality A prototype electrified rail freight terminal in Dunbar is one of 30 projects to have received funding from Innovate.
(Permalink) Dunbar Cement Works Electrification Oxwellmains Quarry  Oxwellmains Siding: 60029 brings the empty Binliner out of the landfill sidings at Oxwellmains on 19 September as a GNER Kings Cross - Edinburgh service passes on the ECML. |
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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 |
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Although the climate emergency is recognised by mainstream parties across the political spectrum, the re-election of the SNP administration in Scotland has been interpreted by the rail industry as a vote of confidence in existing plans to decarbonise the Scottish economy of which a continuing program of rail electrification forms the backbone.
(Permalink) Electrification Green |
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Levenmouth rail campaigners have praised Tuesday's rail announcement as a 'step forward'.
(Permalink) Cameron Bridge Electrification Levenmouth  Cameron Bridge: Plan of the proposed new two platform Cameron Bridge station. The station will have two platforms, linked by a footbridge with lifts, on a double track electrified line with a large car park. This wil ... |
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Double tracking and electrification to be progressed and station locations confirmed.
(Permalink) Cameron Bridge Electrification Levenmouth Cameron Bridge: Plan of the proposed new two platform Cameron Bridge station. The station will have two platforms, linked by a footbridge with lifts, on a double track electrified line with a large car park. This wil ... |
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The return of rail services to Levenmouth has moved a step closer with confirmation by Transport Minister Graeme Dey that the line would be double tracked and electrified.
(Permalink) Cameron Bridge Electrification Levenmouth  Kirkland Yard: View west along the north bank of the River Leven from the Iron Brig in the summer of 2007. Behind the camera are Methil docks, while on the other side of the plate girder bridge lay Kirkland Yard, w ...  Kirkland Loop: Looking east from the Iron Brig towards Methil East Junction, with track cleared of vegetation in March 2021. Methil Power Station, which once dominated the horizon, has been demolished. |
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A new collaborative partnership has launched today which will play its part in meeting the challenges set by Network Rail in response to the UK decarbonisation agenda within the UK rail infrastructure. ARQ, which comprises AmcoGiffen, REL (Rail Electrification Limited) and QTS, will provide a truly integrated self-delivery model for the UK rail network as it moves closer to electrification and ...
(Permalink) ARQ AmcoGiffen Electrification QTS Rail Electrification Limited |
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The return of rail services to Levenmouth moved a step closer today with confirmation by Transport Minister Graeme Dey that the line would be double tracked and electrified.
Mr Dey was speaking during a visit to Leven where he also announced the options being taken forward for the locations for Leven and Cameron Bridge Stations. The Leven Station is to be located behind the Leisure Centre and Cameron Bridge Station will be to the east of the A915. The options were confirmed following detailed development work as well as stakeholder consultation for the new rail link. (Permalink) A915 Cameron Bridge Electrification Levenmouth |
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The Government is to back a rolling programme of electrification as part of efforts to decarbonise the railway, according to Transport Minister Baroness Vere.
(Permalink) Charlotte Vere Electrification |
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Engineers will soon be working overnight at locations between Kennishead and Crossmyloof to install foundations for electrification masts.
(Permalink) Crossmyloof Electrification Kennishead |
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Scotland's ambitious plans to transform its railways to a zero emissions network by 2035 is helping to push forward innovation in green technology that could ultimately change the world.
(Permalink) Electrification Green Hitachi Rail Zero-emission |
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Works could be carried out on Pollokshaws viaduct if city planners approve plans.
(Permalink) East Kilbride East Kilbride Electrification Electrification Pollokshaws Viaduct  Pollokshaws Viaduct: 156493 crossing Pollokshaws viaduct at the rear of a three unit train heading towards Glasgow Central  Pollokshaws Viaduct: Black 5 44900 crossing Pollokshaws Viaduct over the River Cart with an up freight on 8 September 1956. |
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In a world first, electric resistant paint combined with voltage-controlled clearance (VCC) has helped make a Victorian railway bridge usable by new electric trains, avoiding weeks of passenger disruption and train delays in the process.
(Permalink) Cardiff Electric resistant paint Electrification Network Rail |
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Preliminary works will soon begin to lay foundations for overhead powerlines along the East Kilbride-Glasgow Central railway as part of a multi-million-pound investment in the route.
[See also official press release item, 19th, below.] (Permalink) East Kilbridge Electrification |
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Work will soon begin to lay foundations for overhead powerlines along the East Kilbride-Glasgow Central railway as part of a multi-million-pound investment in the route.
(Permalink) East Kilbride Electrification |
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Scotland's railway has been a success story in recent years, with substantial investment in electrification, infrastructure enhancements and new fleets.
(Permalink) Electrification ScotRail |
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A Scottish Power cable has fallen onto the overhead lines which power electric rail services at Scremerston on the East Coast Main Line.
(Permalink) Delay East Coast Main Line Electrification Scottish Power Scremerston |
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Rail bosses have been urged to make the most of plans to electrify tracks between Longannet and Alloa by extending the project further into west Fife.
(Permalink) Alloa Dunfermline Electrification Kincardine Stirling |
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In early September, Scottish Government placed rail freight squarely at the heart of the low carbon economy when they chose the Mossend International Railfreight Park to launch their new Green Investment Portfolio. The scheme aims to attract international investors for ten low carbon eco-friendly projects across Scotland, which range from hydrogen development, to advanced manufacturing and recycling.
(Permalink) Electrification Green Investment Portfolio |
KML version
