Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse MSP Christina McKelvie is distributing a survey to constituents this week.
(Permalink) Coalburn Lanarkshire Larkhall Lesmahagow Stonehouse Strathaven

The re-opening of the 9km Levenmouth branch in 2024 will be the fifth Scottish rail re-opening in the last 20 years. Previous re-openings were the Larkhall branch (5km) in 2005; Stirling to Alloa (21km) in 2008; Airdrie to Bathgate (22km) in 2010; and the Borders Railway (49km) in 2015.
(Permalink) Airdrie Alloa Bathgate Larkhall Levenmouth Line

A 78-year-old man has died after his car crashed down a railway embankment and onto a train station platform.
(Permalink) Car on line Larkhall

A man has been taken to hospital after the car landed on the platform at Larkhall Station.
(Permalink) Car on line Larkhall

Tributes have been paid to a Glasgow councillor and 'towering figure' in local politics who has died aged 59.
Labour councillor and former train driver Alistair Watson died suddenly at his home on Wednesday evening.

[Alistair Watson delivered the Larkhall re-opening, without which there might not be Alloa, Airdrie-Bathgate and Borders. -Ed]
(Permalink) Airdrie-Bathgate Alistair Watson Alloa Borders Railway Larkhall

Over the past 30 years, Scotland has been the trailblazer for re-opening railways in response to growing gridlock on the British road network. Scores of new stations have been created on the existing network north of the Border, and new lines now link communities which lost their services in the 1950s and 1960s - Edinburgh to Bathgate, Hamilton to Larkhall, Stirling to Alloa, Bathgate to Airdrie and several suburban routes in Glasgow.
(Permalink) Airdrie-Bathgate Alloa Bathgate Larkhall Levenmouth New station Re-opening

The Strategic Rail Authority has set out its priorities in Scotland for the next ten years. Edinburgh Waverley is to be re-built with further through platforms at a cost of £400 million. This work will involve connecting the bay platforms 8&9 and 12&13, raising the glass roof and providing another platform to the south of the station. The work is required as the station will reach capacity in the next year. Stirling to Alloa is to be re-opened to passengers within 5 years. It is also hoped that Stirling to Kincardine will also re-open to freight. Hamilton to Larkhall is to be re-opened and a Milngavie to Larkhall service to be introduced within 5 years. This may also include the re-opening of the Anniesland to Maryhill curve. Platforms will be extended on the Fife Circle which will allow longer trains to run, increasing passenger capacity. Platforms will also be extended on the Glasgow to Ayr line. Platforms will be extended on the East Kilbride Branch. Platforms will be extended on the Bathgate Branch. TPWS will be fully implemented by 2003. Increased capacity will be provided between Glasgow and Paisley. This could be re-signalling or re-quadrupling the line. Increased capacity will be provided between Glasgow and Kilmarnock. This will probably be through adding a new dynamic loop on the single track section between Barrhead and Kilmarnock which is currently only broken at Lugton. 140 stations are to be modernised. Construction of new interchange stations or re-building of existing stations will include Gourock, Markinch and Partick. Refurbishment for 318s and reliability improvements to 170s. Extension of Sunday services on the Shotts and East Kilbride Lines. A new national test track to be established. As a result of various schemes 6 new stations will open; Alloa, Newcraighall, Brunstane, Gartcosh, Larkhall and Beauly. Longer term plans include East Coast Main Line upgrading (to complete by 2010) and lines to Glasgow Airport and Edinburgh Airport. There is an element of uncertainty as the ScotRail franchise is due for renewal and the future of Railtrack is not clear at this stage. The West Coast Main Line enhancements to allow 140mph running may not go ahead.

(Permalink) Alloa Anniesland Beauly Brunstane Class 170 Class 318 Edinburgh Airport Edinburgh Waverley Gartcosh Glasgow Airport Gourock Kincardine Larkhall Markinch Maryhill New station Newcraighall Partick Railtrack SRA ScotRail Stirling TPWS

Railtrack


Post Hatfield Crash repairs


On the 15th there were three locations affected by Gauge Corner Cracking.

200 points and 75,000 yards of track have been renewed.


Junction remodeling


40 junctions which are known to be bottlenecks are to be remodeled.


Speed restrictions


As of the 15th 53 speed restrictions existed in Scotland.


New station facilities and station regeneration


81 stations have been identified for new toilets.

New Information Systems (CIS) will be installed at Hyndland, Partick and Queen Street Low Level.

Partick station is to be refurbished and platforms resurfaced.

Gourock station is due to be rebuilt and Railtrack is in discussion with developers.

Perth station is to be regenerated with footbridges and canopies renewed.

Broughty Ferry has been rebuilt at the cost of £1,000,000.


Train Protection Warning System


Installation of Train Protection Warning System on Scotland's railways and trains continues and is expected to be complete by December 2002.


Edinburgh Crossrail


The contracts for the Edinburgh Crossrail scheme (reopening of freight only route from Portobello to Brunstane and Newcraighall to passengers) have been signed with the council and contractors.


Stirling to Alloa and Dunfermline


The details of reopening the closed but mostly extant line from Stirling to Alloa and on to Kincardine have not yet been resolved.


Larkhall to Milngavie


Although there have been some doubts about the reopening of the closed line between Larkhall and Hamilton, Railtrack and Strathclyde Passenger Transport Executive are continuing discussions.


Aberdeen to Inverness improvements


Railtrack is considering its options for improving capacity of the Aberdeen to Inverness line.


A loop may be opened at Orton.


Forres loop may be altered to run by the Forres goods loop and a two platform station opened on the loop.


Signalboxes between Elgin and Nairn may be closed.


Proposals will be drawn up to 'level 4' (complete design) and given to the Strategic Rail Authority by the end of the year. Actual changes will be delayed as work on signaling is being focused on installing Train Protection Warning System until December 2002.


Members of the RPC and public suggested that perhaps a section of double track at the beginning of the route in Aberdeen and Inverness would help - such as that which the Inverness and Perth has. It was also commented that the station at Keith can be a bottleneck as the loop is located to the east of the station - a train at the station has to occupy the Keith to Elgin section and consequently trains have to be held at Keith loop or Elgin loop when there is a train at the station.


Cornton Level Crossing


Cornton Level crossing, by Stirling, is fitted with cameras which photograph every road vehicle which passes through the lights at red. 250 vehicles were photographed between January and May this year, many belonging to local people. The crossing has been checked and complies to safety standards. The council and Railtrack are considering further traffic calming options including permanent closure of the road.


Ninewells


The council in Dundee is considering opening a station at Ninewells which would serve new developments in the area, the airport and Ninewells Hospital.


Tay Bridge repair


Repairs to the Tay Bridge are due to be complete in 2003 and will allow higher speed running on the bridge and freight to pass over it.


Edinburgh Park


Railtrack and New Edinburgh Ltd have resolved difficulties and a station at Edinburgh Park can now be built. It could be open by 2003.
(Permalink) Alloa Brunstane Cornton Level Crossing Crash Edinburgh Crossrail Elgin Forres Glasgow Queen Street Hatfield Hyndland Larkhall Nairn New station Newcraighall Ninewells Partick Perth Portobello Railtrack TPWS Tay Bridge