Major upgrades across Scotland’s rail network | Rail Technology Magazine

Network Rail has announced plans to carry out a range of vital infrastructure improvement works across Scotland over the festive period. The £15m investment is designed to keep Scotland’s Railway reliable for both passenger and freight services.

Engineers will be replacing track, renewing and refurbishing points, and upgrading signalling systems at Greenhill Junction, a key junction near Falkirk on the main Edinburgh-Glasgow line and Highland mainline. They will also be replacing nearly 2km of track on the East Coast Mainline near Craigentinny as well as undertaking major drainage work at Haymarket North tunnel.

On the Helensburgh and West Highland line, engineers will undertake signalling upgrades which will be taking place at Craigendoran.

Engineers will be renewing a key set of points at Dundee Central Junction and renewing track over the Christmas and New Year period.

Gerry McQuade, capital delivery director for Network Rail Scotland, said: “Our work over the festive period is designed to protect the railway infrastructure and improve passengers’ experience when travelling by train.

“We are pleased to be able to deliver most of this work without any impact on services as it’s being carried out when trains are not running.”

David Simpson, ScotRail service delivery director, said: “We know that improvement works can be an inconvenience to customers, but we’ll be doing everything we can to keep people moving to help them make the most of the festive period.

Network Rail Scotland have been battling the elements as temperatures plunge across the country. The team have been using special heaters which are used to avoid rails freezing at key junctions as well as deploying de-icing to switches and crossings alongside thorough mechanical signalling inspections.

Liam Sumpter, route director for Network Rail Scotland, said: “Winter is a particularly challenging time for the railway – snow and ice can prevent track and signalling systems from working correctly and cause delays.

“Our engineers will be working flat out to keep our customers moving over the coming days and keeping our passengers and colleagues safe during the extreme weather is our number one priority.”

Photo Credit: Network Rail Scotland