East Kilbride train line closes for four months for 'major improvement works'

A busy train lane has been closed for four months as major improvement works get underway.

No trains will run on the line between East Kilbride and Glasgow Central from January 25 to Sunday, May 18, while engineers work to modernise the railway.

The £140million project will see work carried out to the track, signalling, bridges, and overhead line equipment along the route, and is part of a Scottish Government investment in the line to decarbonise rail services as well as improve reliability for passengers.

Once complete, in December 2025, the investment in the line will see a new station at East Kilbride, a new station with two platforms and an accessible footbridge at Hairmyres, a new footbridge at Busby station, improved access at Giffnock, a new station entrance at Clarkston.

ScotRail will operate a rail replacement bus service that will serve most of the stations on the route.

At locations where rail replacement is not available, the train operator has detailed alternative transport options to support travel.

Services on the Barrhead line and other neighbouring routes will continue to operate as normal, providing options to still travel by rail during the works. ScotRail will add additional carriages to services on nearby routes, but services at peak times are expected to be busy.

Customers along the route who regularly travel to and from Glasgow city centre should consider local bus services as an alternative to rail replacement services.

Phil Campbell, ScotRail customer operations director, said: “The works being carried out by Network Rail are absolutely critical in the latest phase of the project to modernise the railway on the East Kilbride line.

“We know the inconvenience that extended works on the railway has on customers, and we appreciate their patience and understanding while Network Rail complete these vital improvements.

“By providing detailed information in advance, we hope to give customers enough time to plan their journeys and consider what alternatives are available to them.

“We urge customers to plan ahead and know their travel options. During the improvement works, some journey times will be longer, but we will keep you moving.

“You can find out more about our alternative travel plan and what it means for your own journey by visiting our dedicated webpage or by downloading our free mobile app.”