Glasgow to Barrhead railway line opens back up after £63m upgrade by Network Rail

The Glasgow to Barrhead railway line will fully reopen on Friday following a £63.3m upgrade.

The line has been closed since June 24 to allow 70,000 hours worth of work to be carried out.

More than 14,000 metres of overhead power cables and has been installed to prepare for the electrification of the route.

Network rail said bridge parapets were also raised in height at Kennishead and Priesthill and Darnley stations to make them safe and compliant for an electrified railway.

And a significant amount of work took place at Barrhead station, with platform 3 extended to accommodate longer four-carriage electric trains.

The old footbridge at Nitshill station, too low to fit the overhead cables underneath, was replaced with a new ramp to platform 2 for services to Barrhead and Kilmarnock.

It can now be accessed through a reopened underpass off Nitshill Road.

The Glasgow to Barrhead line reopens tomorrow morning, (Friday 4 Aug), following a £63.3 million upgrade. Thanks to our neighbours for their patience while this vital improvement work took place.https://t.co/j8xtkodpIY pic.twitter.com/eETXSs5mvN
— Network Rail Scotland (@NetworkRailSCOT) August 3, 2023

Paul Reilly, Network Rail’s enior programme manager, said: “I would like to thank passengers, residents and businesses for their patience and understanding over the last six-weeks, as we delivered these vital engineering works.

“Electrification of the Glasgow – Barrhead line will transform travel by providing greener and quieter trains for our passengers.

“The work also represents another considerable achievement as part of our wider plans to deliver net zero across Scotland’s Railway and we’re looking forward to electric trains operating on the route.”

David Simpson, ScotRail’s service delivery director, said: “It’s great to see that work to prepare the Barrhead line for electrification has been completed successfully and the route reopen for passenger service.

“We know how inconvenient it can be when extensive work like this is carried out, so we’re thrilled to be able to welcome customers back to the railway.

“I’d also like to thank everyone for their patience while this important upgrade was delivered.

“It’s an exciting project for Scotland’s Railway, with more of the network being electrified on our journey to net zero.”