The £300 million project to create a new rail link between Airdrie and Bathgate enters its next phase this autumn and winter, with a series of line closures planned to help deliver the new service.

The project, financed by Transport Scotland and delivered by Network Rail, is currently focussed on the eastern end of the new rail link, improving existing infrastructure on the Bathgate branch line between West Lothian and Edinburgh. Work to double track the existing route will require four Sunday closures in September and October plus a 16-day closure in October, during which bus services will replace First ScotRail trains.

The project also requires electrification of the central track through the Mound tunnel to Edinburgh Waverley station. This work will be carried out over a nine day period during the Christmas holidays (25 Dec 2007 to 2 Jan 2008) and will involve a series of timetable adjustments. Replacement bus services and temporary timetables will be publicised in advance by the train operating companies.

Ron McAulay, Network Rail Director, Scotland said: "The Airdrie-Bathgate Rail Link is the biggest transport project currently being undertaken in Scotland. In order to bring about the social, economic and transport benefits of this project, some temporary disruption to services is unavoidable. We have been working closely with our rail industry partners to ensure that a robust timetable of replacement bus services will be put in place during the work – we are confident that passengers will not face severe disruption. The work being undertaken in the Mound tunnel during the Christmas holidays will see the track lowered slightly and over-head lines installed through the middle of the three tunnels.* This work has been carefully planned to take place during the quietest period for the railways in Scotland."

Steve Montgomery, First ScotRail's Operations and Safety Director, said: "On completion, this project will bring a number of benefits to customers in terms of overall service performance. Whilst they are taking place, we advise passengers to check their journey information which will be available at stations and on our website and to leave a little more time that usual for travelling."

Line closures related to the Airdrie-Bathgate Rail Link take place on the following dates:

Bathgate to Edinburgh - services replaced by buses
Sunday 16 September
Sunday 23 September
Sunday 30 September
Sunday 28 October
Saturday 6 October to Sunday 21 October

Mound Tunnel works (full replacement timetable TBC)
25 December 2007 to 2 January 2008
Services affected will include:
Edinburgh to Glasgow – reduced to half-hourly service
Fife services – reduced services
Edinburgh to Dundee/Aberdeen – reduced services

Community forums Community forums have been organised to discuss the current works with the local communities near the line. They will take place on the following dates:
10 September, 6pm-7.30pm: Uphall Primary School, Uphall
12 September, 6pm-7.30pm: Deans Community High School, Livingston
13 September, 6pm-7.30pm: Bathgate academy, Bathgate
For more information on their journeys customers are advised to contact National Rail Enquiries on 08457 48 49 50 (www.nationalrail.co.uk), check posters at stations or contact First ScotRail on 0845 601 5929 (www.firstscotrail.com).

Note: *The most northerly and southerly of the Mound tunnels are already electrified.

Notes:
Royal Assent was granted to the Airdrie-Bathgate Railway and Linked Improvements Act 2007 on 8 May 2007, which followed wide consultation with key stakeholders on issues relating to the project and unanimous cross-party support from the Scottish Parliament.

The first phase of the project is the upgrade of the Edinburgh-Bathgate line (double-tracking) which will see commuters in West Lothian benefiting from enhanced performance on this line as early as 2008. It is anticipated that services will be running the length of the new railway in December 2010.

When complete, the rail link will bring passenger benefits including four more trains per hour in each direction between Glasgow and Edinburgh; shorter travel times; improved reliability of existing services; better access to employment, education and social opportunities; and a reduction in passenger congestion. The environmental benefits include offering a public transport alternative to travelling by car via the M8, a relocated cycle-path and a reduction in congestion.

Transport Scotland has committed funding for the project to a maximum of £299.7 million.

For further information on the Airdrie-Bathgate Rail Link Project see: http://www.airdriebathgateraillink.co.uk