Airdrie - Bathgate rail link re-opens

[alonzo-ny]

New rail link opened today linking my hometown with Glasgow and Edinburgh. One is most proud.

BBC



New £300m Airdrie-Bathgate rail link re-opens
Bathgate train station The new line is expected to boost the local economy


A £300m rail link has opened that re-establishes passenger services between North Lanarkshire and West Lothian for the first time in 54 years.

The new 15-mile track allows trains to run all the way from the west of Scotland through Glasgow Queen Street to Edinburgh, via Airdrie and Bathgate.

However, Network Rail said the recent severe weather had prevented the completion of three new stations.

They included Armadale, Caldercruix and Drumgelloch.

Scotland's Network Rail director Ron McAulay said the stations would be completed once the weather improved.

He said: "The severe weather has prevented the completion of some minor station works and left the access roads and platform surfaces at some of the new intermediate stations on the route impassable, with up to 3ft of snow blocking access this week."

Despite the setback, he added: "Completing this line in just four years was a major engineering and project management challenge.
Ticket examiners

"To have delivered the railway on time and on budget is a testament to the skill and determination of our team."

The first train is scheduled to leave Bathgate at 0806 GMT, arriving in Airdrie 21 minutes later.

The project has involved stations at Bathgate and Drumgelloch being re-built, with Livingston North and Uphall stations being upgraded.

The original railway between Airdrie and Bathgate closed to passenger trains in 1956 and to freight services in 1982.

Funded by the Scottish government, the line is expected to open up new economic and educational opportunities for those living along the route and offer an alternative for commuters using the M8.

The new service has also been the focus of a dispute between Scotrail and the RMT union, over plans to employ ticket examiners rather than conductors on the new line.

[Zim Flyer]

Excellent news.

This has been the best bit of devolution for me, the way the new administrations / governments (not sure what they are called) in Wales and Scotland have sort to reopen closed railway lines.

[Ashtonian]

Congratulations to Scotland!

[geoff189d]

Always nice to see railway lines re-instated. Hope there are more.

[Red Road]

Well done to all those involved in this project.

[alonzo-ny]

Thanks.

[mtj73]

It really warms me up inside seeing closed lines reopened. It's like acknowledging and amending the mistakes of the past. Well done Scotland, for this and the Ediniburgh tram scheme.

[alonzo-ny]

Borders line as well.

[Red Road]

Originally Posted by alonzo-ny

Thanks.

Your welcome.

[xkk]

Do you know if the cab ride film of this line is available somewhere in internet??? New line between two big cities and no interest

[makita09]

I found this



and



Is a special railtour put on for enthusiasts, using an old train, just to have a look at the line.

[xkk]

Thanks

Pity that all route from Edinburgh to Glasgow hasn't been filmed yet...

Happy new year

[Sweet Zombie Jesus]

This new line is already worth it, will be going through to Edinburgh in a weeks time by getting on at the local train station 5 minutes from my flat in the East End. No need to trapse all the way into Queen Street, genius.