Over the next weekend ( Saturday 27th to Sunday 28th August) engineers from Network Rail will be completing some upgrades at Whifflet South Junction .

Located between Coatbridge Freight Terminal and Mossend/Eurocentral near Motherwell, Whifflet South Junction will be upgraded for the first time in 50 years.

During the work the line between Coatbridge and Motherwell will be closed, with ScotRail running a replacement bus services to get passengers where they need to be.

The crucial work will see the junction revitalised with new strengthened track, concrete sleepers and fresh ballast replacing the old, worn out jointed rail.

The high volume of traffic that travels across the rail every day has affected the old rails, and the upgrade aims to increase the reliability and reduce maintenance.

Passengers wanting to travel on these days can see how their travel may be affected by visiting www.nationalrail.co.uk or www.scotrail.co.uk

Eddie McLoone, Project Manager for Scotland’s Railway said: “The £2.2 million investment in renewing Whifflet South junction is vital to keeping freight services flowing between Mossend and Coatbridge Freight Terminals and the rest of Scotland’s Railway.

“We know this work will cause some disruption, but such a vital upgrade can’t be delivered without closing the railway to allow our engineers access to the track.

“We would like to reassure freight customers and rail passengers that every effort has been made to reduce the impact of our activities as much as possible. Thank you for your understanding.”