A £1.9 million upgrade for the Stranraer line has been completed by Network Rail following six days of work at Laggansarroch viaduct near Girvan, which saw over 1km of track replaced.

Network Rail is working hard to achieve its target of net zero carbon by 2035, and this project supported that aim by using 200 recycled plastic (composite) sleepers across the viaduct.

The project also saw the use of:

• 1800 steel sleepers
• 1500 tonnes of ballast
• 2km of new rails

During the project, 650m of new track drainage was also installed at Kilkeran.

An ongoing line closure to allow the continuing demolition of the former Station Hotel in Ayr meant that Network Rail could bring in a 65-tonne tamper, a self-propelled, rail-mounted machine which packs the ballast under railway tracks to create a durable and level roadbed.

The machine was brought in by road and lifted onto the railway at Stranraer using a 500-tonne crane, which was also used to lift two ScotRail trains onto lorries for them to be taken to the depot in Glasgow to undergo essential maintenance.

The work we’ve carried out on the Stranraer line will help to keep trains moving during periods of extreme rainfall and bring smoother journeys for passengers. A huge thanks to everyone for coming up with an innovative solution to carry out the work, and for working around the clock for six days to complete the job.

Gerry McQuade, Capital Delivery Director at Network Rail Scotland

I’m pleased our alliance between Network Rail, Babcock International and Arcadis was able to devise a new plan to complete this vital work, given the ongoing closure of the railway at Ayr, and also assist ScotRail in returning their two Class 156 trains to Corkerhill depot for vital maintenance.

Craig Barclay, Operations Director at Rail Systems Alliance Scotland