Fiona Hyslop MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Transport, visited the site of the relocated station at Hairmyres in South Lanarkshire yesterday, Wednesday, 17 July to see the progress on the East Kilbride Enhancement project since it began at the beginning of this year.

The project will relocate Hairmyres station and convert the single-track line to double-track so that trains can pass each other rather than having to wait, which will improve timekeeping and reliability.

During the last week, 24 steel foundations to support the new footbridge and lift towers have been installed.

Next weekend, extensive earthworks will take place at Hairmyres to provide sufficient clearance to extend the existing two-track section of the line by 1.4 km.

The Cabinet Secretary also heard about progress at East Kilbride station, where the platform has been extended by 51 metres ahead of the construction of a new building at Hairmyres.

Work is scheduled to be complete at both stations by summer 2025, when there will be a more modern and accessible space with improved passenger facilities. At East Kilbride, a new booking office, waiting area, and retail unit will be provided.

As well as work at Hairmyres and East Kilbride stations, two new bridges have been completed as part of the project, work is underway on a further two at Thornliebank Road and Westerton Lane near Busby station, and plans are in place for three more along the route.

Between Thornliebank and Busby, piling work for foundations for overhead masts to support overhead line equipment is due to finish at the end of this month, with over 165 foundations having already been laid. Once that work is complete, piling will continue between Thorntonhall and East Kilbride, which will take until the end of this year.

The £140m East Kilbride Enhancement project is due to be completed by December 2025 and is being delivered by Network Rail and its contractors SPL Powerlines, Story, AmcoGiffen, Siemens, Rail Systems Alliance Scotland and QTS. It forms part of a wider Scottish Government investment to decarbonise railway passenger services.

Further information and updates on the work can be found at Network Rail Scotland on X/Twitter, LinkedIn, or ScotlandsRailway.com

I have thoroughly enjoyed this opportunity to visit the East Kilbride Enhancement project and meet the team that is delivering real progress towards the programme. It is clear there is a great deal of activity taking place along the route to deliver the rail electrification and improvement works.

This 140m investment by the Scottish Government will improve rail services and facilities for local communities, making them even greener as we work towards our ambitious Net Zero goals.

Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Fiona Hyslop