An £18.3 million funding award from the Glasgow City Region City Deal will facilitate the construction of the new Balgray station on the Neilston line, adjacent to Balgray Reservoir.

The funding for the station is comprised of £15.74m from both the UK and Scottish governments, with £2.56m coming from East Renfrewshire Council.

The Glasgow City Region City Deal represents a £1.13 billion collaboration involving eight local authorities, the Scottish Government, and the UK Government.

It encompasses 27 projects, with 21 being significant infrastructure initiatives. These projects are expected to stimulate economic expansion throughout the City Region and are projected to create 15,000 construction jobs during development and an additional 29,000 jobs upon completion.

Approval of the construction of the new Balgray station marks the latest milestone in the project designed to link the current community and the new housing development with the rail network, catalyzing additional development.

In recent months, Network Rail and East Renfrewshire Council, in collaboration with Transport Scotland, ScotRail, and Story Contracting, have been planning and designing a new station, which will feature two platforms linked by a footbridge equipped with lifts and will also offer waiting shelters, bicycle storage, and ticket vending machines.

The passenger car park will feature 80 spaces, including ten charging stations for electric vehicles.
Footpaths and bicycle lanes will guide residents to the station, ensuring easy access for those walking, using wheelchairs, or cycling from nearby homes.

The construction will include a direct pathway from the station to Dams to Darnley Country Park, providing visitors with convenient access for their arrival and departure during a day out.

“A new railway station in this area of Barrhead will be transformative for people who don’t currently use the train, and will also provide a cleaner, greener way to visit the green space and countryside in East Renfrewshire.

Gerry McQuade, capital delivery director, Network Rail

“It’s fantastic news that City Deal funding has been approved for the new Balgray station in Barrhead. Since announcing the new name for the station and how plans were progressing, we’ve had a great response from residents who are excited about the delivery of a much-needed new public transport link. “

East Renfrewshire Council leader Owen O’Donnell

East Renfrewshire Council has provided a bus turning circle and stop off Springfield Road in preparation for the station construction, emphasizing the importance of transport interchange and the improvement of the town’s active travel network.

In the development process for the new Balgray station, Network Rail submitted a planning request for prior approval to the East Renfrewshire Council in August.

While Balgray will become the newest station in the Scotland once complete, work on other new build stations such as Cambridge South are progressing rapidly. While Bow Street station in Wales has seen large numbers of passenger numbers in just 3 years since its opening demonstrating how new stations are vital to local communities and their economies across the country.