As part of the wider project to upgrade and remodel Carstairs Junction, Network Rail has now completed installing 121 new overhead electrification structures.
The upgrades are part of a phased programme of investment in the important junction on the West Coast Main Line which aims to simplify and upgrade the track layout.
This will clear the existing bottleneck on the network and allow for the separation of non-stop passenger freight trains from those stopping at the station.
The work at Carstairs in part of an investment of more than £100m in the junction to modernise the critical section of the network.
The work will also speed up journeys between Glasgow and Edinburgh and will allow for the longest freight trains on the network to pass through.
Across the past 18 months teams from industry partners Siemens, Rail Systems Alliance and SPL Powerlines have been carrying out and range of engineering work along the embankments and putting in over head line masts and signalling system.
The project has delivered 3km of track renewals and 1.5km of drainage installed the new structures, and started the process of removing some of the redundant equipment.
The next part of the work will take place in 2023 will see another 4km of new drainage and further embankment work.
Jim McCleary, programme manager at Network Rail said: “We’re now gearing up for the final construction of the new track layout, which includes 10 kilometres of track and 27 new sets of switches and crossings, which allow trains to move between tracks.
“One of the main challenges on the project is the integration of the different teams working on site given the sheer volume of activity happening within the limited work window that we have on Saturday nights.
“Access to the railway at this critical junction is very limited, but the team has worked hard with the wider industry to balance the needs of train operators with the longer-term benefits that will come from modernising the track, signalling and overhead line equipment.”
Responses
Maybe Carstairs railway station could have more extra platforms for ScotRail electric trains to terminate at Carstairs coming from Glasgow Central and Edinburgh Waverley. And to free up extra space or capacity for trains to pass through Carstairs including freight trains.
After all this reported investment it looks like the very slow movement of trains to and from Edinburgh with the south is unaffected. I would love to be wrong.
Perhaps Network Rail should continue on replacing the old overhead wires on the Manchester-Gosslop and Hadfield lines and between Barking-Fenchurch Street via Limehouse.
As well Barking-Pitsea via Upminster & Basildon, Prittlewell-Southend Victoria and other overhead wiring replacement and electrification works on other lines including between Colton Junction-Leeds.
And electrification on the Settle-Carlisle Line if it was to be given the go ahead. So that new and existing electric and Bi-mode trains can operate on.