£300m Airdrie-Bathgate Rail Link opened in Scotland

Three new purpose built stations constructed and 69 bridges along the route upgraded or replaced

The £300m Airdrie-Bathgate Rail Link has been officially opened, which allows passengers to travel direct from Helensburgh and Milngavie to Bathgate and Edinburgh.

The project has seen 15 miles of new track built to connect communities in West Lothian and North Lanarkshire. Bathgate and Drumgelloch stations have been rebuilt as part of the project, with Livingston North and Uphall stations having been upgraded.

Three new purpose-built stations have been constructed in Armadale, Blackridge and Caldercruix and 69 bridges along the line of route have either been upgraded or replaced.

The rail link is expected to generate new socio-economic opportunities for those it serves and to help encourage motorists out of their cars.

Services have been operating on the new line since December 12, 2010, but construction of access roads and other facilities at Armadale, Caldercruix and Drumgelloch had to be suspended until early 2011. The three stations opened to the public in phases over February and March.

All stations on the route are now operational and additional train services were introduced across the route.

Current service levels remain between Bathgate and Edinburgh Waverley, and the service frequency will increase over time between Glasgow Queen Street (Low Level) and Edinburgh.

The original railway between Airdrie and Bathgate closed to passenger trains in 1957 and to freight services in 1982.

The new route was funded by Transport Scotland and built by Network Rail.

Keith Brown, Minister for Transport and Infrastructure, said: "This major project is one of a number of transport infrastructure improvements being delivered across Scotland, making a real difference to local communities."

"Completed on time and on budget, it re-establishes a lost-link between east and west."

Further information:
Network Rail