An electric rail scheme has been developed by Transport Scotland and Network Rail that will pass through East Renfrewshire and South Lanarkshire to the south of Glasgow. Its construction work is expected to get underway on the £63 million Barrhead corridor in April 2022 and will be complete by December 2023. It will support passenger and freight services and will be used as a key diversionary route for cross-border services and it will contribute to the reduction of carbon emissions.

“I’m pleased that work on the full electrification of the Glasgow to Barrhead railway line is expected to start early next year as this will make a significant difference to passenger and freight services in the future.” The Transport minister Graeme Dey remarked.

He ensures that the delivery of the East Kilbride and Barrhead Electrification Project will contribute to the decarbonisation of two critical corridors on this strategic network and will allow efficiencies to be achieved and disruption minimised for passengers during this period.

This project will help towards the delivery of the Scotland Rail Decarbonisation Action Plan which will see the removal of all diesel on passenger services by 2035 through the deployment of existing rolling stock.