Infrastructure News
OVERHEAD WIRES on both the Stirling, Dunblane and Alloa and Shotts routes in the Scottish central belt went live on 4 November.
Network Rail says that by March 2019 it will have electriied 325km across the central belt during the current Control Period which began in 2014. Electric trains are due to be introduced on SDA services with the December timetable change.
The irst part of the SDA route went live in May 2018 between Greenhill, Polmont, Grangemouth and Larbert, with the latest energisation covering the stretch northwards. The project covers a total of 99 single track kilometres. Combined with electriication of the main Edinburgh to Glasgow route, completed in 2017, the work will allow faster journey times and increased capacity on both routes.
In connection with the SDA works, the new Kerse road bridge in Stirling (p58, last month) was oicially opened on 19 October, having been closed to traic since April while the old bridge was demolished and a new structure erected. The reconstruction was needed to create space for overhead wires but has also enabled the bridge to be widened. NR says work to complete the bridge will continue until February 2019.
Wiring of the Shotts route covers the stretch between Holytown and Midcalder Junction, involving 74 single track kilometres and creating a fourth electriied route between Edinburgh and Glasgow. This work has been delivered ahead of target, with completion not scheduled until March.cr@Ann Glen
