Network Rail engineers will work around-the-clock over the next two weekends to upgrade a Lanarkshire junction for the first time since its installation more than 50 years ago.
The work, costing £2.2m, on the Whifflet South junction, located between Coatbridge Freight Terminal and Mossend/Eurocentral near Motherwell on the West Coast Mainline, will see the railway between Coatbridge and Motherwell closed this weekend, August 20-21, and next weekend, August 27-28.
No services will run through the junction during those weekends and ScotRail will operate replacement bus services between Motherwell and Rutherglen via Whifflet/Carmyle, and between Motherwell and Cumbernauld.
Work to renew the junction will see jointed rail, timber sleeper and worn-out ballast (supporting stone) replaced with strengthened track, concrete sleepers, and fresh stone.
Decades of carrying heavy freight trains has taken its toll and the upgrade is designed to increase reliability and reduce the amount of maintenance required on the track and signalling equipment.
Eddie McLoone, project manager for Scotland’s Railway, told Lanarkshire Live : “The £2.2m investment in renewing Whifflet South junction is vital to keeping freight services flowing between Mossend and Coatbridge Freight Terminals and the rest of Scotland’s Railway.
"We know this work will cause some disruption, but such a vital upgrade can’t be delivered without closing the railway to allow our engineers access to the track.
“We would like to reassure freight customers and rail passengers that every effort has been made to reduce the impact of our activities as much as possible. Thank you for your understanding.”
Lanarkshire passengers can check how their journey may be affected by visiting here or here.
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