HS2

Tom Bevan   13/12/2017 at 19:29

"The work is part of £160m of electrification upgrades to link Edinburgh and Glasgow – expected to be completed by March 2016." Presume 2016 might be a typo??

Neil Palmer   13/12/2017 at 21:19

I know they decided to keep Breich open, after it was suggested it be closed, but surely to completely rebuild the station can't possibly be justified. Raise or replace the footbridge, job done. If the platforms are too short, selective door opening.

Andrew Gwilt   14/12/2017 at 04:09

This is the same kind of electrification that is currently being installed and erected on the Hospel Oak-Barking Line and parts of the Chase Line in West Midlands. Plus the Midland Main Line towards Kettering and Corby north of Bedford is also to be electrified.

Simhedges   14/12/2017 at 08:10

So, work is due to start (so hasn't started yet), and yet "The first electric trains to carry passengers on the route were sent between Edinburgh and Glasgow this weekend" - please could we have a more coherently written article. Preferably by 2016.

Philip Phlopp   14/12/2017 at 08:52

"Electrification work to begin on Shotts line" That's simply incorrect - route clearance has been ongoing for two years now, piling work has been ongoing for a year or so, and mast/portal erection has been ongoing since August. This work is primarily about allowing the stations to accept the longer Class 385 rolling stock and bringing stations up to more modern standards to attract more passengers to the route.

PP   14/12/2017 at 09:06

@Neil - it's not so much platform length at Breich, it's height - the platforms are very low. I'm fit and healthy but getting on and off trains there is bit of a struggle. Keeping this station open and fully rebuilding it is an absolutely scandalous waste of public money. It was used 48 times last year - think about that for a second, it's less than one passenger a week. I would suspect the bulk of them were enthusiasts. The station is pretty much completely useless, and before anyone starts, it's highly unlikely many more people would use it even if all trains stopped there.

Neil Palmer   14/12/2017 at 23:31

PP Maybe they'll put a roof over it like Manchester Victoria, a nice big concourse, and a few shops. Seriously though, I bet they waste millions on the footbridge alone, withe lift, naturally.

Jeds   15/12/2017 at 16:17

Perhaps some clarification is needed. The Shotts line will be last of the four routes between Glasgow and Edinburgh to be electrified. The route via Carstairs was first, and the main user then was InterCity for ECML trains travelling on to Glasgow Central.

John Gilbert   16/12/2017 at 20:43

This is just excellent and a logical consequence of the total electrification of the central belt to complete the whole. A pity we blinkered English types cannot see that that is what is needed between Ashford and Hastings and to Uckfield, two lines which may not in themselves justify electrification but form part of a whole area - in fact the LAST such lines needing that treatment in SE England. In Scotland, let us now see the Glasgow link line added to the schemes. Also entirely logical !!!

Malc Nixon   06/02/2018 at 09:10

is this still going ahead now that carillion have shuffled off this weighty mortal coil...