Yesterday I attended the laying of the first piece of rail on the Airdrie to Bathgate project. After years of campaigning for this, then seeing the Bill through Parliament and lately seeing much of the preparation work done on the rail path and new bridges it was great to finally see a section of rail track being laid.
The project is now nearing completion and by the end of the year, we should see passenger trains running between Airdrie and Bathgate for the first time in around 60 years. I know that the current work is still causing disruption to many of my constituents and I continue to represent these issues with Network Rail, who are responsible for the project. However, I would like to congratulate all those workers who have been involved in delivering a project which, to date, is both on time and on budget.
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Will it be dual track the whole way?
I was on the train yesterday, public transport – not a car, and I don’t see how they can dual the track just east of Airdrie station. I haven’t found details on the AtoB web page.
The track will be dual between Glasgow and Edinburgh via Airdrie. Work is currently being done on this secion of the track to accommodate this.
I was sickened to read promotional literature the other day, intimating that you were working closely with contractors regarding replacing the carlisle road bridge. My heart sank. From one who has suffered a year of delays (worse than normal delays that is) with crowwood closed, towers road closed and the dreaded exit from petersburn road onto carlisle road a daily dread; traffic lights erected whenever contractor turns up. I now have the carlisle road bridge replacement to have nightmares about. There is no easy way out of this area – is it any wonder our shopping centre is collapsing round our ears. I’m glad we’ll have a new health centre because we are all going to need it.
I understand and share your frustrations about the delays that have resulted in the construction work at the bridges at Crowwood and Towers Road. I certainly feel that the work at Towers Road could have been carried out in a much shorter time frame. I made this point to Network Rail and the construction method for the bridge at Carlisle Road was altered to ensure a speedier construction.
However, I am afraid that there is no way to rebuild the rail line between Bathgate and Airdrie without the reconstruction of these bridges and therefore no way to avoid some inconvenience. I have to say, that in the long run, the inconvenience will be more than compensated for through the creation of a rail line which opens up employment, educational and recreational opportunities in the east of Scotland. In addition, the improvements to the bridge at Towers Road – becoming a two lane bridge – will help to ease congestion at the junction of Petersburn Road and carlisle Road.
Thanks for response but Clearly you do not live in the area. I have a couple of questions if you please?
1. When is the Carlisle Road work due to start?
2. What is the time frame for completion?
3. You say – the inconvenience will be more than compensated for through the creation of a rail line which opens up employment, educational and recreational opportunities in the east of Scotland; do you mean FOR the people in the East of Scotland? My understanding is that the recession has reached the east also!I live in the West and the inconvenience and extra 2-3mile drive, 3-4 times a day for the past year has been in no way compensated for and shows no signs of abating. It has neither been efficient nor cost effective and there are hundreds like me.
The junction of Petersburn Road and Carlisle Road has always been congested and worsens constantly, a right turn is nigh on impossible, yet you say improvements to the bridge at Towers Road – becoming a two lane bridge – will help to ease congestion. Please tell me what method you have used to work this out or where I can find this information.