Works on main Edinburgh to Glasgow railway line will impact commuters

Network Rail engineers will be delivering safety-critical engineering works to prevent stones potentially falling from a 10m-high rockface above the line.

Engineers will be working around-the-clock to install specialist netting and rock anchors on the 100m-long rock cutting to the east of the old Ratho station.

The work is being undertaken now as the sub-zero temperatures common in Scotland in winter could cause the condition of the cutting to deteriorate.

It is vital to the safe running of the railway and cannot be delivered without a short-term closure of the line as overhead powerlines will need to be switched off while engineers carry out the work.

Liam Sumpter, Network Rail Scotland route director, said: “The improvements we’re making on the route are vital to the safe and reliable running of the railway.

“While we appreciate that this work will cause some inconvenience to our customers, we’ll deliver this project as quickly as possible to minimise disruption.

“Our thanks go to passengers for their patience while we complete this essential safety project.”

The project will result in significant disruption with customers being advised that they should only travel on the following routes if their journey is essential: 

Glasgow to Edinburgh via Falkirk High services will terminate at Linlithgow. 

There will be no train service between Edinburgh Waverley and Linlithgow.  

A limited number of replacement buses will be available between Linlithgow and Edinburgh Park station, with ticket acceptance in place with Edinburgh Trams for travel between Edinburgh Park and Haymarket and Waverley.  

Dunblane – Edinburgh services will terminate at Falkirk Grahamston.  

There will be no train service between Edinburgh Waverley and Falkirk Grahamston. 

A limited number of replacement buses will be available between Falkirk Grahamston and Edinburgh Park station, with ticket acceptance in place with Edinburgh Trams for travel between Edinburgh Park and Haymarket and Waverley.  

Edinburgh – Helensburgh/Milngavie services will terminate at Bathgate.  

There will be no train service between Edinburgh Waverley and Bathgate. 

A limited number of replacement buses will be available between Bathgate and Edinburgh Park, calling at Livingstone North and Uphall, with ticket acceptance in place with Edinburgh Trams for travel between Edinburgh Park and Haymarket and Waverley. 

Inverness to Edinburgh services will run via Fife and will not call at Stirling. 

Customers should note that replacement bus options will be limited and journey times will be significantly longer.

Phil Campbell, ScotRail customer operations director, said: “These safety critical engineering works will bring significant disruption to the services ScotRail can operate between Edinburgh and Glasgow, Bathgate, Linlithgow, Stirling, and Inverness.  

“Our advice to customers travelling is that they should only travel if their journey is essential.  

“We understand the disruption this will cause to customers journeys but it is essential that Network Rail carries out these works. We thank customers for their patience.” 

Full details of the arrangements can be found at www.scotrail.co.uk/plan-your-journey/engineering-works/safety-critical-engineering-works-29-january-until-1-february.