Edinburgh – Glasgow electrification on track to rebuild Queen Street

Network Rail has today announced construction and engineering firms Morgan Sindall and Costain will work with them on electrifying the Falkirk line between the two cities as part of the flagship infrastructure programme. This is the largest single element of EGIP, which has already unveiled a new £25 million station at Haymarket in Edinburgh and is making good progress on electrification of the Cumbernauld Line in advance of the Commonwealth Games.

The programme will also now see even bigger plans for Queen Street station in Glasgow, to integrate it fully with Buchanan Galleries, improve the passenger experience create a world-class integrated transport hub and transform a key landmark building in Glasgow.

The news comes as Transport Scotland publishes the Final Business Case for the project, setting out the investment case for EGIP and the benefits it will deliver for Scotland and its rail users, including:

• the transformation of Queen Street station estimated at around £120 million,
• shorter journey times and more reliable services between our two biggest cities,
• a cleaner, greener, quieter railway with lower carbon emissions,
• improved capacity and more seats with less crowding at peak journey times.

The project scope has developed significantly since the July 2012 announcement of the first phase of EGIP and now includes the redevelopment of Glasgow Queen Street Station, outline plans for which will be revealed by Network Rail next month.

In line with established guidance, underlined by Audit Scotland’s report on Major Capital Projects last year, Transport Scotland has followed best practice and calculated the optimism bias and contingency costs on the project as £126 million. This will be further reviewed as the project develops and contracts are awarded.

Transport Minister Keith Brown said:

"I welcome the contract award on the core electrification of the route and the hundreds of jobs this will support. This announcement represents another hugely important milestone in the delivery of EGIP and shows that we are pressing ahead with the improvements which will give Scotland a railway fit for the future.

“Passengers will experience the benefits of a faster, more comfortable and more efficient railway. But the whole of Scotland will also enjoy the boost to our economy and environment.

“This is why the Scottish Government is right to invest in our railways and infrastructure.

“I was delighted only last month to open the new £25 million station building at Haymarket - completed on time and on budget which has transformed facilities at one of our most iconic stations.

“We are charging ahead with the electrification of the Cumbernauld lines and I look forward to the introduction of electric services on this important route in time for the Commonwealth Games.

“This is further evidence of close collaborative working between Transport Scotland and Network Rail and the excellent progress being made with EGIP.

“We’re creating jobs, helping reduce Scotland’s carbon footprint and increasing opportunities for inward investment.

“Since I announced the first phase of EGIP In July 2012 we have further developed the original scope to include an even greater transformation of Glasgow Queen Street station and I am pleased to announce the publication of the EGIP Business Case which takes that into account. This prudent and comprehensive assessment of the investment case for EGIP demonstrates substantial benefit for Scotland and its rail users and that the first phase can be delivered on time and on budget.”