Network Rail has announced the completion of 7 million GBP worth of rail improvements in North Lanarkshire, with works set to strengthen one of Scotland’s most crucial freight corridors.
Mossend acts as a vital hub for moving goods across the country, and is home to a set of three major freight depots.
Last year, Mossend handles over 80% of the country’s rail freight – rendering it a key part of the national supply chain.
Works were carried out over a nine-day closure during the festive period, with various upgrades aimed at both improving reliability and performance for freight, as well as passenger services.
Improvements included the replacement of over a mile of ageing track, renewal of seven critical connections, installation of 450 yards of new drainage and upgrading of signalling and overhead lines.
Gerry McQuade, Capital Delivery Director at Network Rail, said:Across Scotland’s Railway, we’re investing heavily in infrastructure to make rail the first choice for freight as well as passengers. This upgrade at Mossend strengthens a key section of the network that underpins the country’s freight operations.
Completing the work during the festive period allowed us to deliver complex improvements safely while minimising disruption. We’d like to thank passengers and customers for their patience while we carried out this essential project.
Network Rail has also invested 250,000 GBP from its Targeted Performance Fund to boost efficiency at Mossend, with trains now able to both enter and depart the freight depots at 15 mph – an increase of three times that of before.
The rail line reopened on Saturday 03 January, and the project was delivered in collaboration with a number of freight operators including DB Cargo, GB Railfreight, Freightliner, Colas Rail, and Direct Rail Services.
