Cost of major Glasgow rail project rises by more than £40million
The new figure was presented in a letter to Richard Leonard, convener of Holyrood's public audit committee by Alyson Stafford, director general of the Scottish Exchequer, the civil servant responsible for the Scottish Budget including tax, spending and measuring performance.
The original estimate for the work said it would cost between £100m and £120m. The figure was later revised to £139.8m.
Ms Stafford told Mr Leonard the project is part of the East Kilbride and Barrhead Rail Enhancement scheme designed to make rail services "reliable, efficient, and attractive to passengers and support modal shift whilst progressing against the Scottish Government's target to de-carbonising the rail network".
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She added: "The Original Business Case (OBC) outlined that total project cost was estimated to be £100m to £120m and that it was estimated to be operational in December 2024.
"The Full Business Case (FBC) outlined that total project cost was estimated to be £139.8m and that it was estimated to be operational in December 2025....The Anticipated Final Cost is now £143.7 million which is an increase to that at FBC and as previously reported."
She went onto say the additional cost was mostly due to Transport Scotland having to contribute towards the delivery of a car park at a new relocated station in Hairmyres in East Kilbride.
The work is still expected to be completed this December and will see the electrification of the railway from Glasgow to East Kilbride, a new station at East Kilbride, a new station with two platforms and accessible footbridge at Hairmyres and a new footbridge at Busby station.
The work also promises to improve access at Giffnock, with a new accessible footbridge and a new station entrance at Clarkston.
The existing track will also be lowered near Busby, Clarkston and Giffnock stations so that overhead line equipment can be accommodated under some bridges.
As a result of work on the track, overhead line equipment and bridges, there have been no trains on the line between East Kilbride and Thornliebank stations since January 25.
The service between the two stations is due to resume on May 18.
Transport Scotland said the main reason for the cost increase is in relation to providing a contribution to the delivery of the car parks, and associated works, at Hairmyres Station which were originally to be funded by South Lanarkshire Council and Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT).
"Unfortunately SPT could not fulfil its contribution with the withdrawal of its capital grant funding last financial year," said a spokeswoman.
The electrification of the East Kilbride to Glasgow Central line is part of the Scottish Government's plans to decarbonise Scotland's rail passenger services by 2035.
A spokesperson for Network Rail Scotland said: 'Our engineers have been working around-the-clock to deliver the enhancements at East Kilbride as quickly as possible, and we remain on course to deliver the electrification of the railway on time and to budget.
"We have been working with multiple partners to deliver this significant package of works, including the construction of a new station building at Hairmyres. Further funding has been provided by Transport Scotland to enable South Lanarkshire Council to deliver a new station car park, which will support more members of the public to utilise the railway.
"We are looking forward to welcoming passengers back onto the railway, as planned, on Sunday 18 May."
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