Cost of East Kilbride railway enhancement works rockets to £144million
The original estimate for the cost of the work was between £100m and £120m.
The final bill for the East Kilbride Enhancement Project has rocketed to £144million.
The major infrastructure project to electrify the train line between East Kilbride and Glasgow train line is expected to be completed this December.
Since January, specialist teams have been working around-the-clock to install the new infrastructure needed to power electric trains as part of a £140million investment by the Scottish Government.
So far during the closure Network Rail has double-tracked 1.4km of railway between East Kilbride and Hairmyres, installed over 22km of overhead electric power lines, erected new footbridges at Busby, Clarkston and Giffnock stations, renewed the railway bridge over East Kilbride Road in Busby and lowered the track under three key bridges.
Engineers are finishing the installation of new signalling systems on the route and are working towards completion of the new Hairmyres station.
The train line is scheduled to reopen on May 18 following a 16-week closure.
The original estimate for the cost of the work was between £100m and £120m but this was later revised to £139.8m.
The new £144million figure was mentioned in a letter to Richard Leonard, convener of Holyrood's public audit committee by director general of the Scottish Exchequer Alyson Stafford.
Ms Stafford said that the additional cost was mostly due to Transport Scotland having to contribute towards the car park at a new relocated station in Hairmyres, East Kilbride.
She said: "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."
The work also includes a new accessible footbridge at Giffnock station and a new station entrance at Clarkston.
The existing track will also be lowered near Busby, Clarkston and Giffnock stations for new overhead line equipment.
A spokesperson for Transport Scotland said: "Unfortunately SPT could not fulfil its contribution with the withdrawal of its capital grant funding last financial year.
"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 Network Rail Scotland spokesperson added: '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, May 18."
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