The £63m electrification of a rail line south of Glasgow has been given the green light.
The scheme, developed by Transport Scotland and Network Rail, will electrify the Barrhead line passing through East Renfrewshire and South Lanarkshire.
Construction is due to begin in April 2022 and be completed by December 2023.
Approval to upgrade the line was announced by first minister Nicola Sturgeon as part of the country’s Rail Decarbonisation Action Plan which aims to decommission all diesel trains on Scottish lines by 2035.
Sturgeon said: “With just a month until world leaders arrive in Glasgow to address the growing climate crisis, Scotland’s railway is well on track in its journey towards full decarbonisation of passenger services.”
The project will support another single track electrification project in the East Kilbride corridor.
The two projects will deliver improved public transport choices for passengers through the introduction of greener, more reliable electric trains.
Transport minister Graeme Dey said: “I’m pleased that work on the full electrification of the Glasgow to Barrhead railway line is expected to start early next year as this will make a significant difference to passenger and freight services in the future.
“Delivery of the East Kilbride and Barrhead Electrification Project will not only ensure the decarbonisation of two critical corridors on this strategic network but will allow efficiencies to be achieved and disruption minimised for passengers during this period.”
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