Edinburgh to Bathgate Line
Encyclopedia
The Edinburgh to Bathgate Line is a railway line in East Central Scotland
. It is also known as the Bathgate branch and the Edinburgh and Bathgate Railway.
Economies were made in the project delivery - specifically three miles of railway were removed and between Cawburn Jn and Carmondean Jn, a single line was provided, serving Uphall railway station
and Livingston North railway station
. The passenger line continued to the terminus at Bathgate while a freight only line (the former Down line) ran between Carmondean Jn and Bathgate yard.
The line succeeded in respect of patronage; usage was well above predictions and over the years, Sunday trains were introduced, and the basic weekday service doubled from hourly to every thirty minutes each way.
Since the line reopened in 1986, passenger train services have normally been operated by diesel multiple units (at first mainly Class 101s
, then from 1987 Class 150s
and now (2008-9) Class 158
or Class 170s.)
Following completion of the Airdrie-Bathgate Rail Link
and electrification of the route resulting in the incorporation of the service into the North Clyde Line
timetable, services will be operated by Class 334 electric multiple units. However delay in the delivery and commissioning of the Class 380 resulted in diesel services operating initially between Edinburgh and Bathgate. As of 7 February 2011, a half hourly service between Edinburgh Waverley
and Helensburgh Central
was introduced.
declared that in line with plans to upgrade the unfinished part of the A8 to motorway standard, public transport links between Glasgow
and Edinburgh
must also be improved.
The closed section of the Bathgate and Coatbridge Railway
between the 1989 Drumgelloch station and Bathgate was rebuilt and electrified, connecting with the North Clyde Line
at Drumgelloch
. This opened up an important fourth railway link between Glasgow and Edinburgh, giving many towns in West Lothian
better connections to the Clydeside
conurbation.
From 12 December 2010, the Edinburgh to Bathgate service was absorbed into the North Clyde Line
with services from and via . All work on the extension was completed by 8 March 2011.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
. It is also known as the Bathgate branch and the Edinburgh and Bathgate Railway.
History
Having only carried freight traffic to and from Bathgate (mainly automotive traffic) since passenger services ceased over the line in 1956, the line was reopened to passenger services in March 1986. Lothian Regional Council provided substantial funding toward the project, which was intended to help ease commuting difficulties to and from Edinburgh as road congestion worsened in the mid 1980s, and to alleviate some of the hardship caused by West Lothian's industrial decline. (Since passenger services had ceased in 1956, the remaining shale oil industry became extinct, coal mining was virtually ended by 1986, and the Bathgate plant of British Leyland was slated for closure.)Economies were made in the project delivery - specifically three miles of railway were removed and between Cawburn Jn and Carmondean Jn, a single line was provided, serving Uphall railway station
Uphall railway station
Uphall railway station serves the village of Uphall Station, near Livingston in West Lothian, Scotland. It is located on the North Clyde Line 20 km west of Edinburgh.- History :...
and Livingston North railway station
Livingston North railway station
Livingston North railway station is one of two railway stations serving the new town of Livingston in West Lothian, Scotland. It is located on the Edinburgh-Bathgate Line 25 km west of Edinburgh and situated in the Carmondean area of Livingston...
. The passenger line continued to the terminus at Bathgate while a freight only line (the former Down line) ran between Carmondean Jn and Bathgate yard.
The line succeeded in respect of patronage; usage was well above predictions and over the years, Sunday trains were introduced, and the basic weekday service doubled from hourly to every thirty minutes each way.
Since the line reopened in 1986, passenger train services have normally been operated by diesel multiple units (at first mainly Class 101s
British Rail Class 101
The British Rail Class 101 diesel multiple units were built by Metro-Cammell at Washwood Heath in Birmingham from 1956 to 1959, following construction of a series of prototype units. This class proved to be the most successful and longest-lived of all BR's First Generation DMUs, with the final five...
, then from 1987 Class 150s
British Rail Class 150
The British Rail Class 150 "Sprinter" diesel multiple units were built by BREL from 1984-87. A total of 137 units were built in three main subclasses, replacing many of the earlier first-generation "Heritage" DMUs.- Background :...
and now (2008-9) Class 158
British Rail Class 158
British Rail Class 158 Express Sprinter is a diesel multiple-unit train, built for British Rail between 1989 and 1992 by BREL at its Derby Works. They were built to replace many locomotive-hauled passenger trains, and allowed cascading of existing Sprinter units to replace elderly 'heritage' DMUs...
or Class 170s.)
Following completion of the Airdrie-Bathgate Rail Link
Airdrie-Bathgate Rail Link
The Airdrie-Bathgate Rail Link is a railway in central Scotland.Instigated as part of a round of transport improvement projects proposed by the then Scottish Executive in 2003, the plan was to open up a fourth direct railway link between the cities of Glasgow and Edinburgh. The project was...
and electrification of the route resulting in the incorporation of the service into the North Clyde Line
North Clyde Line
The North Clyde Line is a suburban railway in West Central Scotland. The route is operated by First ScotRail, on behalf of Transport Scotland...
timetable, services will be operated by Class 334 electric multiple units. However delay in the delivery and commissioning of the Class 380 resulted in diesel services operating initially between Edinburgh and Bathgate. As of 7 February 2011, a half hourly service between Edinburgh Waverley
Edinburgh Waverley railway station
Edinburgh Waverley railway station is the main railway station in the Scottish capital Edinburgh. Covering an area of over 25 acres in the centre of the city, it is the second-largest main line railway station in the United Kingdom in terms of area, the largest being...
and Helensburgh Central
Helensburgh Central railway station
Helensburgh Central railway station serves the town of Helensburgh on the north shore of the Firth of Clyde, near to Glasgow, Scotland. The station is a terminus on the North Clyde Line, north west of Glasgow Queen Street railway station...
was introduced.
Extension to Airdrie and Glasgow
In 2005, the Scottish ExecutiveScottish Executive
The Scottish Government is the executive arm of the devolved government of Scotland. It was established in 1999 as the Scottish Executive, from the extant Scottish Office, and the term Scottish Executive remains its legal name under the Scotland Act 1998...
declared that in line with plans to upgrade the unfinished part of the A8 to motorway standard, public transport links between Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
and Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
must also be improved.
The closed section of the Bathgate and Coatbridge Railway
Bathgate and Coatbridge Railway
The Bathgate and Coatbridge Railway, also known as the "New Monkland Line", was built by Monkland Railways. It opened on 28 July 1863. The line was absorbed into the Edinburgh and Glasgow Railway on 31 July 1865...
between the 1989 Drumgelloch station and Bathgate was rebuilt and electrified, connecting with the North Clyde Line
North Clyde Line
The North Clyde Line is a suburban railway in West Central Scotland. The route is operated by First ScotRail, on behalf of Transport Scotland...
at Drumgelloch
Drumgelloch railway station
Drumgelloch railway station was a railway station serving Drumgelloch, an eastern suburb of Airdrie, North Lanarkshire, Scotland. The station was managed by First ScotRail and was the eastern terminus of the North Clyde Line, 20 km east of from May 1989 to May 2010.-History:The station was...
. This opened up an important fourth railway link between Glasgow and Edinburgh, giving many towns in West Lothian
West Lothian
West Lothian is one of the 32 unitary council areas in Scotland, and a Lieutenancy area. It borders the City of Edinburgh, Falkirk, North Lanarkshire, the Scottish Borders and South Lanarkshire....
better connections to the Clydeside
Greater Glasgow
Greater Glasgow is an urban settlement in Scotland consisting of all localities which are physically attached to the city of Glasgow, forming with it a single contiguous urban area...
conurbation.
From 12 December 2010, the Edinburgh to Bathgate service was absorbed into the North Clyde Line
North Clyde Line
The North Clyde Line is a suburban railway in West Central Scotland. The route is operated by First ScotRail, on behalf of Transport Scotland...
with services from and via . All work on the extension was completed by 8 March 2011.