Carillion wins £49m Scottish rail deal

Carillion has won a £49m contract from Network Rail to deliver rail electrification along a line in Scotland.

The contract will electrify 74km of rail on the Shotts line from Holytown Junction to Midcalder Junction.

The scheme is part of a wider £160m investment from the Scottish government in the line between Edinburgh and Glasgow.

The contract will be carried out in tandem with work being delivered on a range of bridges as part of a route clearance programme so power cables can run under structures on the line.

New electric trains will be introduced on services between Edinburgh and Glasgow Central via the Shotts line following completion of the work, which is expected to improve reliability and increase capacity for passengers.

Scottish transport minister Hamza Yousaf said: “This contract award is a major step forward in the delivery of the electrification programme and rail passengers across North Lanarkshire and West Lothian will feel the benefits for many years to come with an improved service on the line.”

Iain McFarlane, head of programme management for Network Rail, said: “Throughout this project we will work closely with contractors, train operators and other stakeholders to deliver in the most efficient and cost-effective way possible while minimising disruption for both lineside communities and passengers.”