A quarter of the trains running on the newly-electrified £144 million rail line between East Kilbride and Glasgow Central will continue to use diesel power, ScotRail has confirmed.
Electric trains will operate passenger services on the line for the first time next Sunday, marking the completion of a major year-long project that included 22km (13.6 miles) of overhead electrification and major upgrades to bridges and stations.
However, while 75% of services on the busy commuter route will be handled by new, greener class 380 electric trains, the remaining quarter will still rely on the older, more polluting class 156 diesel fleet.
Partial switch to electric
ScotRail said that, although the launch of electric services represents a significant step towards rail decarbonisation, it currently lacks enough electric units to convert the full timetable. The operator is in the process of procuring a new suburban fleet but has not specified when these trains will enter service.
The company acknowledged that fully electrifying all East Kilbride services now would mean reducing electric capacity on other routes. “The move to electric trains will mean smoother, quieter, and more sustainable journeys for customers,” said Mark Ilderton, ScotRail’s service delivery director. “Our additional evening services will also offer greater flexibility for those travelling later in the day.”
Year of progress and disruption
The £144m upgrade is one of Scotland’s largest recent rail investments. It included the construction of new stations at Hairmyres and East Kilbride — the latter costing £9m — along with new footbridges at Busby, Clarkston and Giffnock. Engineers also lowered tracks under several bridges to accommodate the electrification infrastructure.
To complete the work, the line was closed entirely for four months earlier this year, causing significant disruption for commuters and residents. In Thornliebank, for example, road users faced prolonged diversions as engineers replaced the rail bridge above the main road.
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Boost for commuter travel
Despite the continued use of some diesel services, the new timetable will include more frequent evening trains, offering a broadly half-hourly service between Monday and Saturday.
Network Rail, which delivered the infrastructure upgrade, said the electrification works would deliver long-term benefits by cutting carbon emissions and improving air quality. “Reducing carbon emissions will not only improve rail’s green credentials but will make the air cleaner and play a vital part in building a strong, green economy for the future,” a spokesperson said.
The East Kilbride route, running through Busby, Clarkston, Giffnock and Thornliebank into Glasgow Central, is one of Scotland’s busiest suburban lines. The introduction of electric services marks a milestone in the ongoing decarbonisation of Scotland’s rail network — even if the transition is not yet complete.
