10 December 2004

First fruits of £35 million Larkhall rail link boost Lanarkshire services

Early morning commuters travelling between Glasgow and Hamilton will see the number of trains running between Hamilton Central and Anderston double from Monday 13 December 2004, as the first fruits of the £35 million Larkhall-Milngavie project start to come on line.

The first of the new services pulls out of Hamilton Central at 06:15. The increased frequency will provide commuters with greater flexibility in timing their journeys to work. Lanarkshire residents intent on Christmas shopping will also find it easier to get into town to snap up festive bargains.

The Larkhall-Milngavie project, started in February, will see four new stations being built at Larkhall, Merryton and Chatelherault in Lanarkshire and Dawsholm in the Kelvindale area of Glasgow.

Two new Class 334 'Juniper' trains have already been acquired for use on the route. The new services are the first of the planned improvements to come on stream. When work is finished late in 2005 an extra 71 train journeys, each day, will be running between Larkhall and Dalmuir.

Welcoming the service improvement, SPT Chair, Councillor Alistair Watson, said, "I am delighted that these timetable improvements have been delivered on schedule and regard this is an important first stage in the Larkhall-Milngavie project.

"When the 6.3km of new track has been laid and the four new stations at Larkhall, Merryton, Chatelherault and Dawsholm completed, the benefits will be felt by communities north and south of Glasgow. Work is expected to be complete by late next year and I am confident the new links will boost economic regeneration in Lanarkshire and reduce traffic congestion on busy commuter routes."

ends

Notes to editors

New Hamilton Central & Anderston Service starting Monday 13 December

There is no service on a Sunday.