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| Edinburgh-to-Glasgow rail line to close for tunnel work | Edinburgh-to-Glasgow rail line to close for tunnel work |
| (about 20 hours later) | |
| A section of the main rail line between Edinburgh and Glasgow will close for more than a month for upgrade work to a tunnel, it has been confirmed. | A section of the main rail line between Edinburgh and Glasgow will close for more than a month for upgrade work to a tunnel, it has been confirmed. |
| Network Rail expect to shut the Winchburgh Tunnel for about 44 days as part of electrification to the line. | Network Rail expect to shut the Winchburgh Tunnel for about 44 days as part of electrification to the line. |
| The work would be carried out during summer months, with connections using other routes. Reports suggest the closure could take place in 2015. | The work would be carried out during summer months, with connections using other routes. Reports suggest the closure could take place in 2015. |
| The revamp is aimed at cutting journey times across the central belt. | The revamp is aimed at cutting journey times across the central belt. |
| The Edinburgh Glasgow Improvement Programme (Egip) electrification of the main line between the two cities should be completed by the end of 2016. | The Edinburgh Glasgow Improvement Programme (Egip) electrification of the main line between the two cities should be completed by the end of 2016. |
| However, it is not until the end of 2018 that a target journey time of 42 minutes is expected to be met, through a phased replacement of the diesel fleet. | However, it is not until the end of 2018 that a target journey time of 42 minutes is expected to be met, through a phased replacement of the diesel fleet. |
| Campaigners had raised fears the line could shut at the Winchburgh tunnel in West Lothian for 12 weeks. | Campaigners had raised fears the line could shut at the Winchburgh tunnel in West Lothian for 12 weeks. |
| A Transport Scotland spokesman said: "Network Rail have confirmed they expect the closure to last around 44 days - significantly less than the 12 week period reported, and will be carried out in the summer months with all rail connections maintained via diversionary routes. | A Transport Scotland spokesman said: "Network Rail have confirmed they expect the closure to last around 44 days - significantly less than the 12 week period reported, and will be carried out in the summer months with all rail connections maintained via diversionary routes. |
| "We will be working with our rail partners to bring the 44 day closure in further still and will keep passengers updated on progress. | "We will be working with our rail partners to bring the 44 day closure in further still and will keep passengers updated on progress. |
| "Delivering a major programme such as Edinburgh-Glasgow Improvement Project (EGIP) in a live railway environment will always be a challenging undertaking. However, we are confident that working together Network Rail and First ScotRail will minimise passenger disruption across the network during the EGIP works." | "Delivering a major programme such as Edinburgh-Glasgow Improvement Project (EGIP) in a live railway environment will always be a challenging undertaking. However, we are confident that working together Network Rail and First ScotRail will minimise passenger disruption across the network during the EGIP works." |
| The Edinburgh-Glasgow Improvement Programme will see train services between Glasgow and Edinburgh increase to 13 services per hour. | |
| A Network Rail spokesman said: "Our current estimate is around 44 days, but we are in the process of considering the optimum delivery methodology. | A Network Rail spokesman said: "Our current estimate is around 44 days, but we are in the process of considering the optimum delivery methodology. |
| "Once this process is complete we will finalise a delivery programme for this element of the EGIP works." | "Once this process is complete we will finalise a delivery programme for this element of the EGIP works." |