Network Rail has today announced that Carillion has won the contract to deliver the electrification of the Cumbernauld-Glasgow Queen Street line.

The £40m contract will see over 50km of railway electrified, as part of a wider £80m investment in the line between Cumbernauld and Scotland’s largest city.

As well as the main works, Carillion will also be lengthening the Cumbernauld station platforms and constructing a turnback facility at Springburn.

The project marks the first phase of electrification on the Edinburgh-Glasgow Improvement Programme (EGIP), and the scheme will be delivered in time for the Commonwealth Games in 2014.

David Simpson, Network Rail route managing director for Scotland, said: “This project further underlines Scotland’s continued commitment to electrifying our rail network.

“This project will create jobs and modernise rail services to Cumbernauld as well as mark the beginning of a transformation of services across the central belt as we begin to deliver the wider EGIP project, enhancing rail travel between the country’s two biggest cities.

“These works will also be an opportunity to continue to develop our new alliancing approach to infrastructure projects – working more closely with contractors, train operators and other stakeholders to deliver in the most efficient and cost-effective way possible for passengers.”

Transport Minister Keith Brown said: “The Scottish Government’s funding of the electrification of the Cumbernauld line, and our £5billion package of investment over the coming years, demonstrates our ongoing commitment to EGIP and to the Scottish rail network.

“This announcement is a major step forward in the delivery of EGIP.

“As well as the obvious benefits of having this in place in time for the Commonwealth Games, rail passengers here will feel the benefits for many years to come with better reliability and an improved service on the railways.”

Steve Montgomery, managing director of ScotRail, added: “We welcome the electrification which introduces more opportunities for direct journeys from Cumbernauld to other parts of Glasgow rather than just Queen Street.”

The £650m EGIP project will cut journey times on Scotland’s flagship route between Glasgow Queen Street and Edinburgh Waverley.

The programme will see longer electric trains introduced, along with improved reliability and increased capacity for passengers on the line.

The project will cut around 10 minutes from journey times between Scotland’s two major cities. It will also transform Glasgow’s Queen Street station into a world-class integrated transport hub and deliver the Edinburgh Gateway Station, connecting services to the tram network and Edinburgh Airport.