Network Rail engineers will be renewing and extending track, signalling and overhead power lines between Glasgow and Paisley over the next four weekends as part of a £170m project to increase capacity and flexibility on one of country’s busiest routes.

Once complete in January 2012, the Paisley Corridor Improvements (PCI) project will improve capacity on the route and allow for increased levels of service between Glasgow and Ayrshire, Renfrewshire and Inverclyde.

To deliver these improvements to the rail network as quickly and efficiently as possible some train services are being diverted and others replaced by buses over the affected weekends:

Glasgow Central - Ardrossan / Ayr / Largs

Services will start / terminate at Paisley Gilmour Street, however passengers should change at Johnstone for direct bus services between Johnstone and Glasgow Central. There will also be a direct bus service operating between Glasgow Central and Ardrossan Harbour to connect with ferry services.

Glasgow Central - Stranraer

Services are diverted via Kilmarnock, extending journey times. Passengers travelling to / from stations between Ayr and Stranraer should travel to Ayr and change for services to Stranraer.

Glasgow Central - Gourock / Wemyss Bay

Services start / terminate at Paisley Gilmour Street, with a replacement bus service operating between Paisley Gilmour Street and Glasgow Central.

The following Saturday services will not run: 1826 Wemyss Bay - Glasgow Central, 0752, 1823 and 1906 Gourock - Glasgow Central, 0625, 0725, 0828, 1725 and 1825 Glasgow Central – Gourock.

David Simpson, Network Rail route managing director Scotland, said: “These works are vital to the planned enhancement of the line, which will improve the railway’s capacity and reliability and have real benefits for businesses and individuals alike.

“The complex and extensive nature of these enhancements mean they can only be effectively delivered through short-term closure of the lines, but our engineers will work as quickly and efficiently as possible to keep disruption to a minimum.”

Jacqueline Dey, ScotRail operations director, added: “We have done everything possible to keep inconvenience to an absolute minimum. Full plans are in place to provide alternative transport arrangements where required.”

An important route for commuters and freight traffic, the Paisley corridor is being three-tracked and having new signalling systems installed as part of the ongoing enhancement project. The final stretch of the line from Arkleston to Paisley Gilmour Street will also be upgraded to a four-track railway for even greater flexibility.

The works are being funded by Transport Scotland and Network Rail and previous phases of the project have already delivered two new platforms at Glasgow Central station and a new freight loop at Elderslie.

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