A £7m programme of rail upgrades has been completed in North Lanarkshire, reinforcing one of Scotland’s most strategically important freight corridors and improving reliability for both freight and passenger services.
Delivered by Network Rail during a planned nine-day closure over the festive period, the works focused on Mossend, a nationally significant freight hub that handles more than 80% of Scotland’s rail freight each year. The site is home to three major freight depots and plays a critical role in keeping goods moving across the country.
The investment included the replacement of more than a mile of ageing track, the renewal of seven key connections, the installation of 450 yards of new drainage, and upgrades to signalling and overhead line equipment. Together, these improvements are designed to boost performance, reduce the risk of failures and support long-term growth in rail freight.
Gerry McQuade, capital delivery director at Network Rail, said:
“Every freight train can replace up to 120 lorry journeys, making rail a cleaner, greener way to move goods. That means fewer emissions, less congestion on our roads, and support for Scotland’s economy.
“Across Scotland’s Railway, we’re investing heavily in infrastructure to make rail the first choice for freight as well as passengers. This upgrade at Mossend strengthens a key section of the network that underpins the country’s freight operations.
“Completing the work during the festive period allowed us to deliver complex improvements safely while minimising disruption. We’d like to thank passengers and customers for their patience while we carried out this essential project.”
Alongside the main infrastructure works, Network Rail also invested £250,000 from its Targeted Performance Fund to improve operational efficiency at Mossend. As a result, trains can now enter and leave the freight depots at speeds of up to 15mph, three times faster than before, helping services clear the area more quickly and improving performance across the wider network.
The railway reopened as planned on Saturday 3 January, following the completion of the nine-day closure.
The project was delivered in close collaboration with freight operators including DB Cargo, GB Railfreight, Freightliner, Colas Rail and Direct Rail Services, underlining the importance of partnership working in supporting Scotland’s rail freight capability.
