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Information for Rail commuters during tunnel works

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New care home

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Scotland’s Urban Past

There will be major engineering works to allow for future electrification on the main Edinburgh to Glasgow line over the next six weeks and Scotrail would like to remind you of the changes to services from Edinburgh.

The closure of the Winchburgh Tunnel, near Linlithgow, will affect services from Saturday June 13 until Monday July 27. Engineers will be working 24-hours-a-day during this period to lower and relay two lines of track through the 330m-long tunnel and install equipment to carry the overhead power lines needed for the electrification of the railway.Ā 

The work is part of the Scottish Government-funded, Ā£742m Edinburgh Glasgow Improvement Programme (EGIP) which will electrify the Edinburgh-Glasgow Queen Street line by 2016 ā€“ allowing the introduction of faster, greener and longer electric services on the route.Ā 

Customers who normally travel on the following routes will have a temporary timetable:

Ā· Edinburgh ā€“ Falkirk High ā€“ Glasgow
Ā· Edinburgh ā€“ Alloa / Dunblane / StirlingĀ 
Ā· Edinburgh ā€“ Glenrothes (Fife Circle) Ā – slightly retimedĀ 
As a result of the changes, services on other routes between Edinburgh and Glasgow will be much busier at peak times. Ā 

Buses will replace trains where necessary and extra staff will be on hand at key stations to guide passengers to the next available travel option. Queuing systems will be in place at Edinburgh Waverley, Haymarket, Edinburgh Park, Glasgow Queen Street and Linlithgow stations.

ScotRail is advising commuters to set off earlier than normal, as most journeys will take longer, and to consider amending their travel times to use trains that are less busy. Customers should plan ahead and visitĀ www.scotrail.co.uk/winchburghĀ to help them do so.

Edinburgh ā€“ Falkirk High ā€“ Glasgow
Ā Customers travelling ā€˜end to endā€™ between Edinburgh and Glasgow will be directed to alternative routes:Ā· Edinburgh ā€“ Glasgow Queen Street Low Level ā€“ Helensburgh/MilngavieĀ 
Ā· Edinburgh ā€“ Motherwell / Shotts ā€“ Glasgow CentralĀ 
Customers travelling from Edinburgh to intermediate stations on this route can take a diverted train to Linlithgow and change trains, or catch an express bus to the town before connecting with train services. Ā 

Trains will run half hourly in both directions, between Linlithgow and Glasgow Queen Street High Level – calling at Polmont, Falkirk High and Croy.Ā 

Queuing systems will be in place at Edinburgh Waverley and Haymarket, and staff will guide passengers to the next available train to Glasgow or the fastest option to Linlithgow.

Edinburgh ā€“ Alloa/Dunblane/Stirling (Edinburgh Park)
Trains will be busier than normal and will be diverted – making journeys approximately 25 minutes longer. As a result of the diversion, services will not be able to call at Edinburgh Park.Ā 

Passengers travelling to Edinburgh Park can catch Helensburgh/Milngavie trains ā€“ four per hour. Ā 

Customers travelling towards Alloa/Dunblane/Stirling from Edinburgh Park should board a dedicated express bus and change onto a train at Linlithgow.

Edinburgh ā€“ Glenrothes (Fife Circle)Ā 
Some trains will depart at different times and may take longer to allow Alloa/Dunblane/Stirling services to use part of the same route.
Additional weekend engineering work will also take place before and during the ā€˜coreā€™ Tunnel closure period. Customers are strongly advised to check the ScotRail website before travelling for amended timings and up-to-date travel information.

Phil Verster, ScotRail Allianceā€™s managing director, said: ā€œThis is a massive piece of work that will help deliver long lasting benefits to our customers. Electrifying the line between our two biggest cities will allow us to run faster, longer and greener trains that will cut journey times and increase the number of seats available on this key route.Ā 

ā€œTo make all of this happen, we need to improve the line and install the equipment that we will need to run these new and improved trains, which will cause unavoidable disruption.Ā 

ā€œThis work is a vital part of transforming our railway, and the benefits will be felt for generations to come.ā€Ā 

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Royston sod cutting - L-R Michael Graham, Richard Park, Cllr Cammy DayConstruction work has begun on a major project to build Edinburghā€™s latest new, fit for purpose care home as part of the council’s continued investment in services for older people.

The Royston care facility in Granton will provide accommodation for 60 residents who are currently living in other City of Edinburgh Council care homes in the city. The care home is being delivered by a partnership of the Council and Hub South East Scotland Ltd and is being built by GRAHAM Construction.

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Stallholders are being sought for next week’sĀ Gorgie/Dalry Gala Day at Murieston Park in Dalry. Details below about booking your pitch.

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Scotlandā€™s Urban Past (SUP), a five-year nationwide project that will put history in the hands of local communities, wants to hear from groups and individuals throughout Edinburgh and the Lothians.The project is calling for groups and individuals of all ages to discover and share the fascinating stories of Scotlandā€™s towns and cities through community-led projects. A dedicated team from the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland (RCAHMS) and Historic Scotland will provide 1500 people with hands-on training in historical research, using archives and how to record Scotlandā€™s ever evolving built environment through drawing and photography.SUP will culminate in a national exhibition in 2019, showcasing the achievements of 60 community-led projects and celebrating Scotlandā€™s towns and cities.

For further information on how to get involved please visitĀ www.scotlandsurbanpast.org.uk.
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Founding Editor of The Edinburgh Reporter.
Edinburgh-born multimedia journalist and iPhoneographer.