
Between Saturday 25 January 2025 and Sunday 18 May 2025, the East Kilbride line will be closed and a rail replacement bus will service these stations. Due to the high volume of correspondence I am receiving regarding this project, I will aim to maintain this page with the most up-to-date information I have. Any constituents that have specific concerns, please do not hesitate to get in touch with me. Otherwise, Scotrail maintains a dedicated webpage on the project that you can access here.
Thursday 23rd January 2025
The initial determination from ScotRail to not provide a replacement bus service from Giffnock and Thornliebank was a serious concern and major frustration.
In my first representation to ScotRail, I called for an immediate review of the decision and highlighted that if no such exercise took place, the publicly owned company should at least keep the matter under consideration.
At a recent drop-in event hosted by Network Rail within the Scottish Parliament, my office was represented and it had been relayed by a staff member at ScotRail who was present that a replacement bus service would now be established for Giffnock and Thornliebank.
I immediately followed up in writing to ScotRail and confirmation has now been received that a minibus service to connect Giffnock and Thornliebank with other locations to facilitate onward travel to either Glasgow or East Kilbride will be in place.
I understand there is no guarantee that the minibus provision will continue for the duration of the four-month rail line closure and I would urge ScotRail to think carefully should there again be any consideration towards excluding Giffnock and Thornliebank from replacement bus services.
Thursday 30th January 2025
A number of constituents in the Busby area have made representations to me in relation to the removal of bridges in the area around Busby station.
Residents have advised that the bridge is used daily and consequently, there is concern Network Rail is progressing with the removal work before first consulting with householders. It has been set out that the path across the bridge is a Public Right Way and is designated as a Core Path by East Renfrewshire Council in accordance with the relevant legislative provisions of the Land Reform Scotland Act (2003). On top of this, it has also been stated that the right of way at the southern end of Station Road may not be within the scope of Network Rail’s remit. A further point raised with me is that the kerbing put in place at the new bridge is designed in such a manner, which makes it incompatible with the Disability Discrimination Act (1995).
As such I have written to Network Rail about this issue, and I will report back to residents when I have received a response.