Rail link a platform for jobs

A TOTAL of 130 new jobs are to be created with the opening of a new £300 million rail link between Edinburgh and Glasgow. The Airdrie-Bathgate line is expected to open on December 12.

Of the new posts, 74 jobs will be based at Bathgate, with salaries totalling 1.3m.

ScotRail will also recruit 56 more people across the new route, raising the overall wage bill to about 2.5m.

The Bathgate jobs range from train drivers and train presentation staff to station and on-train staff, with recruitment now under way.

Steve Montgomery, ScotRail's managing director, said: "The new line is great news - creating jobs and travel opportunities. It also demonstrates the commitment and strength of industry partnerships in achieving significant improvements to the railway in Scotland. I am confident it will be a great success."