Commonwealth Games railway station set to reopen

THE transport hub for the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games will re-open to rail passengers in Dalmarnock in three weeks’ time - six months late because of a surprise find beneath the station.

An artist's impression of the completed Dalmarnock station. Picture: submitted

Network Rail said trains would call again at the east end station from Monday, 20 May, 11 months after it was closed for an £11 million upgrade, which will be completed this autumn.

Work on a new station building was delayed after the remains of the original station, built in 1895, were found buried beneath the current one. It had re-opened in 1979 after being closed for 15 years.

The project, being built by Network Rail, includes a new booking office, lift and stairs.

Games organisers hope spectators will travel to events by public transport, with no public parking being provided at venues and direct trains from across Glasgow stopping at Dalmarnock.

A spokesman for the Scottish Government’s Transport Scotland agency, which is managing the project, said: “Dalmarnock station is absolutely key to the 2014 Commonwealth Games and we are delighted that everything is on schedule for the full refurbishment to be complete this autumn, well ahead of the Games next summer.

“In the meantime, works have reached such a stage that the station will be safe and operational from 20th May, allowing local passengers to use the station and to see for themselves this state-of-the-art station which will play such an important role come summer 2014.”

A spokesman for the public-private co-ordinating body Strathclyde Partnership for Transport, which is helping to fund the upgrade, said: “It will be exciting to see this marvellous station in its full glory later this year and the important transport legacy it offers Glasgow thereafter.”

Other funding is coming from Clyde Gateway and Glasgow City Council.

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MORE INFORMATION: www.glasgow2014.com