A class 86 electric locomotive owned by rail freight operator Freightliner completed a number of test runs including some at line speed on the line between Holytown Junction, Glasgow and Midcalder Junction in Edinburgh.
NR installed 2500 tonnes of steel catenary masts to carry 223km of wires as part of the £160m four-year project, which creates a fifth electrified route between Scotland’s two main cities. Seventeen bridges were adapted to increase clearances for catenary.
While electrification is now complete, work to upgrade station platforms and create step-free access at some stations is continuing, with the project due to be completed by the end of March.
The work was carried out by Powerlines, which bought out Carillion’s stake in the 50:50 Carillion-Powerlines joint venture in March 2018 after Carillion went into liquidation.
