Around 60 of Scotland's train stations are to be refurbished as part of a £5.2m investment.

According to the BBC, the money will be from existing Scottish government budgets and will revamp the stations ahead of the Ryder Cup and Commonwealth Games next year.

A number of station in Glasgow will be improved, while Gleneagles station is to receive a complete facelift.

The money set aside for the work will be spent on improving car parks, providing better facilities for cyclists and upgrading toilets at 56 stations. Accessibility will also be improved and information systems, ticket machines, waiting rooms, car parks and booking offices will be upgraded.

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The scheme includes five major "shovel ready" projects, including the refurbishment at Gleneagles and "quick win" improvements at Glasgow stations. This is in addition to the £2m already announced by Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon earlier this year for Games stations.

Transport Minister Keith Brown welcomed the news, and said: "Our Year of Homecoming in 2014 will see the eyes of the world falling on Scotland for the Commonwealth Games and the Ryder Cup and it's only right that we ensure the gateways to those events are fitting for the arrival of the many thousands of visitors they will welcome.

"Outwith those events, more and more people in Scotland are realising and enjoying the benefits of travelling by train and this investment package helps to ensure that our stations continue to be a part of that attraction."

ScotRail will deliver the majority of the improvements, including the Gleneagles makeover and improvements at 54 other stations. Network Rail will provide a new car park at Irvine station and increased parking at Bathgate.

(JP/H)