The West Coast Mainline is due to reopen next week, the ScotRail Alliance has announced.

The route was originally closed at the start of the year as the Lamington Viaduct was damaged by floods caused by Storm Frank.

Train services will resume running on Monday, 22 February.

Works to repair and reopen the Victorian-built viaduct have been taking place over the past seven weeks.

The structure had to be stabilised after the storm, which also damaged the second pier's steel bearings.

Engineers have now installed new steel bearings on the viaduct's damaged second pier and developed a new concrete plinth on the top of the pier over the weekend.

-- Advertisement --

Having successfully raised the bridge-deck back into position last week, the recovery works are now progressing two weeks ahead of the original reopening date in March.

Phil Verster, MD of the ScotRail alliance, said: "I am delighted that we have managed to complete the works at Lamington ahead of schedule.

"I understand the impact the closure of Lamington Viaduct has had on customers and our engineers have been working around-the-clock since its closure to finish the repairs and get trains back on the West Coast Mainline.

"This project has been a hugely challenging one - involving working out in the Clyde through the worst of January's storms in a race against time to save the structure. Our engineers have faced atrocious conditions throughout this project and I am really proud of their hard work and their absolute commitment to getting the line open again."

(LM)