Work is to begin next month on a multi-million pound railway upgrade project between Aberdeen and Dyce.

From mid-May, Network Rail engineers will start laying a total of 12 miles of rail over 20,000 sleepers, as well as replacing or refurbishing five bridges on the line.

The scheme, which is expected to take 14 weeks, is being carried out as part of the Scottish Government-funded Aberdeen-Inverness Improvement Project to reduce journey times and increase capacity on the route between the two cities.

Overall, the project will involve

-- Advertisement --

• Carrying out embankment and track bed works to prepare the line for a second track

• Altering or replacing five structures along the route between Aberdeen and Dyce

• Laying 12 miles of new rail over 20,000 new sleepers and 70,000 tons of new ballast

• Installing new signalling systems between Aberdeen and Dyce

Work will begin on 12 May and is scheduled to finish on 20 August.

Billy McKay, Network Rail programme manager, said: "This project and the new services it will enable will help to improve the flexibility the railway can offer the expanding communities around Aberdeen – opening up new job and leisure opportunities.

"Our engineers will be working around-the-clock to complete this complex programme as quickly as possible.

"We understand the inconvenience these works will cause to some passengers and residents, however, such a significant investment in the railway cannot be delivered without this short-term closure of the line.

"We are encouraging customers to leave extra time for travel, and plan journeys in advance."

(LM/MH)