Work is underway on a £2.4 million redevelopment project at Breich station in West Lothian.

The 12-week scheme will ensure the platform lengths and heights are compliant with the electrified railway environment, as well as being suitable for the new longer electric trains that will be introduced on the route, as part of a £160m Scottish Government investment to electrify the Shotts line by 2019.

In addition, a new ramped footpath will be created to the Edinburgh-bound platform on the north side of the station with the embankments and access ramp on the south side bring re-profiled to make it easier for customers to get in and out of the station.

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Other features include upgrades to lighting and CCT, as well as improvements to customer information systems, ticket machines, validators and waiting shelters. The redevelopment is scheduled to be complete by the end of October.

Brian Mallon, Network Rail programme manager for the Shotts Line Electrification project, said: "We know that closings stations is never a popular choice for passengers but in this case, it is the most efficient way to deliver the work while trains continue to operate on the line and carry passengers to and from the nearby stations.

"Redeveloping Breich station is part of a wider programme of station upgrades on the route being delivered during the electrification project to enable the introduction of new faster, longer trains.

"It is important that we have stations that are safe and compliant in the newly electrified railway environment but also that provide a better overall experience for passengers using the railway.

"We appreciate the cooperation of the local community and thank them for their patience as we deliver this investment to upgrade the railway."

(LM/MH)