A £13.5m programme to renew track through Kilmarnock station gets under way this weekend, designed to boost reliability for passengers travelling between Glasgow, Ayrshire and Dumfries and Galloway.

Over a 16-day work period, engineers will install 5.5km of new rail, 3,200 sleepers and 7,500 tonnes of ballast — the stone bed that supports the track — to help trains pass more smoothly through the station and reduce the risk of delays.

To enable the work to be carried out safely, the line between Barrhead and Dumfries will be closed from Saturday 29 August until Monday 14 September.

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During the closure, no trains will run between Barrhead and Dumfries or between Kilmarnock and Troon. ScotRail services will be replaced by buses, while trains will continue to operate between Glasgow Central and Barrhead, and between Dumfries and Carlisle.

Passengers are advised to plan ahead, check before travelling and allow extra time for their journeys.

Gerry McQuade, capital delivery director at Network Rail Scotland, said: "Keeping the railway running reliably means continually identifying where improvements are needed and investing in the infrastructure that passengers depend on every day.

"The work at Kilmarnock is an important part of that. Over the next 16 days, our engineers will replace and renew key sections of track through the station, helping to keep this vital route running reliably for years to come.

"We know the closure will mean some changes to journeys and we'd like to thank passengers and local communities for their patience while the work is carried out. Anyone planning to travel should check before they travel and allow extra time for their journey."