Up to 40 new jobs are to be created following significant investment to expand the Shields Road train depot in Glasgow, Transport Minister, Stewart Stevenson has announced.

£24m has been made available by Transport Scotland to enable construction works to begin early next month on a new purpose-built train maintenance and overhaul facility.

The depot which is expected to be completed by the end of August next year, will house and maintain a new fleet of 38 electric trains as well as some of the existing Scotrail fleet.

The 130 rail carriages are due to start coming into service from September 2010 - a fleet which will boost Scotland’s transport system by adding more than 9,000 passenger seats to the rail network.

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Speaking about the new jobs yesterday, the Minister said: "This £24m investment, which will see around forty new construction jobs created for the duration of the building project, is great news for Glasgow and Scotland.

"The Shields Road depot, one of four major engineering depots in Scotland, is set to expand over the coming months to accommodate the new fleet of Class 380 electric trains due to come into service in autumn next year. These trains will be at the cutting edge of rail technology and will deliver real benefits for passengers through improved facilities and 9,000 additional seats."

Steve Montgomery, Scotrail's managing director, added: "It's also great news for rail commuters. Once construction of the depot is completed and the new fleet is housed at the expanded depot facilities, the extra trains will enhance services in the west of Scotland by providing extra capacity on Ayrshire, Inverclyde and Renfrewshire routes."

(GK/JM)