NETWORK RAIL has begun the tendering process for the electrification of the main line linking Edinburgh, Falkirk and Glasgow Queen Street.

Invitations to tender for the £400 million project, which is part of the Scottish Government’s £650 million Edinburgh-Glasgow Improvement Programme, or EGIP, have now been issued for return by September.

The scheme includes 156 single track kilometres of electrification and remodelling, as well as platform extensions at Edinburgh, Glasgow Queen St, Croy, Falkirk High, Polmont and Linlithgow.

A new Edinburgh Gateway interchange station will also be built at Gogar and a new depot provided at Millerhill in Edinburgh.

Contracts will be awarded early next year, with construction expected to start in the summer. Network Rail said it was 'committed' to completing the main electrification works in 2016.

Transport minister Keith Brown said: “I welcome today’s announcement, which is further evidence of our commitment to the realisation of the Scottish Government’s ambitious rail electrification programme.

“The electrification of our busiest route will deliver significant improvements in rail journey times and train capacity. EGIP represents a £650 million investment in Scotland’s railway which will create hundreds of jobs, providing a major boost to the wealth of Scotland and its long-term economic sustainability.”

David Simpson, Network Rail route managing director for Scotland, added: “The EGIP programme is a unique chance to modernise and enhance our railway and transform rail services across the central belt.”