Network Rail completes £7m Mossend upgrade to strengthen Scotland’s most important freight corridor

Credit: Network Rail

Network Rail has completed £7 million of rail improvements at Mossend in North Lanarkshire, reinforcing one of Scotland’s most important freight corridors and strengthening the national supply chain.

Mossend is a critical hub for rail freight, home to three major depots and responsible for handling more than 80 per cent of Scotland’s rail freight last year. The site plays a central role in moving goods across the country for both domestic and international markets.

The upgrades were delivered during a planned nine day closure over the festive period, allowing complex work to be carried out safely while minimising disruption to passengers and freight customers. The improvements are designed to boost reliability and performance for freight services, while also benefiting passenger trains operating through the area.

Key works included the replacement of more than a mile of ageing track, the renewal of seven critical connections, the installation of 450 yards of new drainage, and upgrades to signalling and overhead line equipment.

Gerry McQuade, capital delivery director at Network Rail, said: “Every freight train can replace up to 120 lorry journeys, making rail a cleaner, greener way to move goods. That means fewer emissions, less congestion on our roads, and support for Scotland’s economy.

“Across Scotland’s Railway, we’re investing heavily in infrastructure to make rail the first choice for freight as well as passengers. This upgrade at Mossend strengthens a key section of the network that underpins the country’s freight operations.

“Completing the work during the festive period allowed us to deliver complex improvements safely while minimising disruption. We’d like to thank passengers and customers for their patience while we carried out this essential project.”

Alongside the £7 million infrastructure programme, Network Rail invested an additional £250,000 from its Targeted Performance Fund to improve efficiency at Mossend. As a result, trains can now enter and leave the freight depots at speeds of up to 15 mph, three times faster than previously, helping services clear the area more quickly and improving overall network performance.

The rail line reopened as scheduled on Saturday 3 January following the nine day closure. The project was delivered in collaboration with freight operators DB Cargo, GB Railfreight, Freightliner, Colas Rail and Direct Rail Services.