Scottish Government transport minister Derek Mackay joined Network Rail managing director for Scotland Phil Verster at the new Edinburgh Gateway station development to review the ongoing work to construct the Tram/Train interchange to the west of the city.

The new Edinburgh Gateway interchange is part of the Edinburgh Glasgow Improvement Programme (EGIP) which will see the electrification of central Scotland’s railway infrastructure delivering increased capacity and faster speeds on key routes.

Engineers have been on site at Gogar since January 2015 working on the new £41m station which will serve passengers from Fife and the north accessing Edinburgh airport and interchanging onto the Tram network. The station is scheduled to open to the public in December 2016.

Gateway will consist of two 265m (10 car) platforms and boast 1500m2 of concourse and circulation space and step free access bridge linking the platforms within the railway station and connecting to the tram stop via lifts and escalators. It will offer an interchange with the tram network to afford fast and efficient movement between train and tram. An underpass beneath the A8 will also afford access from the nearby Gyle centre.

As well as delivering a new vibrant and modern gateway to Scotland’s rail network for visitors arriving into the capital city, it is anticipated that the provision of a new station at this location will be a catalyst for future economic investment and activity.

Transport minister Derek Mackay said: “Seeing the progress on the Edinburgh Gateway rail/tram interchange is testimony to the hard work of all those involved to date.

“December 2016 marks a pivotal milestone in our £5 billion programme of investment in Scotland’s Railway and more specifically the Edinburgh Glasgow Improvement Programme. It will also mark the opening of the Edinburgh Gateway station which will provide connectivity for Fife line services and offer effective interchange between the Scottish rail network and Edinburgh Airport offering new journey opportunities to the airport, places of work and the surrounding business development area.”

Phil Verster added: “Despite the challenging weather, the project team at Edinburgh Gateway has maintained its focus on keeping this work on programme.

There is a real commitment and enthusiasm to build a facility which will deliver real and significant benefits for passengers on our network, enhancing the connectivity between different modes of transport and becoming a catalyst for economic investment and local development

“The quality of the station being constructed has the potential to become a true Gateway to Scotland’s capital which will leave people with a positive first or final impression of our railway network”.

The EGIP is a Scottish Government investment of £742m in central Scotland’s railway infrastructure which will see key routes electrified and facilities improved and upgraded to support the new electrified railway.