Network Rail begins £2.5m improvements to the Finnieston tunnel
Network Rail will shortly undertake two weekends of around-the-clock working as part of a £2.5 million investment to renew elements of the Finnieston tunnel in Glasgow.
Over the two weekends in October, engineers will carry out masonry and steelwork repairs to the 137-year-old structure, as well as waterproofing the tunnel and clearing the existing drainage channels.
Improvements to the tunnel, which is over 620 metres in length, are being carried out on Saturday nights between October and January 2024. After completion, masonry and steel repairs will not be required on this scale for another 30 years, with the waterproofing having a lifespan of at least 60 years.
Allison Flannigan, project manager at Network Rail, said: “The Finnieston tunnel opened in 1886 and continues to play an important role on the North Clyde Line, as over 133 trains pass through it each day.
“We have a responsibility to maintain our assets to make sure they are fit for purpose and continue to deliver operational reliability for our customers.
“We appreciate the inconvenience our activity will cause passengers on both weekends and the community living nearby, with the remainder of the work is being done overnight on Saturdays.
“However, by delivering part of this critical engineering over short but sustained periods of time, it allows us to complete the project overall much more quickly.”