SCOTRAIL has announced the creation of 130 posts across the central belt, in readiness for the opening of the Bathgate-Airdrie line on 12 December.
More than half the jobs will be based in Bathgate itself, because a new depot has been built there to serve the line.
ScotRail said the the 74 posts at Bathgate will be a ‘massive fillip to the local economy’.
ScotRail, which is operated by First, will also recruit 56 more people elsewhere for the new route, raising the wage bill to about £2.5m in all.
The Bathgate jobs include 11 train drivers and 31 ticket examiners, as well as depot workers and station staff.
The new electric services will run from from Helensburgh/Milngavie through Glasgow Queen Street and onwards to Edinburgh Waverley via Airdrie and Bathgate.
The route, which will have new stations at Caldercruix, Blackridge and Armadale, as well as resited stations at Drumgelloch and Bathgate, has been funded by the Scottish Government with more than £300m.
The majority of jobs being created are frontline – including seven staff at the relocated Bathgate station which will open in mid-October, marking a significant milestone.
Until December, the new station will act as the terminus for the already established service between Edinburgh Waverley and Bathgate.
The recruitment drive is now underway, with all vacancies being posted online at www.firstgroupcareers.com
ScotRail managing director Steve Montgomery said: “The new line is great news – creating jobs and travel opportunities. It also demonstrates the commitment and strength of industry partnerships in achieving significant improvements to the railway in Scotland. I am confident it will be a great success.”
Stewart Stevenson, Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change said: “Recent trends showing increasing passenger numbers on our rail network are encouraging, but if we want that to continue, and if we want to encourage more people to use public transport, then the delivery of projects like Airdrie-Bathgate is crucial.”
However, the Scottish Government has had to modify its rail ambitions recently because of limited budgets. The Glasgow Airport Rail Link, on which work had begun, was cancelled last year on cost grounds. The Edinburgh tram project is still mired in financial problems, as a dispute between the contractors and Edinburgh City Council continues, and the opening date of the projected Borders Railway has moved back more than once.
One problem which had threatened the Airdrie-Bathgate scheme has been resolved. A dispute existed for several months earlier this year between the RMT and ScotRail over the use of ticket examiners rather than full conductors on the new route. But although several strikes took place, agreement was reached on 4 August and the employment of ticket examiners, with drivers controlling the train doors rather than a conductor, will now go ahead.
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A railway that has actually OPENED. I'd never thought I'd see the day, especially in this country.
Gordon Lescott, Hereford, England