RAIL services between Glasgow, Rutherglen and Coatbridge are set to be electrified four years ahead of schedule.

Keith Brown, Scotland's Transport Minister, revealed plans to electrify the Whifflet route were being brought forward and were expected to be complete before the Commonwealth Games.

The £30 million deal is expected to deliver better services for passengers.

Mr Brown made the announcement to the Scottish Parliament along with an update on the £650m project to electrify and improve services between Edinburgh and Glasgow, the Edinburgh-Glasgow Improvement Programme (EGIP).

Mr Brown said: "I was delighted to announce that the Scottish Government has approved plans to bring forward the electrification of the Whifflet route in time for the Games next summer, some four years ahead of schedule.

"Delivery of the deal, which will see an investment of some £29.6m to electrify this stretch of track, will allow greater flexibility in deploying trains to help meet passenger demand during the games, as well as free up rolling stock to run elsewhere on the network, including during the Ryder Cup at Gleneagles in September 2014.

"I also updated Parliament on the elements of new services on the Edinburgh-Glasgow line via Carstairs which are now complete a year ahead of schedule, electrification of the Cumbernauld line, which will also be ready ahead of Commonwealth Games, and the £27m Haymarket station revamp, which is on target to be open to the public by the end of this year.

"Work to electrify the Stirling-Alloa- Dunblane line is progressing well and is due for completion by the end of 2018.

The 42-minute fastest journey time on our flagship route between Edinburgh and Glasgow via Falkirk High is to be implemented, following completion of the electrification programmet."

ewan.fergus@ eveningtimes.co.uk