Edinburgh–Bathgate line

Except for the short section at the original Bathgate terminus, the main line is still in use, with a frequent passenger train service operated by ScotRail.

In 2005, the Scottish Executive declared that in line with plans to upgrade the unfinished part of the A8 to motorway standard, public transport links between Glasgow and Edinburgh must also be improved.

Other railways joined at Bathgate and the line later became part of a through route from Edinburgh to Glasgow via Airdrie.

In 2010 the through route to Airdrie and Glasgow was reopened and electrified, and the line continues in heavy passenger use at the present day.

[7] The only branch that was built by the E&BR was to Uphall, and from there a mineral railway extension ran to the Binny Quarry, near Ecclesmachan.

He had obtained a patent for the process in October 1850, and the torbanite had been discovered on the Torbanehill estate, about halfway between Bathgate and Whitburn.

[9][page needed] In 1897 the NBR opened the chord at Bathgate allowing through running from north (Blackstone) to east (towards Edinburgh).

[12][page needed] In 1895 there were seven passenger trains daily on the line, with two more on Saturdays; some of these were semi-fast, running through from Edinburgh to Glasgow.

The road network in the district was inadequate, and the large premises would require a considerable volume of general stores as well as coal.

A private branch railway was opened to the public on 19 June 1905 from the E&BR line, authorised by the Edinburgh and District Lunacy Board Act, 30 July 1900.

[12][page needed] The hospital was extensively used during World War I for treatment of wounded soldiers, and the road network was correspondingly improved.

[8][page needed] A sporadic goods service continued, but the line was sustained by the motor vehicle manufacturing activity.

Lothian Regional Council provided substantial funding toward the project, which was intended to help ease commuting difficulties to and from Edinburgh as road congestion worsened in the mid 1980s, and to alleviate some of the hardship caused by West Lothian's industrial decline.

(Since passenger services had ceased in 1956, the remaining shale oil industry became extinct, coal mining was virtually ended in 1984–1986 by the Thatcher government, and the Bathgate plant of British Leyland was slated for closure.)

Delay in the delivery and commissioning of the Class 380 resulted in diesel services operating initially between Edinburgh and Bathgate.