PASSENGERS got back on track last week as the Glasgow to Stranraer line reopened. 

Engineers have been working to stabilise the flood-damaged Laggansarroch Viaduct near Girvan. 

Storm Frank caused the severe damage when it hit at the end of December 2015 and on January 9 after flood-waters scoured out the riverbed beneath the viaduct’s concrete pier bases.

Work to strengthen the viaduct has been carried out in challenging weather conditions with heavy rainfall and rapidly rising river levels hampering engineers.

Phil Verster, managing director of the ScotRail Alliance, said: “This has been a very complex operation due to the location of the site and the unpredictability of the weather.

“Our engineers have been working as hard as they can through extreme conditions to reopen the line for our passengers.

“We appreciate the patience customers have shown during the disruption to their service and there was no way for us to repair the viaduct without a short-term closure of the line.”

To access the piers, engineers had to build a stone causeway over part of the River Stinchar while divers were deployed to assess the damage and carry out the repairs. The site team also liaised with SEPA and local land owners throughout the work to minimise the environmental impact of the project.

Buses had been replacing trains on the section of line between Girvan and Stranraer during the engineering works.