Rail commuters in Aberdeen are bracing for significant disruption over three consecutive weekends, beginning on Saturday, 31st January 2026, as Network Rail Scotland embarks on a vital £3.8 million track enhancement project at Aberdeen Station. The extensive works are designed to bolster the reliability and operational performance of one of Scotland’s busiest rail gateways.
The engineering undertaking will see Network Rail teams renew almost a mile and a half of track across platforms 3, 4, 6, and 7. This substantial upgrade involves replacing worn rails, introducing approximately 1,500 new sleepers, and laying 4,500 tonnes of ballast stone to reinforce the track’s foundation. Engineers will also focus on upgrading critical equipment that facilitates train movements between lines within the station area.
The scheduled closures will impact all passenger services operating through Aberdeen Station on the following dates:
Saturday 31st January and Sunday 1st February; Saturday 7th and Sunday 8th February and Sunday 15th and Monday 16th February.
Network Rail has strategically planned these works over weekends to minimise impact, though the scale of disruption will require passengers to utilise replacement bus services.
ScotRail services will be replaced by buses across routes connecting Aberdeen with Dundee, Montrose, Inverurie, and Dyce.
CrossCountry services will terminate at Dundee, with onward travel to Aberdeen facilitated by buses.
Similarly, LNER trains from London King’s Cross will operate only as far as Dundee, with rail replacement services running between Dundee and Aberdeen, calling at Arbroath, Montrose, and Stonehaven.
This latest investment follows an £8 million redevelopment of Aberdeen station completed in 2022. That project delivered substantial improvements, including the relocation and refurbishment of the ticket office and first-class lounge, as well as upgrades to retail units and customer information systems, solidifying the station’s role as a crucial transport interchange for the North East of Scotland.
Aberdeen Railway Station is the busiest station north of Edinburgh and Glasgow. It acts as a vital gateway for the region, connecting communities and supporting thousands of journeys daily, encompassing local, regional, and long-distance routes.
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Ross Moran, route director at Network Rail Scotland, emphasised the long-term benefits of the project: “Carrying out this work over a small number of weekends lets us make substantial improvements while keeping disruption to a minimum. By renewing key sections at the station, we’re building in resilience that will support more reliable and smoother journeys.”
The £3.8 million upgrade is part of Network Rail’s broader commitment to enhancing Scotland’s rail infrastructure. The organisation operates on five-year investment cycles, with the current Control Period 7 (CP7), from April 2024 to March 2029, allocating £4.8 billion for renewals, maintenance, and resilience initiatives across the Scottish network.
While acknowledging the temporary inconvenience, operators have thanked customers for their “patience and understanding” during this essential upgrade, which is expected to deliver enhanced performance and a more robust railway for the future.
