ENGINEERS have begun the laborious task of breaking up 10,000 tonnes of existing tracks as the £60 million upgrade of Glasgow Queen Street’s high level tunnel.

Away from the bustle of the main line station which connects the city with Edinburgh, workers have been using machinery to replace the ageing tracks with more than 13,100 ft of new rails.

READ MORE: Queen Street queuing systems ready ahead of rail tunnel work

The 2,952 ft long tunnel will also require almost 6,000 ft of concrete slab, with the work due to be completed by August 8.

Junctions to the north of the tunnel near Cowlairs, in the north of Glasgow, are also being renewed and platforms in the station will be lengthened as part of the project.

The project is being carried out to allow faster, longer and more energy efficient trains to run between the cities.

READ MORE: Queen Street queuing systems ready ahead of rail tunnel work