RAIL passengers in the central belt will be able to view from today (thur) temporary timetables that will allow them to plan for a tunnel closure affecting central belt services.

The Winchburgh tunnel, near Linlithgow, West Lothian, will be shut from Saturday June 13 to Monday July 27 on the main Edinburgh-Glasgow line will close while the £742 million Edinburgh Glasgow Improvement Programme (EGIP) gets under way.

Passengers can log onto www.scotrail.co.uk/winchburgh and passengers are urged to allow more time for their normal journey, to plan ahead and to check before travelling.

Those affected are also being advised of the changes via leaflets and posters at stations along the line of route, through radio advertising and social media.

Transport Minister Derek Mackay said: "The closure at Winchburgh will mean a change from usual operations on the route. However, ScotRail and Network Rail are working closely to minimise disruption and ensure that passengers can still travel between the two cities.

"This includes launching this major information drive three months ahead of the works to keep passengers informed."

Engineers will be lowering and relaying the two lines of track through the 1080 ft long tunnel and installing equipment to carry the overhead power lines which is due to begin operating in 2016.

David Dickson, Network Rail's route managing director for Scotland added: "While we understand the inconvenience the closure of the tunnel will cause to some passengers, this is the safest and most effective way of delivering what is a very complex piece of engineering work.

"Our engineers will be operating around the clock over this 44-day period to complete this vital work and keep disruption to the railway to a minimum."

Edinburgh-Glasgow trains via Falkirk High will start/terminate at Linlithgow between June 13 and July 26, with a mix of trains and replacement buses operating to Haymarket and Edinburgh Waverley.

People who travel all the way between Glasgow and Edinburgh have three alternative routes - via Bathgate from Queen St Low Level, and via Shotts or Motherwell from Glasgow Central.

Services from Stirling/Dunblane-Edinburgh will be diverted and take longer, but will run direct. As a result of this diversion, Edinburgh Park will be served by buses from the Glasgow/Dunblane direction.

Steve Montgomery, ScotRail managing director, said: "It provides the fairest practical solution - keeping as many people as possible on trains."