Major work is being conducted on the railway line between Kilmarnock and Dumfries this week.

The work means a bus replacement service will be operating for passengers in Auchinleck, New Cumnock, and Sanquhar.

Buses will replace trains between Kilmarnock and Dumfries from Saturday, July 4, to Sunday, July 12 whilst Network Rail engineers complete vital upgrade works on the line.

Over two miles of new track will be laid and under-track drainage systems improved at a range of locations between New Cumnock and Dumfries.

Work will also be undertaken to strengthen and repair several rail bridges between Cumnock and Dumfries at the same time.

Network Rail have said that due to the complexity of the engineering work and the heavy machinery involved, these upgrades cannot be delivered without the short-term closure of the line.

Alan Ross, Network Rail Scotland’s director of engineering and asset management, said: “Rail plays a key role in keeping freight and people moving across the country and these upgrades are vital to the safe and reliable running of the railway in south-west Scotland.

“Our engineers will be working around-the-clock to complete this complex programme as quickly as we possibly can and to keep disruption to a minimum.“