- Scotland has dismantled its oldest electricity transmission line, the G-Route, built in 1929 to power heavy industry and shipyards.
- SP Energy Networks replaced the old steel towers with 182 new wooden poles, enhancing the network’s resilience and reliability.
Scotland’s oldest electricity transmission line, the G-Route, has been dismantled almost a century after it was built. The line was constructed in 1929 to bring power to Glasgow and Renfrewshire’s heavy industries and shipyards.
The G-Route connected Yoker, Dellingburn, and Braehead coal-powered stations. It was part of a larger initiative following the 1926 Electricity Act, which saw the construction of over 120 coal-fired power stations in Britain connected through overhead transmission lines.
At the time, only 6% of British households had electricity. When the line was switched off last year, it served 70,000 homes and businesses in Devol Moor and Bishopton, including the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital and Braehead.
Transmission network operator SP Energy Networks has removed the 62 ageing steel towers supporting the line. These towers have been replaced by 182 wooden poles, known as “tridents” because of their distinctive design.
SP Energy Networks explained that the new poles provide a more resilient and reliable service, helping to electrify the network further. This marks a major step toward modernising the infrastructure.
Richard Wylie, the lead design engineer at SP Energy Networks, reflected on the significance of the original line. He said, “One hundred years ago, ambitious engineers worked to connect Britain’s electrical grid. Their efforts brought electricity to homes for the first time, transforming lives and enabling the widespread use of modern appliances.”
Wylie also noted that today’s investment in the transmission network is equally transformative. SP Energy Networks is investing billions of pounds to upgrade the grid. This includes building 12 new substations, 450km of upgraded circuits, and 87km of new overhead lines. The goal is to increase the grid’s capacity, transporting clean, homegrown electricity to power communities across Britain as part of a move toward an all-electric future.
SP Energy Networks has outlined a £10.6 billion plan to “rewire Britain,” providing essential infrastructure for a greener, more sustainable energy system. This project will significantly modernise the electrical grid, ensuring it can meet today’s and future demands.
Dismantling the G-Route marks the end of an era but also paves the way for a new chapter in Scotland’s energy future.