The railway line between Alloa and Stirling will close for 16 days of work it has been revealed.

ScotRail Alliance engineers will soon begin extensive engineering works to relay a kilometre of track on the Stirling-Alloa-Kincardine line.

Beginning on Saturday, 11 July, the vital 16-day project will also improve drainage beneath the line and renew the level crossings at Waterside and Blackgrange.

The works are part of a rolling maintenance programme to renew sections of the line to support the coal traffic regularly using the route.

Due to the complex work involved, the project cannot be delivered without a short-term closure of the line.

Buses will replace trains between Stirling and Alloa from start of service on Saturday 11 July, until Monday, 27 July, when train services will resume.

The works will also limit access to Cambuskenneth, with engineers constructing a temporary bridge over the railway to maintain access to the village.

A ScotRail Alliance spokesman said: “The works we are undertaking are vital to the long-term reliability. Our engineers will be working around-the-clock to complete this complex project as quickly as possible.

“We understand the inconvenience these work will cause to some passengers, residents and motorists and we are working hard to keep disruption to a minimum.”