Trains can be crowded during peak travel times

The extensions will allow new, six-carriage trains to stop at the stations.

The Scottish Executive is to provide �7.4m towards the cost of the work and another �8.2m is coming from the Strategic Rail Authority.

The four routes to benefit are Edinburgh Waverley to Bathgate, Waverley to Dunblane, Glasgow Central to East Kilbride and Fife Circle.

The work will coincide with the arrival of a new fleet of 29 extra trains which ScotRail and Strathclyde Passenger Transport plan to put into service over the next 18 months.

ScotRail managing director Peter Cotton said: "It's particularly satisfying to see all this work taking place north of the border in the last year of a franchise when things might have been expected to be running down."

LONGER PLATFORMS Uphall, Livingston North, Bathgate South Gyle, N Queensferry, Dalgety Bay, Aberdour, Kinghorn, Glenrothes, Cardenden, Lochgelly, Cowdenbeath, Dunfermline Queen Margaret, Rosyth Bridge of Allen, Larbert, Camelon Pollokshaws West, Thornliebank, Giffnock, Clarkston, Busby, Thorntonhall, Hairmyres, East Kilbride

Transport Minister Nicol Stephen added: "This platform work which is planned to begin by the end of the year is a clear signal that we are committed to delivering better services for passengers."

Plans for a �38m project to create a north-south rail link across Glasgow have been sent to Mr Stephen by Strathclyde Passenger Transport.

The submission is requesting �500,000 funding from the Scottish Executive to bring the Crossrail project to a detailed stage of development.

The scheme is made up of the High Street curve, City Union Line upgrade, Strathbungo link, Yorkhill/Kelvinhaugh turnback and new stations at Glasgow Cross and West Street.

Airport journeys

SPT chairman Alistair Watson said: "The completion of Crossrail will be of a national benefit allowing direct journeys from Ayrshire and Inverclyde to Edinburgh, Stirling and beyond.

"If the Edinburgh and Glasgow airport rail links are also progressed, Crossrail will enable direct journeys to be made between Prestwick, Glasgow and Edinburgh airports."

He pointed out that the project would see further integration of Glasgow's subway with the provision of an interchange at West Street.

"The work will bring major social benefits, particularly around the Gorbals area of Glasgow," he said.

Crossrail would also pave the way to the possible extension and enhancement of the Airdrie to Drumgelloch services with the reopening of the Airdrie to Bathgate line.

The proposed diversion of the Cumbernauld to Glasgow service to operate to Queen Street lower level would also be possible.