COMMUTERS in Glasgow will get back on track earlier than expected after railworks were completed early.

Services on the major Cathcart Circle line in the South Side were not expected to return to normal until this weekend after engineers were sent in to repair empty mine shafts near Pollokshields East station.

But services will now be restored from Thursday – even after rail bosses took advantage of the closure to carry out other repairs.

Five stations, including Queens Park, Crosshill, Mount Florida and Cathcart were closed completely by the work to fill in 800sq m of abandoned mineworks discovered near the Tramway theatre.

Maintenance crews including specialist contractors worked round the clock, lifting tracks and removing the gantries supporting power cables before they could carry out the vital work.

David Simpson, Network Rail route director for Scotland, said: "The team at Pollok-shields East has done a fantastic job in tackling what was a considerable threat to the long-term viability of the Cathcart Circle line.

"We would also like to thank passengers for their patience during this disruption."

Maintenance crews working with train operator FirstScotrail gave stations a fresh coat of paint and repaired long-term damage to station buildings along the route as part of the £2.4million programme.

The train company came under fire when repairs started on July 22 after if failed to provide an effective service into Glasgow Central from the affected stations.

A limited shuttle bus, terminating at Pollok-shields was largely snubbed by commuters who flooded bus services, leading First in Glasgow to supply extra buses.

Jacqueline Dey, head of operations at First ScotRail, said the impact of the repairs had been kept to a minimum.