Ardrossan Winton Pier railway station
Encyclopedia
Ardrossan Winton Pier railway station was a railway station
serving the town of Ardrossan
and its harbour, North Ayrshire
, Scotland
. The station allowed train passengers to link with the Caledonian MacBrayne
(CalMac) ferry sailings to Brodick on the Isle of Arran
and other destinations.
(later merged with the Glasgow and South Western Railway
) and was known as Ardrossan Pier. Upon the grouping of the G&SWR into the London, Midland and Scottish Railway
during the Grouping
of 1923, the station was renamed Ardrossan Winton Pier on 2 June 1924 in order to distinguish between the Ardrossan Pier station on the former Lanarkshire and Ayrshire Railway
(which was renamed Ardrossan Montgomerie Pier
).
The station then passed on to the Scottish Region of British Railways
on nationalisation in 1948.
The station had a single island platform
. With the closure of Montgomerie Pier station on 6 May 1968, Winton Pier station became the sole passenger rail terminus at the harbour. When Sectorisation
was introduced in the 1980s, the station was briefly served by ScotRail
before closing, replaced by Ardrossan Harbour railway station
(situated slightly further inland) on 19 January 1987 upon the commencement of electric services.
Train services in connection with the sailings of Burns and Laird Lines to Belfast
and Isle of Man Steam Packet Company to Douglas, Isle of Man
ceased in 1976 and 1985, respectively, when the shipping routes closed.
The site of the station is now located behind the main CalMac ferry terminal building. Only the outline of where the platform was once located remains.
Train station
A train station, also called a railroad station or railway station and often shortened to just station,"Station" is commonly understood to mean "train station" unless otherwise qualified. This is evident from dictionary entries e.g...
serving the town of Ardrossan
Ardrossan
Ardrossan is a town on the North Ayrshire coast in south-western Scotland. The name "Ardrossan" describes its physical position — 'ard' from the Gaelic àird meaning headland, 'ros' a promontory and the diminutive suffix '-an' - headland of the little promontory...
and its harbour, North Ayrshire
North Ayrshire
North Ayrshire is one of 32 council areas in Scotland with a population of roughly 136,000 people. It is located in the south-west region of Scotland, and borders the areas of Inverclyde to the north, Renfrewshire to the north-east and East Ayrshire and South Ayrshire to the East and South...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
. The station allowed train passengers to link with the Caledonian MacBrayne
Caledonian MacBrayne
Caledonian MacBrayne is the major operator of passenger and vehicle ferries, and ferry services, between the mainland of Scotland and 22 of the major islands on Scotland's west coast...
(CalMac) ferry sailings to Brodick on the Isle of Arran
Isle of Arran
Arran or the Isle of Arran is the largest island in the Firth of Clyde, Scotland, and with an area of is the seventh largest Scottish island. It is in the unitary council area of North Ayrshire and the 2001 census had a resident population of 5,058...
and other destinations.
History
The station was opened on 27 July 1840 as part of the Ardrossan RailwayArdrossan Railway
The Ardrossan Railway was a railway company in Scotland built in the mid 19th century that primarily ran services between Kilwinning and Ardrossan, as well as freight services to and from collieries between Kilwinning and Perceton...
(later merged with the Glasgow and South Western Railway
Glasgow and South Western Railway
The Glasgow and South Western Railway , one of the pre-grouping railway companies, served a triangular area of south-west Scotland, between Glasgow, Stranraer and Carlisle...
) and was known as Ardrossan Pier. Upon the grouping of the G&SWR into the London, Midland and Scottish Railway
London, Midland and Scottish Railway
The London Midland and Scottish Railway was a British railway company. It was formed on 1 January 1923 under the Railways Act of 1921, which required the grouping of over 120 separate railway companies into just four...
during the Grouping
Railways Act 1921
The Railways Act 1921, also known as the Grouping Act, was an enactment by the British government of David Lloyd George intended to stem the losses being made by many of the country's 120 railway companies, move the railways away from internal competition, and to retain some of the benefits which...
of 1923, the station was renamed Ardrossan Winton Pier on 2 June 1924 in order to distinguish between the Ardrossan Pier station on the former Lanarkshire and Ayrshire Railway
Lanarkshire and Ayrshire Railway
The Lanarkshire and Ayrshire Railway was a railway company in Scotland built in the late 19th century that provided services between Ardrossan and Glasgow, with branches to Irvine and Kilbirnie. The line was operated by the Caledonian Railway with an aim to compete with the Glasgow and South...
(which was renamed Ardrossan Montgomerie Pier
Ardrossan Montgomerie Pier railway station
Ardrossan Montgomerie Pier railway station was a railway station serving the town of Ardrossan, North Ayrshire, Scotland as part of the Lanarkshire and Ayrshire Railway...
).
The station then passed on to the Scottish Region of British Railways
Scottish Region of British Railways
The Scottish Region was one of the six regions created on British Railways and consisted of ex-London, Midland and Scottish Railway and ex-London and North Eastern Railway lines in Scotland...
on nationalisation in 1948.
Island platform
An island platform is a station layout arrangement where a single platform is positioned between two tracks within a railway station, tram stop or transitway interchange...
. With the closure of Montgomerie Pier station on 6 May 1968, Winton Pier station became the sole passenger rail terminus at the harbour. When Sectorisation
British Rail brand names
British Rail was the brand image of the nationalised railway owner and operator in Great Britain, the British Railways Board, used from 1965 until its breakup and sell-off from 1993 onwards....
was introduced in the 1980s, the station was briefly served by ScotRail
ScotRail
ScotRail was a brand name used for all Scottish regional and commuter rail services, including some cross-border services, from 1997 to 2004....
before closing, replaced by Ardrossan Harbour railway station
Ardrossan Harbour railway station
Ardrossan Harbour railway station is one of three remaining railway stations in the town of Ardrossan, North Ayrshire, Scotland. The station is managed by First ScotRail and is on the Ayrshire Coast Line, south west of...
(situated slightly further inland) on 19 January 1987 upon the commencement of electric services.
Train services in connection with the sailings of Burns and Laird Lines to Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
and Isle of Man Steam Packet Company to Douglas, Isle of Man
Douglas, Isle of Man
right|thumb|250px|Douglas Promenade, which runs nearly the entire length of beachfront in Douglasright|thumb|250px|Sea terminal in DouglasDouglas is the capital and largest town of the Isle of Man, with a population of 26,218 people . It is located at the mouth of the River Douglas, and a sweeping...
ceased in 1976 and 1985, respectively, when the shipping routes closed.
The site of the station is now located behind the main CalMac ferry terminal building. Only the outline of where the platform was once located remains.