Glasgow, Barrhead and Kilmarnock Joint Railway
Encyclopedia
The Glasgow, Barrhead and Kilmarnock Joint Railway was a railway co-owned by Caledonian Railway
and Glasgow and South Western Railway
and was an amalgation of two different lines: the Glasgow, Barrhead and Neilston Direct Railway and the Glasgow and Kilmarnock Joint Railway.
and Neilston
.
), this joint line was built by both companies in partnership. The line opened on 27 March 1871. There was also a branch to Beith
opened at the same time.
When the joint line was opened the existing Neilston line also became the joint ownership of the two companies, and so the Glasgow, Barrhead and Kilmarnock Joint Line was formed.
, however several stations are now closed. The track between Barrhead and Kilmarnock was singled as part of the rationalisation of the Glasgow South Western Line
in the mid 1970s following the electrification of the West Coast Main Line
, with a passing loop
being retained at Lugton. In 2009 the section between and Lugton was redoubled as part of capacity improvements between Glasgow and Kilmarnock.
Part of the former main line from Strathbungo towards Gorbals Junction and St Enoch has also been retained for freight traffic and occasional passenger traffic, via the link to the Polloc and Govan Railway
at Langside Junction (on the WCML) and used mainly by oil trains to and from a fuel oil depot near Kilmarnock.
The line to Beith closed to passengers on 5 November 1962 and to freight two years later. The line to Beith is still in existence as far as Barrmill
, where it heads south along the route of the Lanarkshire and Ayrshire Railway
until it reaches DM Beith. This track is also singled and has been disused for several years.
Caledonian Railway
The Caledonian Railway was a major Scottish railway company. It was formed in the early 19th century and it was absorbed almost a century later into the London, Midland and Scottish Railway, in the 1923 railway grouping, by means of the Railways Act 1921...
and 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 an amalgation of two different lines: the Glasgow, Barrhead and Neilston Direct Railway and the Glasgow and Kilmarnock Joint Railway.
Glasgow, Barrhead and Neilston Direct Railway
The Glasgow, Barrhead and Neilston Direct Railway was first opened on 29 September 1848 and within three years was absorbed into the Caledonian Railway company. This line ran between SouthsideSouthside railway station
Southside railway station, Glasgow, Scotland, was an early passenger terminal situated in the Gorbals area of the city.The station opened on 29 September 1848, for trains operated by the Glasgow, Barrhead and Neilston Direct Railway, which a short time later was absorbed by the Caledonian...
and Neilston
Neilston railway station
Neilston railway station is a railway station in the village of Neilston, East Renfrewshire, Greater Glasgow, Scotland. The station is managed by First ScotRail and lies on the Cathcart Circle Lines, 18 km south east of Glasgow Central station.- History :The station was originally opened as...
.
Glasgow and Kilmarnock Joint Railway
As a result of Caledonian Railway wanting to extend the Neilston branch and Glasgow and South Western Railway wanting to build a more directly line from Glasgow to Kilmarnock (rather than the existing line on the former Glasgow, Paisley, Kilmarnock and Ayr RailwayGlasgow, Paisley, Kilmarnock and Ayr Railway
The Glasgow, Paisley, Kilmarnock and Ayr Railway was a railway in Scotland that provided train services between Glasgow, Kilmarnock and Ayr. For a short period, it also provided West Coast services between Glasgow and London. Opened in stages between 1839 and 1848, the line ran from Paisley in the...
), this joint line was built by both companies in partnership. The line opened on 27 March 1871. There was also a branch to Beith
Beith
Beith is a small town situated in the Garnock Valley in North Ayrshire, Scotland approximately 20-miles south-west of Glasgow. The town is situated on the crest of a hill and was known originally as the "Hill o' Beith" after its Court Hill.-History:-Name:Beith's name is thought to emanate from...
opened at the same time.
When the joint line was opened the existing Neilston line also became the joint ownership of the two companies, and so the Glasgow, Barrhead and Kilmarnock Joint Line was formed.
Connections to other lines
- City of Glasgow Union RailwayCity Union LineThe City of Glasgow Union Railway - City Union Line , is a railway line in Glasgow, Scotland. The line is still open, with the section north of Bellgrove still open to passenger trains.-Description of the route:...
at Gorbals Junction - General Terminus and Glasgow Harbour RailwayGeneral Terminus and Glasgow Harbour RailwayThe General Terminus and Glasgow Harbour Railway was authorised on 3 July 1846 and it opened, in part, in December 1848.Its main function was intended to be the transportation of coal from collieries and Lanarkshire and Ayrshire, over other railways, to a coal depot on the south bank of the River...
at Muirhouse Central Junction - Cathcart District RailwayCathcart District RailwayThe Cathcart District Railway was authorised on 7 September 1880. The eastern section to Cathcart opened to Mount Florida station on 1 March 1886. The line was completed through to the first Cathcart station on 25 May 1886...
at Muirhouse Central Junction - Busby Railway at Busby Junction
- Glasgow, Paisley, Kilmarnock and Ayr RailwayGlasgow, Paisley, Kilmarnock and Ayr RailwayThe Glasgow, Paisley, Kilmarnock and Ayr Railway was a railway in Scotland that provided train services between Glasgow, Kilmarnock and Ayr. For a short period, it also provided West Coast services between Glasgow and London. Opened in stages between 1839 and 1848, the line ran from Paisley in the...
at Kilmarnock - Lanarkshire and Ayrshire RailwayLanarkshire and Ayrshire RailwayThe 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...
at Barrmill and Lugton
Current operations
Today the line from Glasgow to Kilmarnock is still open as part of the Glasgow South Western LineGlasgow South Western Line
The Glasgow South Western Line is a mainline railway in Scotland that runs from Glasgow to Kilmarnock, and then either via Dumfries, or Stranraer via Ayr, with a branch to East Kilbride.- History :...
, however several stations are now closed. The track between Barrhead and Kilmarnock was singled as part of the rationalisation of the Glasgow South Western Line
Glasgow South Western Line
The Glasgow South Western Line is a mainline railway in Scotland that runs from Glasgow to Kilmarnock, and then either via Dumfries, or Stranraer via Ayr, with a branch to East Kilbride.- History :...
in the mid 1970s following the electrification of the West Coast Main Line
West Coast Main Line
The West Coast Main Line is the busiest mixed-traffic railway route in Britain, being the country's most important rail backbone in terms of population served. Fast, long-distance inter-city passenger services are provided between London, the West Midlands, the North West, North Wales and the...
, with a passing loop
Passing loop
A passing loop is a place on a single line railway or tramway, often located at a station, where trains or trams in opposing directions can pass each other. Trains/trams in the same direction can also overtake, providing that the signalling arrangement allows it...
being retained at Lugton. In 2009 the section between and Lugton was redoubled as part of capacity improvements between Glasgow and Kilmarnock.
Part of the former main line from Strathbungo towards Gorbals Junction and St Enoch has also been retained for freight traffic and occasional passenger traffic, via the link to the Polloc and Govan Railway
Polloc and Govan Railway
The Polloc and Govan Railway started off as a private railway owned and built by William Dixon, a Coal master; it ran along part of the route of his Govan tramway...
at Langside Junction (on the WCML) and used mainly by oil trains to and from a fuel oil depot near Kilmarnock.
The line to Beith closed to passengers on 5 November 1962 and to freight two years later. The line to Beith is still in existence as far as Barrmill
Barrmill
Barrmill is a small village in North Ayrshire, Scotland about a mile and a half a mile east of Beith on the road to Lugton. Locally it is known as the Barr.- History :General Roy's survey of 1747 - 55 shows only the farm of High Barr...
, where it heads south along the route of the 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...
until it reaches DM Beith. This track is also singled and has been disused for several years.