Glasgow Central Railway
Encyclopedia
The Glasgow Central Railway was a railway that ran from Maryhill
in the north west of Glasgow
through the West End and City Centre
to Rutherglen
and Newton to the south east of the city.
in 1888. The following year the company was absorbed into the Caledonian Railway
. The line was opened in sections:
In 1923, the railway became part of LMS
.
Stobcross Railway
Re-instated when the Argyle Line
was re-opened in 1979 to provide a link to the North Clyde Line
for westbound trains.
Lanarkshire and Dunbartonshire Railway
London Road Link (The Switchback
A connection to allow access to the north of Glasgow, including the sidings at Parkhead Forge and the Buchanan Street Main Line.
Rutherglen and Coatbridge Railway
Still open for Whifflet Line
services. The junctions gave access in the Coatbridge direction and the link onto Newton.
Clydesdale Junction Railway
Still open with WCML
and Argyle Line
services. At Newton connected to allow trains to head in an easterly direction. At Rutherglen, access to the WCML is in both directions via a triangle of lines.
Lanarkshire and Ayrshire Railway
Now part of the Newton branch of the Cathcart Circle
, the Glasgow Central Railway connected to allow trains to head in a westerly direction.
The line was closed to passengers between and Stobcross
on 2 November 1959, although freight from Maryhill through to the docks at Stobcross continued until 14 August 1960 and Kelvinbridge until 6 July 1964. On 5 October 1964 the remaining passenger services were withdrawn. The only section of the line that remained open was between Tollcross and Tollcross East Junction (at Carmyle) for freight until 4 April 1966.
in 1979, which included the construction of a new station at . There have also been suggestions that the tunnels should be used to extend the existing Glasgow Subway
from Kelvinbridge
further out west.
Maryhill
Maryhill is an area of the City of Glasgow in Scotland. Maryhill is a former burgh. The population of Maryhill is about 52,000. Maryhill stretches over along Maryhill Road...
in the north west of Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
through the West End and City Centre
Glasgow city centre
Glasgow city centre is the central business district of Glasgow, Scotland. Is bounded by the High Street to the east, the River Clyde to the south and the M8 motorway to the west and north which was built through the Townhead, Charing Cross, Cowcaddens and Anderston areas in the 1960s...
to Rutherglen
Rutherglen
Rutherglen is a town in South Lanarkshire, Scotland. In 1975, it lost its own local council and administratively became a component of the City of Glasgow. In 1996 Rutherglen was reallocated to the South Lanarkshire council area.-History:...
and Newton to the south east of the city.
Early days
The Glasgow Central Railway company received royal assentRoyal Assent
The granting of royal assent refers to the method by which any constitutional monarch formally approves and promulgates an act of his or her nation's parliament, thus making it a law...
in 1888. The following year the company was absorbed into the Caledonian Railway
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...
. The line was opened in sections:
- 26 November 1894 - Stobcross to Maryhill
- 1 November 1895 - Rutherglen to Glasgow Cross
- 1 October 1896 - Line through Glasgow Central Low Level
- 1 February 1897 - Link through Carmyle to Newton open
In 1923, the railway became part of LMS
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...
.
Stobcross RailwayStobcross RailwayStobcross Railways is a rail line originally created to provide freight rail access to the new Queens Dock and the expanding west end of Glasgow. Upon creation of the Glasgow City and District Railway, Stobcross became a commuter line.-Sources:* ....
Re-instated when the Argyle LineArgyle Line
The Argyle Line is a suburban railway located in West Central Scotland. It connects the Lanarkshire towns of Lanark, Larkhall and Motherwell to West Dunbartonshire via central Glasgow using sub-surface running...
was re-opened in 1979 to provide a link to the North Clyde Line
North Clyde Line
The North Clyde Line is a suburban railway in West Central Scotland. The route is operated by First ScotRail, on behalf of Transport Scotland...
for westbound trains.
Lanarkshire and Dunbartonshire RailwayLanarkshire and Dunbartonshire Railway- Early days :The Lanarkshire and Dunbartonshire Railway was authorised in 1891, and opened in stages between 26 November 1894 and 1 October 1896.On 16 August 1909 the Lanarkshire and Dunbartonshire Railway was absorbed into the Caledonian Railway...
- An underground junction at Stobcross. A section of this tunnel (with some new construction) was re-opened in 1979 to provide the eastbound link from the North Clyde LineNorth Clyde LineThe North Clyde Line is a suburban railway in West Central Scotland. The route is operated by First ScotRail, on behalf of Transport Scotland...
to the Argyle LineArgyle LineThe Argyle Line is a suburban railway located in West Central Scotland. It connects the Lanarkshire towns of Lanark, Larkhall and Motherwell to West Dunbartonshire via central Glasgow using sub-surface running...
. - A triangular junction at Maryhill Central.
London Road Link (The SwitchbackThe Switchback (CR)The The Switchback was constructed by the Caledonian Railway between 1864 and 1891.-Connections to other lines:* Glasgow and Garnkirk Railway at Balornock Junction* Hamiltonhill Branch at Balornock Junction* Glasgow Central Railway at Strathclyde Junction...
)
A connection to allow access to the north of Glasgow, including the sidings at Parkhead Forge and the Buchanan Street Main Line. Rutherglen and Coatbridge RailwayRutherglen and Coatbridge RailwayThe Rutherglen and Coatbridge Railway was a railway that ran between Airdrie and Rutherglen and built by the Caledonian Railway, which in turn became part of the LMS on 1 July 1923.-Openings:*20 September 1865 - Rutherglen East to Calder for freight traffic...
Still open for Whifflet LineWhifflet Line
The Whifflet Line is one of the lines within the Strathclyde suburban rail network in Scotland.- History :The line was built between 1863 and 1865 as the Rutherglen and Coatbridge Railway, part of the Caledonian Railway. It opened to goods traffic in September 1865 and to passengers in August...
services. The junctions gave access in the Coatbridge direction and the link onto Newton.
Clydesdale Junction RailwayClydesdale Junction RailwayThe Clydesdale Junction Railway was a railway company in Scotland that was formed to run trains between Rutherglen and Motherwell, North Lanarkshire.- History :It received its Royal Assent on 31 July 1845....
Still open with WCMLWest 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...
and Argyle Line
Argyle Line
The Argyle Line is a suburban railway located in West Central Scotland. It connects the Lanarkshire towns of Lanark, Larkhall and Motherwell to West Dunbartonshire via central Glasgow using sub-surface running...
services. At Newton connected to allow trains to head in an easterly direction. At Rutherglen, access to the WCML is in both directions via a triangle of lines.
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...
Now part of the Newton branch of the Cathcart CircleCathcart Circle Lines
The Cathcart Circle Lines form a suburban railway route linking Glasgow to Cathcart via a circular line, with branches to Newton and Neilston. All of the routes serve Glasgow's southern suburbs, i.e. on the south bank of the River Clyde...
, the Glasgow Central Railway connected to allow trains to head in a westerly direction.
Closures
There were a number of individual station closures prior to the line being closed:- 1 January 1917 - Glasgow Green (reopened on 1 June 1919)
- 6 February 1939 - Botanic Gardens
- 1 May 1939 - Kirklee
- 4 August 1952 - Kelvinbridge
- 3 August 1959 - Stobcross; Anderston
The line was closed to passengers between and Stobcross
Exhibition Centre railway station
Exhibition Centre station - previously called Finnieston [1979-1986] and earlier Stobcross [1894-1959] - is in Glasgow on the Argyle Line. It serves the Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre, which is accessible by adjoining footbridge from an island platform...
on 2 November 1959, although freight from Maryhill through to the docks at Stobcross continued until 14 August 1960 and Kelvinbridge until 6 July 1964. On 5 October 1964 the remaining passenger services were withdrawn. The only section of the line that remained open was between Tollcross and Tollcross East Junction (at Carmyle) for freight until 4 April 1966.
Reopening
The line between and was re-opened as part of the Argyle LineArgyle Line
The Argyle Line is a suburban railway located in West Central Scotland. It connects the Lanarkshire towns of Lanark, Larkhall and Motherwell to West Dunbartonshire via central Glasgow using sub-surface running...
in 1979, which included the construction of a new station at . There have also been suggestions that the tunnels should be used to extend the existing Glasgow Subway
Glasgow Subway
The Glasgow Subway is an underground metro line in Glasgow, Scotland. Opened on 14 December 1896, it is the third-oldest underground metro system in the world after the London Underground and the Budapest Metro. Formerly a cable railway, the Subway was later electrified, but its twin circular lines...
from Kelvinbridge
Kelvinbridge
Kelvinbridge is the common name of the Great Western Bridge, a cast iron road and pedestrian bridge built in the 19th century to carry the Great Western Road at a high level across the River Kelvin. West End of the city of Glasgow, Scotland...
further out west.