Expansions for Scotland's rail network proposed

[snookertam]

There are a number of issues with the previously proposed GARL. Firstly it's circuitous route via Paisley Gilmour Street brought into question whether there would be any time saving on the existing bus service, and by extension, whether there would be any return on the investment. In addition, that option has largely gone now because the proposed paths have went to additional Ayrshire and Inverclyde services which are unlikely to be withdrawn to favour the introduction of a 15 min frequency airport service.

Any future airport rail link has to deal with capacity issues on the existing network, and the fact that it has to better the existing, direct, road transport link. I would suggest that any airport rail link being created in future should be based on using the old Deanside freight branch which diverges from the line at Cardonald and follows the M8 for a short distance. Whilst this would be expensive in terms of creating more infrastructure to take the new line, it at least could shadow the M8, and in making a direct route decrease journey times.

That still leaves the issue of capacity on the existing network. So either any new line could become - as others have suggested - a tram-train running right into the city centre to a terminal say somewhere like Broomielaw, near to Central. Again you have costs of building new infrastructure and potentially running a self contained rail service (unless it becomes part of the subway). But if these costs are too high, then you go back to looking at the required infrastructure enhancements for the existing network - Can Central be expanded at all? Can Crossrail be used? Can a cross city tunnel be built (v expensive).

There's not really an easy answer to the GARL issue and to top it all off, I'm not aware of anyone other than Glasgow Airport themselves really complaining about the links to the airport. And then there's the general aversion in this country to having to use two separate modes of transport. As soon as you start saying to people they have to get the train to Paisley then a bus or tram or pod, they'll switch off and go back to their car. This issue is a tough one and generally requires some effort to change public perception - although as I've previously argued improving through ticketing arrangements would hopefully see to that.

So with all that in mind, I don't see any new GARL project taking off soon, and as others have hinted, Edinburgh is the more likely to see major transport enhancements.

 

[alangla]

I’m not sure how attractive a terminal anywhere further south than Central would be. The bus has one big advantage over the likely rail options- it stops near inbound traffic destinations. Bothwell Street or Waterloo St - Financial Services district, Hilton, Radisson, Marriott, Grand Central, Motel 1 etc, George Square- whole central area, Buchanan bus station- Citizen M, Hilton Doubletree, Premier Inn, loads of student accommodation (thousands of international students in Glasgow now). I don’t see how GARL, even in its most expensive & extensive format, can make those journeys quicker or easier or remove an uphill trek with luggage.

 

[clc]

Glasgow Airport rail link to be ditched for rapid shuttle pod to Paisley

https://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/news...-be-ditched-for-rapid-shuttle-pod-to-paisley/

 

[Altnabreac]

Glasgow Airport rail link to be ditched for rapid shuttle pod to Paisley

https://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/news...-be-ditched-for-rapid-shuttle-pod-to-paisley/

2 and a half years on from this thread:
https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/glasgow-airport-people-mover.136931/#post-2743988

Where funnily enough you, I and others pointed out all the flaws about lack of capacity at Central and low frequency of tram train and identified the PRT as a better option.

If only Glasgow City Council had listened at the time...

 

[clc]

I see Labour politicians are in faux outrage mode. The SG should emphasise the enhancements which can now take place because the tram train won’t be using up future capacity. Confirming that East Kilbride will be double tracked would be a good move in the PR battle.

 

[kylemore]

It's not.

The supposed problems are usually inflated by those who want preferential treatment or EDI or what to justify an expensive rail link to GLA.

And the Paisley airport link is not well known by users. I suspect very few people even realise that you can buy a rail ticket to the airport. Though this isn't helped by the offputting operation of the bus link which takes a convoluted and extended route. If I was going to invest in a public transport upgrade for GLA then I'd build an accessible bus station SE of the terminal building with quick dedicated access roads to get to paisley and the motorway access. And I'd have a quick bus link to Gilmour Street that literally didn't go round the houses.

The first time I used the so-called "Bus Link" between Gilmour Street and the Airport I was appalled - it's basically a Paisley "scheme bus" extended haphazardly to the airport - that this nonsense is tolerated by all the "stakeholders" is evidence that apart from the ritual vapourings on the media every now and then for appearances sake, that in reality the airport in particular are quite happy with the status quo.

 

[AndrewE]

The first time I used the so-called "Bus Link" between Gilmour Street and the Airport I was appalled - it's basically a Paisley "scheme bus" extended haphazardly to the airport - that this nonsense is tolerated by all the "stakeholders" is evidence that apart from the ritual vapourings on the media every now and then for appearances sake, that in reality the airport in particular are quite happy with the status quo.

I have heard the same complaint about the 200 and 300 buses to Edinburgh airport too. I think it's a fair complaint too.

 

[gingerheid]

The first time I used the so-called "Bus Link" between Gilmour Street and the Airport I was appalled - it's basically a Paisley "scheme bus" extended haphazardly to the airport - that this nonsense is tolerated by all the "stakeholders" is evidence that apart from the ritual vapourings on the media every now and then for appearances sake, that in reality the airport in particular are quite happy with the status quo.

Yeah. People who complain about paying premiums for airport buses need to be directed to trying to get two people and four bags onto that bus when the school is coming out!

The 200 and 300 I get; they are useful local links. Glasgow Airport - Paisley GS needs to decide whether it wants to be a useful local link or a flagship connection to the national rail network. There's nothing wrong with the former and with continuing to offer through tickets on a useful link to Ayrshire and Inverclyde, but if that's what they want to do they should be honest about it.

What was the proposed frequency for GARL? The extra infrastructure is being used by an extra 2tph?

Do many people use the Hillingtons and Cardonald for longer distance travel? Might it be that they could benefit from a more frequent (but admittedly slower) tram service, creating capacity on the railway line?

 

[InOban]

Yes and no. The Edinburgh buses are dedicated, in that they have large luggage racks, but they do serve the general public on their way. This means that more of the population is within walking distance of an airport bus route, both passengers and airport employees.

 

[och aye]

Councillor warns of tight timescale for East Linton train station

https://www.eastlothiancourier.com/...ight-timescale-for-east-linton-train-station/

A SENIOR councillor has warned that time is ticking if East Linton’s new railway station is to open on schedule.

A two-decade campaign has been fought to see a station return to the village.

Despite commitments from the Scottish Government that the station – along with one at Reston in the Scottish Borders – will open by 2024, fears have repeatedly been raised that the stations could slip further down the line.

Councillor Norman Hampshire, local ward member and cabinet spokesman for the environment, said: “They are now into the design stage of East Linton and Reston stations. At East Linton it is going to be a six-carriage station. That is a much bigger platform than what we thought was going to happen and is going to take up more land at East Linton.”

The village’s new station would not be on the site of the former station there, which closed in 1964. Instead, it would be to the west. However, before any station can be built, a planning application will need to be submitted to East Lothian Council.

 

[och aye]

Reston station re-opening by 2024

https://www.berwick-advertiser.co.uk/news/reston-station-re-opening-by-2024-1-4864811

Rail campaigners are more optimistic than they have been for some time about the re-opening of Reston and East Linton stations.

After meeting the Scottish Transport Minister, local MSPs and Transport Scotland representatives, RAGES (Rail Action Group East Scotland) left in a positive frame of mind.


On Facebook, they posted: ‘After making our frustation clear on how long we have been campaigning to have East Linton and Reston Stations opened we left these meetings positive that thing are now moving forward to the re-opening of the two stations.


“Transport Scotland gave us the news that the stations will be delivered in Control Period 6 (2019-24) as part of a larger, longer term package of work currently being developed to enhance connectivity capacity on the East Coast Main Line.’


The news could pave the way for improved services to and from Berwick.

Rages have asked the Transport Minister to have the stations opened in 2020.

 

[kidman123]

Four tracking would be very expensive yes, but is technically not that difficult. Using the rail alignment and demolishing two warehouses and some gardens gives you the space you need.

The Abbeyhill loop on the other hand is a cheap and quick fix, but doesn't actually give any benefit to through services (going beyond craigentinny depot).

The time it takes to go around a set of 30mph reverse curves and join back onto the double track section is pretty much exactly the same amount of time it would take to just wait a minute or two and send it down the main line, which it rejoins anyway.

Shoving a borders line service via Abbeyhill takes it off the main line for three minutes as it crawls around meadowbank, and lets a fast service fly past along the main line. You get exactly the same result by just sending the ECML fast in the first path, and then the borders service in the second path, both going down the main line.

Abbeyhill isn't useful for through timetabled services as such, instead it opens up operational flexibility and the ability to shove things out of the way for twenty minutes during disruption.

Can they not just send the borders train on the south sub railway some realightment might need doing and have it come in via Haymarket plus that could be the excuse to open some stations on the sub route

 

[Highlandspring]

The Waverley west end and the Gardens are even more congested than the East end and Abbeyhill.

 

[railjock]

The Waverley west end and the Gardens are even more congested than the East end and Abbeyhill.

not to mention the extra time taken going around the city.

 

[DuncanS]

The people of Bonnybridge vote 97% that they would like a station,

Organisers of a public consultation on the need for a new Bonnybridge train station have been “amazed” by the levels of support they have received. Of the 1498 responses the Re‐Instate Bonnybridge Railway Station group collected over a three-week period, 97 per cent were in favour of the proposal. The findings of the report were unveiled during a public launch night last Thursday when Railfuture Scotland, SEStran and council officers answered questions regarding the next step.

Full information -

https://www.falkirkherald.co.uk/our...ew-train-station-consultation-finds-1-4869437

I think they could have voted 10000% in favour and still it wont happen any time soon.

 

[edwin_m]

If you ask any random group of people whether they'd like some free apple pie you'd get a similar response.

 

[route101]

I see Labour politicians are in faux outrage mode. The SG should emphasise the enhancements which can now take place because the tram train won’t be using up future capacity. Confirming that East Kilbride will be double tracked would be a good move in the PR battle.

Well still waiting on EK . Theres a few survey markers on a bridge near EK station , maybe unrelated to the railway

 

[och aye]

Six closed Glasgow train stations that should be reopened to the public

https://www.glasgowlive.co.uk/news/history/closed-glasgow-train-stations-open-15847366

• Glasgow Green station
• Botanic Gardens station
• Parkhead Stadium station
• Glasgow Cross station
• Maryhill Central station
• Cumberland Street station

The article reads more like a wishlist.

 

[railjock]

Six closed Glasgow train stations that should be reopened to the public

https://www.glasgowlive.co.uk/news/history/closed-glasgow-train-stations-open-15847366

• Glasgow Green station
• Botanic Gardens station
• Parkhead Stadium station
• Glasgow Cross station
• Maryhill Central station
• Cumberland Street station

The article reads more like a wishlist.

Several don’t even have any track.

 

[Tobbes]

A decade ago there was some suggestion of extending from Larkhall south to Stonehouse and Strathaven. Did anything ever come of this (& the spectacular Broomhill viaduct!)

 

[kidman123]

What is the update on the levenmouth raillink. How was the meeting with the transport minister.

 

[alangla]

Is the new A728 not on the track bed for Parkhead Stadium? There has long been talk of a Parkhead Forge station around where the Bellgrove to Carntyne line crosses Duke Street, but it’s been quiet for a while. Glasgow Cross and Glasgow Green are kind of still there, but not sure what the cost/benefit would be for either, especially given the inevitable disruption to the Argyle line during construction.

 

[Highlandspring]

The site of Glasgow Cross station is only a couple of hundred yards east of Arygle Street station so it would seem to be utterly redundant. Indeed Argyle Street replaced Glasgow Cross when the Argyle line reopened in 1979 so as to place the station closer to the main shopping area.

 

[JohnR]

The site of Glasgow Cross station is only a couple of hundred yards east of Arygle Street station so it would seem to be utterly redundant. Indeed Argyle Street replaced Glasgow Cross when the Argyle line reopened in 1979 so as to place the station closer to the main shopping area.

I believe they are talking about a new station on the City Union line (aka Glasgow CrossRail)

 

[Highlandspring]

That makes a bit morse sense!

 

[InOban]

Except that wouldn't be the reopening of a closed station, which was the subject of the list.

 

[smtglasgow]

A decade ago there was some suggestion of extending from Larkhall south to Stonehouse and Strathaven. Did anything ever come of this (& the spectacular Broomhill viaduct!)

Haven’t been in Larkhall in years: has the old alignment been built on? Funnily enough I’ve been doing some work on regional development in the 60s and 70s and I was looking at some of the plans for Stonehouse New Town from the early 70s. If this had gone ahead, I think we would probably have had Stonehouse & Strathaven connected to the Argyle Line many years ago. But thinking about the present, if the trackbed hasn’t been too compromised, an extension to Stonehouse would be an excellent idea – room for more housing and would remove traffic from the M74.

 

[AMD]

Haven’t been in Larkhall in years: has the old alignment been built on? Funnily enough I’ve been doing some work on regional development in the 60s and 70s and I was looking at some of the plans for Stonehouse New Town from the early 70s. If this had gone ahead, I think we would probably have had Stonehouse & Strathaven connected to the Argyle Line many years ago. But thinking about the present, if the trackbed hasn’t been too compromised, an extension to Stonehouse would be an excellent idea – room for more housing and would remove traffic from the M74.

The biggest challenge if building through to Strathaven would be at Stonehouse where the A71 has been built as a bypass on the old alignment, not impossible to move onto the adjacent farmland other than going through the buildings at Lawrie street. Other than that the alignment is pretty intact if missing a number of bridges, and a couple of farm buildings to move.

 

[och aye]

Any merit to reopen all 3 stations?

'Great merit' in reopening Eastriggs, Thornhill and Beattock stations

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-south-scotland-47583205

The head of a transport body has said there is "great merit" in plans costing up to £37m to reopen three disused stations in south west Scotland.

Andrew Wood chairs the South West Scotland Transport Partnership (Swestrans).

It has been looking at the potential of bringing the sites in Beattock, Thornhill and Eastriggs back into use.

It said a public consultation had found a "high level of interest and expectation" in the proposals.

A previous study has found that reopening the three stations in Dumfries and Galloway could cost up to £37m.

Now consultants have been carrying out further investigations into the potential of the plans with a full report due out in May.

Mr Wood said he believed there was a strong case for all of the sites.

"All three of them have great merit and I think that they would be a real benefit to our region," he said.

"The reason we are keen to see them opened up is that it would help to support the local economy.

"It would give people the opportunity to connect with the central belt and also south going down to Carlisle and Penrith, etc, where you get a better wage and a better selection of job opportunities."

The next step in the process will be for consultants to bring back their findings later this year.

"We would hope very much to have a concluding report coming to the board in our May board meeting," said Mr Wood.

"All action groups and those interested will be there and will hear what our consultants have brought forward.

"I would be surprised if it is not a very positive and comprehensive report."

 

[JohnR]

While I think Beattock is a "no-brainer" reopening, I'm not so sure about the others. The real problem is what service do you get to serve these stations, and how will those extra stops impact on timings for the WCML expresses? Do you have to sacrifice a freight path?