New Rail Station at Barrhead South

[sannox]

Will be interesting to see how many more people then take the Neilston line and remaining available capacity during peak times for stations within the Cathcart Circle.

The use of 4-car 380s can be a bit busy at the peak. Always happier when a 6 car 318/320 is on the Neilston runs!

 

[Falcon1200]

It will be interesting to see where the custom for Balgray comes from, and in what numbers; The station is on the absolute edge of Barrhead and has, currently, no bus service especially near. Once it finally opens I will report back!

 

[ld0595]

It will be interesting to see where the custom for Balgray comes from, and in what numbers; The station is on the absolute edge of Barrhead and has, currently, no bus service especially near. Once it finally opens I will report back!

There's a lot of housing planned for the area so I'd expect that to take up most of it.

 

[Falcon1200]

There's a lot of housing planned for the area so I'd expect that to take up most of it.

Indeed, and there's already a lot of new homes alongside the Barrhead side of the Neilston line (where I used to see deer, early in the morning), so we will how many use the new station; As long as I can still get a seat!

 

[numtot12345]

The use of 4-car 380s can be a bit busy at the peak. Always happier when a 6 car 318/320 is on the Neilston runs!

For sure - though there is usually a few more seats and space towards the rear (as otherwise everyone crams at the front and complains about why it's so busy!) Will be glad in any case when Cathcart Circle services in general will be brought back on.

Otherwise, good to hear planning permission now granted.

 

[sannox]

For sure - though there is usually a few more seats and space towards the rear (as otherwise everyone crams at the front and complains about why it's so busy!) Will be glad in any case when Cathcart Circle services in general will be brought back on.

Otherwise, good to hear planning permission now granted.

Varies a bit on the Neilston line as a lot of the busier platform entrances (Muirend / Queens Park / Mount Florida etc) are towards the back end and so you can get the rear being busier into town!

 

[Southsider]

Varies a bit on the Neilston line as a lot of the busier platform entrances (Muirend / Queens Park / Mount Florida etc) are towards the back end and so you can get the rear being busier into town!

Don’t the ones you mention have entrances at both ends? From memory , Pollokshields East, Crosshill, Cathcart and Whitecraigs only have one.

 

[sannox]

Don’t the ones you mention have entrances at both ends? From memory , Pollokshields East, Crosshill, Cathcart and Whitecraigs only have one.

They do, however the busier ones tend to be the south end (to Victoria Road at Queens Park, Bolton Drive/Battlefield Road at Mount Florida and to the Muirend Road ramp at Muirend.

 

[matt]

Thread reopened for an update

 

[ld0595]

Thank you!

Work has now started on the construction of Balgray station with completion now expected in Autumn 2026. Slight slippage from the original Spring 2026 date but good to see meaningful progress at last.

Work starts on new £18m train station in Barrhead

The station will have two platforms with lifts, waiting shelters, cycle storage and an 80-space car park.

www.bbc.com

Balgray station will be built on the Neilston line near to Balgray reservoir in Barrhead, with an expected opening date of autumn 2026 - a slight delay from the original spring target.

It will have two platforms connected by a footbridge with lifts, waiting shelters and cycle storage, as well as an 80-space car park

 

[Starmill]

@clc might wish to re-title the thread with the new name choice.

 

[nlogax]

Good news. I'll aim to pop up the top of the hill this weekend and get a couple of pictures.

 

[och aye]

Great to see another station opening in Scotland.

 

[nlogax]

Work has certainly begun..

 

[och aye]

Work has certainly begun..

Thanks for the photos. After Cameron Bridge and Leven reopened last year, I wasn't expecting any more new stations in Scotland to open any time soon.

 

[numtot12345]

Thanks for the photos. After Cameron Bridge and Leven reopened last year, I wasn't expecting any more new stations in Scotland to open any time soon.

I think Winchburgh will probably be the next one as that seems to have gotten past some hurdles recently. Good to see sustainable transport being incorporated as part of new housing developments.

 

[ScotTrains]

I wasn't expecting any more new stations in Scotland to open any time soon.

This station is actually long overdue. I have a doc that mentions a pop-up station is due to open in 2019 (never happened) with the official station opening 2 years later in 2021.

The station opening has become a long running saga in the area, along with the reopening of the greatly delayed Aurs road nearby. The main road linking Barrhead and N.Mearn/M77 has been closed for well over a year now!

It's great to finally see some progress on the railway station and hopefully the opening date (end 2026) will not be pushed back any further.

 

[och aye]

A video and press release from Network Rail.

Network Rail Scotland - Balgray Station platform installation - November 2025

Platforms take shape in construction of new £18.3m Balgray station​

WATCH: Platforms take shape in construction of new £18.3m Balgray station

New drone footage reveals significant progress at the site of Barrhead’s new £18.3m Balgray station.

www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk

New drone footage reveals significant progress at the site of Barrhead’s new £18.3m Balgray station.

Captured from above the site, the video shows the scale of the transformation underway, with the steel platform structures rising from the ground and the layout beginning to take shape.

 

[Kite159]

I guess the station has the advantage of being on a branch line which can be closed with replacement buses (and trains run from Williamwood). Compared to a main line which sees more traffic, both passenger & freight.

 

[nlogax]

Aiming to get some more shots in coming days once I get back from my travels out east.

 

[Falcon1200]

I guess the station has the advantage of being on a branch line which can be closed with replacement buses

Branch line, what? My local railway! The work, which is coming on well, has so far been done without AFAIK any major disruption to the service, for example the overhead line structures have been replaced and I didn't even know until passing the site!

 

[ld0595]

Some progress updates published by East Renfrewshire Council today. I was aware of the Autumn opening date but works look to have progressed further than I anticipated.

https://www.eastrenfrewshire.gov.uk/article/7697/Behind-the-scenes-at-Balgray-as-new-station-footbridge-and-lifts-installed

A new £18.3m train station in Barrhead is a step closer to opening after engineers successfully installed its footbridge and lifts this week.

[Alt text: Image of Class 380 approaching the construction site for Balgray station, which now has a pedestrian overpass constructed.]

Balgray Station is being built to serve the growing community around Barrhead and strengthen connections to and from Glasgow. It aims to make it easier for people to travel for work, education and leisure, while also encouraging more visitors to local destinations like the Dams to Darnley Country Park.

Since construction began in July 2025, the project has made strong progress with platforms and a new car park taking shape. The footbridge links the platforms and introduces step-free access, making journeys easier and more inclusive for passengers.

Next, work will continue on the station and car park construction, including new cycle parking, a footpath link to the country park, accessible parking spaces, and electric vehicle charging points, all in preparation for the station's opening later this year.

The station is part of the wider Glasgow City Region City Deal, with funding provided by the UK and Scottish Governments and East Renfrewshire Council. It's being delivered by Network Rail in partnership with East Renfrewshire Council, Transport Scotland, ScotRail and Story Contracting. 

 

[66C]

The Balgray station project is scheduled to be completed by October. Engineering management were unsure as yet as to whether Scotrail would stop trains from then or it would be delayed to the timetable change.

 

[och aye]

Council to buy land near reservoir as drainage site for new £18m train station​

Council to buy land near reservoir as drainage site for new £18m train station

The new Balgray railway station is set to open in autumn this year

news.stv.tv

East Renfrewshire Council is planning to buy land near Balgray reservoir to support the creation of a new £18.3m rail station.

Councillors are being asked to approve a deal for Scottish Water land, which will allow Network Rail to use the site for drainage.

A council report states access to the sustainable urban drainage (SUD) system is “necessary to facilitate the operation of Balgray Railway Station”.

The deal – for 2,678 square metres of land – is expected to be completed at the market value of £7,000 plus Scottish Water’s “reasonable professional fees”, which are estimated at £2,000. The new station is set to open in autumn this year.

It is being built on the Neilston line, near Balgray reservoir, and will have two platforms connected by a footbridge with lifts, waiting shelters and cycle storage. There will also be an 80-space car park.

An upgrade of Balgraystone Road included providing an access spur to new homes and Balgray Station. The road, which has been adopted by the council, drains to the SUD next to Scottish Water’s Balgray reservoir.

The land is mostly covered in long grass with a sunken pond.

Scottish Water granted a licence to occupy to the council in January 2020 for an initial two years. That has been extended year to year at an annual rent of £1.

Officials report: “Balgray Station and the car park are under construction and will drain to the SUD created as part of constructing Balgraystone Road.

“Terms have been agreed with Scottish Water for the Council to acquire the land upon which the SUD is constructed to allow its use by Network Rail.”

They add: “Scottish Water has agreed to transfer the land with its servitudes subject to the council maintaining the feature and ensuring that the water quality run-off into the reservoir complies with SEPA water quality standards.

“The standards require the run-off water to be free of any pollution and fuel run-off. The design of the drainage for the station will achieve this quality through the introduction of a fuel interceptor system.”

The council also plans to fence the perimeter of the SUD. Costs will be covered by the Balgray Station project budget, which is funded by the Glasgow City Region City Deal, a £1.1bn infrastructure programme.

Councillors will consider the deal at a full council meeting tomorrow (Wednesday, April 22).

 

[dra]

Confirmed opening date Sunday 27th September

New Balgray Station to open ahead of schedule in September

The new Balgray station in Barrhead is set to open weeks ahead of schedule, with final preparations now underway before it welcomes its first passengers.

www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk

The new Balgray station in Barrhead is set to open weeks ahead of schedule, with final preparations now underway before it welcomes its first passengers.

An opening date has been confirmed for Sunday 27 September, earlier than the November date originally planned.

With the main construction phase complete, teams are busy carrying out final snagging and finishing works ahead of the station opening. Focus is also on final compliance and safety checks including a number of test trains running to and from the station this month...

 

[nlogax]

Confirmed opening date Sunday 27th September

New Balgray Station to open ahead of schedule in September

The new Balgray station in Barrhead is set to open weeks ahead of schedule, with final preparations now underway before it welcomes its first passengers.

www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk

Thanks, that's superb news! Have put it in my calendar to go take a look that opening morning.

 

[numtot12345]

Presumably ScotRail will have to do an interim Timetable update to reflect addition of new station?

 

[nlogax]

Some quick shots I grabbed while on my way to Neilston this weekend.

 

[Altnabreac]

Presumably ScotRail will have to do an interim Timetable update to reflect addition of new station?

As a regular user of the line the timetable reset was done a couple of years ago. Currently the northbound trains arrive early at Patterton every time as the Balgray stop doesn’t happen.

 

[Falcon1200]

Currently the northbound trains arrive early at Patterton every time as the Balgray stop doesn’t happen.

Indeed, which can lead to worried looks when trains don't immediately depart Patterton! And outside the peaks trains to Neilston have lengthy turnround time there.