Airdrie-Bathgate service

[rail-britain]

If the Motherwell to Lanark via Holytown line hadn't been reopened

May I suggest you open a new thread about the Argyle Line, to keep this thread on-topic, as this is at least the second time you have asked about the Argyle Line which has nothing to do with the Airdrie - Bathgate service

 

[Bittern]

Seems 334034 was on a driver training run over the new-old railway today. Unfortunately, the only info I can find on this is an image on RailScot.

 

[me123]

There was some gen regarding this on Scot-rail.co.uk. 2x334s (presumably 006 & 021) on Bathgate-Edinburgh shuttles, and a 334(034) on Bathgate-Caldercruix and Bathgate-Shettleston runs. Here's a photo; it's not mine.

With it "only" being one week late, any disruption caused by the OHLE issues is probably minimal. I'd expect that they'd be able to open the line on time (albeit with the reduced timetable due to the well documented issues elsewhere).

 

[Bittern]

Yeah that's the pic I was on about.

 

[First ScotRail]

Rumours circulating that only the Helensburgh-Waverley services will initially be running through with express Milngavie trains coming shortly afterwards.

 

[90019]

There was some gen regarding this on Scot-rail.co.uk. 2x334s (presumably 006 & 021) on Bathgate-Edinburgh shuttles

I did a bit of a double take this afternoon when I passed them just outside Edinburgh Park. It was definitely running empty then.

 

[me123]

Rumours circulating that only the Helensburgh-Waverley services will initially be running through with express Milngavie trains coming shortly afterwards.

I suppose it makes sense; the Helensburgh ones will be the ones calling at all the stops, with the Milngavie services being limited stop. I wonder how long this will need to go on for, though. I reckon not being able to start a full service on time will be publically seen as a failing (despite it being little or nothing to do with the Airdrie-Bathgate project itself).

 

[First ScotRail]

I would think until March but so much depends now on how quickly they can get the 380s introduced and drivers trained...

 

[route101]

To me there are 2 Unknowns.
The opening of the Airdrie to Bathgate line
And the in service date of the 380s.
Still looking forward to both

 

[Bittern]

Currently, Helensburgh services don't seem to call at stations between Hyndland and Dalmuir via Yoker. Will this continue once the new service kicks in?

 

[me123]

I reckon so. AFAIK, all trains on the existing network will be broadly the same and only have minor changes as a result of the reopening.

Helensburgh trains are actually well loaded despite being limited stop. And all stations via Yoker and via Singer get 4tph as it is anyway.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

I would think until March but so much depends now on how quickly they can get the 380s introduced and drivers trained...

MARCH!?!?!?!?!?!

Surely things aren't that bad? There's only been minor delays on the Airdrie-Bathgate line. And the 380 introduction hasn't exactly gone to plan, but they're out and about quite a lot now, and I wouldn't have thought that they were more than a month behind schedule.

 

[Damien1986]

Wouldn't it be better to postpone the Milngavie expresses until Summer next year? That way it can allow for arrival of trains and no disappointed passengers!

 

[John @ home]

Slightly bemused by the price of a return ticket from Airdrie to Bathgate.

Off peak day return £19.40

Sounds like the new fares haven't been loaded into the system.

New fares have now appeared. For example:

Origin: Bathgate
Destination: Airdrie

5 September - 11 December 2010
Route: Any Permitted
SDS 16.20
SDR 26.30
CDR 19.40 H1
7DS 117.20

12 December 2010 - 1 January 2011
Route: Airdrie
SDS 4.70
SDR 8.00
CDR 6.40 H1
7DS 32.00

 

[MCR247]

Bathgate - Airdrie Route: Aidrie?

 

[me123]

There was an article in the local rag mag ("The Airdrie and Coatbridge Advertiser"), where some woman was rather infuriated at the cost of the fares. It may be that the new fares were released in response to this.

I've had a quick look, and there will probably will be people moaning at how expensive they are. Bearing in mind that we live in the SPT area and are used to slightly cheaper fares. They actually look about "par for the course", but I'm sure some people will moan (considering an off peak return to Glasgow is about £3, and a return to Edinburgh is going to be £10). Also, there's not any new Glasgow-Edinburgh route Airdrie ticket available to tempt travellers onto the slower services.

One thing I've noticed is that the Blairhill-Edinburgh fare (at £10.40) is only slightly cheaper than the Glasgow-Edinburgh fare! (£10.70)

 

[jopsuk]

I wouldn't have thought Scotrail, or even Transport Scotland, would even consider trying to tempt E-G passengers onto the slower service- the whole point of the line is not to link the cities, but to link West Lothian to Glasgow and North Lanarkshire to Edinburgh

 

[PaulLothian]

New fares have now appeared.

It will be interesting to see the inter-station fares for the new length of line. The new stations' existence isn't acknowedged yet by First ScotRail's ticket facility.

Having said that, the level of fares may not be too significant in encouraging the shift from bus to train on some trips. For example, Armadale Station is far enough out of the old town centre that many people would need a bus journey to get to it, thereby reducing any financial or time advantages for train over bus.

 

[John @ home]

Bathgate - Airdrie Route: Airdrie?

Yes. Route Drumgelloch would have made more sense. There is also Bathgate - Drumgelloch Route: Drumgelloch, equally nonsense.

 

[MCR247]

There was an article in the local rag mag ("The Airdrie and Coatbridge Advertiser"), where some woman was rather infuriated at the cost of the fares. It may be that the new fares were released in response to this.

The old fares would have been before the A-B was opened, so it would be a via Glasgow etc ticket? Thus, it was expensive.


A separate question; why is is Airdrie - Bathgate, not Drumgelloch - Bathgate?

 

[CarterUSM]

I suppose the D2B project just doesn't sound as catchy!

 

[MCR247]

I suppose so

 

[me123]

A separate question; why is is Airdrie - Bathgate, not Drumgelloch - Bathgate?

Because it involves rebuilding the entire line between Airdrie and Drumgelloch, whereas there's only a few hundred yards of new line in Bathgate (plus the new station and LMD). Most of the existing track in Bathgate was retained, with the exception of the small branch off to the old station site.

And, even if you were to call it D-B, Drumgelloch is actually a part of Airdrie anyway!

 

[MCR247]

That makes sense then

 

[rail-britain]

I wouldn't have thought Transport Scotland, would even consider trying to tempt E-G passengers onto the slower service

Strangely they are, as the passenger forecasts for Edinburgh - Glasgow take this into account
From December it is expected there will be a 10% drop in passengers travelling via Falkirk High, as it is assumed these passengers would normally travel between the Glasgow East area, Glasgow QS, and Edinburgh / Livingston, Edinburgh, and Glasgow QS

 

[me123]

I'm not sure if those forecasts assume that anyone travels city centre-city centre on the new line; it would never be worth your while to do so. But part of the proposal was that a significant number of passengers would transfer onto the new service.

Presumably, a significant portion of this would be passengers for Edinburgh Park (who would otherwise have to change trains) and passengers from the West of the city staying on the same trains.

I wonder if they've taken into consideration any passengers who would previously have used Croy station switching to the Airdrie and Coatbridge stations for travel to Edinburgh. Certainly, around here, that's by far the most popular option for going to Edinburgh at the moment.

 

[Nightrider]

Does anybody know if there is a direct bus service at present between Airdrie and Bathgate?

The SPT website tells you to take a train from Airdrie back to Easterhouse??? then catch the G/E express bus 900 stopping at Harthill Services followed by a walk to Harthill Main St then get on the Wishaw/Livingston bus.

I even tried Caldercruix to Armadale, same thing, head for Easterhouse.................

 

[me123]

Not as far as I know. There are/were buses from Caldercruix-Glasgow (which take several hours), although these may now be in the hands of local bus companies only going as far as Coatbridge, or if you're really lucky, Kirkwood.

There's also plenty of buses from Blackridge in East Lothian (home of Susan Boyle, who will probably be on hand to open the new station given that she's the only person from there to ever acheive... well, anything) to Bathgate and Edinburgh. But, as far as I'm aware, no buses currently run between North Lanarkshire and East Lothian. And, of course, with the train line on the way, any service would likely not be worthwhile. So this really is bridging a gap across all forms of public transport.

PS, the reason you'd be told to go back to Easterhouse is because the 900 bus makes stops there before continuing on the A8 towards Edinburgh. Indeed, this is the last stop before Harthill services and is actually one of the best ways of getting to Edinburgh from Coatbridge at the moment!

 

[michael769]

There's also plenty of buses from Blackridge in East Lothian (home of Susan Boyle, who will probably be on hand to open the new station given that she's the only person from there to ever acheive... well, anything)

Blackridge is in West Lothian and Susan Boyle is from Blackburn (also in West Lothian) not Blackridge.

 

[CarterUSM]

Blackridge is in West Lothian and Susan Boyle is from Backburn (also in West Lothian) not Blackridge.

Don't you mean Blackburn ?

 

[Bittern]

Not as far as I know. There are/were buses from Caldercruix-Glasgow (which take several hours), although these may now be in the hands of local bus companies only going as far as Coatbridge, or if you're really lucky, Kirkwood.

I recently got a FirstBus from just outside Airdrie Railway Station to near the site of Caldercruix Railway Station. However, it wasn't going much further as Caldercruix was it's destination.