Ayr extension?

[rail-britain]

I received details today from SPT that South Ayrshire Council have agreed to support the Ayr extension as a matter of urgency, they would pay for the new road layouts, 135 space car park, and bus stance that would be required

This is the first I have heard of this in a long time, otherwise I would have paid a little more attention to it
It was briefly mentioned by Network Rail, but they decided not to proceed as it would not receive any local financial assistance

The proposal includes extending the electrification a distance of about 2.5 miles with one new station at the extreme southern limit
The southbound platform would only normally be served by trains for Girvan and Stranraer
The northbound platform would service terminating services from Glasgow and all northbound services

Presumably Network Rail put this to them very recently due to concern over the operation of 7 and 8 coach Class 380 units and their impact at Ayr station
By having these EMUs running right through the station would almost remove this issue

However, this could also be a preclude to the closure of the route south of Girvan, with this station acting as a transfer point for the ferry

 

[Nightrider]

Not looking too good for anything south of Girvan.

Took a while but privitisation got Stranraer in the end.

Wonder how long before a bypass round Maybole is built.

Still, an Ayr South station sounds good.

 

[rail-britain]

Not looking too good for anything south of Girvan.
Took a while but privitisation got Stranraer in the end.

Wonder how long before a bypass round Maybole is built

I made a request to find out what the long term plans are south of Ayr
Transport Scotland proposed a revised timetable, but with the replacement ferry terminal these plans were suspended until the ferry terminal is completed and they have received details of timetables from Stenna and P&O
However, there is an issue that by the time these timetables have arrived the railway one has already been agreed, and it appears there is no simple method to resolve this

As for the A77 Maybole by-pass, this is still at the consideration stage...

 

[sprinterguy]

I assume the site of the new station will be where the A77 crosses the Ayr-Stranrear line, near Ayr Hospital. Very sensible move. Sounds like it could be the first tentative step towards electrification to Girvan in the distant future. The medium-term future of Girvan-Stranrear certainly seems less than certain.

 

[rail-britain]

I have made a request for the plan documents, as I have not been able to find any (as above this is the first time I have seen this mentioned; not something I have been following)

Equally, 2.5 miles puts it beyond the A77
However if this a length of the wires (ie 1.25 miles on each line) then it puts it just beyond the level crossing and in the middle of the housing estate next to the school

 

[TGV]

I have made a request for the plan documents, as I have not been able to find any (as above this is the first time I have seen this mentioned; not something I have been following)

Equally, 2.5 miles puts it beyond the A77
However if this a length of the wires (ie 1.25 miles on each line) then it puts it just beyond the level crossing and in the middle of the housing estate next to the school

Belmont crossing - that's a busy road and a big school (5th largest school in Scotland), so that area does get very busy and would be a natural point for a station in my opinion. Having a station at the hospital would be a nice to have, but I can't see it being used as much. Ayr's "other" station - Newton on Ayr - is well used at peak hours already, and if you built on in the Belmont area, I can only see it being more popular than Newton on Ayr is now.

 

[rail-britain]

Having a station at the hospital would be a nice to have

That location is mentioned twice but I couldn't find it, as there is no mention of a named road, just "adjacent to Ayr Hospital with access from the A77"