Irvine - Stevenston curve usage

[Gathursty]

I had a look on Real Time Trains and I have found nothing using the direct track inbetween Irvine and Stevenston. Is this true? When was the last time a freight/passenger service used this curve?

 

[hexagon789]

I had a look on Real Time Trains and I have found nothing using the direct track inbetween Irvine and Stevenston. Is this true? When was the last time a freight/passenger service used this curve?

I think freights from Falklands Yard up to Hunterston used the curve. Passenger-wise, not sure. It is electrified but I can't find any booked services in any of 1977, 1982, 1985, 1986, 1995, 2007, 2012-present timetables. My 1962 timetable does list 9 Kilmarnock-Ardrossan Town services using the curve.

 

[Gathursty]

Fantastic response!

I'm very, very far from Ayrshire but just noticed this curve is on Google but not on Scotrail's network diagrams and grew curious.

 

[hexagon789]

Fantastic response!

I'm very, very far from Ayrshire but just noticed this curve is on Google but not on Scotrail's network diagrams and grew curious.

I have seen a 66 use it in about 2012/3, but never a passenger service. Presumably it's electrified for emergency/diversionary purposes.

 

[fairliered]

It is used for ECS transfers to and from Ayr. There have been no freight movements from Hunterston for many months, apart from nuclear flasks, which travel via Glasgow.

 

[hexagon789]

I think it is used for ECS transfers to and from Ayr. There have been no freight movements from Hunterston for many months, apart from nuclear flasks, which travel via Glasgow.

Certainly haven't seen it in use for about 5 years.

 

[Highlandspring]

I take it you mean the Byrehill curve? It’s used daily for empties between Townhead and Ardrossan/Largs and vice versa. Passenger services occasionally divert this way during disruptive engineering works, I think the last time was around January this year.

 

[Stopper]

An ECS movement from Ardrossan Town to Ayr C.S.D. is just about to use the curve.

 

[Kite159]

It is used for ECS transfers to and from Ayr. There have been no freight movements from Hunterston for many months, apart from nuclear flasks, which travel via Glasgow.

One ran last week via that curve it looks like

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/H34522/2018/03/28/advanced

1217 Hunterston Ll Drs to Sellafield B.N.F.

 

[hexagon789]

One ran last week via that curve it looks like

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/H34522/2018/03/28/advanced

1217 Hunterston Ll Drs to Sellafield B.N.F.

Haven't seen one in a while, 11 mins early too!

 

[Freightmaster]

Haven't seen one in a while, 11 mins early too!

As well as the 'rare track', that train was worked by a pair of Class 88s!


MARK

 

[hexagon789]

As well as the 'rare track', that train was worked by a pair of Class 88s!


MARK

Wow, that must be rare, I've never seen a single 88 up here before let alone on the Dubbs Jcn curve and a pair at that.

 

[DarloRich]

Does the empty last Largs or Ardrossan run not use that line to get back to Ayr for the night? Does the stock for the first train of the day from those stations not run that way?

 

[Stopper]

Does the empty last Largs or Ardrossan run not use that line to get back to Ayr for the night? Does the stock for the first train of the day from those stations not run that way?

Yes, there are 2 ECS movements every morning to Largs, and 1 to Ardrossan Harbour that use it.

In the evening, there are 4 ECS movements back to Ayr, one from Largs and one from each of the 3 Ardrossan stations. There are still some freights from Hunterston that use it, there was one this week, and one last week.

 

[CJSwan]

I've always wondered if there is potential for a Largs/Ardrosan to Ayr service, using that section of track? I know the services are pretty frequent through Kilwinning and therefore there are existing good connections.

 

[hexagon789]

I've always wondered if there is potential for a Largs/Ardrosan to Ayr service, using that section of track? I know the services are pretty frequent through Kilwinning and therefore there are existing good connections.

Perhaps a Summer Saturday service?

 

[Stopper]

Can’t see it. There’s a lot of single track in those areas and any extra services would probably be an extra Largs-Glasgow as there is in the peaks.

There’s already the 585 bus, a very good link which runs Greenock-Wemyss Bay-Largs-West Kilbride-Three Towns-Irvine-Prestwick/Airport-Ayr.

It’s a fairly well used service whenever I’ve seen it and is half-hourly I believe, the rail numbers at all of the branch line stations are poor except for Largs really.