Since Glasgow’s Connectivity Commission report, I’ve been wondering what ‘blue sky thinking’ could be for rail within Lanarkshire. Since line/station openings in last 15 years there’s been a lot of motorway upgrades (M8/M73/M74/Raith) and now road widening in Clyde Valley and East Kilbride. Won’t help cut emissions so what rail routes could help? I’ve seen projects mentioned in media and on here but can’t find many technical details. Thought I might as well ask about them all at once (sorry if it’s a bit scattershot)...
Larkhall-Strathaven extension/EK loop: reinstated Strathaven branch called a “no hoper” on RailFuture thread here. If it’s due to small population, would it make sense to extend to EK? A route from Thorntonhall via Eaglesham and Jackton, round southern edge of EK and Chapelhall could make a complete loop to Strathaven/Larkhall/Hamilton. It would link new housing at Peel Rd, Jackton and Langlands (Community Growth Areas). Existing EK and Larkhall lines are 2 trains an hour with single track but I’d heard there was upgrade planned for Hairmyres/EK line.
Lesmahagow extension: reinstating branch after Chatelherault via Kirkmuirhill - another “no hoper”?
Lanark-Edinburgh: there’s a campaign to reinstate service - does it just need chord at junction near Ravenstruther?
Could a link all the way to Ayrshire make this more viable (Darvel-Strathaven?)?
Monklands area links: could Coatbridge Sunnyside be replaced with 2-level interchange station to link north/south Cumbernauld-Motherwell line and east/west C’brig-Airdrie line near Gartsherrie Rd?
Could C’brig Central be made accessible and linked to Summerlee Museum by path/bridge?
How to increase service between C’brig-Airdrie and Gartcosh, especially if Monklands hospital moves there?
Glenboig station chances?
Eurocentral: could it fit a rail halt next to rail freight terminal?
Transport Scotland were going to do feasibility study of HS2 - obviously big ‘if’ but did that report back?
Larkhall-Strathaven extension/EK loop: reinstated Strathaven branch called a “no hoper” on RailFuture thread here. If it’s due to small population, would it make sense to extend to EK? A route from Thorntonhall via Eaglesham and Jackton, round southern edge of EK and Chapelhall could make a complete loop to Strathaven/Larkhall/Hamilton. It would link new housing at Peel Rd, Jackton and Langlands (Community Growth Areas). Existing EK and Larkhall lines are 2 trains an hour with single track but I’d heard there was upgrade planned for Hairmyres/EK line.
Lesmahagow extension: reinstating branch after Chatelherault via Kirkmuirhill - another “no hoper”?
Lanark-Edinburgh: there’s a campaign to reinstate service - does it just need chord at junction near Ravenstruther?
Could a link all the way to Ayrshire make this more viable (Darvel-Strathaven?)?
Monklands area links: could Coatbridge Sunnyside be replaced with 2-level interchange station to link north/south Cumbernauld-Motherwell line and east/west C’brig-Airdrie line near Gartsherrie Rd?
Could C’brig Central be made accessible and linked to Summerlee Museum by path/bridge?
How to increase service between C’brig-Airdrie and Gartcosh, especially if Monklands hospital moves there?
Glenboig station chances?
Eurocentral: could it fit a rail halt next to rail freight terminal?
Transport Scotland were going to do feasibility study of HS2 - obviously big ‘if’ but did that report back?