New stock on ayrshire coast?

[adrock1976]

See that's the problem with Glasgow I don't like, I wish it was just one big through terminus like Waverley is. Hopefully a solution is found though.

Getting a bit off-topic with the speculative ideas but would there ever be any kind of scope in the future to run Pendolinos via an electrified Maryhill line to serve Stirling/Perth(when elec) from Glasgow and beyond? Pendolinos could call at a (lengthened) Glasgow low level then use the Argyle/Maryhill lines to join onto the E&G.
Probably a daft idea as I feel like a 390 trekking suburban Glasgow would take as long as just walking to Queen St and boarding a Stirling train there.

Image: Approximate route of Lenzie to Motherwell via Maryhill and Glasgow Central Low Level.

I have advocated on some threads to link Central and Queen Street is for Glasgow to bring back trams, which should have been done ready in time for the 2014 Commonwealth Games. The two routes for starters would be:

1) Queen Street - Central - Broomielaw - Clyde Arc Bridge - Pacific Quay - Govan Cross - New Southern General - Braehead Centre - Renfrew Cross - Airport - Abbotsinch - Paisley Gilmour Street station - Paisly Cross - Canal Street (and maybe onwards to near Royal Alexandra Hospital). This would take over the Clyde Fastlink segregated bus lanes (which do not presently work as intended, as when approaching traffic signals the lights are supposed to change rapidly).

2) Convert the Neilston/Cathcart/Newton routes to trams, as these were electrified in 1960 and are due for renewal in the near future. From near both Pollokshields stations, the route could switch to on road running (providing an interchange with the underground subway at either West Street or Bridge Street) to Central, then onwards to Queen Street (maybe onwards to Royal Infirmary via High Street (one of Glasgow's oldest thoroughfares), as no buses run along there now (the 37 which used to run from The Milton to Castlemilk was withdrawn circa 2008/09, the 31 extended from St Enoch to The Milton to compensate, then was trimmed back to St Enoch).

Both these routes could be designed by and constructed by the organisations that brought back trams to Manchester, as they are the experts at how to build a tram system. Glasgow once had over 1000 tram cars according to an article a while ago in the local rag.

 

[Peter0124]

I have advocated on some threads to link Central and Queen Street is for Glasgow to bring back trams, which should have been done ready in time for the 2014 Commonwealth Games. The two routes for starters would be:

1) Queen Street - Central - Broomielaw - Clyde Arc Bridge - Pacific Quay - Govan Cross - New Southern General - Braehead Centre - Renfrew Cross - Airport - Abbotsinch - Paisley Gilmour Street station - Paisly Cross - Canal Street (and maybe onwards to near Royal Alexandra Hospital). This would take over the Clyde Fastlink segregated bus lanes (which do not presently work as intended, as when approaching traffic signals the lights are supposed to change rapidly).

2) Convert the Neilston/Cathcart/Newton routes to trams, as these were electrified in 1960 and are due for renewal in the near future. From near both Pollokshields stations, the route could switch to on road running (providing an interchange with the underground subway at either West Street or Bridge Street) to Central, then onwards to Queen Street (maybe onwards to Royal Infirmary via High Street (one of Glasgow's oldest thoroughfares), as no buses run along there now (the 37 which used to run from The Milton to Castlemilk was withdrawn circa 2008/09, the 31 extended from St Enoch to The Milton to compensate, then was trimmed back to St Enoch).

Both these routes could be designed by and constructed by the organisations that brought back trams to Manchester, as they are the experts at how to build a tram system. Glasgow once had over 1000 tram cars according to an article a while ago in the local rag.

Good ideas but a problem with converting the Cathcart Circle to tram is the fact it acts as a WCML diversionary route if the line is blocked between Glasgow Central and Cambuslang.

 

[Carntyne]

The 380 fleet is only 12 years old and going through a pretty comprehensive refresh. They'll be the staple in Ayrshire for some time to come!