[Planning] Glasgow

[BlythPower]

Hi Folks,

In August I'll be taking advantage of Virgin's latest seat sale for a day trip to Glasgow. I'll be using a Roundabout ticket for some minor moves, but the main focus is to spot as many 314s as possible (with 318s and 320s as secondary targets). I've found this thread about the 314s. Is this still accurate after the last timetable change and are there any other 314 'hotspots'? Also, where would be best for 318s and 320s?

Finally, for now at least , apart from Central and Queen St, do any other stations in the Roundabout area have loos? Preferably ones where you don't need to get a key off someone.

Thanks,
BP.

 

[47403]

Hi Folks,

In August I'll be taking advantage of Virgin's latest seat sale for a day trip to Glasgow. I'll be using a Roundabout ticket for some minor moves, but the main focus is to spot as many 314s as possible (with 318s and 320s as secondary targets). I've found this thread about the 314s. Is this still accurate after the last timetable change and are there any other 314 'hotspots'? Also, where would be best for 318s and 320s?

Finally, for now at least , apart from Central and Queen St, do any other stations in the Roundabout area have loos? Preferably ones where you don't need to get a key off someone.

Thanks,
BP.

Do some runs out to Hyndland , as well as Paisleu Gilmour Street and Paisley Canal, you'll certainly pick up some there, also the Motherwell to Cumbernauld, has them on too. Get to Motherwell on the Lanark train from Glasgow Central, where you'll probably get to ride a 380. Beware of JockRails strikes too.

Theres a thread on here, LSGsMagicRoundabout from a week ago, my trip report on exactly the same ticket. If i think of more snd other folk on here haven't shared their wisdom. I'll add some more, just at work at the minute. Motherwell has loos too and if you go off the station, as you come out the door, turn right and you'll see Meet n Eat, a small cafe, where the foods cheap and you can get a coffee or tea, if you prefer, or a quid.

 

[telstarbox]

There are toilets at Partick station.

 

[BlythPower]

Do some runs out to Hyndland , as well as Paisleu Gilmour Street and Paisley Canal, you'll certainly pick up some there, also the Motherwell to Cumbernauld, has them on too. Get to Motherwell on the Lanark train from Glasgow Central, where you'll probably get to ride a 380. Beware of JockRails strikes too.

Theres a thread on here, LSGsMagicRoundabout from a week ago, my trip report on exactly the same ticket. If i think of more snd other folk on here haven't shared their wisdom. I'll add some more, just at work at the minute. Motherwell has loos too and if you go off the station, as you come out the door, turn right and you'll see Meet n Eat, a small cafe, where the foods cheap and you can get a coffee or tea, if you prefer, or a quid.

There are toilets at Partick station.

Cheers both - my fact finding's off to a good start!

 

[me123]

In terms of 314s, they're mostly on the Cathcart Circle and branches out of Central High Level, along with Paisley Canal and a few Inverclyde runs at present. I'm not a spotter myself, but for an interesting place to spot the 314s I would probably suggest Cathcart: most Cathcart services either call there or pass on the nearby line towards Newton.

Paisley Gilmour Street will mostly give you 380s.

318s and 320s I think are now pretty much interchangeable and used primarily on the Argyle and North Clyde lines. I'd agree with Hyndland and Partick being the best two stations for these trains (you'll also get plenty of 334s, and a few DMUs if the diversions are still on; anytime before Monday 8th August). Not sure about Partick station having toilets though - I commuted through there for five years and certainly never found them.

Motherwell's a good place to spot: plenty of variety and, for yourself, there should be quite a few 320s and 318s.

The strikes shouldn't affect EMU operations in Glasgow, at least at the moment. It's the guards that are out on strike, so DMUs may be affected (mostly 156s), but the EMUs (all DOO operated in Glasgow) aren't.

 

[BlythPower]

In terms of 314s, they're mostly on the Cathcart Circle and branches out of Central High Level, along with Paisley Canal and a few Inverclyde runs at present. I'm not a spotter myself, but for an interesting place to spot the 314s I would probably suggest Cathcart: most Cathcart services either call there or pass on the nearby line towards Newton.

Paisley Gilmour Street will mostly give you 380s.

318s and 320s I think are now pretty much interchangeable and used primarily on the Argyle and North Clyde lines. I'd agree with Hyndland and Partick being the best two stations for these trains (you'll also get plenty of 334s, and a few DMUs if the diversions are still on; anytime before Monday 8th August). Not sure about Partick station having toilets though - I commuted through there for five years and certainly never found them.

Motherwell's a good place to spot: plenty of variety and, for yourself, there should be quite a few 320s and 318s.

The strikes shouldn't affect EMU operations in Glasgow, at least at the moment. It's the guards that are out on strike, so DMUs may be affected (mostly 156s), but the EMUs (all DOO operated in Glasgow) aren't.

Thanks! I'll scratch Gilmour St off my list and get Motherwell on instead. From looking at NRE, Partick only has a disabled loo.

Good news about the electrics not being affected by strikes!

 

[PHILIPE]

There are toilets at Partick station.

Are you sure ? When I've been there I didn't see toilets unless installed recently. A member of staff told me they didn't want to waste space with toilets when building the new station.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Do some runs out to Hyndland , as well as Paisleu Gilmour Street and Paisley Canal, you'll certainly pick up some there, also the Motherwell to Cumbernauld, has them on too. Get to Motherwell on the Lanark train from Glasgow Central, where you'll probably get to ride a 380. Beware of JockRails strikes too.

Theres a thread on here, LSGsMagicRoundabout from a week ago, my trip report on exactly the same ticket. If i think of more snd other folk on here haven't shared their wisdom. I'll add some more, just at work at the minute. Motherwell has loos too and if you go off the station, as you come out the door, turn right and you'll see Meet n Eat, a small cafe, where the foods cheap and you can get a coffee or tea, if you prefer, or a quid.

You won't see any 314s at Hyndland. They don't work North Clyde services.

 

[PaxVobiscum]

Are you sure ? When I've been there I didn't see toilets unless installed recently. A member of staff told me they didn't want to waste space with toilets when building the new station.

As one who never knowingly passes by a free toilet this was news to me as well.

The NRE station map has a disabled toilet only:

Unisex Accessible Toilet

There are unisex accessible toilet facilities available.
The door width is adequate.
The main entrance doors of the toilet are not automatic.
The entrance door to the toilet opens out.
The door is light enough to open easily.
The toilets are kept locked.
The toilets require a RADAR Key.
The toilet layout is suitable for right-handed transfers.
There are grab rails present.
There are vertical grab rails on either side of the wash basin.
There is an assistance alarm provided.
There is a large cubicle available.
There are no baby change facilities available.

Fortunately most of the trains using Partick have a toilet, some of them even in working order.

 

[BlythPower]

Fortunately most of the trains using Partick have a toilet, some of them even in working order.

I'll keep my fingers crossed for one of the working ones and - failing that - my legs!

 

[ANDYS]

Blyth Power.

I realise it is a little dated now but my son and I did a similar trip in March 2015. We saw most 314's at Glasgow Central and travelled on one out to Paisley Canal.

Have a look at the photos if you get chance:-

https://www.flickr.com/photos/66737297@N06/albums/72157651314063579

and his videos at Partick:-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rfRgJFufJzA

Cheers and have a good trip, Andy S

 

[BlythPower]

Blyth Power.

I realise it is a little dated now but my son and I did a similar trip in March 2015. We saw most 314's at Glasgow Central and travelled on one out to Paisley Canal.

Have a look at the photos if you get chance:-

https://www.flickr.com/photos/66737297@N06/albums/72157651314063579

and his videos at Partick:-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rfRgJFufJzA

Cheers and have a good trip, Andy S

Hi Andy - Thanks for that! A cracking set of photos. I'd knocked Paisley Gilmour St off my list for the day but it's back on again after seeing your pics.

 

[Aws87024]

As one who never knowingly passes by a free toilet this was news to me as well.

The NRE station map has a disabled toilet only:



Fortunately most of the trains using Partick have a toilet, some of them even in working order.

There is a Morrisons just outside Partick station. Toilets available in there.

 

[Techniquest]

As pointed out already, most 318s and 320s (possibly all 320s now) have a lavatory on-board. Not familiar with the ones at Partick, Motherwell has them and I'm sure there's a couple of Cathcart Circle shacks that have them (Mount Florida comes to mind) but don't quote me on that.

314s do make it out to Wemyss Bay on peak time extra services sometimes (1720 or so I think off Central) and turn up on Gourock runs more regularly. Of course, the majority of services are 380s. Paisley Canal can see 380s at peak times I believe, never actually tried it personally and not been down there since July 2006. Otherwise it's 314s all day so happy days. Cathcart Circle, again I believe the odd 380 turns up at peak times but the majority is 314s. Newton via Cathcart is all 314 from memory, never been made aware of 380s on that line.

318s and 320s, tons of them via Glasgow Central Low Level. Hyndland is a mecca for EMUs with its island platform, as you'll discover when you go there.

Have a great trip, I need to go back myself to finish the shacks and hunt my last 320/3s, the 320/4s and my last few 334s. Not to mention the last 7 380s and a ton of 156s. Hmm, I might need to go for more than a day

 

[BlythPower]

As pointed out already, most 318s and 320s (possibly all 320s now) have a lavatory on-board. Not familiar with the ones at Partick, Motherwell has them and I'm sure there's a couple of Cathcart Circle shacks that have them (Mount Florida comes to mind) but don't quote me on that.

My technique of randomly trying Glasgow stations in NRE has thrown up Mount Florida (so to speak...). I'll try the rest of the Cathcart Circle for the Great Glasgow Bog Hunt (gotta be a better TV series than Trainspotting Live...).

314s do make it out to Wemyss Bay on peak time extra services sometimes (1720 or so I think off Central) and turn up on Gourock runs more regularly. Of course, the majority of services are 380s. Paisley Canal can see 380s at peak times I believe, never actually tried it personally and not been down there since July 2006. Otherwise it's 314s all day so happy days. Cathcart Circle, again I believe the odd 380 turns up at peak times but the majority is 314s. Newton via Cathcart is all 314 from memory, never been made aware of 380s on that line.

BP likes this.

318s and 320s, tons of them via Glasgow Central Low Level. Hyndland is a mecca for EMUs with its island platform, as you'll discover when you go there.

And this.

Have a great trip, I need to go back myself to finish the shacks and hunt my last 320/3s, the 320/4s and my last few 334s. Not to mention the last 7 380s and a ton of 156s. Hmm, I might need to go for more than a day

It's got to be done.

Cheers!

 

[me123]

There is a Morrisons just outside Partick station. Toilets available in there.

Not really. Again, it's like a disabled loo. It's only a small Morrisons at Partick. (You can tell I've almost been caught short in that area a few times!)

 

[alexf380]

Paisley Gilmour Street does have toilets on the station. One male/female and a unisex disabled one. I do believe only the disabled one requires a RADAR key, but I really could be wrong on that account. They're on the central island platforms 2 & 3 towards the "Country" end of the station.

As many above me have stated, the 314s are primarily on the Cathcart Circle lines with two operating the Paisley Canal shuttles.

Before the Dec 2015 timetable change, the 314s on the Inverclyde lines were the 08:26, 09:55, 10:25, 11:55, 12:25, 13:55 & 14:25 Glasgow-Gourock services and the 17:55 & 22:36 Glasgow-Wemyss Bay services, and I believe they're still the same in this timetable period.

 

[BlythPower]

Paisley Gilmour Street does have toilets on the station. One male/female and a unisex disabled one. I do believe only the disabled one requires a RADAR key, but I really could be wrong on that account. They're on the central island platforms 2 & 3 towards the "Country" end of the station.

As many above me have stated, the 314s are primarily on the Cathcart Circle lines with two operating the Paisley Canal shuttles.

Before the Dec 2015 timetable change, the 314s on the Inverclyde lines were the 08:26, 09:55, 10:25, 11:55, 12:25, 13:55 & 14:25 Glasgow-Gourock services and the 17:55 & 22:36 Glasgow-Wemyss Bay services, and I believe they're still the same in this timetable period.

Thanks Alex - Gilmour St is down for a 'visit' in very sense of the word!

 

[alexf380]

You are very welcome! Hope you have a good time up here

 

[507021]

I know Mount Florida has toilets, I'm not sure on the other Cathcart Circle Line stations though.

Enjoy your trip.