Glasgow, Barrhead and Kilmarnock Joint Railway

Glasgow, Barrhead & Kilmarnock

Principal stations (stations in bold are open) South Side           Gorbals Strathbungo Crossmyloof Pollockshaws Kennishead Nitshill Barrhead Neilston Uplawmoor Lugton Barrmill        Dunlop Beith Stewarton Kilmaurs Kilmarnock

The Glasgow, Barrhead and Kilmarnock Joint Line was a railway co-owned by Caledonian Railway and Glasgow and South Western Railway and was an amalgation of two different lines: the Glasgow, Barrhead and Neilston Direct Railway and the Glasgow and Kilmarnock Joint Railway.

History

Glasgow, Barrhead and Neilston Direct Railway

The Glasgow, Barrhead and Neilston Direct Railway was first opened on 29 September 1848 and within three years was absorbed into the Caledonian Railway company. This line ran between South Side and Neilston.

Glasgow and Kilmarnock Joint Railway

As a result of Caledonian Railway wanting to extend the Neilston branch and Glasgow and South Western Railway wanting to build a more directly line from Glasgow to Kilmarnock (rather than the existing line on the former Glasgow, Paisley, Kilmarnock and Ayr Railway), this joint line was built by both companies in partnership. The line opened on 27 March 1871. There was also a branch to Beith opened at the same time.

When the joint line was opened the existing Neilston line also became the joint ownership of the two companies, and so the Glasgow, Barrhead and Kilmarnock Joint Line was formed.

Connections to other lines

• City of Glasgow Union Railway at Gorbals Junction
• General Terminus and Glasgow Harbour Railway at Muirhouse Central Junction
• Cathcart District Railway at Muirhouse Central Junction
• Glasgow and South Western Railway at Kilmarnock
• Lanarkshire and Ayrshire Railway at Barrmill and Lugton

Current Operations

Today the line from Glasgow to Kilmarnock is still open as part of the Glasgow South Western Line, however several stations are now closed. The track between Barrhead and Kilmarnock was singled as part of the rationalisation of the Glasgow South Western Line in the mid 1970s following the electrification of the West Coast Main Line, with a passing loop being retained at Lugton. The line to Beith closed to passengers on 5 November 1962 and to freight two years later. The line to Beith is still in existence as far as Barrmill, where it heads south along the route of the Lanarkshire and Ayrshire Railway until it reaches RNAD Beith. This track is also singled.

References

• Butt, R. V. J. (1995). The Directory of Railway Stations. Patrick Stephens Ltd, Sparkford.
• Stansfield, G. (1999). Ayrshire & Renfrewshire's Lost Railways, Stenlake Publishing, Catrine.