Glasgow, Paisley, Kilmarnock and Ayr Railway - History - 1948 - 1994: Nationalisation and Line Closures

1994: Nationalisation and Line Closures

With nationalisation in 1948, ownership of the former Glasgow, Paisley, Kilmarnock and Ayr Railway fell to British Railways. Two years later the first of several line closures began with the line between Auchinleck and Cronberry closing to passenger traffic on 3 July 1950. However in 1951 services were reinstated for two weeks to accommodate trains travelling from Edinburgh to Ayr. The entire line from Auchinleck to Muirkirk then closed to regular passenger traffic on 1 October 1950, however the line was used up until 1976. Muirkirk station remained open on other lines until 5 October 1964, when it was closed as a result of the Beeching Axe.

Muirkirk was not the only casualty on this line from the Beeching Axe: the link between Irvine and Crosshouse, which had provided a direct link to Kilmarnock from Ardrossan (via a loop at Byrehill Junction) was closed to local passenger traffic on 6 April 1964, and closed completely 11 October 1965. The loop between Byrehill Junction and Dubbs Junction, which allowed Ardrossan trains to bypass Kilwinning, was also closed on 6 April 1964, however it remained open to passenger traffic until June 1977. During AyrLine electrification, this link was electrified.

The Dalry to Kilmarnock line had provided the G&SWR with a link between Kilmarnock and Glasgow (via the Paisley Canal Line) without having to use lines that were jointly operated with the Caledonian Railway. Again a result of the Beeching Axe, the line was closed to local passenger traffic on 18 April 1966. Despite this, the line remained open for long distance passenger services such as an overnight train from Glasgow to London via Paisley. The line closed to all traffic on 23 October 1973, was singled and later removed.

During the mid-1980s the line between Paisley and Ayr was electrified, with full electric passenger services beginning on 19 January 1987. The line between Kilmarnock and Cumnock was not electrified, and remains so to this day.