Glasgow South Western Line - History

History

The line was built by several railway companies during the 19th century:

• 1812 - Kilmarnock to Barassie by the Kilmarnock and Troon Railway
• 1839 - Barrasie to Ayr (Falkland Junction) by the Glasgow, Paisley, Kilmarnock and Ayr Railway
• 1848 - Strathbungo to Neilston by the Glasgow, Barrhead and Neilston Direct Railway
• 1848 - Kilmarnock to Cumnock opened by the Glasgow, Paisley, Kilmarnock and Ayr Railway
• 1848 - Gretna Junction to Carlisle by the Caledonian Railway
• 1850 - Cumnock to Gretna Junction opened by the Glasgow, Dumfries and Carlisle Railway
• 1856 - Ayr (Falkland Junction) to Maybole (Dalrymple) Junction by the Ayr and Dalmellington Railway
• 1856 - Maybole (Dalrymple) Junction to Maybole by the Ayr and Maybole Junction Railway
• 1860 - Maybole to Girvan by the Maybole and Girvan Railway
• 1861 - Challoch to Stranraer by the Portpatrick Railway
• 1866 - Busby Junction (near Pollowshaws West) to Busby by the Busby Railway
• 1868 - Busby to East Kilbride by the Caledonian Railway (East Kilbride Line)
• 1871 - Neilston to Kilmarnock opened by Glasgow and Kilmarnock Joint Railway, a joint undertaking by the Caledonian Railway and the Glasgow and South Western Railway
• 1877 - Girvan to Challoch Junction by the Girvan and Portpatrick Junction Railway

The Glasgow, Dumfries and Carlisle Railway and the Glasgow, Paisley, Kilmarnock and Ayr Railway amalgamated to form the Glasgow and South Western Railway in 1850.

The Glasgow, Barrhead and Neilston Direct Railway and Glasgow and Kilmarnock Joint Railway were amalgamated to form the Glasgow, Barrhead and Kilmarnock Joint Railway jointly operated by the Glasgow and South Western Railway and Caledonian Railway.

The lines forming the East Kilbride branch were operated by the Caledonian Railway.

Until 1923 the line via Dumfries was in competition with the North British Railway and Caledonian Railway as one of the mainlines into Scotland. With the passing of the Railways Act 1921 (Grouping Act) the line became part of the London, Midland and Scottish Railway (LMS).

In 1948, with nationalisation the line became part of the Scottish Region of British Railways. During the Beeching Axe in the 1960s many of the railway's branch lines were closed, including the direct route between Dumfries and Stranraer, via Galloway on the Portpatrick and Wigtownshire Joint Railway, leaving the present 'Y' shaped railway. The former G&SWR terminus at Glasgow St Enoch was also closed in this period (in 1966), with all services rerouted into Glasgow Central.

During the electrification of the West Coast Main Line in the early 1970s, the line was used as a major diversionary route whilst the Caledonian Railway's Annandale/Clydesdale route was closed, particularly during the weekends. Following completion of this project, the sections of line between Barrhead and Kilmarnock (with a crossing loop at Lugton) and Annan and Gretna (controlled from Carlisle) were singled. Re-doubling of the Annan to Gretna section was completed in August 2008, controlled from Dumfries Station signal box.

The line is not electrified, with the exception of parts of the line around the approaches to Glasgow Central and the section of the line shared with the Ayrshire Coast Line (Troon to Ayr).

In early 2009, work commenced to re-double the line between Lugton and Stewarton based on the 2008 plans published by Network Rail. Completed in September 2009, this allows First ScotRail to run a half-hourly service to Kilmarnock.

There have been several studies recently as to the possibility of reopening Thornhill station, roughly halfway between Dumfries and Sanquhar.