Strathclyde Rail Services
Glasgow has the largest network of suburban railway lines in the UK outwith London. Much of the network is 25kV AC electrified, with the exception of the Croy Line, Maryhill Line, Paisley Canal Line, South Western Lines, Shotts Line, Whifflet Line and Cumbernauld Line. Glasgow’s main terminal stations are Glasgow Central and Glasgow Queen Street.
The Greater Glasgow Passenger Transport Executive (GGPTE) was created in 1972 to oversee all suburban railways in the Glasgow area. When the GGPTE was formed the trains that ran in the GGPTE area had their colours in the BR blue livery but instead of the familiar BR logo a GG logo was used. Later on, the trains were repainted in British Rail Blue-Grey livery, again the GG logo was used with the addition of "Trans-Clyde" branding. In the last BR Blue-Grey livery used by SPT, the BR logo was now used along with "Strathclyde Transport" branding on the centre of each car. From 1985 as with bus services and the Subway, orange and black livery was used with a black BR logo although some Class 311s still had BR Blue-Grey livery with either ScotRail or "Strathclyde Transport" branding before their withdrawal in 1990. Stations in the SPT area were given "Strathclyde Transport" signage on the platforms and outside the station as well as on certain bridges. From 1995 vinyls of the new SPT logo was placed with on top of the old "Strathclyde Transport" logo, when BR was privatised in 1997 also new ScotRail signage with SPT branding was applied at the stations. The BR logo was replaced with the ScotRail logo. The orange and black livery was later replaced by carmine (red) and cream after a blue experimental livery on a Class 101. The carmine and cream livery had "SPT rail" branding and new signage with "SPT rail" was placed at SPT stations.
SPT is no longer involved in the everyday operation of the rail network. The rolling stock was operated on behalf of SPT by First ScotRail (also part of FirstGroup), under the SPT brand.
In August 2008 the Scottish Government's agency Transport Scotland announced that all ScotRail trains (including from the Strathclyde Partnership for Transport) would be eventually repainted in a new, blue livery with white Saltire markings on the carriage ends. This will, in due course, lead to the elimination of the distinctive SPT carmine and cream livery from trains. In the Autumn of 2008 some trains, including the Class 156, 314 and 318 have had their "SPT Rail" logos removed.
Currently the former SPT class 156's have all been re-liveried in the Saltire livery with class 158s, 314s, 320s and 334s in the process of being re-liveried.
As of September 2008 SPT uses as their sponsored rolling stock:
- British Rail Class 156
- British Rail Class 170
- British Rail Class 314
- British Rail Class 318
- British Rail Class 320
- British Rail Class 334
The table below summarises the various lines and routes:
| Line Name | Map colour | Route |
|---|---|---|
| North Clyde Line | Dark Blue | Helensburgh, Balloch and Milngavie to Springburn, Edinburgh (Via Airdrie) and Drumgelloch, via Queen Street Low Level. |
| Argyle Line | Light Green | Dalmuir or Milngavie to Motherwell, Lanark, Larkhall and Coatbridge, via Glasgow Central Low Level. |
| Maryhill Line | Dark Orange | Glasgow Queen Street to Anniesland via Maryhill. |
| Croy Line | Pink | Glasgow Queen Street to Croy. All trains continue towards Falkirk or Stirling. |
| Cumbernauld Line | Dark Orange | Glasgow Queen Street to Cumbernauld. Some trains continue towards Falkirk. |
| Inverclyde Line | Dark Green | Glasgow Central to Greenock, Gourock and Weymss Bay, via Paisley Gilmour Street. |
| Ayrshire Coast Line | Purple | Glasgow Central to Ayr, Prestwick Airport, Largs and Ardrossan, via Paisley Gilmour Street. |
| Paisley Canal Line | Silver | Glasgow Central to Paisley Canal. |
| South Western Lines | Blue | Glasgow Central to East Kilbride, Barrhead, Kilmarnock and Girvan. Many trains continue to Carlisle or Stranraer. |
| Cathcart Circle Lines | Red | Glasgow Central to Newton, Neilston and the Cathcart Circle. |
| Shotts Line | Yellow | Glasgow Central to Shotts. All trains continue towards Edinburgh. |
| Whifflet Line | Yellow | Glasgow Central to Whifflet. |
| Motherwell-Cumbernauld Line | Light Blue | Motherwell to Cumbernauld via Coatbridge Central. |
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- For stations covered see List of SPT Stations
On the Argyle and North Clyde lines, each station have an automated announcement systems, which is used to keep passengers up to date.
Read more about this topic: Strathclyde Partnership For Transport
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