Ayrshire Coast Line

The Ayrshire Coast Line is one of the lines within the Strathclyde suburban rail network in Scotland. It serves 26 stations, and connects the towns of the Ayrshire coast to Glasgow. There are three branches, terminating at Largs, Ardrossan Harbour and Ayr, all running into the high level at Glasgow Central.

The route is operated by First ScotRail on behalf of Strathclyde Partnership for Transport as part of the larger Strathclyde network.

History

The Ayrshire Coast Line consists of lines that were formerly part of the Glasgow and Paisley Joint Railway, the Glasgow, Paisley, Kilmarnock and Ayr Railway, the Ardrossan Railway and its Largs Branch extension.

In 1986, the line was electrified along its entire length, and the Class 318 electric multiple unit rolling stock was introduced, replacing the elderly Class 101 & Class 107 DMUs which had served the line for over 30 years. The Class 126 DMUs were also used on the line, however they succumbed to old age in the early 1980s.

In 2002, the newer Class 334 "Juniper" displaced most of the Class 318s onto the Argyle, and North Clyde Lines but 318s are still a fairly common sight. By 2010 it is anticipated that new 4-car Class 380 "Desiro" sets will displace the 334s and 318s onto the extended North Clyde Line.

Current operations

Services are operated using Class 334 electric multiple units. Class 318 electric multiple units are also used on this line. All trains are operated by First ScotRail on behalf of SPT.

It has been announced that First ScotRail will be removing the majority of its Class 334 trains from both Inverclyde and Ayrshire services in favour of Class 318 electric multiple units due to the Class 318 trains having a higher seating capacity.

Since June 2005, most services on the busy Glasgow Central to Ayr route have been strengthened to 6 cars between 0900 and 1900 due to increased passenger numbers as a result of the growth of Prestwick International Airport.

On August 24 2006, Network Rail announced plans as part of its bigger RUS or Route Utilisation Strategy for Scotland to lengthen platforms on the route by 2014 to enable First ScotRail to run 8 car trains on the line. It is unclear whether there will be a new train build to accommodate the passenger demand on the line or if existing 4 car sets will be made available from other TOCs (Train Operating Companies).

After a four month consultation process, Network Rail announced its final RUS for Scotland on 28 February 2007. The document continues with plans for 8 car trains on the Ayrshire Coast Line by 2014 with longer platforms as a result, although NR have proposed possible selective door opening operations on 8 car services at little used stations on the route to cut down on the cost of refurbishing all ACL platforms. Network Rail has also made clear that until a complete timetable re-cast is carried out on the route, which will probably coincide with the opening of the Glasgow Airport Rail Link in late 2009, there is little scope for additional services on Glasgow to Ayr and Largs services.

Route

The line runs along the same Glasgow and Paisley Joint Railway route as the Inverclyde Line as far as Paisley Gilmour Street (although it uses a different set of platforms at Paisley Gilmour Street), where it turns south to Kilwinning on the route of the former Glasgow, Paisley, Kilmarnock and Ayr Railway. Here the line branches in two, with one branch running south along the coast to Troon and Ayr. This branch also serves the station at Prestwick Airport, which opened in 1994. The other branch runs north along the coast to Ardrossan or Largs, becoming a single track line for passenger trains after Saltcoats. This part of the network is heavily used by freight traffic to carry coal from the Hunterston Terminal. Beyond Ayr, 'Sprinter' diesel trains continue south towards Girvan & Stranraer.

The line connects with several ferry services, at Troon (to Larne), Ardrossan (to Brodick on the Isle of Arran) and at Largs (to the isle of Great Cumbrae).

References

* [http://www.railwaysarchive.co.uk/docSummary.php?docID=833 The Rebirth of AyrLine: Electrification to Ayr / Ardrossan / Largs - 1986/1987]
* [http://www.railwaysarchive.co.uk/docSummary.php?docID=830 The Rebirth of AyrLine: Electrification to Ayr / Ardrossan / Largs - 1987]