Largs Branch

The Largs Branch was an extension of the former Ardrossan Railway in Scotland built by the Glasgow and South Western Railway to allow trains to travel between Largs and Glasgow via Ardrossan and Kilwinning.

History

The line between Ardrossan and Largs was opened in stages, with services running as far as West Kilbride beginning on 1 May 1878. [Butt, page 245] Services to Fairlie began on 1 June 1880,Butt, page 93] Fairlie Pier on 1 July 1882, and finally to Largs on 1 June 1885. [Butt, page 131] Additionally, a new station was opened on the line at Ardrossan to allow the town to benefit from the trains running between Kilwinning and Largs.

On 30 September 1969 the short line between Castlehill and Parkhouse Junctions in Ardrossan was closed to regular services, and was completely removed by 1977.fact|date=August 2007

The line to Fairlie Pier was closed to passengers on 1 October 1971, however the line is still in place to allow access to an MOD facility in the area.

The Largs Branch is still active today as part of the Ayrshire Coast Line.

Electrification

The line was electrified in 1986 as part the AyrLine electrification programme, [cite web |title=The Rebirth of AyrLine: Electrification to Ayr / Ardrossan / Largs - 1986/1987
url=http://www.railwaysarchive.co.uk/docSummary.php?docID=833Stuff|accessdate=2007-06-08] however only the northbound line was electrified, resulting in the removal of the southbound platforms at all the intermediate stations, closure of two of the four platforms at Largs, and the removal of the southbound line from Largs to Hunterston Terminal. The southbound line from Hunterston to Ardrossan was left intact for freight use.

Connections to other lines

*Ardrossan Railway at Ardrossan via Parkhouse and (formerly) Holm Junctions

Footnotes

References

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* [http://www.railscot.co.uk/Largs_Branch/frame.htm RAILSCOT on Largs Branch]