Blackridge railway station is a railway station on the North Clyde Line

North Clyde Line

The North Clyde Line is a suburban railway in West Central Scotland. The route is operated by First ScotRail, on behalf of Transport Scotland...

. It is serves the village of Blackridge

Blackridge, West Lothian

Blackridge is a small town in the western part of West Lothian, Scotland.The village name dates to 1581, first recorded as Blakrig. Later, Blackrig and then Blackrigg became the standard spelling until Blackridge became the norm in official documents after about 1840...

, West Lothian

West Lothian

West Lothian is one of the 32 unitary council areas in Scotland, and a Lieutenancy area. It borders the City of Edinburgh, Falkirk, North Lanarkshire, the Scottish Borders and South Lanarkshire....

, Scotland

Scotland

Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...

.

History

The original station in this locale was called Westcraigs built by the Bathgate and Coatbridge Railway

Bathgate and Coatbridge Railway

The Bathgate and Coatbridge Railway, also known as the "New Monkland Line", was built by Monkland Railways. It opened on 28 July 1863. The line was absorbed into the Edinburgh and Glasgow Railway on 31 July 1865...

. It was also the site of a junction with the Wilsontown, Morningside and Coltness Railway. Opened on 11 August 1862, it subsequently closed with other stations on the line on 9 January 1956. In some timetables the station was called Westcriags for Harthill.

Opening

Blackridge was originally excluded from the plan but after a three year campaign by the local community, funding has been approved by the Scottish Government at a cost of £5 million. Private housing developer Manorlane agreed to fund 40% of the costs. However, it closed and the funding promise expired. West Lothian Council agreed to take on the burden and expects to recoup the cost from additional expansion in the area. The station opened on 12 December 2010.

Services

Sources

• RAILSCOT on Bathgate and Coatbridge Railway
• West Craigs station on navigable OS map