Girvan and Portpatrick Junction Railway
Encyclopedia
Girvan and Portpatrick Junction Railway (previous called the Ayrshire and Wigtownshire Railway) is an historic railway in Scotland
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at one end and the Portpatrick and Wigtownshire Joint Railway at Challoch Junction at the other, using running powers over the latter to gain access to Stranraer. The G&PJ diverged from the 1860 line from Maybole
a short distance north of the latter's terminus in Girvan and built its own through station (Girvan New) at the foot of the steep bank that took the line onwards to its summit at Pinmore.
between Glasgow and Stranraer
, although all the intermediate stations apart from Barrhill were closed in 1965. Regular freight services to and from the depot at Stranraer Town operated over the line until the early 1990s, but these ceased following the withdrawal of the Railfreight Distribution
wagon load service by BR in 1991. The passenger service is irregular (with large gaps between trains) as it operates mainly in conjunction with the Belfast ferry sailings and is constrained to some degree by the single track
nature of the line (there are only three passing loop
s on the line south of Girvan, at Barrhill, Glenwhilly and Dunragit).
The line is currently a key part of the Carrick & Wigtownshire Community Rail Partnership SAYLSA which comprises local Community Councils, representation from South Ayrshire Council, First ScotRail as well as private individuals.
A recently completed rail study commissioned by the SPT, Passenger Focus and SWESTRANS
has recommended that the timetable be recast where possible to encourage new passenger business (mainly by providing a more evenly spaced service) and also to seek to develop new freight flows such as timber from Barrhill, grain from Girvan and intermodal traffic between Northern Ireland and Scotland (and beyond).
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...
.
Connections to other lines
The route connected at either end with established railways - the Maybole and Girvan RailwayMaybole and Girvan Railway
Maybole and Girvan Junction Railway is an historic railway in Scotland.-Route description:The line runs in a general southwesterly direction from Maybole through farmed countryside to Girvan, a fishing port on the Irish Sea. It passes a former coal mine at Bargany. The line consists of a single...
at one end and the Portpatrick and Wigtownshire Joint Railway at Challoch Junction at the other, using running powers over the latter to gain access to Stranraer. The G&PJ diverged from the 1860 line from Maybole
Maybole railway station
Maybole railway station is a railway station serving the town of Maybole, South Ayrshire, Scotland. The station is managed by First ScotRail and is on the Glasgow South Western Line.- History :...
a short distance north of the latter's terminus in Girvan and built its own through station (Girvan New) at the foot of the steep bank that took the line onwards to its summit at Pinmore.
Current operations
The line remains open throughout, as part of the Glasgow South Western LineGlasgow South Western Line
The Glasgow South Western Line is a mainline railway in Scotland that runs from Glasgow to Kilmarnock, and then either via Dumfries, or Stranraer via Ayr, with a branch to East Kilbride.- History :...
between Glasgow and Stranraer
Stranraer Harbour railway station
Stranraer railway station is a railway station that serves both the town of Stranraer, Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland and the port for ferries to Belfast, Northern Ireland. The station is 94.5 miles southwest of Glasgow and is the terminus of the Glasgow South Western Line...
, although all the intermediate stations apart from Barrhill were closed in 1965. Regular freight services to and from the depot at Stranraer Town operated over the line until the early 1990s, but these ceased following the withdrawal of the Railfreight Distribution
Railfreight Distribution
Railfreight Distribution was a subsector of British Rail created by the division in 1987 of British Rail's previous Railfreight sector. It was responsible for non-trainload freight operations, as well as Freightliner and Intermodal services. In its early years the division was occasionally...
wagon load service by BR in 1991. The passenger service is irregular (with large gaps between trains) as it operates mainly in conjunction with the Belfast ferry sailings and is constrained to some degree by the single track
Single track (rail)
A single track railway is where trains in both directions share the same track. Single track is normally used on lesser used rail lines, often branch lines, where the traffic density is not high enough to justify the cost of building double tracks....
nature of the line (there are only three passing loop
Passing loop
A passing loop is a place on a single line railway or tramway, often located at a station, where trains or trams in opposing directions can pass each other. Trains/trams in the same direction can also overtake, providing that the signalling arrangement allows it...
s on the line south of Girvan, at Barrhill, Glenwhilly and Dunragit).
The line is currently a key part of the Carrick & Wigtownshire Community Rail Partnership SAYLSA which comprises local Community Councils, representation from South Ayrshire Council, First ScotRail as well as private individuals.
A recently completed rail study commissioned by the SPT, Passenger Focus and SWESTRANS
SWESTRANS
SWESTRANS is a group set up by Transport Scotland to determine and deliver better transport, both locally and nationally, and to act as a catalyst for regeneration of the region’s economy. There are six other similar groups covering the rest of Scotland which were created under the Trasport 2005...
has recommended that the timetable be recast where possible to encourage new passenger business (mainly by providing a more evenly spaced service) and also to seek to develop new freight flows such as timber from Barrhill, grain from Girvan and intermodal traffic between Northern Ireland and Scotland (and beyond).