Girvan railway station
Encyclopedia
Girvan railway station is a railway station
serving the town of Girvan
, South Ayrshire
, Scotland
. The station is managed by First ScotRail
, who operate all passenger services from there. It is on the Ayr to Stranraer section of the Glasgow South Western Line
and is situated 62 miles (99 km) south of . It has two platforms and is the location of one of the five passing loop
s on the single track line between Dalrymple Junction (south of Ayr) and Stranraer. Immediately south of the station, the line climbs steeply towards Pinmore tunnel - the climb is known as the Glendoune Bank and has a ruling gradient
of 1 in 54.
and was known as Girvan New, replacing the Girvan (Old) terminus station of the Maybole and Girvan Railway
situated nearby. The station closed on 7 February 1882, reopened 1 August 1883, closed 12 April 1886, reopened 18 June 1886, closed again 2 September 1886, reopened 14 July 1890, and was renamed Girvan on 1 April 1893 after rebuilding by the Glasgow and South Western Railway
, who had taken over the G&PJR the previous year. From 1906-1942, it also served as the southern terminus of the Maidens and Dunure Light Railway
.
The main station building caught fire in January 1946 and because the LMS were not disposed to finance the rebuilding costs as nationalisation rebuilding did not commence until 1949. Owing to shortage of materials it was not completed until August 1951, when based on a typical 1930s LMS design it was re-opened. Along with the signal box
, it is a category B listed structure. The station clock restored in 2009 is believed to be from the original station building.
The station is 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. SAYLSA (The Stranraer to Ayr Line Support Association) has adopted the station and has provided tubs, shrubs and plants. These are tended to by the Girvan Make it Happen Group. SAYLSA also have their community shop and an office on site.
The station was the rail head for the 2009 UK Open Golf Championships.
route call, along with several to/from Ayr and beyond start or terminate here. This results in an approximately two-hourly frequency northbound (with extras) to Ayr and , with five through trains per day to Glasgow (three via Kilmarnock) and two to Carlisle and Newcastle. Southbound, there are seven daily services to Stranraer.
The Sunday service is limited, with three Ayr/Glasgow and two Stranraer services only.
route call, along with several to/from Ayr and beyond that start or terminate here. This results in an approximately two-hourly frequency northbound (with extras) to Ayr and , with six through trains per day to Glasgow (four via Kilmarnock). The twice daily service that formerly ran to Carlisle and Newcastle was withdrawn in December 2009, although connections for both destinations are available at Kilmarnock.
Southbound, there are seven daily services to Stranraer.
The Sunday service is limited, with three Ayr/Glasgow and two Stranraer services only.
Train station
A train station, also called a railroad station or railway station and often shortened to just station,"Station" is commonly understood to mean "train station" unless otherwise qualified. This is evident from dictionary entries e.g...
serving the town of Girvan
Girvan
Girvan is a burgh in Carrick, South Ayrshire, Scotland, with a population of about 8000 people. Originally a fishing port, it is now also a seaside resort with beaches and cliffs. Girvan dates back to 1668 when is became a municipal burgh incorporated by by charter...
, South Ayrshire
South Ayrshire
South Ayrshire is one of 32 council areas of Scotland, covering the southern part of Ayrshire. It borders onto East Ayrshire, North Ayrshire and Dumfries and Galloway....
, 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...
. The station is managed by First ScotRail
First ScotRail
ScotRail Railways Ltd. is the FirstGroup-owned train operating company running domestic passenger trains within Scotland, northern England and the cross-border Caledonian Sleeper service to London using the brand ScotRail which is the property of the Scottish Government...
, who operate all passenger services from there. It is on the Ayr to Stranraer section of the Glasgow South Western Line
Glasgow 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 :...
and is situated 62 miles (99 km) south of . It has two platforms and is the location of one of the five 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 single track line between Dalrymple Junction (south of Ayr) and Stranraer. Immediately south of the station, the line climbs steeply towards Pinmore tunnel - the climb is known as the Glendoune Bank and has a ruling gradient
Ruling gradient
The term "ruling grade" is usually used as a synonym for "steepest climb" between two points on a railroad. But if the steepest climb is, say, a quarter-mile of 2% upgrade preceded and followed by 1.5% grade the "ruling grade" can only be defined arbitrarily....
of 1 in 54.
History
The station was opened on 5 October 1877 by the Girvan and Portpatrick Junction RailwayGirvan and Portpatrick Junction Railway
Girvan and Portpatrick Junction Railway is an historic railway in Scotland.-Connections to other lines:...
and was known as Girvan New, replacing the Girvan (Old) terminus station of the Maybole and Girvan Railway
Maybole 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...
situated nearby. The station closed on 7 February 1882, reopened 1 August 1883, closed 12 April 1886, reopened 18 June 1886, closed again 2 September 1886, reopened 14 July 1890, and was renamed Girvan on 1 April 1893 after rebuilding by the Glasgow and South Western Railway
Glasgow and South Western Railway
The Glasgow and South Western Railway , one of the pre-grouping railway companies, served a triangular area of south-west Scotland, between Glasgow, Stranraer and Carlisle...
, who had taken over the G&PJR the previous year. From 1906-1942, it also served as the southern terminus of the Maidens and Dunure Light Railway
Maidens and Dunure Light Railway
The Maidens and Dunure Light Railway was a light railway worked by the Glasgow and South Western Railway in Ayrshire, Scotland connecting the stations in Ayr and Girvan following a coastal route via Turnberry.- History :...
.
The main station building caught fire in January 1946 and because the LMS were not disposed to finance the rebuilding costs as nationalisation rebuilding did not commence until 1949. Owing to shortage of materials it was not completed until August 1951, when based on a typical 1930s LMS design it was re-opened. Along with the signal box
Signal box
On a rail transport system, signalling control is the process by which control is exercised over train movements by way of railway signals and block systems to ensure that trains operate safely, over the correct route and to the proper timetable...
, it is a category B listed structure. The station clock restored in 2009 is believed to be from the original station building.
The station is 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. SAYLSA (The Stranraer to Ayr Line Support Association) has adopted the station and has provided tubs, shrubs and plants. These are tended to by the Girvan Make it Happen Group. SAYLSA also have their community shop and an office on site.
The station was the rail head for the 2009 UK Open Golf Championships.
2008/09
All trains on the to StranraerStranraer 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...
route call, along with several to/from Ayr and beyond start or terminate here. This results in an approximately two-hourly frequency northbound (with extras) to Ayr and , with five through trains per day to Glasgow (three via Kilmarnock) and two to Carlisle and Newcastle. Southbound, there are seven daily services to Stranraer.
The Sunday service is limited, with three Ayr/Glasgow and two Stranraer services only.
From December 2009
All trains on the to StranraerStranraer 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...
route call, along with several to/from Ayr and beyond that start or terminate here. This results in an approximately two-hourly frequency northbound (with extras) to Ayr and , with six through trains per day to Glasgow (four via Kilmarnock). The twice daily service that formerly ran to Carlisle and Newcastle was withdrawn in December 2009, although connections for both destinations are available at Kilmarnock.
Southbound, there are seven daily services to Stranraer.
The Sunday service is limited, with three Ayr/Glasgow and two Stranraer services only.