Glasgow and Paisley Joint Railway
Encyclopedia
The Glasgow and Paisley Joint Railway company was formed in 1837 to provide a railway link between Glasgow
and Paisley
, Scotland
. It was promoted jointly by the Glasgow, Paisley and Greenock Railway
and the Glasgow, Paisley, Kilmarnock and Ayr Railway
.
With the passing of the Railways Act 1921
(Grouping Act) the line, together with the Caledonian and Glasgow and South Western railways, became part of the London, Midland and Scottish Railway
(LMS). The line is still in use today as the eastern end of the Inverclyde Line
and the Ayrshire Coast Line
.
company) and the Glasgow, Paisley, Kilmarnock and Ayr Railway (GPK&A) (later to become part of the Glasgow and South Western Railway
company) wished to run their respective railways between Glasgow and Paisley. However, they were told that the necessary Acts of Parliament
to build the lines could only gained by forming a joint company to run the line between Glasgow and Paisley. The anticipated problem was obtaining the necessary agreement from the land owners.
The GP&G and the GPK&A both received their respective Acts on 15 July 1837. Due to the failure of the Glasgow, Paisley and Ardrossan Canal
to be completed beyond Johnstone
, both railway companies were required to start work from both ends of their respective lines.
The GPK&A was the first line to open, in September 1840, and GP&G opened in March 1841, due to the difficulties of cutting a tunnel through whinstone at Bishopton
.
The Joint Railway line ran from Glasgow Bridge Street railway station on the south of the River Clyde
to Paisley Gilmour Street railway station
. At Gilmour Street, the GP&G and the GPK&A continued on their separate ways.
They were reduced to double tracks during the mid 1960s railway electrification of what is now known as the Inverclyde Line
services between Glasgow Central and Gourock and Wemyss Bay.
As part of the Glasgow Airport Rail Link, work started in Autumn 2007 to reinstated a third track between Shields Junction
and Paisley.
and the Ayrshire Coast Line
; although Central station is the only one of the three (mentioned above) Glasgow stations still in existence.
The Inverclyde Line was electrified
in 1967; with electric Class 311
electric multiple unit
(EMUs) rolling stock specially built for the line in 1967, although Class 303
EMUs were also used. During electrification the line lost its quadruple tracks between Shields Junction and Arkleston Junction, the two middle lines were removed.
The Ayrshire Coast Line was electrified later in 1985. British Rail Class 318
EMUs were introduced on the Ayrshire Coast Line, replacing the elderly British Rail Class 101
, Class 107
and Class 126
diesel multiple unit
s. As part of these works, the Slow Lines between Arkleston Junction and Paisley Gilmour Street were taken out of use.
The western end of the line was the scene of a railway accident
, on 16 April 1979, when an Inverclyde Line service from Glasgow Central to Wemyss Bay crossed from the Down Fast Line to the Down Gourock Line at Wallneuk Junction, immediately to the east of Paisley Gilmour Street railway station. It collided head-on with an Ayrshire Coast Line special service from Ayr, which had left Platform 2 against a red signal.
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
and Paisley
Paisley
Paisley is the largest town in the historic county of Renfrewshire in the west central Lowlands of Scotland and serves as the administrative centre for the Renfrewshire council area...
, 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...
. It was promoted jointly by the Glasgow, Paisley and Greenock Railway
Glasgow, Paisley and Greenock Railway
The Glasgow, Paisley and Greenock Railway was an early railway, which merged with the Caledonian Railway. It was created to provide train services between Greenock and Glasgow.-History:...
and the Glasgow, Paisley, Kilmarnock and Ayr Railway
Glasgow, Paisley, Kilmarnock and Ayr Railway
The Glasgow, Paisley, Kilmarnock and Ayr Railway was a railway in Scotland that provided train services between Glasgow, Kilmarnock and Ayr. For a short period, it also provided West Coast services between Glasgow and London. Opened in stages between 1839 and 1848, the line ran from Paisley in the...
.
With the passing of the Railways Act 1921
Railways Act 1921
The Railways Act 1921, also known as the Grouping Act, was an enactment by the British government of David Lloyd George intended to stem the losses being made by many of the country's 120 railway companies, move the railways away from internal competition, and to retain some of the benefits which...
(Grouping Act) the line, together with the Caledonian and Glasgow and South Western railways, became part of the London, Midland and Scottish Railway
London, Midland and Scottish Railway
The London Midland and Scottish Railway was a British railway company. It was formed on 1 January 1923 under the Railways Act of 1921, which required the grouping of over 120 separate railway companies into just four...
(LMS). The line is still in use today as the eastern end of the Inverclyde Line
Inverclyde Line
The Inverclyde Line is a railway line running from Glasgow Central station through Paisley and a series of stations to the south of the River Clyde and the Firth of Clyde, terminating at Gourock and Wemyss Bay, where it connects to Caledonian MacBrayne ferry services...
and the Ayrshire Coast Line
Ayrshire Coast Line
The Ayrshire Coast Line is one of the lines within the Strathclyde suburban rail network in Scotland. It has 26 stations and connects the Ayrshire coast to Glasgow...
.
Formation
Both the Glasgow, Paisley and Greenock Railway (GP&G) (later to become part of the Caledonian RailwayCaledonian Railway
The Caledonian Railway was a major Scottish railway company. It was formed in the early 19th century and it was absorbed almost a century later into the London, Midland and Scottish Railway, in the 1923 railway grouping, by means of the Railways Act 1921...
company) and the Glasgow, Paisley, Kilmarnock and Ayr Railway (GPK&A) (later to become part of 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...
company) wished to run their respective railways between Glasgow and Paisley. However, they were told that the necessary Acts of Parliament
Act of Parliament
An Act of Parliament is a statute enacted as primary legislation by a national or sub-national parliament. In the Republic of Ireland the term Act of the Oireachtas is used, and in the United States the term Act of Congress is used.In Commonwealth countries, the term is used both in a narrow...
to build the lines could only gained by forming a joint company to run the line between Glasgow and Paisley. The anticipated problem was obtaining the necessary agreement from the land owners.
The GP&G and the GPK&A both received their respective Acts on 15 July 1837. Due to the failure of the Glasgow, Paisley and Ardrossan Canal
Glasgow, Paisley and Johnstone Canal
The Glasgow, Paisley and Ardrossan Canal was a canal in the west of Scotland, running between Glasgow, Paisley and Johnstone which later became a railway. Despite the name, the canal was never completed down to Ardrossan, the termini being Port Eglinton in Glasgow and Thorn Brae in Johnstone...
to be completed beyond Johnstone
Johnstone
Johnstone is a town in the council area of Renfrewshire and larger historic county of the same name in the west central Lowlands of Scotland.The town lies three miles west of neighbouring Paisley and twelve miles west of the centre of the city of Glasgow...
, both railway companies were required to start work from both ends of their respective lines.
The GPK&A was the first line to open, in September 1840, and GP&G opened in March 1841, due to the difficulties of cutting a tunnel through whinstone at Bishopton
Bishopton, Renfrewshire
Bishopton is a large village in Renfrewshire, Scotland, a few miles west of Erskine.-Transport links:Bishopton sits a couple of miles from the southern end of the Erskine Bridge, which spans the River Clyde between Renfrewshire and West Dunbartonshire. Part way along the B815 road is a computer...
.
The Joint Railway line ran from Glasgow Bridge Street railway station on the south of the River Clyde
River Clyde
The River Clyde is a major river in Scotland. It is the ninth longest river in the United Kingdom, and the third longest in Scotland. Flowing through the major city of Glasgow, it was an important river for shipbuilding and trade in the British Empire....
to Paisley Gilmour Street railway station
Paisley Gilmour Street railway station
Paisley Gilmour Street railway station is one of four stations serving the town of Paisley, Renfrewshire, Scotland . The station is managed by First ScotRail and is on the Ayrshire Coast Line, 12 km west of...
. At Gilmour Street, the GP&G and the GPK&A continued on their separate ways.
Glasgow extensions and service redirections
- Central station: Some thirty years later, on 31 July 1879, the Caledonian Railway opened their new Glasgow terminus at Glasgow Central; the line having been extended across the Clyde via a four-track bridge built by Sir William Arrol & Co.Sir William Arrol & Co.Sir William Arrol & Co. was a leading Scottish civil engineering business founded by William Arrol and based in Glasgow. It built some of the most famous bridges in the United Kingdom including the Forth Bridge and Tower Bridge in London.-Early history:...
. Bridge Street station was also refurbished to include two new through platforms leading to Central Station and four bay platforms: two for the Caledonian and two for the Glasgow and South Western.
- St Enoch station: Three years earlier, on 1 May 1876, the City of Glasgow Union RailwayCity Union LineThe City of Glasgow Union Railway - City Union Line , is a railway line in Glasgow, Scotland. The line is still open, with the section north of Bellgrove still open to passenger trains.-Description of the route:...
opened their new Glasgow terminus at St Enoch railway stationSt Enoch railway station-External links:* *...
. It used a different crossing over the Clyde. Their new line left the Joint Railway near Shields JunctionShields JunctionShields Junction is the name given to the busy railway junction in the Shields Road area of Glasgow, Scotland.The junction is heavily used by both passenger and freight services running on three separate railway lines out of Glasgow Central station...
and continued along the City of Glasgow Union RailwayCity Union LineThe City of Glasgow Union Railway - City Union Line , is a railway line in Glasgow, Scotland. The line is still open, with the section north of Bellgrove still open to passenger trains.-Description of the route:...
, through the GorbalsGorbalsThe Gorbals is an area on the south bank of the River Clyde in the city of Glasgow, Scotland. By the late 19th century, it had become over-populated and adversely affected by local industrialisation. Many people lived here because their jobs provided this home and they could not afford their own...
, and crossed the Clyde at Hutchesontown to St Enoch station; construction of the line having taken 11 years. In 1883, St Enoch railway station became the headquarters of the Glasgow and South Western Railway, by then the owner of the Glasgow, Paisley, Kilmarnock and Ayr Railway, and it moved all its passenger services to St Enoch.
- Closure of Bridge Street station: Whilst the Caledonian Railway redirected their London services through Bridge Street station into Central Station, Bridge Street remained the terminus for the Clyde coast services for another twenty five years. After Central Station was refurbished and extended (1901 - 1905) and an additional, eight-track, bridge built over the Clyde, Bridge Street station was closed in 1905 and its remaining services redirected to Central Station. The vacant site of the Bridge Street station bay platforms were used as carriage sidings for Central Station; and the site of the through platforms used for running lines for Central station.
Govan and Princes Dock branches
- A branch was opened to GovanGovanGovan is a district and former burgh now part of southwest City of Glasgow, Scotland. It is situated west of Glasgow city centre, on the south bank of the River Clyde, opposite the mouth of the River Kelvin and the district of Partick....
in 1868. It left the main line at Ibrox. - Another branch which became the Princes Dock Joint Railway was added in 1903; it also left the main line at Ibrox and served Glasgow's Princes Dock. It was also accessed via the General Terminus and Glasgow Harbour RailwayGeneral Terminus and Glasgow Harbour RailwayThe General Terminus and Glasgow Harbour Railway was authorised on 3 July 1846 and it opened, in part, in December 1848.Its main function was intended to be the transportation of coal from collieries and Lanarkshire and Ayrshire, over other railways, to a coal depot on the south bank of the River...
.
Connections to other lines
- At Shields JunctionShields JunctionShields Junction is the name given to the busy railway junction in the Shields Road area of Glasgow, Scotland.The junction is heavily used by both passenger and freight services running on three separate railway lines out of Glasgow Central station...
to City of Glasgow Union RailwayCity Union LineThe City of Glasgow Union Railway - City Union Line , is a railway line in Glasgow, Scotland. The line is still open, with the section north of Bellgrove still open to passenger trains.-Description of the route:... - At Shields JunctionShields JunctionShields Junction is the name given to the busy railway junction in the Shields Road area of Glasgow, Scotland.The junction is heavily used by both passenger and freight services running on three separate railway lines out of Glasgow Central station...
to General Terminus and Glasgow Harbour RailwayGeneral Terminus and Glasgow Harbour RailwayThe General Terminus and Glasgow Harbour Railway was authorised on 3 July 1846 and it opened, in part, in December 1848.Its main function was intended to be the transportation of coal from collieries and Lanarkshire and Ayrshire, over other railways, to a coal depot on the south bank of the River... - At Shields JunctionShields JunctionShields Junction is the name given to the busy railway junction in the Shields Road area of Glasgow, Scotland.The junction is heavily used by both passenger and freight services running on three separate railway lines out of Glasgow Central station...
to G&SWR Paisley Canal BranchPaisley Canal LineThe Paisley Canal Railway line was originally a Glasgow and South Western Railway branch line running from Glasgow, Scotland, through three stations in Paisley, to North Johnstone... - At Shields JunctionShields JunctionShields Junction is the name given to the busy railway junction in the Shields Road area of Glasgow, Scotland.The junction is heavily used by both passenger and freight services running on three separate railway lines out of Glasgow Central station...
to Polloc and Govan RailwayPolloc and Govan RailwayThe Polloc and Govan Railway started off as a private railway owned and built by William Dixon, a Coal master; it ran along part of the route of his Govan tramway... - At IbroxIbrox railway stationIbrox railway station was a railway station in Ibrox, a district of Glasgow, Scotland. The station was originally part of the Glasgow and Paisley Joint Railway.-History:...
to the Govan Branch of Glasgow and Paisley Joint Railway - At IbroxIbrox railway stationIbrox railway station was a railway station in Ibrox, a district of Glasgow, Scotland. The station was originally part of the Glasgow and Paisley Joint Railway.-History:...
to the Princes Dock Joint Railway - At CardonaldCardonald railway stationCardonald railway station is located in the Cardonald district of Glasgow, Scotland. The station is managed by First ScotRail and is on the Inverclyde Line.- History :...
to Glasgow and Renfrew District RailwayGlasgow and Renfrew District RailwayThe Glasgow and Renfrew District Railway was nominally owned by the Glasgow and Paisley Joint Railway. It was incorporated on 6 August 1897 and opened on 1 June 1903.... - At Arkleston JunctionArkleston JunctionArkleston Junction is a railway junction east of the town of Paisley, Renfrewshire, Scotland. The junction is one mile from Paisley Gilmour Street railway station and is heavily used by both passenger and freight traffic.-Post 1967-electrification:...
to Paisley and Renfrew RailwayPaisley and Renfrew RailwayThe Paisley and Renfrew railway was a railway line from the town of Paisley to its neighbouring town Renfrew; and to the River Clyde at Renfrew wharf. The railway was built to the Scotch gauge of... - At Paisley Gilmour StreetPaisley Gilmour Street railway stationPaisley Gilmour Street railway station is one of four stations serving the town of Paisley, Renfrewshire, Scotland . The station is managed by First ScotRail and is on the Ayrshire Coast Line, 12 km west of...
to Glasgow, Paisley and Greenock RailwayGlasgow, Paisley and Greenock RailwayThe Glasgow, Paisley and Greenock Railway was an early railway, which merged with the Caledonian Railway. It was created to provide train services between Greenock and Glasgow.-History:... - At Paisley Gilmour StreetPaisley Gilmour Street railway stationPaisley Gilmour Street railway station is one of four stations serving the town of Paisley, Renfrewshire, Scotland . The station is managed by First ScotRail and is on the Ayrshire Coast Line, 12 km west of...
to Glasgow, Paisley, Kilmarnock and Ayr RailwayGlasgow, Paisley, Kilmarnock and Ayr RailwayThe Glasgow, Paisley, Kilmarnock and Ayr Railway was a railway in Scotland that provided train services between Glasgow, Kilmarnock and Ayr. For a short period, it also provided West Coast services between Glasgow and London. Opened in stages between 1839 and 1848, the line ran from Paisley in the...
Quadruple tracks
In the 1890s, or later, the original double track line between Bridge Street station and Paisley Gilmour Street station was increased to quadruple tracks.They were reduced to double tracks during the mid 1960s railway electrification of what is now known as the Inverclyde Line
Inverclyde Line
The Inverclyde Line is a railway line running from Glasgow Central station through Paisley and a series of stations to the south of the River Clyde and the Firth of Clyde, terminating at Gourock and Wemyss Bay, where it connects to Caledonian MacBrayne ferry services...
services between Glasgow Central and Gourock and Wemyss Bay.
As part of the Glasgow Airport Rail Link, work started in Autumn 2007 to reinstated a third track between Shields Junction
Shields Junction
Shields Junction is the name given to the busy railway junction in the Shields Road area of Glasgow, Scotland.The junction is heavily used by both passenger and freight services running on three separate railway lines out of Glasgow Central station...
and Paisley.
Present day: Inverclyde and Ayrshire Coast Lines
The Joint Railway line, between Glasgow Central Station and Paisley Gilmour Street, is still in use today as part of the Inverclyde LineInverclyde Line
The Inverclyde Line is a railway line running from Glasgow Central station through Paisley and a series of stations to the south of the River Clyde and the Firth of Clyde, terminating at Gourock and Wemyss Bay, where it connects to Caledonian MacBrayne ferry services...
and the Ayrshire Coast Line
Ayrshire Coast Line
The Ayrshire Coast Line is one of the lines within the Strathclyde suburban rail network in Scotland. It has 26 stations and connects the Ayrshire coast to Glasgow...
; although Central station is the only one of the three (mentioned above) Glasgow stations still in existence.
The Inverclyde Line was electrified
Railway electrification in Great Britain
Railway electrification in Great Britain started towards of the 19th century. A great range of voltages have been used in the intervening period using both overhead lines and third rails, however the most common standard for mainline services is now 25 kV AC using overhead lines and the...
in 1967; with electric Class 311
British Rail Class 311
The British Rail Class 311 alternating current electric multiple units were built by Cravens at Sheffield in 1967. They were intended for use on the line from to and , which was electrified in 1967.-Appearance:...
electric multiple unit
Electric multiple unit
An electric multiple unit or EMU is a multiple unit train consisting of self-propelled carriages, using electricity as the motive power. An EMU requires no separate locomotive, as electric traction motors are incorporated within one or a number of the carriages...
(EMUs) rolling stock specially built for the line in 1967, although Class 303
British Rail Class 303
The British Rail Class 303 electric multiple units, also known as "Blue Train" units, were introduced in 1960 for the electrification of the North Clyde and the Cathcart Circle lines in Strathclyde...
EMUs were also used. During electrification the line lost its quadruple tracks between Shields Junction and Arkleston Junction, the two middle lines were removed.
The Ayrshire Coast Line was electrified later in 1985. British Rail Class 318
British Rail Class 318
The British Rail Class 318 is an electric multiple unit train, which operates exclusively in the Strathclyde Partnership for Transport network in West Central Scotland. The units were introduced fully on 29 September 1986 as part of the electrification of the Ayrshire Coast Line between and...
EMUs were introduced on the Ayrshire Coast Line, replacing the elderly British Rail Class 101
British Rail Class 101
The British Rail Class 101 diesel multiple units were built by Metro-Cammell at Washwood Heath in Birmingham from 1956 to 1959, following construction of a series of prototype units. This class proved to be the most successful and longest-lived of all BR's First Generation DMUs, with the final five...
, Class 107
British Rail Class 107
The British Rail Class 107 diesel multiple units were built by the Derby Works of British Railways and were introduced in 1960. The class looked similar to the later Class 108 units, but were heavier - having been built out of steel.-Usage:...
and Class 126
British Rail Class 126
The British Rail Class 126 diesel multiple unit was built by BR Swindon Works in 1959/60 to work services from Glasgow to Ayrshire and comprised 22 Motor Second vehicles , 22 Motor Brake Second , 10 Kitchen Trailer First and 11 Trailer Composite vehicles formed into 22 3-car sets formed Motor...
diesel multiple unit
Diesel multiple unit
A diesel multiple unit or DMU is a multiple unit train consisting of multiple carriages powered by one or more on-board diesel engines. They may also be referred to as a railcar or railmotor, depending on country.-Design:...
s. As part of these works, the Slow Lines between Arkleston Junction and Paisley Gilmour Street were taken out of use.
Accidents
There was an accident to the west side of Shields Junction on 30 August 1973 when an Inverclyde Line service from Wemyss Bay to Glasgow Central crashed into the rear of an Ayrshire Coast Line service from Ayr which was just starting away for a signal.The western end of the line was the scene of a railway accident
Paisley Gilmour Street rail crash
The Paisley Gilmour Street rail accident occurred on 16 April 1979 at 19:50. The 19:40 Inverclyde Line service from Glasgow Central to Wemyss Bay, operated by two Class 303 trains, crossed from the Down Fast Line to the Down Gourock Line under clear signals at Wallneuk Junction immediately to the...
, on 16 April 1979, when an Inverclyde Line service from Glasgow Central to Wemyss Bay crossed from the Down Fast Line to the Down Gourock Line at Wallneuk Junction, immediately to the east of Paisley Gilmour Street railway station. It collided head-on with an Ayrshire Coast Line special service from Ayr, which had left Platform 2 against a red signal.
See also
- Ayrshire Coast LineAyrshire Coast LineThe Ayrshire Coast Line is one of the lines within the Strathclyde suburban rail network in Scotland. It has 26 stations and connects the Ayrshire coast to Glasgow...
- Glasgow Airport Rail Link
- Inverclyde LineInverclyde LineThe Inverclyde Line is a railway line running from Glasgow Central station through Paisley and a series of stations to the south of the River Clyde and the Firth of Clyde, terminating at Gourock and Wemyss Bay, where it connects to Caledonian MacBrayne ferry services...
- Paisley Gilmour Street rail crashPaisley Gilmour Street rail crashThe Paisley Gilmour Street rail accident occurred on 16 April 1979 at 19:50. The 19:40 Inverclyde Line service from Glasgow Central to Wemyss Bay, operated by two Class 303 trains, crossed from the Down Fast Line to the Down Gourock Line under clear signals at Wallneuk Junction immediately to the...
Sources
- Hall, Stanley (1999). Hidden Dangers: Railway Safety in the Era of Privatisation. Shepperton: Ian Allan. ISBN 0-7110-2679-3.