Rail Link to Renfrew

[p123]

http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/news/plan-to-deliver-railway-link-to-renfrew.18802658

Plan to deliver railway link to Renfrew

DEMAND for a historic town to have its own train station is building a head of steam.

Calls for Renfrew to get its own stop on the national rail network were first aired when the Scottish Government's cabinet met in Renfrew recently.

Transport Minister Keith Brown was questioned on the issue at a public session and he responded by saying councils should lead the way in submitting bids for new stations.

Now SNP MSP Derek Mackay, who is from Renfrew, and the leader of Renfrewshire Council, Labour's Mark Macmillan, are to meet to discuss how to make the plan for Renfrew a reality.

Mr Mackay hopes the council will take advantage of a Scottish Government fund of £30million created to bring forward bids for new stations.

He said: "Renfrewshire will benefit from massive investment in rail upgrades in the west of Scotland, and now a further opportunity is presented locally.

"Renfrew is the largest town in Scotland without a train station, and a route still exists at Braehead, where rail freight lines are still intact.

"I firmly believe that there is an opportunity to take forward the prospect of rail to Renfrew.

"With the government fund, potential private sector contributions and council support we can do this.

"We must develop alternatives to the reliance on the M8 and the road network, which is hard-pushed to cope with demand, particularly at peak times, so with rail now becoming possible once again we should seize the opportunity.

"What I'm suggesting is the route that would go from Braehead to Glasgow, as this would involve minimal disruption.

"I would work enthusiastically with the council to pull a bid together. Party politics should not get in the way."

Responding to the call, Renfrewshire Council Leader Mark Macmillan, said: "In recent years, Renfrewshire has had a 'rail deficit' from the Scottish Government – the Glasgow Airport Rail Link was cancelled.

"Currently, the council is campaigning with other Renfrewshire organisations to change the Government's mind on downgrading rail services from Paisley.

"We will continue to make the case for Renfrewshire's transport and economic needs."

Looks interesting. I've always wondered why there's no station at Braehead seeing as the railway already stretches all the way down there from the Glasgow > Paisley Gilmour St line. Also, dare I suggest, if it went to Renfrew then it may as well be extended to the Airport. Then possibly on towards Erskine? But that may be too much to ask...

 

[DarloRich]

lost me at his line:

DEMAND for a historic town to have its own train station is building a head of steam.

 

[Cable Car]

Interesting story but sounds like one of the ETs fill a space items.
Like the one about the return of the trams they ran a couple of decades back.
Still, who knows, it only took 40 years to finish the M74.

 

[Tiny Tim]

What does this branch get used for?

 

[Cable Car]

What does this branch get used for?

Renfrew still has one or two ships arriving at it's docks.

 

[michael769]

Councils and local MPs will always call for improved transport links to their domain - it is part of their job after all -especially when it would not be them footing the bill.

Is there even capacity on the Paisley<->Glasgow line to support services on a branch to Renfrew?

 

[kylemore]

What does this branch get used for?

I presume they're talking about the branch that comes off the Glasgow - Paisley main line just west of Cardonald.
This was I believe built to serve the new King George V dock that was opened in the 1930s, more docks were to have been built as trade expanded, however this did not happen and although still open KGV dock receives very litttle traffic. Just short of the dock is a rail linked warehousing complex where I think the branch now ends - I don't know if theres still traffic.
However all of this is nowhere near Renfrew, the Renfrew branch left the mainline just short of Paisley Gilmour St station and was lifted (and I believe built over?) years ago.
So this is not just about "building a station for Renfrew" but rebuilding a complete Railway - a project to be measured in the £100s of millions not a mere £30m!!
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Is there even capacity on the Paisley<->Glasgow line to support services on a branch to Renfrew?

There is now that the Glasgow Airport Link has been abandoned!

 

[D1009]

Looking at Wikipedia, the line from Cardonald to Deanside used to continue to Renfrew, but lost its passenger service as long ago as 1926 ! I believe the Braehead shopping centre, among other things, have been constructed on its formation. It appears what freight traffic there was to Deanside has now finished.

 

[kylemore]

Looking at Wikipedia, the line from Cardonald to Deanside used to continue to Renfrew, but lost its passenger service as long ago as 1926 ! I believe the Braehead shopping centre, among other things, have been constructed on its formation. It appears what freight traffic there was to Deanside has now finished.

Thanks I could'nt remember what it was called - Deanside. Extensive covered accomodation for unloading goods and lots of warehousing right next to the Motorway (M8) for easy onward distribution - the fact that the UK Railfreight industry can't attract traffic to a site like that doesn't say much for the future of railfreight in the UK!
The Renfrew branch "proper" I believe was the one that used to branch off just before Paisley - now built over, which (correct me if I'm wrong) had passenger services up to the Beeching era or thereabout?

 

[kjhskj75]

Old map of the area:

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ibrox,_Paisley_&_Rothesay_Dock(Yoker)_RJD_57.jpg

 

[MidnightFlyer]

There is now that the Glasgow Airport Link has been abandoned!

There'll be fewer after December however, when the service south of Paisley Gilmour St (to Kilwinning) is upped by 50% off-peak M-F in the form of a new Ayr semi-fast and Irvine stopper.

 

[kylemore]

There'll be fewer after December however, when the service south of Paisley Gilmour St (to Kilwinning) is upped by 50% off-peak M-F in the form of a new Ayr semi-fast and Irvine stopper.

Is there the demand? Even the peak services seem more lightly loaded than when I first started using them 3 years ago.
Actually there might be a case for operating them on Saturday but you say the extra services will only run M-F?
Making sure all off-peak services are six car would more than cater for demand.

 

[Sadsmileyface]

Does sound like a space filler. People have been asking this question since Braehead was built. Ive never heard anyone talk about it as if it were possible though.

It would be brilliant, though.

 

[Cable Car]

Off topic i know, but what became of the glass boat that used to link Braehead Shopping Center and Glasgow city center.

 

[p123]

The boat still runs. Albeit, very slowly and at a rubbish frequency.

In fact, if we can't have a rail link to Braehead, then my second choice would be clippers along the Clyde, like they have in London.

 

[kylemore]

Off topic i know, but what became of the glass boat that used to link Braehead Shopping Center and Glasgow city center.

By "glass boat" I presume you mean the ex Amsterdam canal cruiser, the firm went out of business and the boat was sold and I believe is now at work on Loch Katrine supplementing the sailings of the historic steamer "Sir Walter Scott".
The sailings were revived by established firm Clyde Marine Ltd using usually the "Second Snark" or "Rover" fairly classic small motor tenders.
However they do run at infrequent intervals and I would think the use of this service by shoppers going to Braehead would be either minimal or non-existant!