Network Rail lodges plan to extend Garelochhead platform

och aye · 23 Jan 2024

Network Rail plan to extend the platform at Garelochhead, as well as: Bridge of Orchy, Tulloch and Roy Bridge stations, according to this article:

Plans lodged to extend Garelochhead station platform to allow longer trains

Network Rail has lodged an application for listed building consent to extend the length of the platform at Garelochhead railway station.

www.helensburghadvertiser.co.uk

PLANS have been lodged to extend the Garelochhead railway station platform to allow longer trains to call.

Argyll and Bute Council planning officers are considering an application by Network Rail for listed building consent for the proposed work.

Similar plans are in the offing for the other West Highland line stations in the area - Helensburgh Upper, Arrochar and Tarbet and Ardlui - as well as Bridge of Orchy, Tulloch and Roy Bridge further north.

The move comes after ScotRail introduced additional 'Highland Explorer' carriages on some West Highland line services in 2021, adapted to provide additional space to carry bikes.

The platform extension plans would allow those modified carriages to be added to more services on the routes linking Glasgow with Oban, Fort William and Mallaig.

I found this diagram on Argyll & Bute's planning portal, Ref: 23/01873/LIB

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lachlan · 23 Jan 2024

och aye said:
Network Rail plan to extend the platform at Garelochhead, as well as: Bridge of Orchy, Tulloch and Roy Bridge stations, according to this article:

Plans lodged to extend Garelochhead station platform to allow longer trains

Network Rail has lodged an application for listed building consent to extend the length of the platform at Garelochhead railway station.

www.helensburghadvertiser.co.uk

I found this diagram on Argyll & Bute's planning portal, Ref: 23/01873/LIB

View attachment 150911

Thanks for sharing. Do the trains with the Highland Explorer cars not fit on the platform presently?

30907 · 23 Jan 2024

lachlan said:
Thanks for sharing. Do the trains with the Highland Explorer cars not fit on the platform presently?

They fit, but only because they are limited to 5 cars, and the most popular trains are already 6. Scotrail understandably want their Explorers on those if possible!

Essan · 23 Jan 2024

What about Corrour? That's only a one coach platform!

(And is as likely to be used by cyclists as any other on the WHL)

najaB · 23 Jan 2024

Essan said:
What about Corrour? That's only a one coach platform!

(And is as likely to be used by cyclists as any other on the WHL)

Passenger numbers probably make it too expensive for the benefit.

Essan · 23 Jan 2024

najaB said:
Passenger numbers probably make it too expensive for the benefit.

Aye, I was being a bit flippant with the suggestion - it's an island platform and would mean a major structural overall. But it gets more passengers than Bridge of Orchy, Roybridge and Tulloch.

Deepgreen · 23 Jan 2024

Essan said:
What about Corrour? That's only a one coach platform!

(And is as likely to be used by cyclists as any other on the WHL)

I've been to Corrour many times but it's always been walkers (and a few skiers!) that I have seen there. With no roads, only hardened mountain bikers would have any chance of any distance-covering (not that that means there aren't ever any cyclists there, of course).

_toommm_ · 23 Jan 2024

Essan said:
What about Corrour? That's only a one coach platform!

Is it? Certainly wasn't from memory when I used it last year.

mcmad · 23 Jan 2024

2 coaches long according to quail

Essan · 24 Jan 2024

_toommm_ said:
Is it? Certainly wasn't from memory when I used it last year.

Maybe it is 2 - but I am sure they only opened one door last time I was there

najaB · 24 Jan 2024

Essan said:
Maybe it is 2 - but I am sure they only opened one door last time I was there

It's normally single-door operation if the whole train isn't platformed.

Essan · 24 Jan 2024

najaB said:
It's normally single-door operation if the whole train isn't platformed.

Aye. They certainly do that when its a 4 car unit - I thought I could remember doing so also when its been a 2 car unit though, hence my comment. May be wrong though. They sometimes only open one door at Lochailort on a 2 car unit as well (albeit I'm usually the only one using the station!)

Anyway, it'd be impractical to extend the platform there. Although (IMO) the station offers far more off road cycling opportunities (the old road down to Rannoch, for example) than the stations they are extending.

I suppose the fact they are investing more money in the stations does at least ensure they have no plans for closure of the line.

najaB · 24 Jan 2024

Essan said:
Aye. They certainly do that when its a 4 car unit - I thought I could remember doing so also when its been a 2 car unit though, hence my comment. May be wrong though.

Perhaps for consistency?

Tayway · 24 Jan 2024

This might be me being daft, but why can a 6 car 3x156 formation currently call at these stations but a 6 car 2x156 + 2x153 can't?

louis97 · 24 Jan 2024

Tayway said:
This might be me being daft, but why can a 6 car 3x156 formation currently call at these stations but a 6 car 2x156 + 2x153 can't?

That formation would fit. The 153s only have a small number of seats, so need to be in addition to an existing formation. So a 6 car 156 would become a 7 car 3x 156+153 for example, however that can't happen currently due to platform lengths.

The exile · 25 Jan 2024

louis97 said:
That formation would fit. The 153s only have a small number of seats, so need to be in addition to an existing formation. So a 6 car 156 would become a 7 car 3x 156+153 for example, however that can't happen currently due to platform lengths.

The other issue is that whereas most passengers can easily move through the train if their carriage isn’t going to be platformed, the same can’t be said for bicycles.

snowball · 25 Jan 2024

Press release

£1.7m station platform project to increase capacity on iconic West Highland Line

Network Rail will shortly begin work to extend platforms at eight stations on the West Highland Line.

www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk

Network Rail will shortly begin work to extend platforms at eight stations on the West Highland Line.

Helensburgh Upper, Ardlui, Roy Bridge, Garelochhead, Arrochar and Tarbet, Crianlarich, Bridge of Orchy and Tulloch stations will all benefit from the £1.7m investment on the route.

Funded by the Scottish Government, the project will get underway at Arrochar & Tarbet from January 27 - with plans to deliver the improvements at all of the stations by the end of summer.

It will enable the introduction of longer trains in response to increasing volumes of leisure travel and higher demand for bike spaces.

Those travelling on the line to Oban, Fort William and Mallaig will have more seats to choose from, as well as increased space for luggage and large items such as bikes, rucksacks and sports equipment.

This will help travellers make the most of the fantastic outdoor opportunities available on the route, including those walking the West Highland Way, accessing the wilderness of Rannoch Moor or visiting the world-famous Glenfinnan viaduct.

Altnabreac · 29 Jan 2024

I believe Upper Tyndrum, Rannoch, Spean Bridge and Fort William are all fine for 5 coach trains so don’t need any additional works to accommodate these trains.

Corrour will continue to be 1 door opening.

Dumbarton Central is fine for 7 coach trains too.

The only operational issue I can see is potentially at Dalmuir. I believe at present the single door opening for 6 coaches is only southbound on Platform 2?

I think this proposal may lead to additional single door opening northbound on Platform 1 for 7 coach trains?

mcmad said:
2 coaches long according to quail

41m I believe so very tight to open all doors on a 2 coach 156.

Given most trains will be 4 coaches anyway there is logic in consistently using single door operation there.

Network Rail lodges plan to extend Garelochhead platform

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