Ayr-Stranraer: Glenwhilly

[MadMac]

Word has reached me that the passing loop at Glenwhilly, between Barrhill and Dunragit, has been out of use for the past couple of months after damage to a set of points which NR, for whatever reason, seem unable or unwilling to repair. Presently operating as a 20-mile single-track section from Barrhill-Dunragit with some sort of ”special arrangements“ in place. There is apparently talk of a “rationalisation” of signalling south of Ayr being on the horizon, but there would be some sort of interim arrangement at Glenwhilly pending this.

 

[GRALISTAIR]

Disappointed- I had hoped we had passed the days of singling and rationalization.

 

[MadMac]

Disappointed- I had hoped we had passed the days of singling and rationalization.

Myself and several fellow Signal Engineers (both active and retired) can’t quite get our heads around why something as routine as this hasn’t been repaired. It’s also been stated that the semaphore signals (including the last working semaphore distant in Scotland) are in a bit of a state, so any interim arrangement would involve stop/distant boards.

 

[68000]

This is a case of managed decline, a recent project to renew/fix the axle counter at Kilkerran was knocked back multiple times because the 'benefit did not justify the cost'

 

[380101]

Word has reached me that the passing loop at Glenwhilly, between Barrhill and Dunragit, has been out of use for the past couple of months after damage to a set of points which NR, for whatever reason, seem unable or unwilling to repair. Presently operating as a 20-mile single-track section from Barrhill-Dunragit with some sort of ”special arrangements“ in place. There is apparently talk of a “rationalisation” of signalling south of Ayr being on the horizon, but there would be some sort of interim arrangement at Glenwhilly pending this.

No "special arrangements" are currently in place and all block sections are operating as usual. The only thing currently happening is that trains are required to pass the home signal at danger in the Down direction at Glenwhilly due to the broken points and go wrong direction on the up loop, collect token as normal and proceed into the next section towards Dunragit.

Plans are in place to remove the passing loop completely along with all signals and replace with fixed distant and stop boards, with the box remaining open for token exchange purposes.

The route was meant to have been re-signalled by 2018 and has been continually pushed back. I expect it will be completely resignalled by 2030, but with what system remains to be seen.

 

[50010 Monarch]

Not strictly on topic but does anyone know if Stranraer box is ever manned these days?

I recall reading a while back it was opened once a month for maintenance.

 

[MadMac]

Not strictly on topic but does anyone know if Stranraer box is ever manned these days?

I recall reading a while back it was opened once a month for maintenance.

That’s how I understand it. The only other reason it is opened is if there’s a railtour that needs a second platform.

 

[50010 Monarch]

That’s how I understand it. The only other reason it is opened is if there’s a railtour that needs a second platform.

Thanks for the reply. Good to hear the box is still operational. For the time being at least.

 

[D6975]

The line south of Girvan has been neglected for some time now. I was afraid that the line would close a few years ago, the option of reopening the Town station seemed to just disintegrate into thin air.

 

[Falcon1200]

Myself and several fellow Signal Engineers (both active and retired) can’t quite get our heads around why something as routine as this hasn’t been repaired.

If no trains are booked to cross at Glenwhilly, reinstating the points would not be a priority. Especially if some form of rationalisation is proposed anyway.

 

[MadMac]

If no trains are booked to cross at Glenwhilly, reinstating the points would not be a priority. Especially if some form of rationalisation is proposed anyway.

True. Big problem is that the existing tablet system (last examples on NR are all south of Girvan) won’t work reliably, if at all, over 20 miles of wire, so Glenwhilly has to remain meantime if only as an intermediate tablet station.

The line south of Girvan has been neglected for some time now. I was afraid that the line would close a few years ago, the option of reopening the Town station seemed to just disintegrate into thin air.

It’s been said by locals that the old Town site is no more convenient for the town centre than Harbour currently is.

 

[InOban]

A couple of weeks ago Andrew Haines was in front of the Transport Select Committe He stated quite clearly that the railway would have to focus on what it, and only it, could do : Express Intercity, commuter traffic into our major conurbations, and trainload freight. Obviously commuting stretches out further than it used to, but no-one can seriously argue that Girvan to Stranraer provides any economic or social benefit to justify its continued operation. Stranraer was not affected by the lengthy closure due to the Ayr Hotel fiasco, the bus services serve intermediate settlements such as Ballantrae and even Scotrail's through rail/sail ticket uses the coach after Girvan. Obviously nothing will happen until after next May's elections, but if they're doing the absolute minimum to keep the line open until then quite right

 

[driverd]

A couple of weeks ago Andrew Haines was in front of the Transport Select Committe He stated quite clearly that the railway would have to focus on what it, and only it, could do : Express Intercity, commuter traffic into our major conurbations, and trainload freight. Obviously commuting stretches out further than it used to, but no-one can seriously argue that Girvan to Stranraer provides any economic or social benefit to justify its continued operation. Stranraer was not affected by the lengthy closure due to the Ayr Hotel fiasco, the bus services serve intermediate settlements such as Ballantrae and even Scotrail's through rail/sail ticket uses the coach after Girvan. Obviously nothing will happen until after next May's elections, but if they're doing the absolute minimum to keep the line open until then quite right

In what world are you living? If we're going down the road of closing branch lines to settlements with populations of circa 11000, then the Far North Line, West Highland Line and further south, the likes of Whitby, would be superb candidates...

These lines (Stranraer included) all provide vital links to isolated communities, are reasonably busy tourist routes and support local economies.

In my experience, the time I visited Stranraer, the train was approx 50% full. Looking at the entry/exit data, Stranraer sees approx. 90 passengers per day - which seems to about justify 4 or 5 trains per day, considering this is the end point of the line.

I certainly don't disagree with rationalising unused infrastructure, but to suggest that the route somehow warrants closure (and I'm somewhat unsure what leads you to this conclusion) seems a bit of a stretch.

 

[InkyScrolls]

In what world are you living? If we're going down the road of closing branch lines to settlements with populations of circa 11000, then the Far North Line, West Highland Line and further south, the likes of Whitby, would be superb candidates...

These lines (Stranraer included) all provide vital links to isolated communities, are reasonably busy tourist routes and support local economies.

In my experience, the time I visited Stranraer, the train was approx 50% full. Looking at the entry/exit data, Stranraer sees approx. 90 passengers per day - which seems to about justify 4 or 5 trains per day, considering this is the end point of the line.

I certainly don't disagree with rationalising unused infrastructure, but to suggest that the route somehow warrants closure (and I'm somewhat unsure what leads you to this conclusion) seems a bit of a stretch.

It costs a heck of a lot more than a more frequent bus service would, for example. Would Stranraer gain a railway now, if it didn't already have one? We all know the answer.

For what it's worth I'm not in favour of closure, but surely rationalisation and cost saving efforts must be made.

 

[30907]

In what world are you living? If we're going down the road of closing branch lines to settlements with populations of circa 11000, then the Far North Line, West Highland Line and further south, the likes of Whitby, would be superb candidates...

These lines (Stranraer included) all provide vital links to isolated communities, are reasonably busy tourist routes and support local economies.

In my experience, the time I visited Stranraer, the train was approx 50% full. Looking at the entry/exit data, Stranraer sees approx. 90 passengers per day - which seems to about justify 4 or 5 trains per day, considering this is the end point of the line.

In my limited experience (1 to Stranraer, 1 to Barrhill, in the pre-Covid years) loadings were in single figures, which fits with the average of 9 (including the one customer at Barrhill, pop.400). That's about the same as Wick and Thurso combined, but half that of Whitby and Mallaig (W...pedia figures)

However, this is only indirectly related to Glenwhilly box, and MadMac has explained a reason for its survival.

 

[Gathursty]

It’s been said by locals that the old Town site is no more convenient for the town centre than Harbour currently is.

I'd like to know where locals would most like Stranraer to be situated in an ideal world.

 

[MadMac]

I'd like to know where locals would most like Stranraer to be situated in an ideal world.

Stranraer itself? Possibly in Larne, but I digress. If we accept that ferry service is not returning to Stranraer, a new station where the A77 crosses the line on Cairnryan Road would be about 650 yards closer to the actual town centre than Harbour currently is. Lots of room for parking and even some sort of bus interchange. The old Town station is convenient for the Hospital and not much else, and is in the middle of housing.

 

[tumbledown]

I'd like to know where locals would most like Stranraer to be situated in an ideal world.

In the Canary Islands (for tax purposes)...

 

[MadMac]

In the Canary Islands (for tax purposes)...

Touché!