If you could open 10 stations in Scotland...

[Falcon1200]

Thornhill has been discussed many times, however the railway does not actually go through, or particularly near, the town!

 

[Dennyboy]

I recognise that such a station may outlie the town of Thornhill too much to warrant the nec' investment. Who knows? Sufficient NE urban sprawl might 'tip the scales' in favour.
Possibly also discussed is the viability of reinstating a Station in Falkirk District's eastern reaches ie Whitecross. It lies between Polmont and (W Loth') Linlithgow. I had high(ish) aspirations for the village having read of (via Falkirk Herald) a Regeneration Masterplan, esp' in the wake of it losing Manuel Brickworks. That said I accept the penalties that excess train stops may incur on headway yet I'm unconvinced that'd nec' apply re' Whitecross.

 

[Dennyboy]

If you could open 10 stations in Scotland, where would they be?

I'll have a go:

Not requiring new track be built:

1. Finnieston, Glasgow - re-opening on an existing passenger line
2. "Stirling Parkway" - on or near the old Bannockburn station on an existing passenger line
3. Grangemouth - addition of passenger services to freight line (my thread on this)

Requiring new track:

4 & 5. Melrose & Hawick - a fairly modest extension of a successful recently-built-railway​

6 & 7. Ellon & Peterhead - I believe Peterhead is the largest town in Scotland which has no railway station, and Ellon is on the way there​

8. St Andrews - Once the above is done, this is then the next largest town without railway​

9 & 10. Bonnyrigg & Penicuik - Once the above is done, these are then the next largest towns without railway (and one line would pass through both)​

Whitecross between Linlithgow and Polmont.

 

[frvic93]

1. Peterhead (seems like a no-brainer - the area could really do with a railway link)
2. Hawick (I'm a bit biased as I'm from there originally - would be nice to be able to get there by train)
3. Winchburgh (why was this not insisted on? So daft building a new town without a railway station when there's a line right there)
4. Leith (as part of the "tunnel under the Forth" project - pie in the sky but it's fun to imagine)
5. Penicuik (because it's a bit cut-off from the network just now)
6. Glasgow Airport
7. Kittybrewster (surely that wouldn't be too hard? Would be good for the university)
8. Portobello
9. Newcastleton (just for a laugh)
10. Bo'ness (a little spur next to the heritage railway maybe?)

 

[waverley47]

What about, also, Thornhill D&G? It's a sizable town and virtually ON a rail line.

Thornhill is a poor choice for the same reasons as Cumnock. Basically, it's a small town, a very long way away from Glasgow, with a sparse service through a whole load of nothing. It's in the 'it would be good if it hadn't closed, but not worth reopening' category.

Wait until wiring and 1tph fast Glasgow - Carlisle, 1tph stopping Glasgow - Dumfries, and then go about reopening.

Possibly also discussed is the viability of reinstating a Station in Falkirk District's eastern reaches ie Whitecross. It lies between Polmont and (W Loth') Linlithgow. I had high(ish) aspirations for the village having read of (via Falkirk Herald) a Regeneration Masterplan, esp' in the wake of it losing Manuel Brickworks. That said I accept the penalties that excess train stops may incur on headway yet I'm unconvinced that'd nec' apply re' Whitecross

Same category. There's nothing in Whitecross. If, and it's a big if, you were able to make an M9 parkway station on the site of the old brickworks, you might end up with a decent number of journeys, but it's a bit more complicated than that.

Building for Whitecross itself isn't worth it, it's not big enough. The nearest stations are Linlithgow and Polmont, neither of which have the greatest car parking provision. If you built an M9 parkway, you'd end up attracting people who probably should be biking to an existing station, but that's neither here nor there. The main consequence would be attracting passengers from Grangemouth onto the Dunblane - Edinburgh services, but the E&G fasts wouldn't stop. It's only six minutes on a train between Polmont and Linlithgow as well, so it would be a heck of a time penalty.

You screw up timetabling a little bit by shoving stops at Winchburgh and Whitecross onto the Dunblane services, which is solvable at a price.

Basically, it's not a bad idea for an M9 parkway at Whitecross, but there are far, far better solutions to the Grangemouth problem, the easiest and cheapest being a shuttle bus from Polmont to Grangemouth all day, every day.

1. Peterhead (seems like a no-brainer - the area could really do with a railway link)
2. Hawick (I'm a bit biased as I'm from there originally - would be nice to be able to get there by train)
3. Winchburgh (why was this not insisted on? So daft building a new town without a railway station when there's a line right there)
4. Leith (as part of the "tunnel under the Forth" project - pie in the sky but it's fun to imagine)
5. Penicuik (because it's a bit cut-off from the network just now)
6. Glasgow Airport
7. Kittybrewster (surely that wouldn't be too hard? Would be good for the university)
8. Portobello
9. Newcastleton (just for a laugh)
10. Bo'ness (a little spur next to the heritage railway maybe?)

Peterhead, Maud, Fraserburgh, Ellon have been the subject of numerous discussions. Basically, it's very, very, very expensive. Same as Hawick.

Portobello would benefit me immensely, however we're stuck without the capacity for it, and it's not actually that far away from Brunstane. Couldn't do it without sizeable and expensive infrastructure meddling between Joppa and Craigentinny Jn.

Winchburgh is happening! It's a done deal, and it's been a done deal for a while, but all the cogs have finally settled into place and there are already (as of 13/06/25) spades in the ground!

Kittybrewster I agree with completely, but that would require Aberdeen Council pulling their finger out, and that seems unlikely.

 

[Dennyboy]

A service that links QE Hospital, Braeheid shopping centre, and Paisley International Airport with the centre of Glasgow would be quite splendid.

I'd 'hang fire', or at least reserve judgement, until CLYDEmetro proposals are finalised even if the trams-p

 

[numtot12345]

Has a station at Kirkliston ever been floated, which would only really make sense once Almond Chord is built?

• Kirkliston > Edinburgh (Doesn't stack up if Chord is for fast services)
• Intermediate Station for re-instating direct Glasgow > Fife (Dunfermline/Glenrothes/Leven?) services
• Don't think makes sense as parkway/P&R type station (other than for Kirkliston itself?)

 

[lachlan]

Has a station at Kirkliston ever been floated, which would only really make sense once Almond Chord is built?

• Kirkliston > Edinburgh (Doesn't stack up if Chord is for fast services)
• Intermediate Station for re-instating direct Glasgow > Fife (Dunfermline/Glenrothes/Leven?) services
• Don't think makes sense as parkway/P&R type station (other than for Kirkliston itself?)

The local MSP was campaigning for one before the pandemic but seems like it has gone quiet. In the Edinburgh direction the situation is much better than it was as there's now buses to the city in the X19 and X38. Towards Glasgow it's less convenient but this will improve with the station in Winchburgh that will be easy to drive/cycle/take the bus to.

 

[frvic93]

Thornhill is a poor choice for the same reasons as Cumnock. Basically, it's a small town, a very long way away from Glasgow, with a sparse service through a whole load of nothing. It's in the 'it would be good if it hadn't closed, but not worth reopening' category.

Wait until wiring and 1tph fast Glasgow - Carlisle, 1tph stopping Glasgow - Dumfries, and then go about reopening.


Same category. There's nothing in Whitecross. If, and it's a big if, you were able to make an M9 parkway station on the site of the old brickworks, you might end up with a decent number of journeys, but it's a bit more complicated than that.

Building for Whitecross itself isn't worth it, it's not big enough. The nearest stations are Linlithgow and Polmont, neither of which have the greatest car parking provision. If you built an M9 parkway, you'd end up attracting people who probably should be biking to an existing station, but that's neither here nor there. The main consequence would be attracting passengers from Grangemouth onto the Dunblane - Edinburgh services, but the E&G fasts wouldn't stop. It's only six minutes on a train between Polmont and Linlithgow as well, so it would be a heck of a time penalty.

You screw up timetabling a little bit by shoving stops at Winchburgh and Whitecross onto the Dunblane services, which is solvable at a price.

Basically, it's not a bad idea for an M9 parkway at Whitecross, but there are far, far better solutions to the Grangemouth problem, the easiest and cheapest being a shuttle bus from Polmont to Grangemouth all day, every day.



Peterhead, Maud, Fraserburgh, Ellon have been the subject of numerous discussions. Basically, it's very, very, very expensive. Same as Hawick.

Portobello would benefit me immensely, however we're stuck without the capacity for it, and it's not actually that far away from Brunstane. Couldn't do it without sizeable and expensive infrastructure meddling between Joppa and Craigentinny Jn.

Winchburgh is happening! It's a done deal, and it's been a done deal for a while, but all the cogs have finally settled into place and there are already (as of 13/06/25) spades in the ground!

Kittybrewster I agree with completely, but that would require Aberdeen Council pulling their finger out, and that seems unlikely.

I wasn't aware about Winchburgh actually going forward - that's great news.

 

[jeffinabox]

It looks like there is quiet confidence in opening the Cove and Newtonhill railway stations in the North East.

Reopening Cove and Newtonhill railway stations could unlock £29m for local area

A campaign to reopen Cove and Newtonhill's railway stations recently led to a petition which gathered more than 1,700 signatures being submitted to Scotland’s Transport Secretary.

www.aberdeenlive.news

Balgray and Winchburgh now seem to be approved, and there seems to be decent momentum behind Newburgh. These look like the next 5 stations in Scotland to reopen IMO.

My top 10 after that (mostly Fantasy stuff - reopening lines):

1. Kincardine (Dunfermline-Alloa route)
2. Edinburgh South Suburban Line
3. St Andrews
4. Melrose
5. Hawick
6. Peterhead
7. Fraserburgh
8. South Stirling (Bannockburn/Cowie)
9. Kinross
10. Grantown-on-Spey (Heritage)

 

[Dennyboy]

No reiteration intended as already well established campaigns. That said, I'd throw my weight behind those for Mauchline and Cumnock, despite the latter's closeness to Auchinleck. Employment opportunities are employment opportunities, however much travelling may be involved.

 

[Transilien]

No reiteration intended as already well established campaigns. That said, I'd throw my weight behind those for Mauchline and Cumnock, despite the latter's closeness to Auchinleck. Employment opportunities are employment opportunities, however much travelling may be involved.

Also, these towns are close to Kilmarnock which is has a large draw from the surrounding area for employment and leisure.

 

[och aye]

It looks like there is quiet confidence in opening the Cove and Newtonhill railway stations in the North East.

Reopening Cove and Newtonhill railway stations could unlock £29m for local area

A campaign to reopen Cove and Newtonhill's railway stations recently led to a petition which gathered more than 1,700 signatures being submitted to Scotland’s Transport Secretary.

www.aberdeenlive.news

Balgray and Winchburgh now seem to be approved, and there seems to be decent momentum behind Newburgh. These look like the next 5 stations in Scotland to reopen IMO.

My top 10 after that (mostly Fantasy stuff - reopening lines):

1. Kincardine (Dunfermline-Alloa route)
2. Edinburgh South Suburban Line
3. St Andrews
4. Melrose
5. Hawick
6. Peterhead
7. Fraserburgh
8. South Stirling (Bannockburn/Cowie)
9. Kinross
10. Grantown-on-Spey (Heritage)

Good to hear some positive news from the North East.

 

[snookertam]

Parkhead on the Queen Street to Airdrie line, would improve access to Celtic Park from the north and the general Parkhead/Haghill areas.

As an aside, would probably redesign the timetable there to have a consistent half hourly end to end service, with peak additionals only operating between Milngavie/Airdrie and Edinburgh/Bathgate.

 

[Dennyboy]

If you could open 10 stations in Scotland, where would they be?

I'll have a go:

Not requiring new track be built:

1. Finnieston, Glasgow - re-opening on an existing passenger line
2. "Stirling Parkway" - on or near the old Bannockburn station on an existing passenger line
3. Grangemouth - addition of passenger services to freight line (my thread on this)

Requiring new track:

4 & 5. Melrose & Hawick - a fairly modest extension of a successful recently-built-railway​

6 & 7. Ellon & Peterhead - I believe Peterhead is the largest town in Scotland which has no railway station, and Ellon is on the way there​

8. St Andrews - Once the above is done, this is then the next largest town without railway​

9 & 10. Bonnyrigg & Penicuik - Once the above is done, these are then the next largest towns without railway (and one line would pass through both)​

Relocate E Renfrews' Williamwood Station slightly north to where the Neilston/Cathcart Circle is crossed by East Kilbride line thus providing an interchange.

 

[Falcon1200]

Relocate E Renfrews' Williamwood Station slightly north to where the Neilston/Cathcart Circle is crossed by East Kilbride line thus providing an interchange.

An interesting, but very expensive idea! Requiring in effect 2 new stations, 4 new platforms and the access routes to and between them. Is there sufficient demand to justify this - I doubt it. I have myself interchanged between the Neilston and East Kilbride lines, by walking from Williamwood to Clarkston or vice versa, but on an extremely infrequent basis.

 

[Bill57p9]

Also, these towns are close to Kilmarnock which is has a large draw from the surrounding area for employment and leisure.

+1
They would also offer a fast link to Glasgow with the various opportunities for employment and leisure that would bring.

 

[Dennyboy]

Livingston has a similar population to Motherwell and the proposed site is a 7 minute drive from Junction 3 of the M8. Compare this to trying to drive into Edinburgh (or take the train and double back), and you suddenly make train travel to England far more attractive to a large portion of the central belt who would otherwise be simply driving down the M74.

A not wholly dissimilar concept would be Worcestershire Parkway, which had 339,000 entries and exits last year.

Hurlford, E Ayrshire

 

[Uncle Buck]

-An Allander Halt between Hillfoot and Milngavie.

-Extension of the Neilston branch line to meet the line to Kilmarnock.

-Construction of new platforms at Pollokshields West, allowing trains heading towards Kilmarnock to interchange with the Cathcart Circle.

-Branch line to Kirkintilloch

 

[Dennyboy]

For want of some greater WNW urban-sprawl, ie in the direction of the closest railway, the N Ayrs' town/village of Beith could support a station. The same may apply to D&G's Thornhills lesser proximity to WCML and how like-expansion could 'tip the scales' one day.

 

[deltic08]

Once the Maid of the Loch paddle steamer is restored on Loch Lomond, if ever. I would like to see Balloch Pier station reopened with a rail link restored between there and Balloch Central. This would create a tourist circular route from Glasgow-Balloch Pier-Ardlui-Glasgow. Integrated transport.
In the old days, charter trains were attracted. There was even a long run round loop retained after electrification.

 

[Falcon1200]

For want of some greater WNW urban-sprawl, ie in the direction of the closest railway, the N Ayrs' town/village of Beith could support a station. The same may apply to D&G's Thornhills lesser proximity to WCML and how like-expansion could 'tip the scales' one day.

Presumably for Beith you mean a new station at the site of Beith North on the Glasgow/Ayr line, rather than Beith Town on the branch from Lugton? However Beith North is not near the town and Glengarnock is not far away. Similarly, the former Thornhill station is not near that town either, although there is no nearby alternative in that case.

 

[AlastairFraser]

Presumably for Beith you mean a new station at the site of Beith North on the Glasgow/Ayr line, rather than Beith Town on the branch from Lugton? However Beith North is not near the town and Glengarnock is not far away. Similarly, the former Thornhill station is not near that town either, although there is no nearby alternative in that case.

Although the former Beith North station is less than a mile from the centre, perhaps it might be reasonably popular as a parkway station with a decent sized car park on the Beith side of the track.

 

[Falcon1200]

perhaps it might be reasonably popular as a parkway station with a decent sized car park on the Beith side of the track.

Glengarnock fills that role already!

 

[AlastairFraser]

Glengarnock fills that role already!

It does, but it has to serve the approx. 7-8k in Kilbirnie and Glengarnock proper too, and a reopened Beith North would be less than a mile from the centre of Beith, so would attract some foot passenger users as well.
It's interesting why Lochwinnoch was kept open, and Beith not, given the relative populations.

 

[Falcon1200]

It does, but it has to serve the approx. 7-8k in Kilbirnie and Glengarnock proper too, and a reopened Beith Town would be less than a mile from the centre of Beith, so would attract some foot passenger users as well.
It's interesting why Lochwinnoch was kept open, and Beith not, given the relative populations.

I think you mean Beith North, not Beith Town? But I'm not sure an extra stop on the already slow Largs and Ardrossan trains would be worthwhile.

The present Lochwinnoch station was closed for a while but re-opened after the (much closer to the town) station on the Kilbirnie Loop was shut.

 

[AlastairFraser]

I think you mean Beith North, not Beith Town? But I'm not sure an extra stop on the already slow Largs and Ardrossan trains would be worthwhile.

The present Lochwinnoch station was closed for a while but re-opened after the (much closer to the town) station on the Kilbirnie Loop was shut.

Yes, I did mean Beith North, apologies.
Maybe an extra stop wouldn't be worth it, maybe some line speed improvements could be made to compensate.

Interesting about Lochwinnoch station, I wonder why they chose to reopen as it isn't a massive settlement.

 

[Falcon1200]

I wonder why they chose to reopen as it isn't a massive settlement.

A good question, it's a fair distance from the village. Handy for the RSPB centre though....

 

[AlastairFraser]

A good question, it's a fair distance from the village. Handy for the RSPB centre though....

Indeed!

 

[D6130]

A good question, it's a fair distance from the village. Handy for the RSPB centre though....

It was originally named "Lochside"....and continued to be so-named for many years after the village station on the Kilbirnie loop was closed.