Major disruption at Ayr Station due to dangerous old hotel (from August 2018)

[ChiefPlanner]

The Stranraer line is not a "basket case" because that's just the way things are, it's because of negligence by the responsible authorities.

Closure of the ferry terminal was known about for a number of years and a modern station more convenient for Stranraer town centre should have opened the minute the ferry terminal closed. That it's not even on the cards 7 years later is astounding.

Perhaps the "raison d-etre" (sic) for rail / ferry transits has long dissapeared ? - consider Fishguard to Rosslare.

Travelled at very convenient times , last week Belfast to Luton for £66 single - 2 passengers , air journey time 55 mins - got the train from Luton Airport Parkway and home from there in less than an hour, including a 15 min walk.

That is the competition.

 

[ainsworth74]

Reminder that this thread is about the Ayr Hotel situation. The viability/future of the Stranraer line is off-topic (but interesting!) so please feel free to start a new thread on that topic if people wish to discuss it further.

 

[brad465]

Is there any news on the status of the station, hotel and/or subsequent rail disruption recently? National Rail enquiries hasn't changed it's "until 1st October" status, but there don't appear to be any news articles in the last 2 weeks on a google search

 

[robertclark125]

Indeed, what facilities are open at Ayr station? Could we see the possibility of temporary toilets, portacabins for the ticket office and WH Smith, being set up in the car park area soon?

 

[InOban]

Is there any news on the status of the station, hotel and/or subsequent rail disruption recently? National Rail enquiries hasn't changed it's "until 1st October" status, but there don't appear to be any news articles in the last 2 weeks on a google search

See #165. The report said stabilisation works would take to mid-October. These works tend to take longer as the extent of the issues become clearer.

 

[Carntyne]

Indeed, what facilities are open at Ayr station? Could we see the possibility of temporary toilets, portacabins for the ticket office and WH Smith, being set up in the car park area soon?

There's already temp toilets & ticket office.

 

[cf111]

Limited service restored between Ayr and Stranraer from today, 1st November:

Earlier this year South Ayrshire Council enforced an exclusion zone at Ayr station. This was because the privately-owned former Station Hotel has been deemed unsafe.

While Ayr station remains open for business, the exclusion zone means we have had to make changes to services to and from Ayr, including the cancellation of services between Ayr and Stranraer.

Following work by Network Rail engineers, including a safety risk assessment and some changes to the railway infrastructure, and a further test of the route this morning, it is now possible to reintroduce a limited number of ScotRail services between Ayr and Stranraer.

While this wont restore all services, it is a significant improvement for our customers.

The 16.59 Stranraer-Glasgow Central and the 18.13 Glasgow Central-Stranraer services will operate today Thursday 1st.

On Friday 2nd the following services will operate:
07.00 Stranraer Glasgow Central
08.08 Glasgow Central Stranraer
16.59 Stranraer Glasgow Central
18.13 Glasgow Central Stranraer

As soon as we have a further update on which services will operate over the weekend we will let our customers know via our website, app, and on social media.

Bus services will continue to operate between Ayr and Stranraer for the train services that havent been reintroduced, and for services between Ayr and Girvan.

The existing timetable for services between Ayr and Glasgow Central remains in place.

Customers are advised to download the ScotRail app, visit JourneyCheck, or take a look at @ScotRail on Twitter for the most up to date information.
Last Updated :01/11/2018 15:41

http://www.journeycheck.com/scotrail/

 

[weastebusdepot]

Possession of the Stranraer line was lifted early this morning and through working permitted on platform 4 at Ayr station. The RHTT ran the full length of the line in both directions followed by a 156 unit ECS to Stranraer which then formed 1A03 1659 Stranraer to Glasgow Central, the first passenger service south of Ayr for two months.

 

[380101]

Possession of the Stranraer line was lifted early this morning and through working permitted on platform 4 at Ayr station. The RHTT ran the full length of the line in both directions followed by a 156 unit ECS to Stranraer which then formed 1A03 1659 Stranraer to Glasgow Central, the first passenger service south of Ayr for two months.

whilst diesel units can now work through platform 4, the electrical isolation is still in place from the footbridge south. This means that multiple units ie; 6 and 7 car 380s still cannot enter Ayr station. 380s must still stop at the temporary "S" board. An additional sign "Electric trains stop here" has been put up above the "S" board to remind drivers.

 

[robertclark125]

What's the situation with regards to whether or not the hotel will remain or be pulled down?

 

[weastebusdepot]

What's the situation with regards to whether or not the hotel will remain or be pulled down?

I suspect we are no nearer to a final decision, and this is just a 'sticking plaster' to allow the exclusion zone to be reduce and some sense of normality to resume. However at some point in the future the hotel will either have to be demolished or the repairs will be completed and the scaffolding will be removed. Either of these scenarios would result in another lengthy period without any through services on the line to Stranraer.

 

[snowball]

NR press release from yesterday:

https://www.networkrail.co.uk/feeds/services-between-ayr-and-stranraer-restored/

Train services between Ayr and Stranraer will be restored from today.

Earlier this year South Ayrshire Council enforced an exclusion zone at Ayr station. This was because the privately-owned former Station Hotel has been deemed unsafe.

While Ayr station remains open for business, the exclusion zone means we have had to make changes to services to and from Ayr, including the cancellation of services between Ayr and Stranraer.

Following work by Network Rail engineers, including a safety risk assessment and some changes to the railway infrastructure, and a further test of the route this morning, it is now possible to reintroduce a limited number of ScotRail services between Ayr and Stranraer.

While this won’t restore all services, it is a significant improvement for our customers.

The 16.59 Stranraer-Glasgow Central and the 18.13 Glasgow Central-Stranraer services will operate today.

On Friday the following services will operate:

07.00 Stranraer – Glasgow Central

08.08 Glasgow Central – Stranraer

16.59 Stranraer – Glasgow Central

18.13 Glasgow Central – Stranraer

As soon as we have a further update on which services will operate over the weekend we will let our customers know via our website, app, and on social media.

Bus services will continue to operate between Ayr and Stranraer for the train services that haven’t been reintroduced, and for services between Ayr and Girvan.

The existing timetable for services between Ayr and Glasgow Central remains in place.

Customers are advised to download the ScotRail app, visit JourneyCheck, or take a look at @ScotRail on Twitter for the most up to date information.

Alex Hynes, ScotRail Alliance Managing Director, said:

“We know it has been a challenging time for our customers, so we are pleased to be able to restore some services between Ayr and Stranraer.

“We are working flat out with South Ayrshire Council and our task force partners to get all services to and from Ayr back to normal as soon as possible.”

Bill Reeve, Chair of Ayr Station Task Force, said:

“The partial resumption of rail passenger services between Stranraer and Ayr is a welcome step towards resolving this issue, while we remain mindful there is still work to be done. The Task Force partners continue to work together to ensure we can bring back a full timetable as quickly as possible and we thank businesses, commuters and the local community for their continued patience while we do.”

 

[diamond chap]

Normal service resumed: http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/service_disruptions/199880.aspx

 

[geoffk]

Has the future of the hotel been decided?

 

[JModulo]

Normal service resumed: http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/service_disruptions/199880.aspx

Not normal working of the station though however.

Has the future of the hotel been decided?

Believe for now minimal work is being undertaken to make it safe however it is likely it will be demolished.

 

[Neil Urquhart]

So what work has actually been undertaken on the hotel, does anyone have any details/photos of the latest developments?

 

[JModulo]

So what work has actually been undertaken on the hotel, does anyone have any details/photos of the latest developments?

Most of the roof items have been secured (Chimneys, Framework, Stonework etc) to prevent them from falling. The main building is now enclosed almost fully with scaffolding and sheeting - similiar to the scene of what is being done at Chernobyl...

 

[diamond chap]

Most of the roof items have been secured (Chimneys, Framework, Stonework etc) to prevent them from falling. The main building is now enclosed almost fully with scaffolding and sheeting - similiar to the scene of what is being done at Chernobyl...

Said scaffolding and sheeting shown in the picture below. This was taken from the western side of the building; the sheeting continues over the roof and there is similar scaffolding and sheeting on the eastern side too.

 

[och aye]

It would be a shame if the hotel got knocked down, but safety comes first!

 

[DarloRich]

It would be a shame if the hotel got knocked down, but safety comes first!

The above picture shows a fairly standard style building wrap to allow works to carry on under cover, retain any dislodged masonry and prevent further weather damage.

 

[Carlisle]

Believe for now minimal work is being undertaken to make it safe however it is likely it will be demolished.

I’s it now like similar siituations elsewhere,? ie the local authorities will now have to begin a possibily lengthy process to find a developer willing to actually take the project on or failing that, as a last resort they’ll have to find considerable funds from somewhere for demolition

 

[MadMac]

Is it now like similar siituations elsewhere? ie the local authorities will now have to begin a possibly lengthy process to find a developer willing to actually take the project on or failing that, as a last resort they’ll have to find considerable funds from somewhere for demolition

I saw something recently that mentioned 3 million quoted for a demolition cost, with another ‘0’ for refurbishment/retention.

 

[BRX]

It seems like some new legislation is being introduced to try and deal with this kind of problem.

https://www.scotsman.com/business/n...ale-of-scotland-s-derelict-sites-1-4852359?l=

Radical new powers allowing councils to order the sale of “eyesore” derelict sites and vacant land across Scotland are to be introduced, the Scottish Government has confirmed.

Empty homes, abandoned shops, derelict hotels and gap sites could be among those targeted by the introduction of compulsory sale orders (CSOs) after planning minister Kevin Stewart said they would be introduced in the course of this Parliament.

 

[Carlisle]

It seems like some new legislation is being introduced to try and deal with this kind of problem.

https://www.scotsman.com/business/n...ale-of-scotland-s-derelict-sites-1-4852359?l=

Sounds a good idea to ensure future properties get sold before they turn into crumbling wrecks, but difficult to see how it’ll solve the problem of existing dilapidated structures where owners have long since disappeared/ gone bust or can’t afford to do anything with them .

 

[Meerkat]

Sounds a good idea to ensure future properties get sold before they turn into crumbling wrecks, but difficult to see how it’ll solve the problem of existing dilapidated structures where owners have long since disappeared/ gone bust or can’t afford to do anything with them .

I guess you could give the council the right to give six months notice for owners to claim ownership, if none appear then the council can sell it and hold the funds for X years before keeping the cash.

 

[route:oxford]

Sounds a good idea to ensure future properties get sold before they turn into crumbling wrecks, but difficult to see how it’ll solve the problem of existing dilapidated structures where owners have long since disappeared/ gone bust or can’t afford to do anything with them .

It's anything but straightforward, particularly in Scotland where flats, apartment and tenement blocks all have multiple feuhold owners.

Take a look at the bar in the Scotsman picture, There's probably one feuholder for the bar and a further 4-8 feuholders for the apartments above. Should the other owners suffer a loss of property all thanks to one single bad owner that caused the initial dilapidation?

Then it gets really interesting when you bring "ransom strips" into the mix. I've worked on a few cases, including a CPO, where nobody has noticed until far too late that a metre wide strip is owned by a third (usually linked) party. It's got to the stage where an entire supermarket or hotel has been built out before the owner steps forward and says "you're not crossing my land".

Similar for the former "big house" or gate houses of an estate. It's a ring-fenced title within the larger estate and the only access is through the estate.

 

[BRX]

I guess you could give the council the right to give six months notice for owners to claim ownership, if none appear then the council can sell it and hold the funds for X years before keeping the cash.

Doesn't really help if there's no-one who wants to buy a site though.

 

[Meerkat]

How many sites would be worth less than the demolition costs?
I guess there are few with extreme pollution/asbestos issues, or are undemolishable due to grading.

 

[mde]

Resurrecting this old thread - there's some potentially positive news on Ayr station, albeit, the future seems a bit less uncertain for the former hotel…

Courtesy of STV News:

New train station set to be built in Ayr town centre
The erection of a new station has been described as 'urgent' by Transport Scotland.

A new train station will be built in Ayr town centre to replace the historic railway stop once housed in a crumbling hotel.

ScotRail staff have been working from portable cabins for months after Station Hotel was declared unsafe to enter last year.

The erection of a new station has been described as "urgent" by national agency Transport Scotland.
The future of the Victorian hotel is still up in the air until a structural report on the building is finished.

A Transport Scotland spokesman said: "There is clearly an urgent need to build adequate station facilities at Ayr station, one of ScotRail's busiest.

"Ideally, this should be linked to plans for the Station Hotel, Burns Statue Square and soon to be demolished Burns council office building. We stand ready to provide further support and guidance as this plan progresses."

South Ayrshire Council leader Councillor Douglas Campbell said there is an "opportunity to have a modern railway facility in Ayr."

But he said a range of options are being considered with nothing ruled in or out.

Next steps will include the council sharing the structural report with a specialist task-force group, which was set up to deal with the crisis at the station building.

The report on the state of the iconic hotel is due at the end of the month.

The Transport Scotland spokesman said : "Returning full rail passenger services to Ayrshire and Dumfries and Galloway as quickly and safely as possible was the key initial priority. We created a task-force to make sure that appropriate measures were taken and to provide the necessary financial support to make the building safe in order to allow the line to continue to be used.

"The focus now is on ensuring that any long-term plan contributes to the economic prosperity of the town centre and communities south of Ayr. "

 

[380101]

Resurrecting this old thread - there's some potentially positive news on Ayr station, albeit, the future seems a bit less uncertain for the former hotel…

Courtesy of STV News:

They're currently clearing the old S&T site next to platform 4 to construct a semi permanent facility for traincrew.

I'd think any new build station will have to be on the current site as to move the whole lot would involve major track infrastructure work. Will be cheaper to demolish the bulk of the hotel and integrate a new modern station onto it.