Wemyss Bay railway station

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Wemyss Bay
Interior of the railway station
Location
Place Wemyss Bay
Local authority Inverclyde
Operations
Managed by First ScotRail
Station code WMS
Platforms in use 2
Annual Passenger Usage
2002/03 * 0.161 million
2004/05 ** 0.165 million
Strathclyde Partnership for Transport
History
1865 Opened
Strathclyde Partnership for Transport
List of Strathclyde stations:
Glasgow Subway
National Rail - UK railway stations

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T
U V W X Y Z  

Annual passenger usage based on sales of tickets in stated financial year(s) which end or originate at Wemyss Bay.
Portal:Wemyss Bay railway station
UK Rail Portal

Wemyss Bay railway station is a railway station on the Inverclyde Line. Located in the village of Wemyss Bay, Inverclyde, Scotland the station incorporates the Caledonian MacBrayne ferry terminal connecting mainland Scotland to Rothesay on the Isle of Bute. The station is managed by First ScotRail.

Contents

[edit] History

Work began in late 1862 on the single track railway line branching from the main route at Port Glasgow and taking an inland route across to the coast at Inverkip before descending to Wemyss Bay. This was to connect to Clyde steamer services for Rothesay, Largs and Millport, Isle of Cumbrae, allowing a combined train and steamer journey time of an hour and a half compared with a typical time of three hours by steamer from Glasgow. The Wemyss Bay Steamboat Company was formed to own the connecting steamers, competing with the private owners of other Clyde steamer services. The route opened on 15 May 1865, but over ambitious timetables led to severe delays during the first year damaging the company's reputation, and the route subsequently faced strong competition from other pierheads.

[edit] Station Building

The station was designed by James Miller in 1903 for the Caledonian Railway and is a remarkable in its use of glass, steel and curves. The station is noted for its architectural qualities and, although one of Scotland's finest railway buildings, it has suffered from neglect.

[edit] References

  • Clyde Pleasure Steamers - Ian McCrorie, Orr, Pollock & Co. Ltd., Greenock, ISBN 1-869850-00-9

[edit] External links


The station seen from the road, with MV Bute at the slip.
The station seen from the road, with MV Bute at the slip.
The pier and station from the south, with MV Coruisk being loaded.
The pier and station from the south, with MV Coruisk being loaded.


Preceding station National Rail Following station
Terminus   First ScotRail

 Inverclyde Line 

  Inverkip
Historical Railways
Terminus   Caledonian Railway

 Greenock and Wemyss Bay Railway

  Inverkip