Kilmarnock railway station

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Kilmarnock
A view of the station's Platform 1 in 2007
Location
Place Kilmarnock
Local authority East Ayrshire
Operations
Station code KMK
Managed by First ScotRail
Platforms in use 4
Live departures and station information from National Rail
Annual Rail Passenger Usage
2002/03 * 0.398 million
2004/05 * 0.462 million
2005/06 * 0.455 million
Passenger Transport Executive
PTE SPT
History
20 July 1846 Opened
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 Kilmarnock from Office of Rail Regulation statistics.
Portal:Kilmarnock railway station
 UK Railways Portal

Kilmarnock railway station is a railway station in Kilmarnock, East Ayrshire, Scotland. The station is managed by First ScotRail and is served by trains on the Glasgow South Western Line.

Contents

[edit] History

The station was opened on 20 July 1846 by the Glasgow, Paisley, Kilmarnock and Ayr Railway.[1] This was the third Kilmarnock railway station to be built: the first and second stations were solely termini for the Kilmarnock and Troon Railway.

[edit] Current operations and station description

The station is built well above street level and is accessed via either a subway and stairs or a more circuitous but step-free route along a narrow access road.

The station has a total of 4 platforms; two north-facing bays for both terminating Glasgow services and trains on the Glasgow to Stranraer via Kilmarnock route, on which trains reverse out of the station towards the junction with the Troon line. Two through platforms serve Glasgow to Carlisle trains, as well as Stranraer to Newcastle services. The bay platforms (1 and 2) as well as platform 3 are covered by a partly glazed roof and directly accessible from the ticket office. Platform 4 is used infrequently, accessed via a subway and stairs, and afforded only a bus stop style shelter.

The train service to Glasgow is limited by the fact that the line is single track northwards as far as Barrhead with only a static passing loop at Lugton. This limits the route's potential as a commuter service, and a dynamic passing loop is being considered to help rectify this.[2] As of 2007, it takes some 40 minutes to reach Glasgow from Kilmarnock over First ScotRail.

[edit] Signalling

The present Kilmarnock signal box is located north of the station, in the vee of the junction. Opened on 12 April 1976, it is a plain brick building containing an NX (entrance-exit) panel on the upper storey. It replaced four mechanical signal boxes in a scheme that saw the track layout greatly simplified. Originally, the box worked Track Circuit Block to Hurlford signal box and Scottish Region Tokenless Block over the single lines to Barassie Junction and Lugton signal boxes. Kilmarnock signal box was severely damaged in a suspected arson attack on 25 December 2006.

[edit] 2007 & 2008 gallery

The bay platforms 1 & 2 with a train from Glasgow
A view along platform 3, with platform 4 to the right. Looking towards Glasgow.
The Kilmarnock railway viaduct
One of the old bay platforms for Newmilns, Galston, Darvel and Strathaven. Looking towards Dumfries.
A train entering across the viaduct from New Cumnock
A coal train waiting for access to the Ayr line via Gatehead and Drybridge. The Andrew Barclay works are visible to the left of the train.
The 'Burns Line' plaque
Inaugural run souvenir ticket for 12 May 1984. Auchinleck - Kilmarnock - Kilmaurs.

[edit] References

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ Butt (1995)
  2. ^ RAILSCOT on Glasgow and Kilmarnock Joint Railway (retrieved 19 December 2006)

[edit] Sources

  • Butt, R.V.J. (1995). The Directory of Railway Stations: details every public and private passenger station, halt, platform and stopping place, past and present, 1st, Sparkford: Patrick Stephens Ltd. ISBN 1-8526-0508-1. OCLC 60251199. 


  Preceding station     National Rail     Following station  
Troon   First ScotRail

Glasgow South Western Line

   Kilmaurs
Auchinleck   First ScotRail

Glasgow South Western Line

  
Historical Railways
Connection with
GPK&AR		   Caledonian and Glasgow & South Western Railways

Glasgow, Barrhead and Kilmarnock Joint Railway

   Kilmaurs
Line and station open
Hurlford
Line open; station closed		   Glasgow and South Western Railway

Glasgow, Paisley, Kilmarnock and Ayr Railway

   Crosshouse
Line and station closed
Gatehead
Line open; station closed		   Glasgow and South Western Railway

Kilmarnock and Troon Railway

   Connection with
GPK&AR