Largs railway station

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Largs
Old style blue Enamel Station Name board in April 1984
Location
Place Largs
Local authority North Ayrshire
Coordinates 55°47′34″N 4°52′02″W / 55.7928, -4.8673Coordinates: 55°47′34″N 4°52′02″W / 55.7928, -4.8673
Grid reference NS202592
Operations
Station code LAR
Managed by First ScotRail
Platforms in use 2
Live departures and station information from National Rail
Annual Rail Passenger Usage
2004/05 * 0.376 million
Passenger Transport Executive
PTE SPT
History
1 June 1885 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 Largs from Office of Rail Regulation statistics.
Portal:Largs railway station
 UK Railways Portal

Largs railway station is a railway station in the town of Largs, North Ayrshire, Scotland. The station is managed by First ScotRail and is on the Ayrshire Coast Line 43 miles (69 km) south west of Glasgow Central.

Contents

[edit] History

The station was originally opened on 1 June 1885 by the Glasgow and South Western Railway,[1] as the terminus of the extension of the former Ardrossan Railway to Largs. The station originally had four platforms however only two remain today, and although they both see use, neither can be used to full potential as only a single electrified line exists between Largs and Saltcoats.

Originally a modestly sized station with a glazed canopy, the majority of the station was destroyed on 11 July 1995 when the 6.15am Glasgow Central train crashed through the buffers and demolished both parts of the station and various shops on the main street of Largs. Fortunately the driver was able to leave his cab to warn the passengers to brace themselves shortly before disaster struck and there were no serious injuries on the train or elsewhere.

The station operated via temporary structures for many years, and a £200,000 makeover (including a new station) was completed in 2005, albeit much simpler than the original station.

[edit] Services

There is an hourly service daily to Glasgow Central from Largs.

  Preceding station     National Rail     Following station  
Terminus   First ScotRail

Ayrshire Coast Line

   Fairlie
Historical Railways
Terminus   Glasgow and South Western Railway

Largs Branch

   Fairlie
Line and station open

[edit] Gallery

General view of the platforms looking north in April 1984, prior to electrification

This pre-electrification view shows a DMU awaiting departure with the 11:52 to Glasgow.

Class 107 DMU at Largs in April 1984

Looking from the footbridge to the end of the line after electrification

The 06:15 from Glasgow on 11 July 1995, having travelled the length of the concourse and crashing through a shop to the main street beyond

The 06:15 from Glasgow on 11 July 1995, having gone over the buffers, travelled the length of the concourse and crashed through a shop to the main street beyond.

[edit] References

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ Butt, p. 139

[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.