Hillhead subway station facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Hillhead
|
|||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Scottish Gaelic: Hillhead  |
|||||||||||
 |
|||||||||||
| Location | 248 Byres Road Hillhead, Glasgow, G12 8SH Scotland |
||||||||||
| Coordinates | 55°52′33″N 4°17′32″W / 55.87583°N 4.29222°W | ||||||||||
| Operated by | SPT | ||||||||||
| Platforms | 2 (side platforms) | ||||||||||
| Tracks | 2 | ||||||||||
| Construction | |||||||||||
| Structure type | Underground | ||||||||||
| Parking | No | ||||||||||
| Bicycle facilities | No | ||||||||||
| Disabled access | No | ||||||||||
| History | |||||||||||
| Opened | 14 December 1896 | ||||||||||
| Rebuilt | 16 April 1980 | ||||||||||
| Traffic | |||||||||||
| Passengers (2018) |  1.831 million |
||||||||||
| Passengers (2019) | 1.837 million |
||||||||||
| Passengers (2020) |  0.651 million |
||||||||||
| Passengers (2021) | 0.837 million |
||||||||||
| Passengers (2022) | 1.623 million |
||||||||||
| Services | |||||||||||
|
|||||||||||
Hillhead subway station is a busy train station in Glasgow, Scotland. It is part of the Glasgow Subway system. You can find its main entrance on Byres Road in the Hillhead area.
This station is super handy for visiting two popular spots. It's the closest subway stop to the beautiful Glasgow Botanic Gardens. It's also very near the famous University of Glasgow.
Hillhead is one of the busiest stations on the subway. Over 1.8 million people use it each year! This is because of all the shops on Byres Road. Also, many students use it to travel between the university and the city centre.
Contents
A Look Back: Hillhead Station's History
The Glasgow Subway system got a big makeover between 1977 and 1980. During this time, Hillhead station was completely rebuilt. Before, it had one platform in the middle for trains going both ways.
After the rebuild, it got a much bigger ticket area. They also added escalators to make it easier to get around. Plus, a new platform was added, so now there are two separate platforms.
Did you know Hillhead station is even in a song? Cliff Hanley wrote a song called The Glasgow Underground. It mentions Hillhead, using the local way of saying it: "Hillheed."
How Hillhead Station Works Today
When you enter Hillhead station, you'll see three machines where you can buy tickets. These are called automated ticket machines. If you need a ticket for a longer time or more travel info, there's an information centre. You can also find a ticket office with a staff member to help you.
To get onto the subway, you pass through one of six turnstiles. Three turnstiles are for entering the subway. The other three are for exiting after your journey.
To reach the trains, you can use one of two escalators or a staircase. Maps are placed around the station to help you find the right platform for your destination.
Hillhead is special because it's the only station with a shop inside! Right next to the ticket office, there's a Costa Pronto store where you can grab a drink or snack.
For safety, one of the platforms has a clear barrier with a handrail. This helps keep everyone safe while waiting for the train.
Modern Updates to the Station
Hillhead was the first station to get a big upgrade. This was part of a plan to make the whole subway system more modern. The improvements cost about £1.5 million.
As part of the upgrade, the old escalators were replaced. The inside of the station also got a fresh, new look. They improved the lighting and made it easier for people with disabilities to use the station.
The Alasdair Gray Mural
A famous artist named Alasdair Gray created a special artwork for the station. It's a large mural that shows scenes from the area around Hillhead. This amazing artwork was unveiled on September 16, 2012.
Alasdair Gray worked on the mural for over a year with another artist, Nichol Wheatley. They used ceramic tiles to create it. Gray said he knew the Hillhead area very well. He loved places like Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum and the Glasgow Botanic Gardens. He wanted to show the area and the people who use the subway in a fun and symbolic way.
How Many People Use Hillhead Station?
Hillhead station is very popular! Here's how many people used it in some recent years:
- In 2011/2012, about 1.834 million people used the station.
- In 2022, about 1.623 million people used the station.
