Whifflet Line facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Whifflet Line |
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Whifflet railway station
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| Overview | |
| Owner | Network Rail |
| Locale | Glasgow Scotland |
| Termini | Glasgow Central Motherwell |
| Stations | 7 |
| Service | |
| System | National Rail |
| Operator(s) | ScotRail |
| Rolling stock | Class 318, British Rail Class 320 |
| Technical | |
| Track gauge | 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) |
The Whifflet Line is a railway line in Scotland. It's part of the train network around Glasgow, managed by Strathclyde Partnership for Transport. This line helps people travel between Glasgow city centre and towns like Coatbridge.
Contents
History of the Whifflet Line
The Whifflet Line was built a long time ago, between 1863 and 1865. It was first called the Rutherglen and Coatbridge Railway. It was part of a bigger railway company called the Caledonian Railway.
Trains started carrying goods like coal and iron in September 1865. Passenger trains began running in August 1866. The line has been used continuously since then.
In 1966, passenger services stopped on the line. This was due to a plan called the Beeching Axe, which closed many railway lines. For the next 20 years, the line was mostly used for freight trains.
However, the line was reopened for passengers on October 4, 1993. A new station was built at Whifflet.
What the Line Looks Like
Today, the Whifflet Line serves seven different stations. It connects areas in south-east Glasgow, Bargeddie, and Coatbridge to Glasgow city centre.
Between Glasgow Central and Rutherglen, the Whifflet Line shares tracks with the West Coast Main Line. This part of the line has electricity for electric trains. After Rutherglen, the line branches off towards Coatbridge, and this section is also now electric.
Train Services on the Line
The trains on the Whifflet Line are operated by ScotRail.
How Services Changed Over Time
When the line reopened in 1993, different types of diesel trains were used. These included older models from the 1950s and newer ones from the 1980s. By 2002, more modern trains took over the services.
From 2009, trains usually ran every half hour. Most services used two-carriage trains.
Electric Trains from 2014
In late 2014, the Whifflet Line became electric. This meant electric trains could now use the line. From December 14, 2014, the Whifflet Line services became part of the Argyle Line.
Now, electric trains run through Glasgow Central Low Level to the western suburbs. A Sunday service also started, running hourly from Balloch to Motherwell via Whifflet.
Future Plans for the Line
In 2006, Network Rail suggested plans to add electricity to the Rutherglen to Whifflet section. This was part of a big upgrade plan for Scotland's railways.
The main reasons for this upgrade were to have more frequent trains on the Whifflet Line. It also provided an electric route for long-distance trains if their usual path was blocked. This upgrade was completed, and the new timetable started in December 2014.
