CATHCART CIRCLE LINES

The 'Cathcart Circle Lines' form a suburban railway route linking Glasgow (Central) to Cathcart via a circular line, with branches to Newton and Neilston. All of the routes serve Glasgow's southern suburbs, i.e.on the south bank of the River Clyde. The routes are part of the Strathclyde Partnership for Transport network.

Contents

History

Constituent lines

Cathcart Circle

Newton Branch Line

Neilston Branch Line

Passenger services

Following Electrification in 1962

West Coast Main Line electrification 1974

Argyle Line opening in 1979

2006/07

History

The 'Cathcart Circle Lines' are formed of lines built by the Cathcart District Railway (Cathcart Circle) and the Lanarkshire and Ayrshire Railway (Newton and Neilston lines). The first part of the railway, inaugurated in 1880, was the Glasgow to Mount Florida. The Newton and Neilston branches were originally built to provide a through route from the Lanarkshire coalfields to ports such as Ardrossan on the Ayrshire coast. There is still a junction with other lines at Newton, but the track beyond Neilston has been lifted.
The railways originally carried significant amounts of freight, but commuter trains are the only regular users now. Football special services are sometimes run to Mount Florida and King's Park stations for major matches at Hampden Park.
When the lines were originally built, much of the land around them was open countryside. The existence of a commuter railway was a major factor in the development of Glasgow's southern suburbs.
The route was electrified in 1962 to the standard 25 kV AC, however limited clearances in the cuttings between Pollokshields East and Mount Florida meant that that section was electrified at 6.25kV. The Class 303 units - which had dual voltage capability - replaced steam trains and early diesel units.

Constituent lines

The Cathcart Circle Lines are comprised of the following lines:

Cathcart Circle

Built by the Cathcart District Railway. "Outer Circle" services run in a clockwise direction, while "Inner Circle" services run in an anti-clockwise direction.

Newton Branch Line

Built by the Lanarkshire and Ayrshire Railway. Diverges from the Cathcart Circle Line at either Mount Florida (clockwise) or Langside (anti-clockwise).

Neilston Branch Line

Also built by the Lanarkshire and Ayrshire Railway. Diverges from the Cathcart Circle Line at Cathcart (clockwise only).

Passenger services

Following Electrification in 1962

Passenger services were operated by Class 303 units with services around the west side of the Cathcart circle onto the L&AR lines eastbound, terminating at Kirkhill, whilst east side services running through to Newton, with many being extended through to Motherwell via the Clydedale Junction Railway route. Following electrification of the Inverclyde Line in 1967 Class 311 units were also used.

West Coast Main Line electrification 1974

Electrification of the West Coast Main Line which included the Hamilton Circle lines resulting in east side services being terminated at Newton. Peak time services from east and west sides operated to Motherwell via Blantyre and Hamilton.

Argyle Line opening in 1979

Opening of the Argyle Line brought more changes, with the major change being the extension of west side services from Kirkhill to Newton.

2006/07

Passenger services are operated by First ScotRail, with most services using Class 314 electric multiple units although Class 318s & Class 334s (Juniper units) make occasional appearances on the line. There are currently plans to retire the Class 314s by 2010 and move the Class 320s currently used on the North Clyde Line to the South Bank of the Clyde. All units are maintained at Shields Road depot, Glasgow.