Trains on track for major improvement

Sep 25 2009

AYRSHIRE railway services are still on track for improvement.

The news follows a government decision to ditch the planned Glasgow Airport rail link – long believed to be necessary for the improvements to services between Ayr and Glasgow.

Ayr MSP John Scott explained that Transport Scotland has confirmed that the infrastructure to support more services will be improved.

He said: “Despite the decision to axe the overall Glasgow Airport rail link project, Transport Scotland has assured me that the capacity and signalling improvements on the line between Glasgow and Paisley which are crucial to further developing rail services between Ayr and Glasgow have been retained.”

Mr Scott said that the news means that four Ayr to Glasgow trains every hour can still be achieved.

He added: “That means that the objective of introducing a four trains per hour service, serving Ayr, Prestwick and Troon and running to Glasgow, which is contained in the recently-published Strategic Transport Review, can still be progressed despite the loss of the overall airport rail link project.

“The railway line between Ayr and Glasgow is one of the busiest commuter routes in Scotland and I believe that the introduction of a more frequent service is one of the key local transport improvements that must be secured here in Ayrshire.

“With the news that the necessary increase in line capacity is still possible I will be continuing to press for this to be achieved at the earliest time possible.”