Rail sums just don’t add up

Dec 26 2008

I WOULD like to respond to Mr Climie's letter concerning the Stranraer to Ayr line (letters Friday, December 5).

Whilst Mr Climie raises an interesting point about the social value of this railway his comments concerning investment in the line and the golf arrangements are seriously misplaced. I would be very interested to hear details of the £80m investment into the line as Transport Scotland have no plans other than re-casting of the timetable to make any significant investment into the route. For the sum he is referring to, you could have a double tracked railway between Ayr and Girvan and re-opened stations at Dailly, Pinwherry, New Luce, Dunragit and Castle Kennedy. Dream on!

The rail-sea connection at Stranraer has been broken by Stena not First ScotRail as Mr Climie erroneously intimates and as for his 50 minute time saving by bussing people from Ayr I am pleased to advise him that trains now run considerably faster than they did at the Rainhill trials and a special from Ayr would probably undertake the journey to Girvan in around 25 minutes. As the corresponding coach journey from Ayr to Turnberry would take around 30 to 35 minutes, maybe more given the volume of traffic attending the event and allowing for a 15 minute bus journey from Girvan to the golfing venue by comparison, then use of rail to Girvan makes perfect sense.

As for the use of Ayr station car park as a coach park pray are commuters just meant to lump it that week then and park elsewhere as Ayr gets a temporary second bus station? Given the size of Ayr station and its car park transferring passengers there would be no quicker than at Girvan and could take longer.

Given the large carbon footprint advantage conveying passengers by rail via Girvan would have in this particular instance and the extra revenue First ScotRail are likely to accrue I think it unlikely they will be taking Mr Climie's comments too seriously.

Gordon Richards

By email.