The Argyle Line is a suburban railway located in West Central Scotland. The line serves the commercial and shopping districts of Glasgow's central area, and connects towns from West Dunbartonshire to South Lanarkshire. Named for Glasgow's Argyle Street, the line uses the earlier cut-and-cover tunnel running beneath that thoroughfare.
The term "Argyle Line" is commonly used to describe: the extensive urban passenger train service that connects the towns and suburbs of North Clyde with Motherwell, Larkhall, and Lanark, to the southeast. Of the 48 stations, 4 are in West Dunbartonshire, 4 in East Dunbartonshire, 17 in Glasgow City, 10 in North Lanarkshire, and 13 in South Lanarkshire. the central portion of railway infrastructure encompassing less than .
History
Prior to 1964
The Glasgow Central Railway (GCR) under central Glasgow opened in 1886, connecting the Lanarkshire and Dunbartonshire Railway at and Stobcross Railway at to the Lanarkshire and Ayrshire Railway near , Rutherglen and Coatbridge Railway at , Clydesdale Junction Railway and Polloc and Govan Railway at , and Clydesdale Junction Railway at Newton. The line closed in 1964 as a result of the Beeching Axe.
Overview 1979 opening
On 1 November 1979, the Queen officially opened the Argyle Line, with services commencing four days later. This joint venture between British Rail and the Strathclyde Passenger Transport Executive (SPTE) comprised a tunnel diversion and reopening the Stobcross–Rutherglen low-level line. However, the Argyle name later applied to the combined – routes.
Infrastructure
The former Caledonian Railway (CR) line via Whiteinch, , and (Kelvin Hall) remained abandoned. The new connection with the original North British Railway route via and a rebuilt also incorporated a grade-separated junction with the Queen Street Low Level route. The already electrified North Clyde Line northwest of Partick and West Coast Main Line (WCML) southeast of Rutherglen were linked by laying double tracks and installing overhead electrical wiring along the disused section that had separated these networks. At Rutherglen, a new platform was built and the main line ones abandoned.
Finnieston West Junction– is sub-surface: Brickwork was power washed and repaired. Concrete slabs superseded ballast. Former GCR stations at and remained disused. The frontage of Glasgow Green station was demolished in March 2012, and the entrance to Glasgow Cross station (adjacent to the Tollbooth) has been turned into ventilation ducts, visible from the traffic island between Trongate and London Road. became a new station west of the former Glasgow Cross. (called Finnieston until 1986) was rebuilt. Slightly to the west of the original GCR Stobcross station, the only commonality between the two is the location of much of the eastbound platform (which was originally the westbound one). A new siding enabled westbound trains to stable and turn back. Tunnel lengths are Kelvinhaugh (Finnieston West Junction–Exhibition Centre) , Stobcross (Exhibition Centre–Anderston) , Anderston (Anderston–Glasgow Green) , Canning St (Glasgow Green–Bridgeton) , and Dalmarnock Rd (Bridgeton–Dalmarnock) .
Flooding
In Spring 1994, the River Kelvin breached its banks releasing a deluge into the Exhibition Centre–Argyle Street section to a depth of more than , trapping two trains, and resulting in a nine-month closure. Dalmarnock has been flooded several times.
Extensions
The Larkhall Line was opened as an extension to Argyle Line services in December 2005 by First Minister Jack McConnell. Formerly the CR Coalburn Branch, the rebuilt/new stations are , , and the terminus. The branch is single line throughout, with a crossing loop at Allanton. , formerly a North Clyde service, became a destination.
The Whifflet Line service that reopened in October 1993 received electrification of the Rutherglen–Whifflet section in December 2014. This enabled a rerouting through Glasgow Central Low Level to the western suburbs, increased frequency on the route, reduced WCML usage conflict, and created a diversionary path for long distance WCML services. At the same time, Lanark services switched to Glasgow Central High Level.
Service patterns
Services
Routes
At Dalmuir Park Junction, southeastwards enters the Yoker line, before rejoining at Hyndland East Junction, and eastwards remains on the North Clyde (officially North Electric Main Line) via Singer and Westerton Junction, where the Milngavie Branch joins. This route continues via Knightswood North and South junctions, and Hyndland.