Redundant Glasgow subway cars on offer
Two brand-new trains made their service debut on the 4ft gauge tracks of the Glasgow Subway on 11th December (reports Hugh Dougherty).
The Stadler-built trains will be phased into service to run alongside the 44-yearold Metro Cammell sets which will be withdrawn as more new units come on stream. Once station works including fitting platform doors are complete the Stadler sets will work in driverless mode.
The older trains, built between 1977 and 1979 to replace the original subway rolling stock of 1896, will be surplus to requirements and Subway operator Strathclyde Partnership for Transport is putting out a call to preservationists and museums to put in bids for the stock.
Project director Mark Toner is keen to see the 1979-built stock go to good homes as part of SPT valuing the heritage of the railway. “We are aware that the gauge is not a common one but much of the equipment would be of interest and of use to preserved electric traction groups, perhaps in the heritage tramway field,” he said.
The withdrawn trains have traditional Westinghouse compressors and GEC traction motors and contactors. An earlier call in 2016, in the belief that the new trains would be in service by 2020, sparked interest from preservation groups and museums. Glasgow Riverside Museum, which already houses original Subway carriages, is very likely to accept a train.
SPT is aware that circumstances may have changed for many groups in the interim, and is renewing the call for interest in complete trains, motor coaches, trailers and equipment. Enquiries can be made to SPT via enquiry@spt.co.uk