Derelict stations revival plan is full steam ahead
Mauchline and Cumnock bid
Trains could soon reconnect passengers in long- forgotten towns with the national rail network.
Campaigners believe stations in Cumnock and Mauchline are in prime position to be re- opened by Scottish Government transport chiefs, with hundreds of thousands of passengers anticipated to use both stations.
A public consultation into the future of Scotland’s rail network is currently ongoing, and although campaigners say progress can be slow they believe the former mining communities are strong contenders.
Rail experts estimate Cumnock would see around 200,000 passengers a year, while another 120,000 would use a re- opened station in Mauchline.
Now they are urging people in Ayrshire to submit responses to the consultation to show government chiefs why these stations would provide a much- needed lifeline.
Roderick McDougall, a former Glasgow City Council transport expert, said: “These numbers would make them really viable stations. But viability depends on a lot of other factors.
“I’ve looked at all the stations reopened in the last 15 years and the current passengers numbers and compared that with the local population.
“Reopening both Cumnock and Mauchline shouldn’t make a difference to timetables, and that’s why they would be two of the easiest stations to reopen.”
Mr McDougall, who serves as vice chair for Railfuture Scotland, believes that the difference improved rail connections could make for East Ayrshire communities should make them a key target for transport chiefs.
He said: “We reckon that every journey of less than 20 miles to the nearest employment centre should be running on a 15- minute timetable.
“There is a case for Cumnock or even down as far as New Cumnock to be a terminus point for any new service.
“This is one of the things that we are trying to get through to the government. The employment and social opportunities are immense.”
Services to Mauchline and Cumnock, on the main Glasgow to Dumfries line through Kilmarnock, were withdrawn following the infamous Beeching cuts of the mid 1960’ s.
The last engine stopped in the towns on December 6, 1965 after more than 100 years of rail travel.
And while stations in Auchinleck and New Cumnock were reinstated in the late 80’ s and early 90’ s, Mauchline and Cumnock have continued to be ignored by rail chiefs.
Ken Sutherland, who is spearheading the campaign to encourage the public to respond to the government consultation, said: “I feel like these communities really deserve a railway station.
“Every railway line or station that has reopened has outstripped the predictions by factors of two, three, four.
“I think the best thing is for people in Mauchline and Cumnock to respond, and put forward their specific case for these stations.”
East Ayrshire Council has already vowed to support the bid to return rail travel to Mauchline, but campaigners say the current government consultation could be key to winning the fight.
There are a number of former stations around Ayrshire with tracks still in situ that could once again serve passengers, including the former Annbank station. Projected passenger numbers produced by Railfuture also show the potential benefit to the rail network of bringing trains back to parts of North and East Ayrshire.
The consultation document can be found on the Transport Scotland website, and is open for responses until Friday, February 24.