Council and community opposes plan to block Renfrewshire rail bridges
EAST Renfrewshire Council is opposing Highways England plans to block up four Lanarkshire & Ayrshire Railway (L&A) bridges on the old formation between Neilston and Uplawmoor as it wants the four-mile length of former double track retained in the first instance for a cyclepath and for possible longer-term use to reopen the railway itself.
Highways England, working on behalf of the Department for Transport to manage the Historical Railways Estate, says that infilling the four bridges, which have not seen a train since the line was closed in 1962, is the safest and most economical way forward.
Significance
The bridges were built in characteristic L&A concrete with the line in 1903, to link the Lanarkshire coalfields with Ardrossan harbour. The L&A was absorbed by the Caledonian Railway and initially carried express boat trains linking Glasgow with Belfast and Arran and boosted commuter traffic in Neilston, which is the terminus of the current electric service from Glasgow Central.
The line also linked with the Glasgow-Kilmarnock line at Lugton, and there have been proposals to use the almost-intact trackbed to extend the line to Uplawmoor, providing the village with a station once again, following the closure of its original station on the main line in 1966.
Uplawmoor station was famous for having stood in, just before closure, for Tannochbrae in the popular BBC Dr Finlay’s Casebook drama, with two preserved Caledonian Railways coaches, hauled by BR J36 0-6-0 No. 65345, specially repainted into period livery for its TV debut.
The council says that infilling the bridges, which it regards as historic in their own right as intact pieces of local railway heritage, would prevent development of the cycle path and rule out for good the possible reinstatement of the railway. Support for keeping the bridges open is also coming from local community groups in Uplawmoor. Development work, involving council engineers, Sustrans and local community interests is well advanced.
Reaction
Uplawmoor Development trust chairman David Riddet said: “We are aware of Highways England’s proposal to fill in these bridges and have lodged our objections with them. We believe that East Renfrewshire Council would be unlikely to grant permission for the work to be carried out.”
A spokesman for Highways England said: “We have been in contact with East Renfrewshire Council to discuss the issue of the bridges on the line between Neilston and Uplawmoor. We enjoy a strong working relationship with local authorities, allowing for open discussion on matters such as safety, responsibilities and potential transfer of assets to councils.”