30 November 2007
SPT launches Larkhall Sunday services
One-year pilot scheme to start in December
Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT) is to fund Sunday train services between Larkhall and Glasgow for a year from Sunday 9 December.
The move, which will cost SPT £110,000, means trains will run from 9.25am until 10.40pm every Sunday between Larkhall Station and Glasgow’s Central Station via Merryton, Chatelherault, Hamilton Central, Hamilton West, Blantyre and Rutherglen.
Vice Chair of SPT and South Lanarkshire Councillor Davie McLachlan is convinced there is a demand for Sunday services on the route and says SPT’s investment in the pilot will be money well spent.
He said: “SPT has always supported the introduction of Sunday services on this route. A great number of people in Larkhall and Ferniegair are looking forward to the start of these services so I’m delighted that we’re able to provide them, particularly at this time of year when local people may want to travel into Glasgow for their Christmas shopping.”
Transport Scotland has supported and assisted with arrangements for the introduction of the Sunday services and has said it will consider funding the on-going provision of the services if the year’s trial proves successful.
Therefore the message to passengers is to use the service or face the possibility of losing it after a year. Cllr McLachlan continued: “Since we re-opened the Larkhall line two years ago, passenger numbers have exceeded all expectations and it has proved a great success. I’m confident that we’ll see the same response to the Sunday services. Basically, the higher the passenger numbers, the more chance there will be of the services being continued once the trial ends.”
Mary Dickson, Managing Director at First ScotRail, which will operate the new services, said: “The introduction of Sunday services on this route is great news for customers and testament to the success of the line since it reopened. We are delighted that so many people will benefit from these additional services and look forward to providing even further service enhancements in the future.”
The £35million Larkhall-Milngavie rail project was officially opened by then First Minister Jack McConnell on 9 December 2005. The project was funded by the Scottish Executive and SPT in partnership with South Lanarkshire Council and was Scotland’s largest rail enhancement project for 25 years.
Welcoming the introduction of Sunday services, Larkhall Councillor Jackie Burns said: “I am delighted with the commitment sworn by SPT to further invest in the Larkhall line and I am sure that passengers will demonstrate in using this service that it will boost those travelling to Glasgow. There are many local people who will gain greater access to employment and leisure and will benefit from this decision.”
Councillor Andy Carmichael, also Larkhall, added: “This Sunday service has been long awaited by the people of Larkhall which will provide a wide range of options for everyone. However for this service to remain after the one year period we will all have to use it or lose it.”
ends
Notes to editors:
- The Larkhall-Milgnavie Project included 4.7km of new railway from Larkhall to Hamilton with new stations built at Larkhall, Merryton and Chatelherault.
- 1.6km of new railway was also built from Maryhill to Anniesland and a new station was built at Kelvindale.
- The project saw the introduction of 71 trains a day between Larkhall and Glasgow and an extra two services an hour between Milngavie and Glasgow in the off-peak.
- 340,000 passengers travelling on this service in the first year, an increase of 53% more than projected.
- Sunday services will operate every hour from Larkhall starting at 9.25am.