Paisley Gilmour Street railway station

Twentieth century

The station was electrified as part of the 1967 Inverclyde Line. Ayrshire Coast Line platforms (then numbered 1 and 2) were wired, however the wires finished a short distance west of the station. These were extended as part of the Ayrshire Line electrification by British Rail in 1986. This 1986 work coincided with the renumbering of the platforms with the Glasgow bound platforms numbered 1 (Inverclyde) and 3 (Ayrshire), and the outbound platforms numbers 2 (Inverclyde) and 4 (Ayrshire).

Following extensive works,^[when?] the main access onto County Square, has been joined by a re-opened back access onto Back Sneddon Street. The access was originally built along with the station, but had closed and had been converted into a model shop for a number of years. Despite this conversion the shop retained the steps up to stations lower concourse, however it has been bricked up to prevent access. When the shop owner retired, it was decided to purchase the unit and convert it back as part of the step free access works for disabled people, as it would increase space within the station, and the works were fairly simple since the original stairs were retained. After re-opening it was signed as a dedicated exit to the station for those wishing to use the bus link to the airport, as the buses stop directly outside the door and the airport cycle route which passes outside.

Accidents and incidents

The Paisley Gilmour Street rail accident occurred on 16 April 1979. A service from Glasgow Central to Wemyss Bay crossed from the Down Fast Line to the Down Gourock Line under clear signals at Wallneuk Junction immediately to the east of Paisley Gilmour Street railway station. It collided head-on with a service from Ayr to Glasgow Central,^[8] which had left Platform 2 against a red signal.

The DMU had started away from the platform against a red signal. A type of SASSPAD^[9] (starting against signal at danger) accident, also colloquially known as ding-ding, and away. This accident prompted British Rail to change the Rules so that the bell or "Right Away" signal is only given when the Starting signal has been cleared.^[10]

Both drivers and five passengers were killed.^[8] 67 passengers and the guard of the Class 303 were injured and were taken to hospital.^[11] Only three of these remained in hospital.^[11]

The Ayrshire Coast services were diverted onto the Paisley Canal Line.^[12] Both lines were handed back for normal operations at 23:00 on 17 April.^[12]

Ferries

Trains connect Ayr along the Glasgow South Western Line to Stranraer where a bus link runs, route 350 operated by McLeans (except Sundays) to Cairnryan.^[17]

Buses

Connecting buses from this station also serve nearby Glasgow Airport (GLA) which is approximately 2 km (1.2 mi) away.^{[citation needed]} The Glasgow Airport Rail Link would have replaced this bus service with a direct train, but the project was cancelled in September 2009 due to public spending cuts.^[18] It is also possible to cycle from the station to the Airport using the Airport Cycle Route.