<<< back to 1984 menu

Council Campaign to Fight Rail Closure

March 23rd, 1984, Barrhead News

This week the News received a report from the sub-committee of Neilston Community Council on the subject of the threat to the future of Neilston Railway station.

In publishing the following report, the News are confident that we are highlighting a topic which will be of considerable interest to commuters and those who make use of the rail link.

NEILSTON STATION - THE THREAT REMAINS

In 1983 Strathclyde Regional Council's Working Group on supported rail services presented its report to, and was adopted by the Highways and Transport Committee, chaired by Mr. Malcolm Waugh. Neilston residents, led by the Community Council, mounted a vociferous and effective campaign to fight the threatened closure of Neilston and Patterton stations. Many people have recently remarked that the campaign appears to have 'gone quiet' and might be forgiven for assuming that the threat to the Neilston line has been removed.

The purpose of this article and the leaflets being distributed in Neilston this week is to emphasise that the threat to our vital rail link is still very real. The Strathclyde plan includes elements, including application for grants to replace ageing rolling stock, which require consideration and approval at central government level. To date the government has chosen not to respond to the Regional Council's report. Although Strathclyde Regional Council has in the interim, implemented some parts of its plan e.g. the re-opening of Kilmaurs Station, the major proposals have stalled.

POSSIBLE NEW THREAT FROM BUSES - WHITE PAPER

The government's white paper entitled Buses will soon introduce legislation designed to reduce or eliminate local authorities subsidy to bus transport. MP Mr J Allan Stewart is adamant that these proposals in no sense imply that rail subsidies will necessarily be subjected to similar treatment.

However, Strathclyde Regions inter-preparation of the bus proposals are, predictably, very different from Mr Stewart' s. Malcolm Waugh contends that there is potential for massive cuts in public transport services, to the extent that the Neilston issue would become almost insignificant, if Government proposals on public transport subsidy are enacted.

We could end up with no train and an even more miserable bus service than we endure at present! We must not become complacent and assume that the line is safe because, apparently, nothing is happening.

BRITISH RAIL SOUTH ELECTRICS PASSENGER USAGE FIGURES
	1977	1978	1979	1980	1981	1982	1983
	000s	000s	000s	000s	000s	000s
Muirend	351	446	509	518	500	335	561
Williamwood	467	586	400	462	417	449	447
Whitecraigs	351	294	288	314	322	304	304
Patterton	231	373	272	243	261	330	329
Neilston	343	346	354	427	461	460	489