Railway Lines in the Armadale Area

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Updated 15 January 2008

Welcome to this page, which is under construction. 

Eventually, it will contain information about all the railway lines that have served Armadale in the past, as well as the new Airdrie-Bathgate line that will be constructed in the near future.  We look forward to reporting on developments in the area.

Robertson, Love & Co. Ltd. Printable version (1.82MB)

Description of the Introduction of Railways to Armadale: Past and Present Chap VII

• 11 November 1855: Monkland Railway Company reached an agreement with the trustees of James McHardy of Bathville to lay a track through his estate.  Initially, it provided only a goods service, but, eventually, when passengers were able to travel between Glasgow - Airdrie and Edinburgh - Bathgate, arrangements were made to convey Armadale's passengers between these places.
• 1858: A passenger station was built at Cappers to serve Armadale's passengers, 'an unpretending little building, with a waiting-room on the left side of the door capable of accommodating about a dozen passengers, and the booking-office on the other side, with little room for the stationmaster, who was also booking-clerk, to move about in, was erected on the south side of the single line of rails, a few yards west of the bridge..' Past and Present Chap VII
• 28 July 1863: Bathgate and Coatbridge Railway aka New Monkland Line (built by Monkland Railways) opened.

• 31 July 1865: the line was absorbed into the Edinburgh and Glasgow Railway.

• 1 August 1865: the Railway became part of North British Railway.

• 8 January 1956: the last passenger service between Edinburgh and Glasgow on the Bathgate and Coatbridge Railway stopped at Armadale Railway Station.  The Stationmaster at that time was Mr Gilroy. Freight services continued to use the line.

• February 1982: Freight services ceased running on the line, and the line was then lifted.

The old station, Armadale

Railway Archives for the Armadale Area at the National Archives of Scotland

NAS cat ref: RHP95305 and 42312: Bound plans and sections of proposed branch of Monkland Railways (subsidiary branches include Armadale Toll and Boghead), 1852
NAS ref no:  RHP127091: Plan of railway at Woodend Junction (NBR) 1894
NAS ref no:  RHP15828: Plan of Armadale branch of NBR, 1897
NAS ref no:  RHP29713: Plan of Armadale Station (NBR) 1900
NAS ref no:  RHP36844: Plan of Armadale Junction re proposed doubling of line between Woodend - Polkemmet Junction (NBR) 1900
NAS ref no:  RHP43519: Plans and sections of widening of NBR Airdrie-Bathgate line (includes ref to Woodend Junction, Armadale Station) 1900
NAS ref no:  RHP130399-130400: Detailed drawings of bridge over stream at Westcraigs (NBR) annotated re builder's offer, 1902
NAS ref no:  RHP130418-130419: Detailed drawing re bridge over public road between Armadale - Woodend Junction (NBR) annotated re builder's offer, 1902
NAS ref no:  RHP127093: Plan of alteration to sidings at Woodend Junction (NBR) 1902
NAS ref no:  RHP37164: Plan of fence and siding for Armadale Iron Co's foundry, Armadale Branch (NBR) 1902
NAS ref no:  RHP27131: Plan and section of level crossing at Netherhouses (NBR) 1905
NAS ref no:  RHP27130: Plan and section of proposed alteration to level crossing at Netherhouses (NBR) 1908
NAS ref no:  RHP28125: Plan of level crossing at Netherhouses (NBR) 1908
NAS ref no:  RHP37169: Plan of Armadale Branch (NBR) 1909
NAS ref no:  RHP36996: Plan of proposed bridge at Netherhouses Level Crossing (NBR) 1909
NAS ref no:  RHP127092: Plan of sidings at Woodend Junction (NBR) 1911
NAS ref no:  RHP37160: Plan of proposed additional siding for Atlas Steel Works on Armadale Branch (NBR) 1919
NAS ref no:  RHP37160: Plan showing proposed shunting arrangements at the Atlas Steel Foundry and Engineering Co on Armadale Branch (NBR) 1912
NAS ref no:  RHP127094: Plan of connections to: Westrigg, Southrigg, Blackrigg Collieries at Woodend Junction (NBR), 1921
NAS ref no:  RHP127095: Plan of railway at Woodend Junction (London and Eastern Railways), 1934
NAS ref no:  RHP38758: Track diagram of Armadale Branch c1940
NAS ref no:  RHP38554 and 38555: Plan of proposed alterations, Hardhill Road level crossing, Armadale (BR) 1953
NAS ref no:  RHP38945: Plan of permanent way renewal programme at Armadale Station (BR) 1960
NAS ref no:  RHP36343: Tracing plan of renewal of permanent way at Armadale Junction (BR) 1966

  Symbols of  Armadale's former railway station on the current Cycle Path

The Airdrie-Bathgate Rail Link

Amendments courtesy of Graeme Elliott

Current Developments of 2006 - 2010 Airdrie-Bathgate Railway Plans

For a copy of the newsletter, please visit www.airdriebathgateraillink.co.uk or email: info@airdriebathgateraillink.co.uk

National Helpline for enquiries (open 24 hours a day, every day of the year): 08457 114141

Up-to-date passenger information about possible disruption caused by work on the Rail Link: 08457 484950

The Airdrie-Bathgate Railway and Linked Improvements Bill was lodged with Scottish Parliament on 30th May, 2006.

During September, as part of the private bill's Preliminary Stage, a committee of five MSPs took evidence from interested parties such as representatives of West Lothian Council and local community councils.

The £300 million project, funded by Transport Scotland and delivered by Network Rail, aims to provide another rail route between Edinburgh and Glasgow by 2010.  It is planned that there will be four passenger trains every hour in both directions through West Lothian.  As a result, people living in the west of West Lothian will have direct rail access to Edinburgh and Glasgow.  Locally, apart from plans for upgrading Livingston North and Uphall Stations, Bathgate station will be relocated and a new station will be created at Armadale.  Figures cited by Network Rail suggest that Armadale could have over 1,000 boardings a day* making it a fairly large station, possibly bigger than the one at Bathgate.  Supporters of an additional halt at Blackridge are also optimistic that they have a strong case for their bid.  (*It is interesting to note that when the Bathgate - Edinburgh railway line was re-opened, initial estimates were for 278,000 passengers in the first year of operation, and 335,000 by 1989-90.  The actual figures turned out to be 335,000 and 932,000.  At first, the last train from Edinburgh Waverley was the 19.03.)

Participants in the consultation process so far have commented that their presentations were received sympathetically.  It was believed that the strong economic and social arguments for the new line to serve communities in West Lothian and North Lanarkshire had been clearly stated and had been well understood by the committee.

14 November 2006:  The Parliamentary Committee, responsible for scrutinising proposals, published its Preliminary Stage Report, which endorsed the general principles of the Airdrie-Bathgate Railway and Linked Improvements Bill and recommended that it should go forward as a Private Bill.

23 November 2006: The Bill proposing the construction of a new £300 million railway line between Airdrie and Bathgate was given unanimous support by members of the Scottish Parliament. 

Transport Scotland has committed funding for the project to a maximum of £299.7 million pounds.  Its declared aim: 'To provide a safe, reliable and efficient railway fit for the 21st century'.

The Bill moved to Consideration Stage where all aspects of the project's plans were scrutinised.

24 January 2007:  Oral evidence at the Consideration Stage began.

Wednesday 28 March 2007:  Unanimous approval of Airdrie-Bathgate Railway and Linked Improvements Bill was given by Parliament.  

9 May 2007:  The Bill received Royal Assent.  Phase One of the project (Advance Works: the double-tracking of the Bathgate-Edinburgh line and station upgrading) began with a completion target of 2008.

June 2007: Ron McAulay, Director, Scotland, Network Rail, and Stewart Stevenson MSP, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change, took part in the ceremonial sod-cutting at Livingston North station to signal the beginning of work on the project.

Autumn 2007 to 2008: The first phase is the upgrade of the Edinburgh - Bathgate to become a double-tracked railway.  Preparations for this involve widening of the track bed; renewal / replacement of bridges; upgrading of Livingston and Uphall Stations.  Once completed in 2008, this part of the line will be able to provided better, more reliable services between Bathgate and the capital.

Spring 2009: Construction of Armadale station is planned to begin.

Winter 2010: Anticipated completion of works, which will mean that services will be running the full length of the railway line by December 2010.  (Once completed, the entire length of the rail line Edinburgh Waverley to Glasgow Queen Street will be double tracked and electrified.

Advantages of the new services have been cited as:

• four trains per hour each direction Glasgow - Edinburgh (target speed: 80mph), with an anticipated 12,000 journeys daily on the new route;

• shorter journey times;

• improved reliability;

• better, safer passenger facilities;

• improved access to work, business, education and social opportunities;

• a reduction in road congestion and environmental effects, by providing travellers with a greener transport alternative, eg to M8 car journeys;

• an opportunity to integrate travel options by providing accessible facilities for pedestrians, cyclists, buses and car travellers (eg via better parking, cycle tracks and park-and-ride)

• a beneficial connection, particularly socially, between Central Belt communities while also bringing investment opportunities and economic growth.

What will the new Project involve?

• The railway line link between Bathgate and Drumgelloch will be re-opened.

• The current railway lines Bathgate - Edinburgh and Airdrie - Drumgelloch will be upgraded.

• Stations at Drumgelloch and Bathgate will be relocated while new stations will be created at Armadale and Caldercruix.  The hoped-for station at Blackridge still remains a proposal to be investigated.

• Stations at Airdrie, Livingston North and Uphall will be upgraded.

• The cycle track between Bathgate and Airdrie will be relocated.

• There will be improved park-and-ride facilities, more parking places will be created and facilities suitable for access by disabled passengers.