A reduced network 1970-1994

During the early 1970s one or two redundant stub-lines were closed but the bulk closures were now over. Much re-signalling work was carried out to reducethe costs incurred and increase the capacity of the lines. The West Coast Main Line was electrified the whole way from London to Glasgow carrying both passengers and freight. Most cities and towns still had a railway service. The railway still operated a local roads distribution service and this was privatised as United Carriers. Immediately long-haul freight was taken from the Railways and placed on the roads. It took the railway many years to re-claim the freight lost. During the 1980s a number of lines were re-opened to passenger service and new stations were opened. The problems of inner-city road traffic helped considerably. Unfortunately in the run-up to privatisation in the 1990s the local freight services were withdrawn to make the freight companies more profitable and thus easier to sell and a number of depots were closed. On the other hand much new rolling stock was built for passengers replacing equipment from the 1950s ro 1960s and the East Coast Main Line was electrified to Edinburgh.

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1970, 5 January	Kinross-shire Railway  Fife and Kinross Railway  Glenfarg Line (North British Railway)	Perth (Hilton Junction) to Cowdenbeath (North Junction) closed to passengers
1970, 5 January	Fife and Kinross Railway  Glenfarg Line (North British Railway)	Bridge of Earn to Milnathort closed to all traffic
1970, 5 January	Action (or is that completely?)	Touch North Junction to Touch South Junction closed to passengers
1970, 13 March	Dingwall and Skye Railway	Strathcarron to Stromeferry re-opens (following major blockage)
1970, April	Caledonian Railway  Wishaw and Coltness Railway  Clydesdale Junction Railway  Polloc and Govan Railway  Glasgow Central Station	West Coast Main line electrification authorised
1970, 4 May	Kinross-shire Railway   Fife and Kinross Railway	Milnathort to Kelty North Junction closed to freight
1970, 18 May	Alloa Railway	Alloa West Junction to Longcarse Junction (excluded) closed to freight
1970, 31 August	Border Union Railway	Longtown to Brunthill closed to freight
1970, 7 September	Formartine and Buchan Railway	Peterhead to Maud Junction closed to freight
1971, 7 June	Greenock and Ayrshire Railway	Greenock Clyde Port Authority Terminal (formerly Princes Pier) to Cartsburn Junction re-opened to freight
1971, 18 August	Ballochney Railway	Kipps Incline Foot to Greenside Jn closed to freight
1971, 1 October	Largs Branch (Glasgow and South Western Railway)	Fairlie Pier to Fairlie Pier Junction closed to passengers
1971, 4 October	Denny Branch (Caledonian Railway)	Denny to Bonnybridge (South of Scotland Electricity Board) closed to freight
1971, 15 November	Strathspey Railway	Aberlour to Craigellachie to Dufftown closed to freight
1971, December	Dingwall and Skye Railway	Announcement of line closure on the 31rst of December 1973 by Secretary of State for Scotland
1971, 20 December	Marquis of Lothian's Waggonway	Butlerfield (National Coal Board) to Lady Victoria Pit closed to freight
1972, 3 January	Caledonian Railway	Beattock closed
1972, 3 February	Kilbarchan Loop (Glasgow and South Western Railway)	Cart Junction to Kilbrinie closed to freight
1972, 3 April	Denny Branch (Caledonian Railway)	Bonnybridge (South of Scotland Electricity Board) to Larbert Junction closed
1972, 1 May	Rutherglen and Coatbridge Railway (Caledonian Railway)	Coatbridge Central to Rutherglen Junction re-opened for Glasgow Central to Perth workings
1972, 1 May	Leith Central (Action)	Leith Central (DMU servicing) to Abbeyhill Junction and Piershill Junction closed
1972, 28 June	Edinburgh and Dalkeith Railway	Millerhill Junction to Butlerfield (National Coal Board) closed to freight
1972, 12 July	Kinross-shire Railway	Kelty Coup to Cowdenbeath North Junction closed to freight
1972, 31 July	Largs Branch (Glasgow and South Western Railway)	Fairlie Pier to Fairlie Pier Junction Officially closed to passengers
1972, 6 September	Musselburgh Branch (Action)  Edinburgh and Dalkeith Railway	Musselburgh to Joppa (Newhailes Jn) closed to freight
1972, 25 September	Glasgow, Dumbarton and Helensburgh Railway	Craigendoran Pier closed to vessels (Use of the pier was then given over to small craft for a number of years).
1973, 1 January	Forth Bridge Railway	Dalmeny Junction to Winchburgh Junction closed to passengers
1973, 26 March	Dingwall and Skye Railway	Ullapool to Stornaway ferry service starts
1973, 29 March	Last American Troops leave Vietnam
1973, 23 June	City of Glasgow Union Railway	Glasgow St Enoch (Gorbals Junction) to Strathbungo Junction closed to freight
1973, 25 June	Devon Valley Railway (Action)	Dollar to Alloa (Co-op Coal Sdg) closed to freight
1973, 3 September	Slamannan Railway	Bathgate Lower to Bathgate Upper closed to freight
1973, 1 October	Glasgow, Paisley, Kilmarnock and Ayr Railway	Dalry to Kilmarnock closed to all traffic
1973, 2 November	Dingwall and Skye Railway	Line reprieved until the 31rst of December 1974
1973, 31 December	Dingwall and Skye Railway	Original planned closure
1974	Dingwall and Skye Railway	Decision taken to retain line and use in connection with Oil Platform construction
1974, 4 May	Rutherglen and Coatbridge Railway (Caledonian Railway)	Coatbridge Central to Rutherglen Junction ceases to be used for Glasgow Central to Perth workings.
1974, 6 May	Caledonian Railway  Wishaw and Coltness Railway  Clydesdale Junction Railway  Polloc and Govan Railway  Glasgow Central Station	Glasgow Central to Carlisle electrification complete
1974, 15 July	Wilsontown, Morningside and Coltness Railway	Morningside to Castlehill Junction (Kingshill Collieries 1 and 2) closed to freight (Action)
1974, 31 December	Dingwall and Skye Railway	End of reprieval period, but line retained for Oil Industry
1975	Dingwall and Skye Railway	Howard Doris' Loch Kishorn Oil Platform Construction Site depot opened at Strome Ferry
1975, 1 January	Ayr to Mauchline Branch (Glasgow and South Western Railway)	Littlemill Colliery to Belston Junction closed to freight
1975, 1 January	Ayr to Mauchline Branch (Glasgow and South Western Railway)	Belston Junction to Drongan closed to freight
1975, 17 March	Dingwall and Skye Railway	Kyle to Portree mailboat service ends
1975, 29 April	Saigon falls to North Vietnamese Troops
1975, 5 May	Ayr to Mauchline Branch (Glasgow and South Western Railway)	Ayr to Mauchline re-closed to passengers
1975, 5 May	Kilmarnock and Troon Railway	Barassie to Kilmarnock re-opened to passengers (on closure of Annbank to Mauchline to passengers)
1975, 5 May	Ayr to Mauchline Branch (Glasgow and South Western Railway)	Blackhouse Junction to Hawkhill Junction closed to all traffic
1975, 6 October	Edinburgh and Northern Railway	Bridge of Earn to Ladybank re-opened for passengers (after closure of Glenfarg route)
1976, 21 April	Cathcart District Railway	Pollockshields East station fire
1976, 3 May	Glasgow and Garnkirk Railway	Gartcosh Junction to Gartsherrie Junction re-opened to passengers
1976, 11 October	Lanarkshire and Dunbartonshire Railway	Kilbowie to Yoker Ferry closed to freight
1976, 6 December	Muirkirk Branch (Glasgow and South Western Railway)	Cronberry to Auchinleck closed to freight
1977	Kilbarchan Loop (Glasgow and South Western Railway)	Kilbirnie to Brownhill Junction closed to freight
1978, 1 April	Alloa Railway	Throsk to Alloa Junction closed to freight
1978, 23 October	Lanarkshire and Dunbartonshire Railway  Glasgow Central Railway	Yoker Yard to Partick Central closed completely
1979	Dingwall and Skye Railway	Ground frame and siding removed at Attadale
1979, 5 November	Glasgow Central Railway	Stobcross to Strathclyde Junction and Rutherglen Junction re-opened to passengers. Stations at; Finnieston, Anderston, Glasgow Central Low Level, Argyle Street, Dalmarnock and Rutherglen.
1979, 5 November	Glasgow City and District Railway	Bridgeton Central station closed to passengers
1979, 17 December	Glasgow City and District Railway	Partickhill closed and replaced by Partick (Incorporates Merkland Street Subway station)
1980, 16 April	Glasgow District Subway  Glasgow Underground	The Glasgow District Subway re-opens as the Glasgow Underground following extensive renovation and modernisation.
1981, 5 January	Paisley and Renfrew Railway	Arkleston Junction to Sandyford Halt closed officially (track remains until 1986)
1981, May	Paisley and Barrhead District Railway	Walkinshaw East Junction to Linwood closed to freight
1981, 11 August	Wishaw and Coltness Railway	Freightliner terminal, coatbridge, to Mossend yard electrified
1981, 5 October	Sighthill Branch (Edinburgh and Glasgow Railway)	Sighthill goods yard closed
1982	Dingwall and Skye Railway	Depot at Strome Ferry closed and track disconnected from main line
1983, 8 January	Paisley Canal Line (Glasgow and South Western Railway)	Paisley Canal Line closed to passengers
1983, 8 January	Greenock and Ayrshire Railway  Bridge of Weir Railway	Kilmacolm line closed completely
1984, January	Action	London Road High Level closed to goods (except rare scrap workings)
1984, 1 April	Dingwall and Skye Railway	Garve East and West boxes close
1984, 17 June	Dingwall and Skye Railway	Strathcarron East box closes
1984, 17 June	Dingwall and Skye Railway	Strathcarron West box converted into gate box
1984, 13 July	Dingwall and Skye Railway	Radio Electric Token Block introduced
1986, March	Lanarkshire and Dunbartonshire Railway	Chivas Brothers Siding (excluded) to Old Kilpatrick Naval Fuel Depot closed to freight
1986, 24 March	Edinburgh and Bathgate Railway	Re-opening to passengers with stations at Uphall, Livingston North, and Bathgate
1986, 28 September	Caledonian and Dunbartonshire Junction Railway	Balloch Pier closed to passengers
1986, 29 September	Glasgow, Paisley, Kilmarnock and Ayr Railway	Electrification and re-signaling of Paisley to Ayr complete.
1986	Paisley Canal Line (Glasgow and South Western Railway)	Track lifted between Elderslie East Junction and just east of Paisley Canal Street. Track Singled from Paisley Canal Street to Corkerhill Depot.
1987, 1 June	Glasgow City and District Railway	Bridgeton Central closed completely (used for Electric Multiple Unit maintenance latterly)
1987, 23 June	Glasgow City and District Railway	Hyndland (Old) closed completely (used for Electric Multiple Unit maintenance latterly)
198?	Kilmarnock and Troon Railway	Kilmarnock to Barassie re-opened to Passengers
198?	Kilmarnock and Troon Railway	Meadowhead Caledonian Paper Mill opened
1988ish	Dingwall and Skye Railway	Disused depot track at Strome Ferry lifted
1988, 24 April	Caledonian and Dunbartonshire Junction Railway	Balloch (New) opened. Balloch signal box, level crossing and the remaining single track to Balloch Central taken out of use.
1989, 7 February	Inverness and Ross-shire Railway	Ness Viaduct, Inverness, collapses. (Photograph)
1990, 28 July	Paisley Canal Line (Glasgow and South Western Railway)	Paisley Canal line re-opened to passengers
1992, October	Edinburgh and Glasgow Railway	Eastfield Depot closed
1993, 4 October	Rutherglen and Coatbridge Railway (Caledonian Railway)	Local passenger service established between Glasgow (Rutherglen Junction) and Whifflet. Trains interconnect with services to Motherwell and Coatbridge. Heritage Diesel Multiple Units in use.
1993, 2 December	Glasgow, Dumbarton and Helensburgh Railway	Queen Street High Level to Maryhill re-opened for local passenger service (Stations at; Maryhill, Lambhill, Summerston, Possilpark, Ashfield), trains continue to Knightswood West Junction to swap tracks.