Stranraer

Location type

Station

Names and dates

Stranraer Harbour (1862-1993)
Stranraer (1993-)

Station code: STR National Rail ScotRail
Where: Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland
Opened on the Portpatrick Railway.
Open on the Glasgow to Ayr and Stranraer.

Description

This station is located on the former ferry pier in Stranraer. It is a little remote from the town, being separated from it by the former car parks associated with the ferries to Ireland.

A bus service connects the terminus to the new ferry terminals at Cairnryan.

Generally the west side platform is used and the signal box is switched out.


Original terminus and pier


The original station on the pier was minimal; two tracks were laid on the pier - with a very short platform on west side at end of tideline, the line continued down the pier with a steamer office, goods shed near end of pier. There were cattle docks at base of pier. The pier had a slip at its end.

The pier is sometimes referred to as the east pier.

By 1895 there were further cattle docks at the base of the pier, two tracks up pier with little accommodation. The station building was where goods shed was, close to end of pier.


Reconstruction


In 1897 the current station was built, in its original form. The station has two platforms, separated by four tracks - the two centre roads being loco release lines. There was, formerly, a bay platform on the west side.

The station was rebuilt in the late 1970s/early 1980s with a not entirely attractive new trainshed. Within this can be found the woodwork frontage of the older internal platform buildings. The station has since seen further alterations to the trainshed cladding. In recent years the footbridge connecting the platforms has been removed.

The signal box (1897) still stands and is now clad in a similar style to the trainshed, covering the 1980s brick.

Stena Line' service to Belfast transferred to Old House Point, Cairnryan, in 2011.

P&O operate to Larne Harbour from Cairnryan, just to the south.

Although traffic declined after re-routing of the ferry services it had recovered by 2016, traffic climbing every year since 2014.


Future


With the loss of the ferry routes, discussion continues on whether the station will be closed and be replaced by a newer one closer to the town, perhaps at the former Stranraer Town.

Local

Ferries operate from Cairnryan to Ireland.

Stena Line - Cairnryan-Belfast

P&O Ferries - Cairnryan-Larne

Tags

Station Stockton Haulage goods Shed MPD

External links

Canmore site record
NLS Collection OS map of 1892-1914
NLS Collection OS map of 1944-67



Chronology Dates

17/08/1857Portpatrick Railway
Act receives Royal assent for line from Castle Douglas to Stranraer Town with branches to Stranraer Harbour and Portpatrick.
11/03/1861Portpatrick Railway
Stranraer to Castle Douglas (on the Castle Douglas and Dumfries Railway) formally opened. (Alternative date 12/02/1861.)
12/03/1861Portpatrick Railway
Stranraer to Castle Douglas opened to the public. Most of the line was single track. Stations at; Stranraer, Glenluce, Kirkcowan, Newton Stewart, Creetown, New Galloway, Parton and Crossmichael.
28/08/1862Portpatrick Railway
Portpatrick to Stranraer opened. New stations at; Colfin and Portpatrick.
01/10/1862Portpatrick Railway
Stranraer Harbour opened. The Stranraer and Larne Steamboat Company starts a service between the ports in its title.
01/10/1862Carrickfergus and Larne Railway
Opened through a new Carrickfergus to Larne Harbour [1st]. Carrickfergus [1st] was closed (its site was later on the Carrickfergus Harbour Junction Railway). A company owned connecting steamer operated to Stranraer Harbour.
  /  /1864Portpatrick Railway
Deviation to Stranraer Harbour branch authorised. Original route partly abandoned.
01/01/1864Carrickfergus and Larne Railway
Larne Harbour [1st] to Stranraer Harbour steamer withdrawn. Last portion of the Larne Harbour line falls out of use except for coal traffic and remains maintained.
  /  /1865Portpatrick Railway
Caledonian Railway experiments with a Stranraer Harbour to Belfast service.
  /  /1872Girvan and Portpatrick Junction Railway Portpatrick Railway
The Girvan and Portpatrick Junction Railway is authorised to use the Portpatrick Railway from Challoch Junction to Stranraer Harbour and Portpatrick.
01/07/1872Carrickfergus and Larne Railway
Steamer service from Larne Harbour [1st] to Stranraer restarts. Line fully re-opened.
  /  /1874Portpatrick Railway
Portpatrick to Donaghadee boat stops running. This is in part due to the unsuitability of Portpatrick Harbour. The Stranraer Harbour to Larne Harbour [1st] service replaces the abandoned service. Portpatrick to Stranraer remains open.
  /  /1877Portpatrick Railway
Purchases the Stranraer Harbour Pier (the East Pier).
  /  /1877Girvan and Portpatrick Junction Railway
Authorised to use Stranraer Harbour Pier and Challoch Junction to Stranraer and Portpatrick
07/02/1882Girvan and Portpatrick Junction RailwayPortpatrick Railway
Girvan and Portpatrick Junction Railway trains banned from Stranraer and Portpatrick by the Portpatrick Railway. Line closed temporarily from Girvan to Challoch Junction.
  /  /1893Portpatrick Railway
Authorisation to enlarge Stranraer Harbour Pier (the East Pier).
  /  /1902Portpatrick Railway
Stranraer Harbour east pier widening and extension authorised. Powers to dredge for the pier granted.
  /  /1935Portpatrick Railway
Stranraer to Portpatrick starts to be operated as one engine in steam. Portpatrick signal box is moved to Barrhill on the former Girvan and Portpatrick Junction Railway.
06/02/1950Portpatrick Railway
Portpatrick to Stranraer closed to passengers. Portpatrick and Colfin stations closed. Portpatrick to Colfin (excluded) closed to all traffic.
02/03/1953Portpatrick Railway
Stranraer re-named Stranraer Town.
  /  /1959Girvan and Portpatrick Junction Railway
DMUs introduced on Glasgow to Stranraer workings.
  /  /1959Maybole and Girvan Railway
DMUs introduced on Glasgow to Stranraer workings.
  /  /1959Portpatrick Railway
DMUs introduced on Stranraer to Glasgow workings.
23/06/1962RCTS Railtour
Excursion train hauled by Caledonian Railway 123 and Great North of Scotland Railway 49 from Ayr to Stranraer.
  /  /1965Castle Douglas and Dumfries Railway
Troop trains for Northern Ireland make use of the line. These ran from Woodburn to Stranraer Harbour.
  /  /1965Portpatrick Railway
Troop trains run over line (Stranraer Harbour - Woodburn (Wansbeck Railway)) for Northern Ireland.
  /  /1984Girvan and Portpatrick Junction Railway
Glasgow Central to Stranraer DMUs withdrawn and replaced with locomotive hauled 'SEALINK' slam-door stock.
  /  /1990Girvan and Portpatrick Junction Railway Portpatrick Railway Maybole and Girvan Railway
Stranraer to Euston sleeper withdrawn.
  /  /2003Stena Line
Announces closure of the Stranraer ferry terminal with relocation to Cairnryan. An upgrade of the A77 is announced by the Scottish Executive.

News items

28/10/1999Awards from the Public Transport Fund [Railscot]
08/01/2001'Borderer Express'; Proposed enhancements toTrans-Pennine rail franchise [Railscot]
28/05/2003Stranraer station threatened by Stena services relocating from Stranraer to Cairnryan? [Railscot[
18/05/2004RPC Meeting [Railscot]
20/05/2004Ferry move could boost rail link to Northern Ireland [Scotsman]
28/06/2006Maxwelltown Branch lifted [Railscot]
26/10/2006A75 closed following bridge crash [BBC News]
18/04/2010Ferry port move may be end of line for Stranraer [Herald]
03/05/2010Stranraer tourism dividend sought [BBC News Article]
02/03/2011Rail cuts in pipeline [Carrick Today]
26/06/2011Exhibition: Scottish Landscapes by Rail, Leo du Feu [Edinburgh Festival Fringe]
14/09/2011Stranraer-Girvan railway line under threat [Carrick Gazette]
07/10/2011Cost-cutting threat to rural rail stations [Herald]
09/10/2011Scotland-Ireland undersea rail link plan 'a surprise' [BBC News]
19/11/2011Farewell to the Ferries [SAYLSA]
05/12/2011New era for Stranraer rail line [The Galloway Gazette]
09/01/2012Keith Brown makes Stranraer rail pledge [BBC News]
05/03/2012Train/Bus/Ferry link between Cairnryan and Ayr station [Railscot]
16/03/2012Rail partnership celebrates successful year [Carrick Gazette]
08/10/2012Dunragit crossing crash driver improving [BBC News]
26/11/2013End of the line for direct trains to Glasgow? [Carrick Gazette]
07/03/2014Stranraer line best in Scotland [Carrick Gazette]
29/03/2014Bypass set to protect Britain's most bashed bridge [Scotsman]
09/10/2014Rail bid signals good news for Stranraer line's future [Galloway Gazette]
22/11/2014CILT: The Stranraer to Ayr Line Support Association [Richard Carr, SAYLSA Development Manager]
25/02/2015Last chance to save rail services say SAYLSA [Carrick Gazette]
27/08/2018Changes to services between Glasgow Central, Ayr and Stranraer [ScotRail]
01/11/2018Services between Ayr and Stranraer restored [ScotRail]
19/12/2018Ayr train service resumes after hotel safety fears [BBC News]
28/06/2019Dumfries to Stranraer rail route return among transport options [BBC News]
29/01/2020Dumfries to Stranraer rail return stays on track [BBC News]
28/07/2020Ambitious plans to transform Scottish rail network unveiled [Scottish Government]
05/11/2020Rail tunnel to Northern Ireland under consideration [The Telegraph]
03/01/2021The Great Storm of 1953: Brave crew and victims of Scotlands worst ferry disaster remembered [Sunday Post]
13/01/2021Trains serving Stranraer reduced due to effect of Covid [Galloway Gazette]
22/04/2021SNP pledge to reopen Stranraer to Dumfries rail line [Galloway Gazette]
28/04/2021Have hopes to reopen railway line already hit the buffers over plans to infill bridge? [Galloway Gazette]
22/07/2021ScotRail resumes services to Ayr and Stranraer after Troon station fire [ScotRail]
13/09/2021Ayrshire trains: Have your say on planned changes [Ayr Advertiser]
15/09/2021South Ayrshire trains: MSP presses transport minister on cuts [Ayr Advertiser]
01/10/2021Commitment for additional train services in May [Galloway Gazette]
19/10/2021New report claims reopening Dumfries to Stranraer railway should be 'high priority' [Daily Record]
20/10/2021Direction of Travel: Can better transport links help drive support for the Union? [Holyrood Website]
07/12/2021Ayrshire trains: Stranraer to Girvan line closed due to storm [Ayr Advertiser]
18/01/2022Opening hours of Stranraer ticket office set to be cut [Galloway Gazette]
21/01/2022Talks held on improved rail services at Stranraer [Galloway Gazette]

Books


Portpatrick and Wigtownshire Railways (Library of Railway History)
Rails to Portpatrick (Local History Series)
The Port Road: Dumfries to Stranraer, Portpatrick, Kirkcudbright and Whithorn