90-723: The Whifflet Line is one of the lines within the Strathclyde suburban rail network in Scotland . The line was built between 1863 and 1865 as the Rutherglen and Coatbridge Railway , part of the Caledonian Railway . It opened to goods traffic (mainly coal and iron) in September 1865 and to passengers in August 1866. It has been in continuous operation ever since. Stations in the first service on
180-430: A lift . Each station had a ticket office (often very small, little more than a booth with a window). The ticketing system was identical to that of most cinemas of the era, with tickets emerging from slots in the counters of the station ticket offices (the words "Control Systems Ltd" or "Automaticket Ltd" were printed on all tickets). Tickets were invariably collected on leaving the train. From the time of being taken over by
270-592: A Glasgow Metro. This would involve repurposing or reopening existing heavy rail lines, the creation of additional light rail metro, and the construction of an airport rail link. In 2022, Transport Scotland published its final version of the Strategic Transport Projects Review 2, which outlines proposals for the Clyde Metro . The Clyde Metro proposals retain the Subway, and also note the potential for
360-414: A cable gripper mechanism were added, though they were considerably shorter than the front (gripper) carriage. These additional carriages, eventually numbering 30, were built by Hurst Nelson & Company , Motherwell , Lanarkshire. These carriages were soon expanded to match the length of the front carriages, although carriage 41T has been restored to its original length and cut longitudinally and number 39T
450-491: A cascade of Strathclyde Buses vehicles in KCB colours and KCB was rebranded as "KCB Network". At that time SPTE acquired Buchanan Bus Station from Scottish Citylink which led to a substantial refurbishment completed in 1995. Both Strathclyde's Buses and GCT colour Schemes lasted until 1996 when First Glasgow took over Strathclyde's Buses. Single deckers at that time was also painted the same livery as their double deck counterpart and
540-467: A major refurbishment and modernisation; the date was brought forward because of the appearance of more cracks in the Govan Cross roof. Badly deteriorated tunnels were repaired; stations were rebuilt and enlarged, with additional platforms at Buchanan Street, Partick, Govan, Ibrox, Hillhead and St Enoch. The surface building of St George's Cross had already been rebuilt in 1971 as part of the construction of
630-451: A new SPT livery of orange however the new SPT orange colour is a brighter shade of orange than the previous "Strathclyde Red". In May 2019, to celebrate 125 years of public transport in the city, First Glasgow painted 3 Wright Eclipse Gemini buses in 1960's Glasgow Corporation livery, 1970's GGPTE livery and 1980's Strathclyde Transport livery. The Glasgow Subway is the only underground metro system in Scotland . Opened in 1896, it
720-411: A new station at West Street. Before the 1970s modernisation, the Subway offered no formal connections to other transport at ground level, although in practice two stations, Merkland Street and Buchanan Street, were only a short walk from British Rail stations. These links were improved at this modernisation: The first rolling stock was largely built in 1896, with additional trailer carriages added over
810-412: A newer system, issuing magnetic stripe card tickets. The modernised system uses automatic train operation with the driver only responsible for closing the doors pressing a "start" button in normal operation. While the system was closed a replacement bus service was introduced by GGPTE in a bid to retain customers. Service 66 covered the inner circle route, while service 99 covered the route taken by
900-566: A report published in 2018 summarised various extension plans from 1937 onwards. In early 2005, SPT announced that they would employ consultants to look into extending the system in the West End, East End, South Side and Glasgow Harbour areas of the city. The extension would take advantage of existing unused tunnels underneath the city, and there is a possibility that roads would be dug up to install tunnels before being replaced and resurfaced ( cut-and-cover tunnelling). On 14 March 2007, SPT announced
990-464: A report that showed huge support for a Subway extension. Councillor Alistair Watson of the SPT stated: We want what you want. This city needs a world-class Subway system. That's what our passengers deserve. I realise an extension won't come cheap and we still have lots of hurdles to overcome but, in my view, what the public wants, the public should get. This is a ringing endorsement from the people who would use
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#17328525080501080-499: Is preserved in the Riverside Museum . Most of the gripper carriages were subsequently converted to electric traction in 1935. All carriages were originally built with lattice gates (instead of doors) at the ends; many were converted to air-operated sliding doors in the 1960s, but a few retained the gates until 1977. All 15 stations were built with island platforms . The trains were thus built with doors on one side only . Power for
1170-415: Is supplied to the trains at 600 V DC , using a third rail , via sub-stations at five locations on the circle: Broomloan Depot, Byres Road (Hillhead), Dundasvale (Cowcaddens), Bridge Street and Cornwall Street (Kinning Park). In the event of maintenance or repair work, the system can operate a full service (six trains per circle) with one of the sub-stations inoperative. The system is owned and operated by
1260-404: Is the third-oldest system of its type in the world, and the only one that has never been expanded from its original route . The circular route serves the city centre, the city's fashionable West End , and parts of the south side. Between the early 1930s and 2003 the system was officially known as the "Glasgow Underground", but many citizens always continued referring to it as the "Subway". In 2003,
1350-568: The Budapest Metro . It is also one of the very few railways in the world with a track running gauge of 4 ft ( 1,219 mm ). Originally a cable railway , the subway was later electrified , but the double-track circular line was never expanded. The line was originally known as the Glasgow District Subway , and was thus the first mass transit system to be known as a "subway"; it was later renamed Glasgow Subway Railway. In 1936 it
1440-487: The Glasgow Inner Ring Road , and therefore was merely re-clad in the new corporate style. The entrance to Kelvinbridge was reversed, with a new entrance and car park built at South Woodside Road, an escalator to Great Western Road and stairs down to the west end of the platform; the former entrance and stairway at the east end became an emergency exit, and the lift was withdrawn from service. Merkland Street station
1530-540: The Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994 created a new statutory corporation , the Strathclyde Passenger Transport Authority (SPTA) , which took over " all of the functions, staff, property, rights, liabilities and obligations of Strathclyde Regional Council as Passenger Transport Authority " on 1 April 1996. The Executive was reincorporated as a body consisting of councillors drawn from
1620-676: The North Clyde Line of the suburban railway network, which runs in a tunnel under the city centre between High Street and west of Charing Cross . Another major section of underground suburban railway line in Glasgow is the Argyle Line , which was formerly part of the Glasgow Central Railway . The subway system was constructed as a circular loop almost 6 + 1 ⁄ 2 miles (10.5 kilometres) long and extends both north and south of
1710-595: The River Clyde . The tracks have the unusual narrow gauge of 4 ft ( 1,219 mm ) and a nominal tunnel diameter of 11 ft (3.4 m), even smaller than that of the deep-level lines of the London Underground ( 11 ft 8 + 1 ⁄ 4 in or 3.56 m at their smallest); consequently, the rolling stock for the Glasgow Subway is considerably smaller. The system is described as two lines,
1800-527: The Scottish Government in March 2011, and changes to be brought in included: The first station to be modernised was Hillhead . This began in 2011 and finished in 2012. The work included the retiling of all the walls and floors, the replacement of escalators, a new ticket office, better way finding and also a piece of public art. Further plans were announced to modernise Ibrox and Kelvinhall stations before
1890-520: The Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT), formerly Strathclyde Passenger Transport, and carried 12.7 million passengers in the period 2019–20. The Subway has been policed by British Transport Police since 2007. The Glasgow District Subway Company began construction of the underground in 1891 and it opened on 14 December 1896. The subway was powered by a clutch-and-cable system, with one cable for each direction. The cable
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#17328525080501980-406: The slum clearances of the 1960s, often only the station access was left standing. Stations were marked with circular signs often attached to lampposts. This sign had a white background in the top three-quarters (containing a large red letter "U") and black in the bottom quarter (containing the word "Underground" and an arrow to the station entrance). No station had an escalator ; Kelvinbridge had
2070-491: The "Subway" title was again used officially, with station signage and publications changed to reflect this. The Subway system is unique in terms of its scale and gauge - the Victorians designing an early tunnel through which the rolling stock had to pass which was not subsequently replicated in other systems. This has resulted in an expensive transportation mechanism which has proved stubborn to modernisation. Recent proposals by
2160-517: The "Trans-Clyde" era Coach & Tour stock was painted white with a two tone brown stripe pattern and single deck buses were also painted white with a verona green skirt and yellow painted above the green. In 1983 SPTE changed their colours to orange (known as Strathclyde red) and black, the "Trans-Clyde" name was dropped and replaced with "Strathclyde Transport" branding with the Strathclyde Regional Council Scotland map logo,
2250-572: The 12 Council Areas which succeeded Strathclyde Region: It also included nine transport experts appointed by the then Scottish Executive . On 1 April 2006 – following the passing of the Transport (Scotland) Act 2005 – Strathclyde Passenger Transport Executive (and Authority), along with the WESTRANS voluntary regional transport partnership, were replaced by the Strathclyde Partnership for Transport . The new national agency Transport Scotland
2340-427: The 1950s the trains became all red—in a shade similar to that of London buses . During the early 1970s, trailer carriage number 41 was repainted in the original 1896 livery. According to Keith Anderson World War II brought an "unprecedented" level of use by passengers. Anderson attributes this, and an increase in patronage in the years leading up to the conflict, to the expansion of the local shipyard workforce due to
2430-603: The 1980s to 1990s was originally a special livery for a small fleet of cut down single deck Leyland Atlanteans that operated the Glasgow Central to Queen Street rail link service. As GCT had done, the GGPTE continued to buy large numbers of Leyland Atlantean double-decker buses, they were by far the most numerous type of bus in service, but GGPTE also introduced new bus types such as the Scania-MCW Metropolitan , and
2520-420: The 1990s, ongoing renovation work has resulted in most stations adopting individual colour schemes. The trains' initial orange livery of 1980 (with a white stripe) was soon replaced by a darker, more durable shade of orange, later being replaced by SPT's carmine-red and cream livery. The system was resignalled using Vital Processor Interlocking in 1996 and subsequently an upgraded Supervisory & Control System
2610-466: The 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. Furthermore, all other stations were planned to receive updated branding prior to modernisation work being carried out on them, so as to achieve unity in design. In March 2016, Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT) awarded contracts to Stadler and Ansaldo STS for the supply of 17 new driverless trains for the Subway. The first was delivered in May 2019. Testing on
2700-446: The BR logo was now used along with "Strathclyde Transport" branding on the centre of each car, following repaints. In 1985, as with bus services and the Subway, orange and black livery was used, including a black with white bordered BR logo although some Class 311s still had BR Blue/Grey livery with either ScotRail or "Strathclyde Transport" branding until their withdrawal in 1990. Stations in
2790-508: The Corporation until 1977, the staff were issued with tramway uniforms; these were dark green and had a black braid on the cuffs which had been introduced at the time of the funeral of Queen Victoria in 1901. The Glasgow Museum of Transport had an area dedicated to the subway, with models showing the operation of the clutch-and-cable system, as well as a full-scale replica of part of a subway station, complete with different rolling stock of
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2880-489: The Greater Glasgow Passenger Transport Executive before it) was directly responsible for running the municipal bus services in Glasgow, and owned both the buses and the necessary supporting infrastructure. The Transport Act 1985 deregulated the bus industry and SPT was subsequently forced to sell off its bus operations. The main bus operator in Glasgow is now First Glasgow , although SPT owns
2970-474: The Outer Circle and Inner Circle, which simply refers to the double track, having trains running clockwise and anticlockwise respectively around the same route in separate tunnels. Stations use a variety of platform layouts including single island platforms, opposing side platforms and in some stations such as Hillhead one side and one island platform. The subway's running lines are entirely underground, although
3060-570: The River Clyde. Four people were injured, one being taken to the infirmary. This entailed the closure of the Subway until 19 January 1897. The 20 original wooden bodied carriages were built by the Oldbury Railway Carriage and Wagon Company, of Oldbury , Worcestershire. Many continued in service until 1977 in an upgraded form. A further 10 were delivered by the same manufacturer in 1897. From 1898, second four axle (trailer) carriages without
3150-661: The Rutherglen - Whifflet section, as part of a £1.4bn upgrade to Scotland's railways. The main benefits of this scheme were to provide an enhanced frequency for the Whifflet to central Glasgow routes and to provide an electric diversionary path for long distance WCML services. The new timetable came into operation on 14 December 2014, the Whifflet Line has been added to the Argyle Line system with services through Glasgow Central Low Level to
3240-459: The SPT area were also given "Strathclyde Transport" signage on the platforms and outside the station, as well as on certain bridges. From 1995 vinyls of the new SPT logo were placed on top of the old "Strathclyde Transport" logo. When BR was privatised, in 1997, new ScotRail signage with SPT branding was applied at the stations. The BR logo was replaced with the ScotRail logo. The orange and black livery
3330-425: The Subway started on 5 December 2021. The first new trains were previously expected to operate in 2022. The first passenger service with the new trains operated on 11 December 2023, with the third generation trains fully replacing the second generation after their withdrawal on 28 June 2024. The Glasgow Subway system is the only metro system never to have been expanded from its original route in 125 years, although
3420-618: The authority include the development of a second loop serving the east of the city and a new line cutting through the existing circle and providing links to low level rail, and a proposed 'Crossrail' project. This new line might have been ready for the Commonwealth Games in 2014. However it was later decided to revamp the subway over a long term programme which includes a refurbishment of all the stations, new escalators, improved disabled access, new ticketing system and later on driverless signals and trains. The first refurbished station Hillhead
3510-566: The carriage ends, and SPT Rail branding and the carmine and cream livery were removed. In February 2018 ScotRail announced that the 1979 Class 314 trains were to be withdrawn from service and replaced by the Class 385 . SPT operated the Renfrew Ferry until March 2010, when Silvers Marine took over the service trading as Clyde Link. SPT also subsidises the Gourock - Kilcreggan ferry service, which in
3600-436: The centre trailer removed, operated the Whifflet and Paisley Canal lines almost exclusively, based at Corkerhill Depot. In 2002 the remaining 101s were sent South to Manchester and more modern units took over the services. Trains operated at a half-hour frequency. All services were scheduled to run as two-car trains only, although four carriage services were technically possible. Services were operated using Class 158 DMUs and
3690-450: The city's Buchanan Bus Station , the largest bus station in Scotland. The Greater Glasgow Passenger Transport Executive (GGPTE), the forerunner of SPTE, started operations in 1973, taking over the entire municipal owned and operated bus, and Underground railway , services of Glasgow Corporation Transport (GCT), which had been in existence from 1894 to 1973. They used a new livery which
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3780-554: The closure of the Kilmacolm line in 1983 and additions such as the Maryhill line were added. The map was still in use until 2008 when Transport Scotland incorporated the map into a Scotland wide map. Some trains from 1975 to 1979 were also being painted in BR's new livery of white, with a blue stripe, with the addition of the GG logo. However, most trains were still being painted BR blue. From 1980
3870-425: The coaches was painted orange on the top panels with deep white centre panels and black lower panels. A new segregated bus scheme is currently being planned between Glasgow city centre and Glasgow Harbour called Clyde Fastlink , but has been beset with problems. Currently SPT bus stop pennants have SPT branding with the corresponding council area logo next to the SPT logo. Buses on SPT subsidised services have
3960-534: The driving cars and the BR double-arrow logo was used on other side of the car, a practice common for all PTE's at the time. In 1979, to commemorate the reopening of the Argyle Line and completion of the Glasgow Underground refurbishment, a London Underground style line diagram map was introduced which also showed ferry interchanges from both the PTE and Caledonian MacBrayne . The map was modified over time due to
4050-431: The electric lighting in the trains was supplied by two parallel wall-mounted rails (known as "T-irons") at window level on the non-platform side of the trains; trains were originally equipped with wheels to pick up the electricity but changed to skids at electrification. The trains remained cable-hauled until 1935, though the anachronistic way of supplying power for the lighting continued until 1977. The lighting circuit
4140-515: The existing trains were converted to electric power delivered by a third rail at 600 volts , direct current. From March until December 1935, clockwise trains were cable-hauled, while anti-clockwise ones were electric. The conversion to electric traction cost £120,000 (equivalent to £10,521,927 in 2023). The last cable drawn car service was on 30 November 1935, and was driven by Robert Boyd. The trains lost their original plum and cream-coloured liveries, being painted red and white instead. From
4230-498: The extended Subway. The plans were expected to take twelve years , but never came to fruition. Crossrail Glasgow proposals by Glasgow City Council featured a feasibility study conducted by SPT , which included a proposed new West Street railway station which would interface with the West Street station on the Subway network. The Glasgow Connectivity Commission, established by Glasgow City Council in 2017, has also suggested
4320-411: The following 20 years. This rolling stock was converted from cable to electric traction in 1935 and finally withdrawn from service in 1977 upon the closure of the railway for modernisation. The first 33 cars of the second generation fleet were built by Metro-Cammell , Washwood Heath between 1977 and 1979. Eight additional trailer cars were built in 1992. The rolling stock entered service when
4410-414: The front-engined, Scottish-built, Volvo Ailsa . At the start of the 1980s GGPTE was replaced by SPTE who introduced "Fast Fare", an exact fare payment policy which is still being used today by SPTE's successors. Revised liveries were gradually introduced, with the green and yellow replacing most of the white on some buses, and matt black lower deck window surrounds applied to many others, the latter became
4500-580: The line shares the same track as the West Coast Main Line (and is hence electrified) before branching off in a north easterly direction towards Coatbridge (this section is now electrified). The route is operated by ScotRail . Following re-opening as a passenger line, service was provided by a mix of 1980s Class 156 and 1950s Class 101 DMUs . During their final years, the last of BR ScotRail's power-twin Class 101 2-car DMUs, reduced from 3-car by having
4590-403: The line was reopened by British Rail to scheduled passenger services with intermediate stations on 4 October 1993, running to the newly built station at Whifflet rather than Coatbridge Central as previously. The modern line currently serves seven stations. It connects parts of south east Glasgow , Bargeddie and Coatbridge to Glasgow city centre. Between Glasgow Central and Rutherglen ,
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#17328525080504680-557: The line were at Carmyle , Broomhouse (now Mount Vernon ), Baillieston , Langloan and Whifflet High Level (until 1964). Passenger services ceased in November 1966 following the Beeching Axe (latterly running to Coatbridge Central ). Between 1972 and 1974 scheduled passenger trains between Glasgow Central and Perth used the route. For the following twenty years, the route was only used for freight and diverted passenger services. However
4770-484: The livery applied to new buses. Logos also changed, stylised "Trans-Clyde" lettering was displayed below the "GG" logo, which SPTE was also using on rail services and the Underground at the time. Gradually the "GG" logo was discontinued, and "Trans-Clyde" was used alone although a Volvo Citybus prototype was branded in the same livery with "Strathclyde" instead. Bus Stop pennants was replaced with "Trans-Clyde" branding. In
4860-461: The maintenance depot at Broomloan Road (located between the Govan and Ibrox stations) is above ground, as was the earlier depot, also at Govan . Prior to modernisation, trains used to be lifted by crane onto and off the tracks. Modernisation brought the installation of points and an access ramp between Govan and Ibrox where trains can exit the tunnel system for maintenance, cleaning or storage. Power
4950-424: The modernised system. A new corporate identity was introduced (following contemporary fashions of the 1970s), with trains painted bright orange, stations largely rebuilt with dark brown bricks, orange-yellow wall tiles and other surfaces in off-white, plus brown uniforms for the staff. Large, illuminated orange "U" signs were placed at station entrances (since removed, with the re-adoption of the name "Subway"). Since
5040-409: The national railway network—a major weakness—although Buchanan Street and Merkland Street stations were a short walk from Queen Street and Partickhill British Rail stations respectively. Before the 1977–1980 modernisation, the stations had a distinctive earthy odour. The trains (mostly dating back to 1896) were always formed with two carriages—the front (motor) carriage with red leather seats and
5130-516: The need for rearmament. Unlike its larger counterpart in London the system's stations did not make good air-raid shelters as they were much less deep. On 18 September 1940, during World War II, a German bomb, which dropped during a night raid on Glasgow and may have been intended for nearby naval facilities, landed on a bowling green to the south of Merkland Street station . The resulting explosion caused damage to both tunnels, leading to closure of part of
5220-516: The occasional Class 156 DMU. Three trains operated on this route during the day, usually remaining dedicated on this service throughout the day. In late 2014, the Whifflet Line electrification was commissioned and from 14 December 2014 the service was incorporated into the Argyle Line , operated by EMUs . At the same time an all year round Sunday service commenced. Current Sunday Service is hourly from Balloch to Motherwell via Whifflet In 2006, Network Rail announced tentative proposals to electrify
5310-509: The operation of suburban railways in the Greater Glasgow area. The Greater Glasgow Passenger Transport Executive (GGPTE) was created, in 1972, to oversee all suburban railways in the Glasgow area. When the GGPTE was formed, the trains that ran in the GGPTE area were painted in the BR Blue livery that had been introduced across the BR network in the 1960s. A "GG" logo was applied on one side of
5400-563: The outer circle. The modernised Subway (alongside the rebuilt Argyle Line ) was inaugurated by Queen Elizabeth II on 1 November 1979, who rode the train along with Prince Philip from Buchanan Street to St Enoch. Rebuilding work was however still incomplete, and the actual reopening to passengers did not occur until 16 April 1980. Thirty-three new carriages were built by Metro-Cammell at its Washwood Heath works in Birmingham , and equipped with GEC electric motors. The exterior design of
5490-415: The plans that the consultants had recommended. These included major refurbishment of the existing rolling stock and stations, at an overall cost of £270 million. The expansion of the existing network was also considered at a cost of £2.3 billion, including a new East End Circle, with seven new stations at St Mungo's , Onslow, Duke Street , Celtic Park , Dalmarnock , Newhall and Gorbals . The aim
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#17328525080505580-431: The platforms), leaving by the front door of the front carriage or the rear door of the rear carriage. By the 1970s, the stations were very dilapidated. Surface access to most stations had been largely built into existing buildings and their entrances often formed part of shop frontages ( Kelvinhall being the only surviving example of this in the post-modernised era), and with many of these structures being destroyed during
5670-431: The pre-modernisation era. By the 1970s, use of the Subway had declined significantly. This was caused partly by the closure of some of the dockyards and by widescale demolition of tenements south of the River Clyde . The original carriages, mostly dating back to 1896, were still in use, though adapted for electric traction in 1935. Breakdowns were becoming increasingly frequent; because trains could only be removed from
5760-440: The rear (trailer) carriage with brown leather seats. Smoking was permitted in the rear carriage only. The backs of the seats were attached to the sides of the carriages, which moved semi-independently from the floor (to which the seats themselves were attached); passengers were rocked forward and backward while the carriage ' shoogled ' them around. Passengers always entered at the middle of the train ("Q Here" signs were painted on
5850-461: The recent years have been operated by Clyde Marine (–2012, 2018–2020), Silvers Marine (trading as Clyde Link, 2012–2018),and Caledonian MacBrayne (2020–). Glasgow Subway The Glasgow Subway is an underground light metro system in Glasgow , Scotland. Opened on 14 December 1896, it is the third-oldest underground rail transit system in the world after the London Underground and
5940-487: The station, which hosts a railway station, a subway station and a bus terminal on the outside. In April 2010, Strathclyde Partnership for Transport approved outline plans for a £290 million upgrade of the Subway—the first since the comprehensive modernisation of the late 1970s. Plans included additional safety measures, improved accessibility and smart technology such as electronic tickets. The proposals were approved by
6030-557: The system until repairs were completed in January 1941. The system suffered no other damage during the conflict. It did lose staff who were called up to participate in the war effort. After the Beeching Axe of the 1960s, both St Enoch and Buchanan Street mainline stations were closed and demolished; there was no direct connection between the underground and mainline stations of Buchanan Street as they were over 500 m (550 yd) distant. The Subway had no direct passenger connection to
6120-401: The system, with one of the two circles continuing to run while the other was upgraded. This idea was abandoned as expert advice suggested a safety risk. On 24 March 1977, cracks were noticed in the roof of Govan Cross station , leading to suspension of services until 2 May. The service resumed with only four trains per circle. On 21 May 1977, the system was shut down eight days prematurely for
6210-511: The tracks to the depot by crane, a single inoperable train could cause major delays. The future of the Subway became a major issue for the Greater Glasgow Passenger Transport Executive (GGPTE), which took over responsibility for the line from Glasgow Corporation in the early 1970s. In January 1974 GGPTE announced a modernisation programme would be undertaken. The original plan would have seen trains continue to run on
6300-533: The trains was carried out in partnership with Glasgow School of Art , which, according to SPT publicity films of the day, was largely responsible for the trains' "cute" appearance. Eight additional centre-trailer carriages were built in 1992 (the body shells by Hunslet Gyro Mining Transport in Leeds for completion by Hunslet-Barclay in Kilmarnock ), making all trains three carriages long. Smoking has never been permitted on
6390-586: The trains were repainted in British Rail Blue/Grey livery; again the GG logo was used with the addition of "Trans-Clyde" branding. Later on, as on the buses, the latter was used alone. Regular BR branding was used at all stations apart from stations on the North Clyde and Cathcart Circle lines that still had "Glasgow Electric" signs dating back to 1960. Also the new Argyle line stations had dual Trans Clyde and BR signs. From 1983, due to SPTE's rebranding,
6480-491: The typeface used on the former "Trans-Clyde" brand name was also used. Bus stop pennants were given "Strathclyde Transport" branding by having a sticker placed on top of the old "Trans-Clyde" name. The name lasted until 1986 due to deregulation of the bus industry, The orange and black colour scheme was kept and "Strathclyde's Buses" branding was used. New bus stop pennants were given with Strathclyde Transport branding but without Scottish Bus Group branding. The Regional Council logo
6570-508: The unique 4 ft ( 1,219 mm ) gauge, the original Broomloan Depot was modernised and equipped with connecting tracks with points to replace the crane transfer, and a new electrical supply from Westinghouse Electric Corporation was installed. A new ticketing system, provided by Crouzet, with passenger-operated ticket vending machines and automatic turnstile barriers, replaced the old, perforated cinema-style tickets and conductors . The post-1980 yellow tickets have since been replaced by
6660-475: The upper rooms at St Enoch subway station ; this distinctive ornate building still stands in St Enoch Square and was subsequently used as a travel information office by SPT and is now a coffee shop. When the Subway first opened, single-carriage four axle (twin truck) trains were operated. Late in the evening on the opening day, after 11 pm, one car laden with 60 passengers was run into by another under
6750-465: The western suburbs. Strathclyde Partnership for Transport Strathclyde Partnership for Transport ( SPT ) is a regional transport partnership for the Strathclyde area of western Scotland . It is responsible for planning and coordinating regional transport, especially the public transport system in the area, including responsibility for operating the Glasgow Subway , the third-oldest in
6840-611: The world. The principal predecessor to SPT was the Greater Glasgow Passenger Transport Executive (GGPTE) set up in 1972 to take over the Glasgow Corporation 's public transport functions and to co-ordinate public transport in the Clyde Valley . In 1983 it was replaced by the Strathclyde Passenger Transport Executive (SPTE) , under the overall direction of Strathclyde Regional Council . Section 40 of
6930-494: Was a variation of the previous GCT colours of green, yellow and cream. The new livery had Verona green on the lower panels, and yellow between decks, white was used for window surrounds, and the roof. A stylised "GG" logo was applied to the forward yellow side panels. At bus stops, pennants had GG branding along with Scottish Bus Group branding on bus stops that were also used by the SBG. The orange and black colour scheme used later on in
7020-420: Was also part of the operation of the signalling system. Opening times of the Glasgow Subway have varied through the years, now open 06:30 to 23:40 Monday to Saturday and 10:00 to 18:12 on Sunday following a trial period between April 2011 and 2012 when the subway was open from 09:00–18:30. Glasgow Corporation took over the company in 1923 at a cost of £385,000 (equivalent to £27,736,099 in 2023). In 1935,
7110-436: Was briefly retained, later on "Strathclyde's Buses" was used alone. In May 1992 a fire at Larkfield depot resulted in a loss of over 50 buses, to make up the number of buses lost in the fire SBL leased several double decks from Western Scottish , Tayside , Grampian , Manchester , Nottingham and Newcastle fleets also several demonstrator single deck buses were leased until a new order of Alexander bodied Leyland Olympians
7200-562: Was closed (thus becoming a ghost station ); a new station to the north was built at Partick to provide an interchange with the North Clyde Line of the suburban rail system. The site of Merkland Street can be noticed by the characteristic hump and the larger-diameter tunnel with both tracks. Many fittings from Merkland Street were used to build a replica pre-modernisation station at the Glasgow Museum of Transport which contained three preserved cars. A further interchange via moving walkway
7290-517: Was completed and reopened in September 2012. Glasgow has the largest network of suburban railway lines in the UK, other than London 's. Much of the network is 25 kV AC electrified , with the exception of the Maryhill Line and South Western Lines . Glasgow's main terminal stations are Glasgow Central and Glasgow Queen Street . Between 1972 and 2002, SPT and its predecessors were actively involved in
7380-418: Was created at the same time. At this latest reorganisation SPT gained responsibility for planning all regional transport (not just public transport) though it lost a number of specific powers relating to rail franchising and concessionary fares. There was no change in abbreviation (still SPT ) or branding or in its major operational functions. SPT has the following main responsibilities: Until 1986 SPT (and
7470-644: Was delivered in August 1993. However some Leyland Atlanteans from the Nottingham & Newcastle fleets were bought to add to the new Olympians. The bus service was still in PTE control until 1993 when Strathclyde's Buses became employee -owned. During that time Strathclyde's Buses formed a low cost subsidiary called GCT - Comlaw No 313 Ltd which marked a return of the Trans Clyde era Verona Green, Black and Yellow as well as taking over Kelvin Central Buses which led to
7560-447: Was driven from a steam-powered plant between West Street and Shields Road stations. There was no additional cable to allow trains to reach the depot; instead, they were transferred to and from the running lines by crane operating over a pit at the Govan workshops. This also meant that the two tracks could be completely separate, with no points anywhere. The company's headquarters were in
7650-425: Was installed between Buchanan Street station and Queen Street mainline station as part of the modernisation. In August 1977, all redundant fittings and equipment from the old system were sold at a public sale at Broomloan Works. During the 1977–1980 modernisation, two Clayton battery locomotives were used by the contractors Taylor Woodrow to haul construction trains. Heavier track was installed although still at
7740-455: Was installed. A £40,000 study examining the feasibility of an expansion into the city's south side was conducted in 2005, and in 2007 Labour further committed to extend the line to the East End, but to no avail. New electronic destination signs were installed in the stations in 2008. The Partick station modernisation project was completed in 2009, and resulted in a complete redevelopment at
7830-429: Was later replaced by carmine and cream, after a blue experimental livery on a Class 101 , 101692. Then another experimental livery was tried, using carmine and cream on a Class 156 156433 named The Kilmarnock Edition . The carmine and cream livery had "SPT rail" branding. New signage, with "SPT rail", was placed at SPT stations. SPT is no longer involved in the everyday operation of the rail network. The rolling stock
7920-472: Was operated on behalf of SPT by First ScotRail (also part of FirstGroup ) until 31 March 2015. Since 1 April 2022, Scottish Government-owned ScotRail have operated rail services. In August 2008 the Scottish Government 's agency Transport Scotland announced that all ScotRail trains (including former SPT services) would be repainted in Transport Scotland blue livery with white Saltire markings on
8010-616: Was renamed the Glasgow Underground . Despite this rebranding, many Glaswegians continued to refer to the network as "the Subway". In 2003, the name "Subway" was officially readopted by its operator, the Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT). The system is not the oldest underground railway in Glasgow: that distinction belongs to a three-mile (five-kilometre) section of the Glasgow City and District Railway opened in 1886, now part of
8100-500: Was to improve transport links in an area of the city which is currently poorly served by rail, in the hope that this would aid regeneration, and the city's 2014 Commonwealth Games bid. This circle would interchange at Cowcaddens , Buchanan Street and St Enoch . Other proposals include extending the system southwards to Cathcart and further westwards to the SEC Centre and Maryhill using an older railway line. In 2007, SPT produced
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