ScotRail's Ayr Shuttle Service: More than just a ride

Today SimOnTrains is riding a quirky journey of the Ayr Shuttle which runs between Prestwick Town and Ayr using a ScotRail Class 156 Diesel Multiple Unit calling at a few stations enroute.
Since the Station hotel caught fire at Ayr, Services between Glasgow Central and Ayr had been suspended as the station hotel is part of the railway station. ScotRail have managed to introduce a shuttle which runs between Prestwick Town and Ayr using Diesel Multiple Units to keep passengers travelling between Ayr and Glasgow Central as they have to change at Prestwick Town.
But also gave SimOnTrains the opportunity to visits a few stations as there was some interesting things happening there as well.
HELP SUPPORT THE CHANNEL
Patreon: / sim0ntrains
Ko-Fi: ko-fi.com/sim0...
KZbin channel Membership: / sim0ntrains
SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS
Facebook: / sim0ntrains
Twitter/X: / sim0ntrains
Instagram: / sim0ntrains
Bluesky: bsky.app/profi...
Threads: www.threads.ne...
CHANNEL MEMBERS & PATREON MEMBERS
Special Thank you goes out to the people who help support the channel.
KZbin Channel Members
Buses and Trains Around the UK
Sam's Vlogs trains & more
Thornaby 37
barrowc
BRIAN SMALL
PlatformEdge
Ian R
TicoSprinter
The Shrew 88
London Midland Trainspotter 1988
SarahWithTheTrains
ethan46441
Rainham Rail Enthusiast
West Midlands Transport Hub
Lee K5NOW
Reece's Trains
Merseyside and North West Responses
PEP EMU FAN
Patreon Members
barrowc
Martin'sMiscMix
John Roberts
David Collison
Manic
Rob K Carter Rudwick
JenOnTheMove
Sam Yates
Anthony Middleport Junction
Kai Kiefer
Lifetime Members
delticdan900

[@Sim0nTrains]

Sadly this Ayr Shuttle is now history, services ceased during the Summer Timetable change on the 2nd June. 17th June 2024 electric services will be reinstated from Glasgow Central to Ayr and sometime in July services to Stranraer will be reinstated.

[@thesloaneranger1]

The 156 units are back on their correct run between Ayr and Stranraer at last, albeit on a reduced timetable. Before the line was finally reopened, a class 37 was sent down first to check everything....... that sight "almost" made up for not having any trains running south of Ayr for 10 months. Watching the old tractor trundle through Maybole station was a treat :)

[@Rail_Focus]

Such a shame about the building, hopefully it'll soon be returned to its former glory. Great video

[@SteamboatWilley]

The Stranraer line is definitely a must-do. It's very scenic. When I worked on the ferry from Stranraer back in 2010 I was up and down that line every week and never got tired of it.

[@ps.montreal5551]

My first trip to the UK, I arrived at Prestwick. Ayr was a really outstanding. Enjoyed your video.

[@JMac7991]

I'm from Ayr and it's definitely sad to see such a nice building go to ruin like this. A bit of context for folk who may not be aware. The hotel operator left many years ago and the building was left abandoned and unkept by its Malaysian owner. The sandstone facade wasn't in good condition (sandstone in a coastal town doesn't weather well) and debris started falling onto the platforms. Network Rail put up protective hoarding and reported it to South Ayrshire Council. SAC issued numerous dangerous building warrants to the building owner but they refused to act on them. The council then had to take matters into their own hand and carry structural inspections which stated that the building is structurally unsound but salvagable. At the time of the fire, the report was being discussed by council as to what to do with it, with Building Control recommending demolition and Planning refusing due to listed status. The two fires damaged the building beyond repair and the council went in to demolish sections of the building deemed a danger to the public, which is about 80% of it at this time. This meant NR had to turn the power off so only able to run diesel trains onto the platforms. The original date for the station demolition to finish is mid June this year which would allow trains to get back to full operation. But the building owner decided to make an appearance and is attempting to sue to council for damages as he never gave permission for demolition. Not sure what the outcome of that will be but the owner also owes the council a lot of money for all the repairs the council have done to their expense (well tax payer expense). As for the future, no one really knows. There's ideas floating around of a new combined bus and train station, flats, new hotel, student accommodation, mixed use development...

[@Sim0nTrains]

Very Interesting read and thank you for the context. I make sure this is pinned

[@MichaelSebastianTodd]

Ayr looks like a nice station & both Prestwick town looks amazing brilliant vlog

[@Sim0nTrains]

Ayr is a nice station, have been there once years ago, shame most of it looks abandoned at the moment

[@SteamboatWilley]

Ayr used to be a beautiful station, but it's in a terrible state now.

[@user-wo6qn3vf9n]

The reason for the use of 156s on the shuttle is because the booked EMUs can't complete the journey to Ayr due to the overhead power being cut Between Prestwick and Ayr because of the incident.

[@Sim0nTrains]

I did forgot to mention that, thank you

[@Thornaby37]

Great video Cyber 👍 It's incredible the amount of disruption caused by one building [not to mention the inconvenience to rail passengers in Ayr]

[@Sim0nTrains]

Thanks Thornaby37, it is as it pretty close to the station but there have been problems with that building quite a few times in the past.

[@robbiemorrison7085]

Finally a good service, I need to tick off Ayr as part of my 3 lettered uk stations.

[@Sim0nTrains]

There a lot of 3 letter word stations, how many have you been to?

[@8r1tK1Dtia]

Do you have or plan to have Ely on your list? It's the only other such station I can think of.

[@RickyNowis]

Gosh, can remember seeing the news about Ayr station. A very sorry state it's in but hopefully should get restored soon.

[@SteamboatWilley]

Nice seeing you back in Ayrshire.

[@ReubenAshwell]

Brilliant video Cyber, it's a real shame that station hotel at Ayr has caught fire, hopefully it will be fixed soon.

[@Sim0nTrains]

Thanks Reuben. Hope they do sort it out

[@ReecesTrains]

Good video, Simon! I was reading about the incident with Ayr Station Hotel and it is sad that the hotel has been heavily damaged by the fire. I wonder what's going to happen to it next...

[@Sim0nTrains]

Thank you, They are knocking some of the building down but have no idea what the plan is for the station hotel

[@johnwayne2896]

Great video Simon

[@Sim0nTrains]

Thank you

[@MrGreatplum]

Great video, Simon. What a shame about the hotel there - it looks like it was being refurbished when the fire happened so it could have been an accident - rather than an insurance issue!

[@Andrewjg_89]

Network Rail should electrify the line from Ayr to Stranraer to allow Class 380 and Class 385 EMU trains to operate from Glasgow Central. And to electrify from Barrhead to Kilmarnock and Dumfries with the East Kilbride line already planned to be electrified.

[@westmidlandstransport]

nice video, Simon! it is a shame the hotel caught fire tbh

[@Sim0nTrains]

Thank you, think it wasn't the first time that it happened as the building is in a bad state

[@nocentertainment666]

Paisley Gilmour st is also on the Inverclyde line.

[@moorlandmodelrailwayandy]

Some great little stations around Scotland. I remember Ayr station when I stayed at Turnberry cheers Andy

[@derekporter7658]

I am originally from Kilwinning. So very familiar with the lines to Ayr and Largs. Falkland yard used to be filled with coal hoppers and class 20's /37's /25's/26's and the odd 47. I'd see plenty of freight pass by. I'd see the Sealink train from Glasgow to Stranraer quite often. Usually it was pulled by a 47. Happy times. Moved to Edinburgh and was quickly looking at Waverley station and Craigentinny depot and the odd trip to Millerhill. I now live near Livingston, and don't see much on the Edinburgh to Carstairs line, although I can hear it from my house if the wind is from the south or it's quiet.

[@thebrummierailenthusiasts5329]

Yesterday I went for Tamworth and I’ve caught the railtour behind 44871

[@Sim0nTrains]

Had to give that one a miss due to work however I did see the smoke from the loco when returning from work on the bus

[@thebrummierailenthusiasts5329]

@@Sim0nTrainsI’m glad you saw the smoke coming from the black 5

[@andrewhotston983]

Unwanted buildings in Scotland have a nasty habit of catching fire. Go to Stranraer as soon as you can - that line must be a candidate for closure, as it no longer connects with the ferry to Northern Ireland.

[@Scottish_Transport_Explorer]

True it no longer connects with the ferry. However the line still links the town of Stranraer with a population of 10,593 people with the rest of the Scottish rail network. It just simply needs more investment. Plus we meant to be reopening lines, not closing them.

[@andrewhotston983]

@@Scottish_Transport_Explorer The line links Stranraer Pier, not the town. Perhaps they could reopen Stranraer Town station?

[@Scottish_Transport_Explorer]

@@andrewhotston983 They definitely should reopen Stranraer town, as there's a 15 minute walk from the existing station to the town itself. It would just make it easier for everyone if the trains terminated at Stranraer town.

[@MinecraftCheating]

Station hotel is finally getting demolished.

[@Sim0nTrains]

I did see something about that today, heard it is getting demolished but the work has been halted.

[@MinecraftCheating]

@@Sim0nTrains Seems like they can continue

[@Sim0nTrains]

@@MinecraftCheating I have a look, didn't had a proper look being honest,

[@8r1tK1Dtia]

Weren't services to Stranraer halted because the ferries from there had moved elsewhere in 2010?

[@Sim0nTrains]

Unsure but dont think they werent halted but currently Stranraer has 5 departures out of Stranraer during the current timetable (but no trains operating at the moment, it did had two trains which were stuck there ran until they were out of fuel and had to be sent back to Corkerhill Depot via road)

[@Scottish_Transport_Explorer]

Only the boat trains..... Remember the town of Stranraer has a population of 10,593 folk. So the line still has a purpose of connecting the town of Stranraer with the rest of Scotland.

[@robk23oxf]

The hotel is being demolished now so hopefully that will be the end of this sorry saga.

[@Sim0nTrains]

I did notice that during the editing of the video when looking for article on it for the video.

[@harryelliott4310]

Trains Station 🚉

[@trains_and_walks]

Brilliant interesting video. But ruined by the music. Stop the music please and leave the surrounding ambience.