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Last day of Stranraer rail-ferry connections - Saturday 19th November 2011   The very last "boat train" to Stranraer will run on Saturday 19th November 2011.  This will be the 1704 service from Kilmarnock arriving at Stranraer at 1852 for the 1955 sailing of the Stena Voyager to Belfast.  The 1945 ScotRail service to Glasgow Central will be the last ever boat train from Stranraer.  Although ferry sailings will not cease from Stranraer until the following day, with the last sailing to Belfast being the 1955 HSS, ironically after 150 years buses will be replacing trains on that day as Network Rail carry out maintenance!  Just like the last trains under Beeching, you couldn't make it up.   Sadly Stena have changed the timetable in the last few days and the Stena Caledonia will finish up on the Wednesday.  The last sailings will be via the HSS Stena Voyager.   The last inbound ferry-rail service will be the 1700 HSS sailing from Belfast arriving at Stranraer at 1910 for the 1945 rail service to Glasgow via Kilmarnock.   March 12th 1861 to November 19th 2011; 150 years of rail and sail between Stranraer and Northern Ireland comes to end.

Rail line will not close - but major rethink needed   Whilst understandably rumours circulate in Wigtownshire that the rail link to Stranraer will be axed - Scottish Mininisters have repeatedly given assurances that this is not the case SAYLSA, remain unconvinced that the long term future of the line or at least that piece south of Girvan is secure.   SAYLSA have never stated that closure would occur, however we remain unhappy that a continuation of poor timetabling and lack of connectivity will bring about any improvement on top of key structural issues including tourism marketing which is split over two areas (Ayrshiere & Arran and Dumfries & Galloway) and the anomaly of fares to/from Stranraer, the only station lying outside the SPT fares structure.   The Winter 2011 timetable will further alienate Stranraer but might see an increase in passengers to Maybole and Girvan.  However, with increase in services skewed in the early afternoon access to and from Kilmarnock will be reduced in the mornings making things more difficult for students and workers.  Shoppers are to benefit though from a 0937 departure from Girvan, so it is at the moment a wait and see scenario.

Steam in 2012, the return of a Britannia class steam locomotive   For the first time in 45 years a Britannia class steam locomotive is scheduled to return to the Stranraer line when on Wednesday 25th April 7MT 70013 Oliver Cromwell piloted by 5MT 45305 will run an optional tour from Glasgow Central to Stranraer as part of the Railway Touring Company's Great Britain V tour.  SAYLSA is in discussions with RTC to offer seats on this tour - so watch this space.   The Britannia class operated on the line following the closure of the Port Road in June 1965 hauling the Boat Trains to/from London Euston.  They were usually piloted by a Black 5.  However unless you were a keen spotter you probably missed them as they left Stranraer at 10pm and arrived at 6am.   Of all the steam locomotives that were preserved, Oliver Cromwell is the only one that possibly worked the Stranraer line before the withdrawal of steam in 1968, when based at Carlisle Kingmoor shed.