View source for Whifflet Line

{{Short description|Railway line in Glasgow, Scotland}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2017}}
{{Use British English|date=March 2017}}
{{Infobox rail line
| name                            = Whifflet Line
| color                           = 
| logo                            = 
| logo_width                      = 145px
| image                           = WhiffletRailwayStation1.JPG
| image_width                     = 
| caption                         = [[Whifflet railway station]]
| type                            = 
| system                          = [[National Rail]]
| status                          = 
| locale                          = [[Glasgow]]<br>[[Scotland]]
| start                           = {{stnlink|Glasgow Central}}
| end                             = {{stnlink|Motherwell}}
| stations                        = 7
| routes                          =
| open                            = 
| close                           = 
| owner                           = [[Network Rail]]
| operator                        = [[ScotRail]]
| character                       = 
| depot                           = 
| stock                           = [[British Rail Class 318|Class 318]], [[British Rail Class 320]]
| linelength                      = 
| tracklength                     =
| gauge                           = {{RailGauge|4ft8.5in}}
| speed                           = 
| elevation                       = 
| map                             = {{switcher
| [[File:Whifflet Line.png|265px]]<br />([[:commons:File:Whifflet Line.png|Click to expand]])
| Show geographical map
| {{Whifflet Line|inline=y}}
| Show route diagram
}}}}
The '''Whifflet Line''' is one of the lines within the [[Strathclyde Partnership for Transport|Strathclyde]] suburban [[Railway|rail]] network in [[Scotland]].

== History ==
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 the line were at {{rws|Carmyle}}, {{rws|Broomhouse}} (now {{rws|Mount Vernon}}), {{rws|Baillieston}}, {{rws|Langloan}} and {{rws|Whifflet High Level}} (until 1964). Passenger services ceased in November 1966 following the [[Beeching Axe]] (latterly running to {{rws|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 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 {{rws|Whifflet}} rather than Coatbridge Central as previously.

== Line description ==
The modern line currently serves seven stations. It connects parts of south east [[Glasgow]], [[Bargeddie]] and [[Coatbridge]] to Glasgow city centre. Between {{Stnlnk|Glasgow Central}} and {{rws|Rutherglen}}, the line shares the same track as the [[West Coast Main Line]] before branching off in a north easterly direction towards Coatbridge.

== Services ==
The route is operated by [[ScotRail]].

=== 1993 to 2002 ===
Following re-opening as a passenger line, service was provided by a mix of 1980s [[British Rail Class 156|Class 156]] and 1950s [[British Rail Class 101|Class 101]] [[diesel multiple unit|DMUs]]. During their final years, the last of Class 101 DMUs were used, reduced from 3-car by having the centre trailer removed. In 2002, the remaining 101s were withdrawn from service on the Whifflet line, and more modern units took over the services.

=== 2009 service pattern ===
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 [[British Rail Class 158|Class 158]] DMUs and the occasional [[British Rail Class 156|Class 156]] DMU. Three trains operated on this route during the day, usually remaining dedicated on this service throughout the day.

=== From December 2014 ===
In late 2014, the Whifflet Line electrification was commissioned and from 14 December 2014 the service was incorporated into the [[Argyle Line]], operated by [[electric multiple unit|EMUs]]. At the same time an all year round Sunday service commenced. Current Sunday Service is hourly from Balloch to Motherwell via Whifflet. 

=== Anderston Tunnel Closure, 2022<ref>{{Cite web |title=£32m Argyle Line improvement works set to begin |url=https://www.scotrail.co.uk/about-scotrail/news/%C2%A332m-argyle-line-improvement-works-set-begin }}</ref> ===
In February 2022, ScotRail announced a £32million improvement works for the Anderston Tunnel to improve reliability for passengers. As part of the improvement works, engineers completed a series of projects to repair and replace infrastructure on the line through central Glasgow.

As part of the works, Anderston Tunnel closed for a period of eight weeks. The line between Rutherglen and Exhibition Centre was closed throughout the works, and no trains ran. The works started on 13 March 2022 and ended on 8 March 2022.

During the period of closure, services were rerouted via Glasgow Central High Level. 

== Line Developments ==
In 2006, [[Network Rail]] announced tentative proposals to electrify 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 the western suburbs.

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== Sources ==
* {{Jowett-Atlas}}
* {{Quail-1}}
* [http://www.firstgroup.com/scotrail/gf/strath%20north%20east%20book.pdf Page 25 - First ScotRail timetable] for this route.

==External links==
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ISx_ofSTT5A Video of trains at Whifflet]
{{Railway lines in Scotland}}

[[Category:Transport in Glasgow]]
[[Category:Railway lines in Scotland]]
[[Category:Standard gauge railways in Scotland]]
[[Category:Transport in North Lanarkshire]]