Upgrades to Stranraer needed.

While central Scotland has been doing quite well recently with railway reopenings and electrifications galore, the South West has seen a severe lack of investment. Stena Line's relocation from Stranraer to Cairnryan in 2011 left Stranraer's railway station (built on a pier to serve the ferry) rather isolated and lacking in passengers. The new ferry terminal has no rail connection and is instead served by a road coach from Ayr! Things got even worse in September 2023 when a fire in the abandoned Ayr Station Hotel caused trains south of Ayr to be cancelled for months while the hotel was made safe. Surprisingly, the South West Scotland Community Rail Partnership has been completely silent on this issue, and their website hasn't been updated since 2019.

Mutterings from local politicians about relocating Stranraer station closer to the town centre have fallen on deaf ears. Having the station closer to the town would eliminate a long walk out to the windswept pier to catch the train, making it a more convenient option for residents and visitors. It wouldn't even take much effort; simply slew the track round to the south of the old car park and build a travel interchange at the Ulsterbus Garage on Port Rodie (see map below).

I have seen some enthusiasts online suggest that the old Stranraer Town station could be reopened as an alternative, but that station, which was on the former line to Portpatrick, is on the edge of the town and just as much of a walk from the town centre as the harbour, although it might be more convenient for residents living in that area.

Meanwhile the ferry ports at Cairnryan still have no rail service. I have previously suggested reopening the old Cairnryan Military Railway from Dunragit to serve both P&O and Stena ferry terminals. The A77 road (which carries the bus from Ayr) is dangerous and prone to closures, so having a railway would be a more reliable means of getting foot passengers to the ferries. There is untapped potential for freight in the area as well. Perhaps the former ferry terminal at Stranraer could be repurposed as a rail-connected freight terminal for smaller container vessels, timber carriers or even tankers?

As Dumfries and Galloway Council run a consultation on the redevelopment of Stranraer seafront, they should consider options for the railway.