Scotland

A new beginning: Pollokshaws West Railway Station

Originally built as part of the Glasgow Barrhead & Neilston Direct Railway in 1848, Pollokshaws West Railway Station is the oldest surviving railway station operating in Glasgow. 

The Category B-listed station building is owned by Network Rail and leased to First ScotRail.

Unfortunately since 1998 the building has lay vacant with all the windows boarded up and the interior stripped back to a basic shell.

Subsequently, the Glasgow Building Preservation Trust raised £730,000 in order to fund repair works and convert the station building into a cycle repair and resource centre for South West Community Cycles (SWCC).

Glasgow Building Preservation Trust was established in 1982 to rescue, repair, restore and rehabilitate historic buildings of architectural merit which through neglect or abuse may otherwise be lost in Glasgow and the surrounding area.

SWCC aims to help relieve poverty, improve the health and education of local people and protect the local environment through the provision of affordable bike-related services and activities. The centre, which will allow SWCC to expand its activities, will provide free bike repairs to children, low-cost bike hire and sales, training and events.

Speaking about the development, Donna Foote, founder of South West Community Cycles, said:

“Local people had a vision of what this old building could become if everyone pulled together and we are delighted to have reached this stage, with our new cycling resource centre likely to be open early next year.

“We want to open up access to cycling, to encourage people from all walks of life to give it a try and this centre will do just that. Hopefully it is a concept that can be replicated elsewhere in Scotland.”

When Transport Minister Keith Brown visited the station he said:

“Passengers using Pollokshaws West Station will soon be able to cycle to the station and leave their bike in secure storage before boarding the train, hopefully encouraging more people to cycle for at least part of their journey.

“More people are showing an interest in cycling following the Olympic Games and it is important that we capitalise on this momentum in the run-up to our own Commonwealth Games in 2014. These projects also have wider community benefits, bringing redundant buildings back into use, deterring vandalism and providing job opportunities.”

Work started on site in March 2012 with Elmwood as the main contractor and is expected to complete by spring 2013.

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