By a slightly unhinged but very visionary transport nerd
Alright, listen up. Inverclyde is sitting on a goldmine of rusted rails and forgotten stations, and it’s about damn time we do something about it. While everyone’s squeezing onto the same single-track mess to get to Glasgow like sardines with deadlines, there’s a whole parallel system of former railways just gathering moss and ghost stories. Why? Because someone decades ago decided cars were the future and trains were too… Victorian. Idiots.
Step One: Clear Out the Cobwebs
We start by reopening the old legends—Kilmacolm, Lynedoch, Upper Greenock, Port Glasgow Upper. Sweep out the decades of rain, weeds, and local folklore, upgrade the platforms, install contactless ticketing, and maybe even a coffee machine that doesn’t taste like disappointment.
Step Two: Rebuild and Reroute
The old railbeds are mostly intact. Where they’re not? Lay some track. It’s not rocket science—it’s basic infrastructure with a little ambition and a shovel. Then, link this “ghost line” back into the existing railway network, giving Inverclyde a shiny, sexy alternative route to Glasgow.
Step Three: Run It Like You Mean It
Trains every 30 minutes. Clean, efficient, lightweight units—preferably powered by something that won’t choke the sky. Market it as a smarter, faster, less chaotic way to travel. Because let’s face it, the current system is one broken signal away from a commuter uprising.
And While We’re At It…
Let’s talk about the obvious: it should be an option. Especially now, with the push for greener transport, fewer cars, and more people taking public transport seriously (finally). Why not finish the damn West Coast rail circle too? Connect the dots: Gourock to Inverkip, Inverkip to Wemyss Bay, Wemyss Bay to Largs. Make it a coastal loop, an actual modern route for both locals and tourists. It’s not just efficient—it’s scenic as hell.
Why Bother?
Because resilience. Because redundancy. Because having only one way in and out of a region in 2025 is a logistical facepalm. More rail means more freedom, more economic growth, and fewer people rage-posting about late trains on social media. You want town centre regeneration? Reliable transport is how you get it.
What Happens If We Don’t
If we leave these lines abandoned? We stay stuck in a cycle of delays, bottlenecks, and excuses. Meanwhile, towns that used to hum with industry and movement stay in stagnation mode. It’s not just about transport—it’s about community, economy, and vision.
So let’s stop pretending this is a wild idea and start calling it what it really is: common sense.
Reopen the ghost lines. Complete the coastal loop. Give Inverclyde the future it should already have.
#InverclydeTransport #RailwayRevival #ScottishTrains #GreenTransport #InfrastructureMatters #WestCoastRail #InverclydeFuture #PublicTransport #EcoTravel #ScotlandRail #TransportReform