Barassie station originally had four platforms, two of which were on the former Kilmarnock and Troon Railway line from Kilmarnock. These platforms went out of use after the local passenger service over the branch was withdrawn by British Rail on 3 March 1969.[3] They are now derelict & fenced off, but the two platforms on the Ayr line are still operational today. Barassie was a staffed station until the line was electrified in 1986, but the main buildings have since been demolished and there are now only waiting shelters in use on each platform.
South of the station, there are a number of active engineers sidings that occupy the alignment of the original 1839 GPK&AR route southwards. As first built, this bypassed Troon to the east by around 1⁄2 mile (800 metres), leaving travellers with an inconvenient journey by coach or on foot from the town centre to the initial passenger station. It wasn't until 1892 that this problem was finally remedied by the Glasgow and South Western Railway, who opened a new deviation line and passenger station that was much better sited for the town. This line (known as the Troon Loop) is now the only one in use, as its predecessor closed to through traffic in November 1982 (though most passenger trains had been routed via the Loop line since April 1966) and was subsequently lifted at its southern end during the re-signalling & electrification work. The former K&TR line to Troon (Harbour) has also disappeared, closing to all traffic in 1973.
Passenger services over the Kilmarnock branch were subsequently reinstated in May 1975, when the twice-daily Stranraer Harbour - London Euston boat trains were diverted over the route. However the branch platforms were not reopened (as noted above) as the services concerned ran non-stop between Kilmarnock & Ayr. As a consequence of this, the current (more frequent) Kilmarnock - Ayr - Girvan DMU service cannot call here. The branch has also been singled, with control shared between the West of Scotland Signalling Centre in Glasgow (which supervises the entire Glasgow - Ayr route) and Kilmarnock PSB.
There are now four departures per hour to Glasgow Central & Ayr on weekdays as well as Saturdays. Two of the four Glasgow-bound trains are fast/limited stop from Kilwinning. The evening & Sunday service remains unchanged.[5]
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