Date: 29/03/2005

[Comment.] The M74 is to be extended from Fullarton to the the M8 just south of the Kingston Bridge. The pros and cons have been discussed widely but little comment has been made on the effect, on the ground, of the route on the railway system and possible future schemes.

Sections of the motorway will be on raised onto viaducts. Between West Street and Pollockshaws Road the motorway will be raised. This section will cross over the lines from Glasgow Central running west and south and the City of Glasgow Union Railway route. This seems sensible. The next section running from Pollockshaws Road to Cathcart Road will be on an embankment. The road planners are aware of a possible Gorbals Junction to Strathbungo Junction re-opening and have this marked on their public plans. What has not been included is a possible Larkfield Junction to Gorbals Junction link - along the site of the former Gushetfaulds freightliner terminal and earlier South Side terminus. The alignment of the M74 may be sufficiently far away from the railway to allow this to be laid in on a moderately tight curve. There are currently no plans to open this route.

Further east the motorway passes close to the sidings at Polmadie and expansion there will not be possible. At Rutherglen the motorway will pass over the west and east curves and present day Rutherglen station. This could reduce expansion of the station here as only short road bridges are shown. The permanent way depot east of Rutherglen will be removed as the route of the motorway occupies its location.

The M74 at Fullarton already occupies a short section of the route of the former Bridgeton to Carmyle line. Much of the route of this line is now in use for other purposes and is unlikely to be re-opened.

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Related images

320318 is the rear unit on a 6-car Dalmuir via Singer service, at Rutherglen on 10 January 2019.
Location: Rutherglen
Company: Dalmarnock Branch (Caledonian Railway)
10/01/2019 John McIntyre

320301 calls at Rutherglen with a westbound service via Central Low Level on 10 January 2019. Above, acting like a giant platform canopy, is the M74 motorway.
Location: Rutherglen
Company: Dalmarnock Branch (Caledonian Railway)
10/01/2019 John McIntyre

A Whifflet service calls at Rutherglen on 19 May. I^ve never quite got used to the M74 appearing above the station some years ago, but it has to be said there is surprisingly little traffic noise.
Location: Rutherglen
Company: Dalmarnock Branch (Caledonian Railway)
19/05/2018 David Panton