ScotRail services between Glasgow Central and Ayr return to Ayr station following fire safety works at Station Hotel

Direct train services between Ayr and Glasgow will return from next Monday in a long awaited boost for travellers and businesses.

The announcement comes almost nine months after the fire which ravaged the Station Hotel, with South Ayrshire Council coinfirming it is due to finish its work on the privately-owned former hotel building in the coming days.

Teams from Network Rail have begun work to prepare the site ahead of the re-opening next week. A full timetable, with the return of services between Kilmarnock, Ayr, Girvan, and Stranraer, is expected to be in operation by mid-July.

Liam Sumpter, managing director, Network Rail, said: “Our thanks go to South Ayrshire Council for completing the critical safety work at the former Ayr Station Hotel. Our teams are working hard to have the track ready and alongside our colleagues at ScotRail we’re looking forward to welcoming passengers back to the station and on to services next week.

“We’d like to thank passengers and the Ayr community for their patience and understanding during the station closure.”

David Lister, ScotRail Safety, Sustainability & Asset Director, said: “The devastating fire at the former station hotel has had a significant impact on ScotRail services in the south west of Scotland and we have worked closely and collaboratively with South Ayrshire Council, Network Rail, and other partners during this challenging period.

“We know how much people rely on rail services, so we’re pleased that from 17 June, we’ll be able to reintroduce electric services between Ayr and Glasgow and will work with Network Rail to complete all activities required to re-establish services south of Ayr due to the extended period of closure.

“We’re grateful to customers for their patience and understanding while we work towards the full return of services later in July.”

As a result of the extensive fire last September, the Council’s Building Standards team instructed urgent safety works to be carried out under Section 29 of the Building (Scotland) Act 2003.

These safety works have addressed the risk of collapsing chimneys, fire damaged supporting beams and crumbling walls and have led to the removal of the southern section of the building, the tower and the first three bays of the northern section.

The remaining part of the building has been assessed and although it’s in a poor condition, is deemed not to be an immediate safety risk, so it cannot be legally removed.

A Dangerous Building Notice has been issued in accordance with Section 30 of the Building (Scotland) Act 2003, which means the owners of the remainder of the building must make it safe.

The Council continues to pursue hotel owner Sunny Ung - known in official documents as Eng Huat Ung - for a substantial seven figure sum due in respect of the safety work. The businessman failed in a bid to have the demolition work stopped, although a court bid in the Court of Session did see diggers stopped for a week.

Mike Newall, Chief Executive of South Ayrshire Council said: “For over 10 years, we have been actively working to protect the public and the critical infrastructure of the railway.

“Our responsibilities have increased significantly since the devastating fire last year, but throughout we have maintained and developed strong working ties with our key stakeholders, particularly Network Rail and ScotRail.

“We issued the Dangerous Building Notice to the owners in advance of our safety works finishing and Network Rail has begun the works to satisfy the requirements of that Notice and facilitate the re-opening of the railway station.

“We continue to pursue Mr Ung for sums due in respect of the safety works, and decrees that have been awarded in the Council’s favour in both the Sheriff Court and Court of Session. Debt recovery action is being taken in both the United Kingdom and in Malaysia."

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