Although the line through the station was opened in July 1850,[4] the current Balloch station was opened by British Rail and SPTE on 24 April 1988, replacing the former Balloch Central station which was situated immediately north of a level crossing on Balloch Road.[5] Closure of this level crossing was made possible by the closure of the previous terminus station, Balloch Pier, in 1986. The station is located 1⁄2 mile (800 m) south of where Balloch Pier station stood.[6][7] This relocation allowed the level crossing to be closed.[8]
In 2023, it was announced that Balloch would receive a brand new park & ride facility, at a cost of £50,000.[9]
Location
It lies within the boundary, by just over 150 metres (160 yd),[10] of the Loch Lomond & Trossachs National Park and provides one of few examples of an overhead electrified railway operating within a UK national park.[citation needed]
Facilities
The station seen in 2012
The station has a ticket office, an accessible toilet, a shelter, seats, a help point and bike racks. The station has a stepped entrance from Tullichewan Road, and three step-free entrances from Balloch Road, Lomond Road and Balloch Road. All of the station is step-free.[11]
The statistics cover twelve month periods that start in April.
Services
There is a half-hourly daily service to Airdrie on weekdays and Saturdays, and - on Sundays - to Motherwell (via Whifflet) or Larkhall (via Hamilton Central) alternately (i.e., hourly trains from Balloch to Motherwell/Larkhall).[13]
