Location
Kilwinning is located in Kilwinning Town Centre approx 25 miles from Glasgow City Centre. The station has 4 platforms, 2 for services to / from Ayr / Stranraer to / from Glasgow Central and 2 for services to / from Largs and Ardrossan to / from Glasgow Central. Kilwinning is well served with at least 4 trains stopping here per hour.
Platform 4 - Ayr/Girvan/Stranraer
Platform 3 - Glasgow Central
Platform 2 - Largs / Ardrossan
Platform 1 - Glasgow Central
The station has a British Transport Police office on Platform 3 meaning the station should be safe.
Photography
The best locations for Photography is at the east end of Platform 2/3. You will catch all train movements from here.
What can I expect to see?
The class 380's dominate almost all passenger services, however, there is an outside chance of a class 314 seeing use if there is an extreme shortage of units. A number of 380 operated services are either in 6 or 7 car formation during peak times and 3/4 car off peak. Class 156's also pass here on services to / from Stranraer.
Freight, unfortunately has mostly dried up following the closure of Longannet, meaning the Hunterston to Longannet coal circuit has now ceased to run. The only regular freights are the Hunterston - Sellafield flask train, which is usually hauled by a pair of 37's, however 57's or 66's may also appear. The other regular working is the Prestwick Airport - Grangemouth Aviation Fuel service, which operates 2 - 3 times a week and is operated by Colas, bringing more variety with their colourful livery. They are mainly hauled by a class 60 however may occasionally be hauled by either a 66 or a 47.
The slurry tanks for Irvine now uses the GSW line so no longer runs via Kilwinning, however occasionally some rare stock heading to Hunslet Barclay in Kilmarnock such as HST's and class 180's have been known to head this way, whilst the Network Rail HST is a frequent visitor to Ayr and travels this way.
Usual Traction
Class 156
Class 314
Class 380
Class 31 (Network Rail)
Class 37 (DRS)
Class 47 (Colas)
Class 57 (DRS)
Class 60 (Colas)
Class 66 (DRS, DBS, Freightliner)
Class 67 (DBS)