The replacement for fire-ravaged Troon Railway Station has been given the go ahead by planners.
Network Rail says it hopes to get the new facility up and running for next year’s Open golf tournament held at Royal Troon.
The plans, approved under delegated powers on Friday, stay true to the design of the original Victorian exterior, while providing a more modern internal layout.
The B-listed station building was gutted by fire on July 16, 2021, and had to be demolished for safety reasons.
After the fire, Network Rail had found the building had ‘sustained significant and systemic damage, whereby it posed a direct danger to the public and steel supports of the high voltage overhead lines’.
It took a week before trains could stop at the station.
A number of options were put forward, with more than 150 people attending an event in August 2022 to view potential designs, with a further final design event held this January.
In their planning application, Network Rail stated: “Externally, the façade has been arranged to accommodate the internal layout whilst retaining all the key features of the original design.
“The roof will be finished in a Welsh slate, a blue slate often accepted in listed buildings on the Scottish railway.
“Community engagement has been an important part of the process and the events carried out have been positive with a clear message on the preferred option.”
Network Rail added that the application was part of its “commitment to have the works completed prior to the golf Open in 2024 so that the facilities are ready for the anticipated large influx of visitors travelling to Troon by train”.
In a report, planners stated that Network Rail’s application ‘documents the full extent of the damage caused by the fire, and provides full and reasoned justification for the removal of the fire damaged building’.
The plan includes the replacement of the destroyed building, the reinstatement of the canopy over the railway line.
It continues: “It is noted from the submitted plans that, externally, this
generally replicates the design, massing, scale and finishes of the fire damaged building removed from site, with only minor changes.
“As such, there are no concerns arising from the external appearance of the replacement building.
"Internally, the layout of the building is much changed in order to meet
with the operational needs of the railway operator whilst meeting with accessibility requirements and modern building regulations.”
The application was approved by officers using delegated powers, under the condition that work starts within three years.
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