Auchinleck Train Station re-opened on this day 40 years ago - and some in the community believe it can help in the push for a similar move in nearby Mauchline and Cumnock.
Almost 1,000 people queued for hours on Saturday, May 12, 1984, as a passenger train called at Auchinleck for the first time in over 18 years.
Like Mauchline and Cumnock stations, Auchinleck's was closed in December 1965, having originally opened in 1848.
Since then, hundreds of thousands of people have boarded trains at Auchinleck to travel north towards Glasgow, or south towards Dumfries.
According to a Cumnock Chronicle report from 1984, an introductory offer of 50p for a return from Auchinleck to Glasgow was in place for the day.
Today, that same journey would cost around £11.70.
A campaign to re-open the train station went on for years before the event in 1984, which was spearheaded by then-councillor Jim Boyd.
Speaking on the day, Cllr Boyd said: "The opening is a victory not for me, but for everyone who took part in the fight.
"The money spent to re-open the station will be recouped within two years."
READ MORE: Campaigners 'on track' with rail station re-opening push
Today, a similar campaign is ongoing to re-open train stations in nearby Mauchline and Cumnock.
An online campaign has seen almost 2,000 sign a petition to get the stations back open.
And while the campaign group admits it won't be an overnight success story, they say they are happy with the way things are moving along.
Ballochmyle councillor, Alyson Simmons, who covers Auchinleck and Mauchline, has been working alongside Cllr Neill Watts of Cumnock and New Cumnock, as well as other local representatives, to re-open the stations in the neighbouring towns.
Cllr Simmons believes the success of Auchinleck's re-opening can inspire a similar movement for Mauchline.
The Conservative and Unionist Party representative said: "Auchinleck station re-opening has been great for the community and goes to show the effect something like this can have on towns and villages.
"Our campaign for Mauchline and Cumnock is going great, and we're delighted with how support is going.
"It's just one small step at a time."
The success of Auchinleck's re-opening, as well as a push for more train stations in East Ayrshire has also been backed by local MSPs.
South Scotland MSP Carol Mochan said: "“There can be no doubt that reopening Auchinleck Station has been a complete success both for the community and the wider area.
“I would like to see greater investment in our rail infrastructure generally and we need to look at providing proper transport links for those communities that feel cut off by poor or unreliable public transport networks.
"However I know this is a very difficult process and it is very rare to see any new stations in Scotland at all nowadays."
The Scottish Labour representative continued: “For too long so many smaller towns and villages have been left to almost entirely rely on cars and unreliable buses to get around.
"This is not good for the environment and it limits peoples options for work and socialising, this is especially the case for younger and older people.
“I will continue to do everything I can to make government realise that people want a vibrant and efficient rail system and that East Ayrshire in particular is crying out for that.”
Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley MSP Elena Whitham SNP added: “Auchinleck Train Station is at the heart of the community and has become a daily necessity for many villagers.
“Recognising the importance of rail travel, the SNP Government scrapped peak time fairs and brought ScotRail into public ownership."
Ms Whitham continued: "The operator is now one of the best-performing rail services in the United Kingdom in terms of customer satisfaction.
“I would welcome views from communities being heard about further train stations, such as Mauchline, reopening where a solid case can be made for them while taking into account the other transport services available.”
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