The Garnkirk and Glasgow Railway was an early railway built primarily to carry coal to Glasgow and other markets from the Monkland coalfields, shortening the journey and bypassing the monopolistic charges of the Monkland Canal; passenger traffic also developed early in the line's existence. It opened officially on 27 September 1831 using horse traction, and had the track gauge of 4 ft 6 in (1,372 mm) that had been adopted by the Monkland and Kirkintilloch Railway, with which it was to connect. Most of its original route remains open today.