The Edinburgh and Glasgow Railway started negotiations in 1844 to take over the various Monkland coal railways; and at the same time they applied for permission to change to the gauge of the track to standard. However, in May 1846, the Edinburgh and Glasgow Railway was refused permission to amalgamate and it decide to withdraw on 31 December 1846. The Caledonian Railway had by that time taken over the Wishaw and Coltness Railway and the Garnkirk and Glasgow Railway, as part of its plan to get access to Glasgow over those lines.