Five years ago the Scottish Government scrapped plans for the so-called Glasgow Airport Rail Link due to the high costs involved but the plans could now be back on the table if a report in The Scotsman is anything to go by with Tram-Trains now being suggested. This would see just a one mile stretch of new line built between the national rail line and the Airport with the vehicles then taking advantage of elements of the scheme which survived the axe back in 2009.
Transport Minister Keith Brown revealed that Tram-Trains are being included as part of a report into improving public transport connections to the second biggest airport in Scotland. The scheme would be more long-term with a number of short-term improvements also being considered including upgrading bus links.
If the government decided to go-ahead with the Tram-Trains plans a one mile tramway would be built between the airport terminal and the mainline railway at Paisley. It is expected this would be a cheaper option from a conventional railway line and could include tighter curves to avoid existing obstacles on the proposed alignment – a major factor in the scrapping of the project previously. The Tram-Trains would then be able to capitalise on aspects of the original project which were not axed with the rest of scheme including upgraded signalling, a third track on the Paisley-Glasgow line and two extra platforms at Glasgow Central.
Keith Brown MSP, Transport Minister, said: “In the longer term, the study indicates a tram-train option running from the airport, which would then join the existing rail network into Glasgow Central, could be the most effective way to improve public transport access to the airport from the city centre. While the appraisal does not give us all of the answers, particularly around passenger forecasts and risks, we will now consider the proposal for a tram-0train link from Glasgow Airport onto the existing rail network into Glasgow Central, and I have asked my officials to carry out further work on how this might be delivered.”
Yet more of Alex Salmond’s group’s “pipe” dreams. JUST where are they going to find the money from ? Oh I forgot the SNP’s stock answer……..North Sea Oil or should I say Scotland’s other national drink, Irn Bru which they’ll have to tax to pay for all their other ambitious schemes?! Who knows, like Dublin they could always ask for a loan from the EU.
Sorry Guys , Another fantasy scheme from the Nats, Just like result on 18th September. We need a heavy rail link into Glasgow Central and beyond, most of infrastructure is in place, including Class380 units. This will allow for future services to other parts of Scotland.
Why don`t they look at the original rail link through Abercorn quite sure they could utilise under the fly over for a light railway and save all the disruption to other people and places. This would take them right into terminal two.this would also save money as the railway still own the land.