The Clyde Metro proposals are moving to the next stage with Mott MacDonald appointed to provide consultancy services on certain aspects of the plans. At the same time an article in the Glasgow Times seems to confirm that the idea of it being a tram system has been ruled out with the preference being for a Metro network. However, all this is more theory at the moment with the proposals still at a very early stage.
The idea for a Clyde Metro has potentially been on the table since 2017 but various reasons have meant it hasn’t progressed too far, although it was mentioned in the grand Strategic Transport Projects Review 2 (STPR2) released by Transport Scotland in December 2022. Since then it has been looked at and agreement reached to move it onto the next stage.
In a position statement on the project released in June 2024 it was said that they would look at:
- Conversion of parts of the Heavy Rail network to Metro Rail
- Extensions to those converted Metro Rail routes to serve new destinations
- Creation of new Light Metro lines
But they would not be looking at one project in isolation with it all due to be part of a much grander scheme with long-term aspirations whilst it specifically states that it is not “a tram project as it encompasses a wide variety of modes”. Whilst that does not specifically say there won’t be a tram aspect of the whole scheme it seem to suggest it is very much not part of their speaking at the moment.
Mott MacDonald are being used on two packages of the project with it having moved forward to Stage 2 as they build a case for investment in the Clyde Metro. This will include developing the Scottish Transport Appraisal Guidance (STAG) and related technical workstreams. This will build on the case for change developed during Stage 1 and will evaluate the potential impacts, benefits, and alignment with national and regional transport strategies.
They will also develop the preliminary engineering statement, which will outline the technical and engineering requirements for the project. This stage will be crucial for defining the scope, feasibility and potential engineering challenges associated with the programme’s delivery.
Both stages of this work are due be completed by 2026/7.
It would be fair to say we are still very much at the early stages of the plan, and as Strathclyde Partnership for Transport are keen to keep pointing out it is large-scale and long-term project where they are determined not to just delivery ad-hoc transport improvements. Whether it will be a Metro, tram, or something else entirely remains to be seen, as does whether it will ever end up being anything at all!