Transport Scotland take over Glasgow Airport rail link
29.03.08
Transport Scotland is to take over management of the £210m Glasgow Airport Rail Link. The national body will replace Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT), which had previously been responsible for the link.
The new line involves upgrading five-and-a-half miles of track and laying an additional one mile of track between Paisley St James Station and Glasgow Airport. A spur will be built from Paisley to a terminal at the airport and four trains will run on the line, with a single stop in Paisley on the route.
The project is still expected to be opened in time for the 2014 Commonwealth Games, which are to be held in Glasgow. Construction on the project is due to get under way next year.
SPT initially lobbied for the rail link, designed the route and also introduced the legislation in parliament that paved the way for the project being approved. However, Scottish Transport Minister Stewart Stevenson said the link was a ‘nationally significant project’ and the switch was the ‘right way ahead’.
The Scotsman quotes 'senior industry sources' citing flaws in the design for the railway as the reason for the decision. One 'insider' said: 'This is a reality check for SPT. The bottom line? They are not an infrastructure provider.' An SPT spokesman denied there had been problems with design work.
Add to: del.icio.us | Digg it | Newsvine | NowPublic | Reddit
To book a glasgow airport hotels or glasgow airport parking at the lowest price, click on these links to two great glasgow airport parking and glasgow airport hotel price comparison pages.
