28 February 2005

Rail link could bring 650 jobs to Glasgow and Renfrewshire

Glasgow Airport Rail Link could bring 650 jobs to Glasgow and Renfrewshire over the next ten years, according to research conducted by consultants working on the project.

It is estimated that the link would bring around £260m of economic benefits to Glasgow, Renfrewshire and Inverclyde and lead to the development of 135,000 sq ft of office accommodation in Paisley town centre.

The research - conducted by economic development consultants Roger Tym & Partners - found that Glasgow Airport Rail Link could also help bring 52,500 additional UK and overseas visitors and contribute towards £10m in additional visitor expenditure every year to Glasgow, Renfrewshire and Inverclyde. In addition, the link would support Glasgow's estimated £115m conference sector.

Cllr Alistair Watson, chair of SPT, commented: "Glasgow Airport Rail link has huge benefits not only for people in Glasgow and Renfrewshire but also for those based in Ayrshire and Inverclyde, with the increased frequency of trains to and from that area which the link would allow.

"These figures show clearly the benefits that an airport rail link would bring to the west of Scotland."

The public consultation into SPT's plan to build an airport linking Glasgow Airport and Glasgow Central station began on Monday 1 November and will end on Monday 28 February. According to Government guidance, organisations putting private transport bills to the Scottish Parliament should hold a 12-week consultation process.

The consultation has seen more than 20,000 information leaflets distributed to homes and businesses along the route of the proposed link. A seat drop of 15,000 leaflets has also been done on local train services. A series of public exhibitions and meetings have been held and a website has also been set up.

Following the consultation end SPT will submit a bill to the Scottish Parliament. Objectors will then have 60 days to register their concerns. If the bill is given the green light by MSPs, it is estimated that the link could be operational by the end of 2008.

Passenger numbers at Glasgow Airport are predicted to virtually double, from 8.2 million passengers a year in 2003, to over 15 million passengers a year in 2030. At the moment, 95% of these passengers travel to the airport by road. The M8 currently experiences capacity problems during peak hours and cannot cope with the predicted growth.

The rail link will help to contribute to the continued growth of Glasgow Airport, which is a major employer and is one of the biggest wealth generators in the west of Scotland.

Consultants have been investigating the feasibility of building a direct rail link to Glasgow Airport for some 15 years and a preferred route has been identified, which mainly follows existing rail lines.

The proposal is to upgrade 9km (5.4 miles) of existing track between Shields Junction and Paisley Gilmour Street Station and to lay 2km (1.2 miles) of new track between Paisley St James Station and Glasgow Airport. The new track will cross St James Park and the M8.

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