15 June 2006
Regeneration of Partick station enters demolition phase
The £12.3m project to transform Partick station into a state-of-the-art public transport interchange serving rail, Subway and bus travellers has entered a new phase as contractors have started to dismantle the old 1979 station building block by block.
Partick station is the fifth busiest in Scotland and is used by over 4 million passengers each year to catch rail, Subway and bus services. Work to rebuild the station began on site last November and the construction work should be finished by spring 2007.
SPT Chair Councillor Alistair Watson, in the company of local Glasgow City Councillor Aileen Colleran and Glasgow Kelvin MSP Pauline McNeill, ceremoniously removed the first of the old station's concrete roof beams.
He said: "Partick's position as a major hub for passengers using rail, Subway and bus services is set to expand with the exciting regeneration of the Clyde Waterfront underway at Glasgow Harbour.
"It is a critical link in the city's transport infrastructure and when the work is complete next spring, the new interchange will provide pleasant, comfortable surroundings in which people can make easy changes between modes of transport.
"This is a challenging project as we've had to create a building site in a busy urban location and at the same time, continue to operate a station running normal services. I must thank local residents and businesses for their patience and understanding during what has been, at times, noisy and disruptive work on their doorstep and would assure them that we remain committed to keeping the local community fully informed of works that are likely to cause disturbance."
Partick Station is set to remain open throughout the construction period with all transport services running to normal timetables, but travellers are warned that the usual routes to and from platforms may change as work progresses.
When complete next spring, the new Partick Interchange will be fitted with state-of-the-art safety, security and passenger information systems. It will have comfortable, spacious waiting areas and offer passengers easy transfers between rail, Subway and bus services.
MSP Pauline McNeill said, "By this time next year Partick will have one of the best transport interchange facilities in the country. I am expecting a real transformation of the travel experience, not just for the hundreds of my own constituents who use Partick regularly, but also for the many others for whom it is a key link in their journey. I know that the £6.3million provided directly by the Scottish Executive was vital and I am delighted that SPT have been able to put together such an ambitious scheme."
Cllr Colleran added, "It's good to see that work on Partick station is progressing well, and to be involved in literally raising the roof is quite special. Along with all the users and neighbours of the station we all look forward to the completion of the station project, and I'd like to recognise the role of SPT in contributing their part to the multi-million pound investment that's going on in the Partick area."
ends