22 June 2007
Preparatory work set to start on Glasgow Airport rail link
Preparatory work on the Glasgow Airport Rail Link is set to start in July 2007, it was announced today (Friday 22 June).
Between 1 July and 16 November 2007, Network Rail will install portal frames for the overhead line electrification along a stretch of track between Shields Junction (near Kinning Park in Glasgow) and Arkleston Junction (near Hillington Industrial Estate on the outskirts of Paisley).
The work - which will take place within railway property - will help with subsequent work to install new railway infrastructure crucial to the Glasgow Airport Rail Link project.
SPT chair Alistair Watson said: "The Glasgow Airport Rail Link was given the go-ahead by MSPs in November 2006 and received Royal Assent in January 2007. Since that time, SPT has been finalising the detailed design of the scheme.
"Now, we are delighted that preparatory work is ready to begin on the scheme.
"This work is necessary if we are all to enjoy the long-term benefits that GARL will bring - giving the people of Glasgow and the west of Scotland a safe and reliable rail link to Glasgow Airport."
The work involves excavating and pouring of foundations followed by the erection of steelwork at various locations along the line. Times as follows:
- Weekend work (commencing 01 July 2007 until 23 September 2007)
00:30hrs - 07:00hrs Sunday
00:30hrs - 05:30hrs Monday
- Weekend 29-hour works and line closures (commencing 30 September
2007 to 11 November 2007)
00:300hrs Sunday - 05:30hrs Monday
- Night time working midweek (commencing 03 July 2007 to 16 Nov 2007)
00:30 hrs - 05:30 hrs Tuesday - Friday
Starting today, local residents bordering the existing railway line,
will receive advanced notification of work starting near their homes.
The work will be managed by Network Rail and carried out by Scotland Track
Renewals Company.
Glasgow Airport Rail Link is funded by Transport Scotland with financial support also from SPT, BAA and the European Union, through the Trans-European Transport Network budget.
The move follows the news last week that Souters Sports Ltd had won the contract worth £1.5 million to provide the temporary pitches and facilities, which will be provided during the construction of the St James spur, which will cross St James Playing Fields in Paisley using a viaduct. Construction work at the playing fields will mean 11 of the 22 pitches on the site become unavailable - so SPT is making replacements available at seven sites across Renfrewshire during the period it takes to build the viaduct.
John Lyle is general secretary of Paisley and District Amateur League, a local football league. He said: "The Glasgow Airport Rail Link is the best thing that's ever happened to St James playing fields and we're pleased to hear that SPT will be providing temporary league pitches while the work takes place at St James. This is really important in terms of keeping football going in Renfrewshire over the next few years."
The Glasgow Airport Rail Link (GARL) will upgrade 9km (5.4 miles) of existing track between Shields Junction and Paisley Gilmour Street station and lay 1.9km (1.2miles) of new track between Paisley St James station and Glasgow Airport.
The new track will cross St James Park via a new viaduct, and the M8. A new platform will also be built in Central Station and new track laid at the Elderslie sidings.
The new rail link will provide a dedicated train service every 15 minutes between Glasgow Central Station and a new station at Glasgow Airport. Trains will stop once at Paisley Gilmour Street and the journey time will be 16 minutes.
Official estimates predict that passenger numbers at Glasgow Airport will almost double, from 8.2million a year in 2003, to over 15 million passengers a year in 2030. Airport owner BAA Scotland's latest forecasts are even higher and indicate that passenger numbers could rise as high as 24 million by 2030. At present, 95% of these passengers travelling to Glasgow Airport do so by road.
The rail link will provide more travel choice for airport users and establish a sustainable transport link to Glasgow Airport, which is a major employer and one of the biggest wealth generators in the region. It will also increase rail opportunities for travellers using Paisley Gilmour Street station.
The link will also benefit the city's tourist industry. According to Roger Tym & Partners, Glasgow Airport Rail Link could help bring 52,500 additional UK and overseas visitors and contribute towards £10m in additional visitor expenditure every year to Glasgow, Renfrewshire and Inverclyde. The link would also support the Glasgow City region's conference sector business, worth an estimated £115m annually. In addition, the link will help support 1300 jobs across Glasgow and Renfrewshire including 650-700 gross new jobs in Paisley town centre.
ends
Notes for Editors
Further information can be found at www.spt.co.uk/garl or www.scottish.parliament.uk