6 October 2006
Motherwell interchange meeting with First Minister
The First Minister the Rt Hon Jack McConnell MSP and SPT Chair Cllr Alistair Watson met today (6 October) in Motherwell to consider proposals for an important project to transform the town’s rail station into state-of-the-art transport interchange.
Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT) has long viewed Motherwell station as a key location in the public transport network. It serves as a major rail station for both local and longer distance rail services and provides interchange opportunities between rail and other transport modes.
Motherwell is also an important operation site for the rail industry as a base for passenger train servicing facilities. Rail freight services, including coal to supply power stations in the south of England run via Motherwell and the station experiences a concentration of freight trains in the early evening.
SPT regards the Motherwell project as a catalyst for future upgrading of the roads in the area, leading to economic regeneration as greater commercial activity in the town centre and surrounding area. In partnership with North Lanarkshire Council, two options are currently being considered - a stand alone project to upgrade the station facilities and a second, more ambitious plan that would include completion of Motherwell’s ring road which is a feature of the council’s Southern Area Local Plan.
Following the meeting Jack McConnell said: "I am grateful that SPT could come and update me on their proposals to improve Motherwell train station. While modernisation is needed, SPT proposals go further than simply the station. The opportunity to create a major transport interchange is also there, and I hope that further progress can be made to push these proposals on to make the kind of changes we all want to see."
SPT Chair, Councillor Alistair Watson, said: "The current facilities at Motherwell fall short of the standards expected at a multi-modal transport interchange and the needs of passengers with mobility problems are simply not being met."
"There is significant conflict between cars, buses, pedestrians and cyclists as well as poor waiting facilities for bus and rail passengers. SPT has developed a track record of delivering large scale strategic projects similar to Motherwell Interchange and a number of other towns in the SPT area, including Paisley and Gourock, also have a pressing need for this type of modern transport interchange.
"We at SPT would be keen to advance proposals in conjunction with
other partners such as local authorities, Local Enterprise Companies and
private sector developers to improve town centres in the West of Scotland
where an integrated transport solution would be the catalyst for an enhanced
and greener environment."
ends