30 October 2007
Renfrewshire councillors give Glasgow Airport Rail Link the green light
Renfrewshire councillors today (Tuesday 30 October) gave their approval to the latest designs of key parts of the new Glasgow Airport Rail Link, including plans for the new airport station platforms.
In all, Renfrewshire Council's planning and economic development policy board gave the green light to six applications for "prior approval".
While the Glasgow Airport Rail Link Bill was approved by MSPs in November 2006 and given Royal Assent in January 2007, some parts of the new link still need approval from Renfrewshire Council and Glasgow City Council.
Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT) chair Alistair Watson said: "The Glasgow Airport Rail Link has been all about working in partnership with organisations and the local community to make a fast, direct route between Glasgow and its airport a reality.
"I am delighted that with this decision by Renfrewshire Council takes us closer to this goal."
Renfrewshire Council Planning and Economic Development Policy Board Convener, Councillor Iain Nicolson said: "The planning approval for these vital engineering and design features marks another milestone in the development of the airport rail link.
"The package of proposals which have been approved is a major step forward for the whole project and brings nearer the day when Renfrewshire and the wider Scottish economy can benefit from the major transport link which will be created."
GARL Project Manager for Transport Scotland, John Gordon said: "We welcome another important milestone towards the delivery of this important project for the economy and communities of the West of Scotland."
The design plans for the rail bridge to be built over the M8 and the new changing rooms to be built at St James Park will be considered at the next meeting of Renfrewshire Council's planning and economic development policy board, due to be held on 20 November 2007.
Preparatory work has already started on the Glasgow Airport Rail Link. Last month, a contract worth between £0.5m and £1.5m has been put out to tender by Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT to conduct a detailed investigation of ground conditions along the line of route of the planned two-kilometre stretch of new track which will run from near Paisley St James station to Glasgow Airport, the so-called St James Spur.
And preparatory work on a key section of the GARL route began earlier this year on 1 July. Until 16 November 2007, Network Rail is installing 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).
And work is continuing on the 11 temporary football pitches and changing facilities being provided at seven locations across Renfrewshire during construction of the Glasgow Airport Rail Link. The pitches and new changing facilities are being provided to give local footballers alternative places to play football when work starts on the planned viaduct which will bisect St James playing fields in Paisley, a crucial part of the Glasgow Airport Rail Link project.
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 link 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.
After the St James viaduct is completed 20 pitches will be available at St James Playing Fields. Two further pitches will be provided at Ferguslie Park.
The Department for Transport estimates that passenger numbers at Glasgow Airport are predicted to 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 increase the rail opportunities for travellers using Paisley Gilmour Street station.
The link will also benefit the 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 to editors
Preparatory work has already started on the Glasgow Airport Rail Link. Last month, a contract worth between £0.5m and £1.5m has been put out to tender by Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT to conduct a detailed investigation of ground conditions along the line of route of the planned two-kilometre stretch of new track which will run from near Paisley St James station to Glasgow Airport, the so-called St James Spur.
And preparatory work on a key section of the GARL route began earlier this year on 1 July. Until 16 November 2007, Network Rail is installing 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).
And work is continuing on the 11 temporary football pitches and changing facilities being provided at seven locations across Renfrewshire during construction of the Glasgow Airport Rail Link. The pitches and new changing facilities are being provided to give local footballers alternative places to play football when work starts on the planned viaduct which will bisect St James playing fields in Paisley, a crucial part of the Glasgow Airport Rail Link project.
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 link 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.
After the St James viaduct is completed 20 pitches will be available at St James Playing Fields. Two further pitches will be provided at Ferguslie Park.
The Department for Transport estimates that passenger numbers at Glasgow Airport are predicted to 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 increase the rail opportunities for travellers using Paisley Gilmour Street station.
The link will also benefit the 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.