AN £80million rail link could take travellers from a new station in Paisley to Glasgow Airport.

The scheme is one of two being considered for City Deal funding by senior councillors from Glasgow and surrounding areas.

The personal rapid transit system, which would run from a relocated Paisley St James station, is similar to that introduced at Heathrow terminal five in 2011.

A new airport rail link is the flagship project of the £1.1billion City Deal which will result major infrastructure projects across the city and neighbouring councils.

The PRT personal rapid transit system, which would be delivered by Junction 29 (Scotland), would come off the existing main rail line which goes through Paisley Gilmour Street station.

It will take passengers four minutes to travel the 1.1miles to the airport, could be finished within a year and would minimise disruption by being built alongside the existing network.

Junction 29 owns a 40 acre site next to Glasgow Airport at junction 29 of the M8 which is large enough to provide a park and ride at the new station plus additional land for a mixed use development.

The new scheme would feature small, automated vehicles operating on a network of specially built lightweight tracks.

Another scheme being considered is a £144m train-tram option which would involve carriage running from Glasgow Central to the airport via Paisley.

It would result in a 16.5 minute direct journey from the city centre with an estimated completion date of 2025.

A decision on which becomes the preferred option for the rail link will be made by Glasgow and Clyde Valley Cabinet in December.

Junction 29 managing director Paul Kelly said: "The PRT option offers reduced costs, a faster journey time, can be delivered within 12 months and would significantly ease congestion on the M8 corridor between the airport and the city centre.

"Passengers would travel on the Glasgow Central/Wemyss - Gourock Bay line and disembark at a relocated Paisley St James station. They would then join the PRT system and four minutes later arrive at the airport."

Tom Johnston, chairman of Renfrewshire Chamber of Commerce, said improved access to and from Glasgow Airport is vital not only for the continued success of the airport but for Renfrewshire's economy.

He added: "A rail link would deliver significant benefits for Renfrewshire which would give the area's businesses a fantastic boost and could potentially bring more jobs.

"Renfrewshire is expanding both commercially and residentially so improved access and connectivity is vital. Anything that will reduce traffic on the M8 would be welcome."

Mark Chestney, head of rail at Heathrow, said: "The proposed PRT system for Glasgow Airport is very similar to the system at Heathrow terminal five taking passengers on the five minute journey between the terminal and a 1275 space car park.

"Since the service began, the system has carried around two million passengers, has an excellent safety record and availability has been approximately 99.5%.

"The system is also quiet, comfortable and one of the most popular systems for passengers around the airport."