FALTERING plans to connect Glasgow Airport to the rail network have received a major boost after the Transport Minister confirmed the scheme retains his full support.

The £144 million project Glasgow Airport Access Project appeared to hit the buffers last week after experts warned it could do more economic harm than good.

But Transport Minister Humza Yousaf said there was no reason why the Glasgow Airport Access Project (GAAP) could not go ahead.

He said Glasgow City Region partners can overcome the issues identified in a report by consultants.

Mr Yousaf’s Transport Scotland department had commissioned the report from transport specialists Jacobs  found the current business plan for the link would slow down existing services and take space at Central Station needed for far busier trains.

The experts also said the multi-million pound scheme would struggle to win passengers as it would be slower and less convenient than the bus for many people.

The tram-train scheme from Glasgow Central Station to Abbotsinch is a cut-price alternative to the Glasgow Airport Rail Link (Garl).

The Labour-led initiative was axed by the SNP Government nearly a decade ago amid concerns over its value for money.

But Mr Yousaf said he remains positive about finding a solution to the Glasgow Airport Access Project, in an interview with Holyrood magazine.

He said: “There is still some work to be done on the Airport Access Project, and the impact it will have on other services in Ayrshire and Inverclyde, and what the costs are like perhaps in areas that they haven’t taken cognisance of.

“But all that being said, I am positive about finding a solution to the airport access project, it just can’t come at additional cost to the Scottish taxpayer who have already put in a lump sum for City Deal projects.

A Transport Scotland spokesman said: “The Glasgow Airport Access Project, part of the Glasgow City Region Deal, will continue 
to have our full support.”