GLASGOW'S historic Subway will be archived for future generations as part of a major project.

A team of investigators from the Royal Commission for Ancient and Historic Monuments Scotland (RCAHMS) is visiting Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT) to tour the network.

And they aim to make a permanent record of the architecture of the world's third-oldest Subway network.

George Redmond, chairman of SPT, said: "The Subway system has served Glasgow, its citizens and visitors faithfully for more than 100 years, and this project is a chance to capture a snapshot of a key period in the Subway's history.

"As SPT move ahead with the modernisation programme, it's fitting that the Subway is recorded for posterity in its current form."

The team will visit all 15 stations on the 116-year-old network, take pictures and carry out a detailed survey of the Subway before work on SPT's £288million modernisation programme changes the face of the underground.

The last major upgrade to the line was nearly 30 years ago with some older stations undergoing very little changes in the past 100 years.

Iain Anderson, architectural investigator at the RCAHMS, added: "This is one of the oldest Subways in the world, and its current appearance has been a distinctive part of people's experience of Glasgow for over 30 years now.

"It is rare that so many of the original stations have survived with relatively little alteration up until now. We'll be making a lasting record of these Glasgow landmarks before the Subway network is modernised."

"The photographs and descriptions of the stations will be made available to view online and become part of the RCAHMS national collection, creating a permanent record of an iconic feature of Glasgow architecture."

The flagship station of the modernisation work is Hillhead, where a mural by Scots artist Alasdair Gray was unveiled in September.

Work has now moved on to Partick. The modernisation programme is scheduled to be largely complete by 2020.

SPT vice-chairman David Fagan, who has been closely involved with plans to introduce artwork to the Subway during the modernisation, said: "It's vital that instantly recognisable architecture like the Subway's is recorded, especially as the modernisation programme picks up speed.

"A key part of modernisation will be bringing art into the Subway, to enhance stations.

"Customer reaction to the Hillhead mural has been resoundingly positive."

catriona.stewart@ eveningtimes.co.uk