WORK has started on two dramatic glass and steel canopies at the entrances to St Enoch Subway station.

They are part of the £288million upgrade of the underground system which will result in driverless trains and sliding screen doors on platforms.

The Evening Times exclusively revealed two years ago that the the canopies were being considered by Glasgow City Council.

St Enoch is one of the Subway's busiest stations and the modernisation will result in lifts being introduced.

Govan station will also get lifts, meaning people in wheelchairs will for the first time be able to travel underground from one side of the Clyde to the other.

Around £5.3m is being spent upgrading St Enoch station. The new entrance canopies, on Argyle Street and Howard Street, have been inspired by the Kibble Palace in the Botanic Gardens.

Bosses at Strathclyde Partnership for Transport hope they will be a talking point for the public.

The canopies will be in place by next summer.

The revamp has also included new escalators, a travel centre, energy efficient lighting, suspended ceilings andnew floor and wall tiles.

Two consortia are in the running to supply the new trains, signals and sliding doors and the contract will be awarded next year.

Work on upgrading the entire network is expected to be completed by 2020.

SPT chief executive Gordon Maclennan said: "Modernisation of the Subway is progressing at a pace.

"Passengers have benefited from the internal improvements made to date and we are confident everyone using the station will enjoy the striking new look station exterior."

vivienne.nicoll@ eveningtimes.co.uk