PRESSURE is mounting on Transport Minister Keith Brown to give a categorical assurance that train stations in Glasgow will not close.

At Holyrood last night, Glasgow MSPs gathered to debate a motion on the Transport Scotland consultation, which includes the possibility of stations within one mile of each other closing.

Mr Brown repeated the government line that it had “no plans to close stations in Glasgow.”

Challenged by MSPs he was unable to give the “unequivocal and categorical assurance that none would close” as a result of consultation.

The Evening Times is campaigning for all the stations to be kept open.

MSPs of all parties spoke in the debate.

Proposed changes could mean services from Anniesland via Ashfield will have to give priority to more inter-city services putting the entire North Glasgow Suburban line at risk.

Springburn MSP Patricia Ferguson said: “I would ask the Minister to state clearly that the stations which allow such a necessary service to be provided to travellers across Glasgow will remain open.”

The Labour MSP said she also sought assurances that the Anniesland to Queen Street High Level service would continue.

She continued: “My constituents and those of many of my colleagues need to be reassured by a clear and unequivocal promise.”

Mr Brown said: “To be as clear as I can be, the Government has no plans, no plans, no intentions to close stations in Glasgow.”

However he added: “I understand the cynicism attached to that phrase.

“The end of the consultation is in February.”

He added it would be then that people would find out if his assurance was “sincere”.

stewart.pateron@ eveningtimes.co.uk