Pledge that trains will run to airport THE Scottish Government has said it is committed to the delivery of the Glasgow Airport Rail Link after fears were raised the project could collapse.
Pledge that trains will run to airport
THE Scottish Government has said it is committed to the delivery of the Glasgow Airport Rail Link after fears were raised the project could collapse.
The link is years behind its original completion schedule and further doubts arose when Transport Scotland admitted "outstanding issues" had led to a delay in choosing a contractor for complicated engineering work.
There was added confusion when a government spokesman appeared to confirm there were serious problems when he said: "We are having discussions to see if we can go ahead with the project as planned," as reported in later editions of last night's Evening Times.
However, Transport Minister Stewart Stevenson later denied the £400million project was in trouble.
He said: "Ministers are committed to the delivery of the Glasgow Airport Rail Link and any reports to the contrary are inaccurate.
"Work on capacity improvements on the existing railway line between Glasgow Central and Paisley is already committed and well under way.
"The tender for the branch line construction for the Glasgow Airport Rail Link has not yet been launched, pending the resolution of outstanding issues on the re-provision works within the airport.
"Transport Scotland is currently in discussion with BAA to ensure that complicated work in the airport area is fully defined to allow delivery of the branch line for the Commonwealth Games in 2014."
Tendering for the new tracks and bridges has been postponed until work, which is thought to involve moving fuel tanks, is both viable and cost effective. Work to carry the line across the M8 and into the airport will not take place until it is certain that the infrastructure at the airport can be moved out of the way.
The tender process was to have begun earlier this year.
Building the link was part of the package which led to the Commonwealth Games being awarded to Glasgow and it was originally expected to have been completed by next year after the legislation necessary to build it was given the Royal Assent in January 2007.
A completion date for the project has been put back several times since then and it is not now expected to be finished until 2013.
Scrapping the project or failing to deliver it before the Commonwealth Games would be a huge embarrassment for the Scottish Government and Glasgow City Council.
The rail link will upgrade 5.4 miles of existing track between Shields junction and Paisley Gilmour Street station and lay 1.2 miles of track between Paisley St James station and Glasgow Airport.
Some preparatory work has been completed, including a seven-month operation to replace overhead power cables on the Glasgow to Paisley line.
Labour Transport spokesman Des McNulty said: "The reasons for the uncertainty are reports coming out of Transport Scotland.
"The real concern I have is the prospect of any delays to the link which would mean there was insufficient time to sort out any snags before the Commonwealth Games.
"I have been told the delays will last until the second half of 2013 and this will not leave enough time for the route to be properly tested.
"The original timetable was that it would be central to the transport infrastructure for the Commonwealth Games.
"The minister has not said when the link will be ready and has not denied there are concerns.
"I want clear assurances it will be ready at least a year before June 2014."
"Delays would mean insufficient time to sort out any snags".
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 How the new train station at Glasgow Airport will look
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