Brown outraged over decision to scrap airport rail link

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Wed 23rd Sep 2009

Glasgow MSP Robert Brown has slammed the SNP proposal to scrap the Glasgow Airport Rail Link, branding the move "short sighted" and "short term".

The Airport Rail link project had been used as part of the bid to secure Glasgow's hosting of the Commonwealth Games in 2014, and had been backed by business leaders, environmentalists and politicians across all parties.

A new 9 mile spur track would have joined Glasgow airport to existing train lines between Paisley Gilmour St and Glasgow Central, serving people travelling in to the city centre from the airport.

The new route would also have provided a convenient public transport option to people travelling from local stations like Rutherglen, Cambuslang, Burnside, Kirkhill or Newton.

The rail link was estimated to lead to the creation of 1,300 jobs and to generate £3.14 million per year in tourism and leisure revenue.

Robert Brown said:

"I am outraged at the SNP decision to axe the Glasgow Airport Rail Link.

"It is shortsighted and short term, not least in the lead up to the Commonwealth Games.

"It will lose 1,300 key infrastructure construction jobs just when they are most

needed for the local economy, and be another blow to development of attractive and interconnected public transport in Glasgow and the West of

Scotland.

"Almost everywhere else in Europe it is taken for granted that there is a train station close to the airport, and a smooth connection between rail and air transport.

"Now local people across the area will lose out, the economy will suffer, and what Glasgow really doesn't need is more traffic on congested roads.

"It's simply not good enough for the SNP Government to try to replace this time saving rail scheme with what is really just another bus service.

"Quite simply, the SNP have sold out to the bus lobby. The cancellation was not justified on financial grounds nor did they properly reassess the cost and benefits of the project.

"This is no way to run a Government."

ends