Green Light For The Airport Rail Link

Buddies are on track for a massive jobs boost after MSPs gave plans for a direct rail service between Glasgow Airport and the City Centre the green light.

I recently voted in favour of the £170 million Glasgow Airport Rail Link, which will: 

• Generate an additional  £10 million per year for the regional economy
• Bring 700 new jobs to Paisley Town Centre
• Create a further 650 jobs in Renfrewshire and Glasgow
• Provide a dedicated 16 minute train service every quarter of an hour between Glasgow Central station and a new station at the airport
• Bring 53000 extra visitors to the region every year
• Improve links between Paisley and Glasgow, with an extra 4 trains per hour to and from Glasgow
• Benefit the environment 
• Reduce congestion
• Track between Shields Junction and Paisley Gilmour Street will be upgraded and new track will be laid between Paisley St James station and Glasgow Airport.
• The new track will cross the M8 and St James Park. Disruption at the playing fields will be kept to a minimum during construction.  11 pitches will remain in use at St James with 11 provided nearby.  Once completed, 20 new pitches will be provided on the current site and 2 nearby.  The pavilion will be moved and replaced with modern facilities and all of the pitches will be of league standard. New drainage will also be provided to prevent flooding.

Careful steps are being taken to safeguard the local environment whilst the new line is being built.  A Code of Construction Practice will be followed to protect surroundings and dust and noise levels will be kept to a minimum.