AIRPORT RAIL LINK CANCELLATION SHOCK

- Wendy hits out at double whammy “SNP PUNISHING PAISLEY” -

We learn today there is a double jobs whammy for Renfrewshire. Not only is Paisley losing the airport rail link but Renfrew is not to get its Fastlink – light rail scheme – to Glasgow. To add insult to injury, Glasgow will get a Fastlink, but Renfrew looks set to be cut out.

Wendy Alexander said

 “The SNP should not punish Paisley like this. 1350 much needed new jobs are now in jeopardy. The Airport Rail Link was to support 675-700 new jobs to Paisley Town Centre within 3-4 years of construction and a further 650 jobs in Renfrewshire and Glasgow.”

“GARL’s cancellation will also jeopardise the economic benefits estimated to be worth an additional £10 million per year for the local economy and it will mean a large loss in visitor numbers. GARL was to provide a dedicated 16 minute train service every quarter of an hour between Glasgow Central station and a new station at the airport”

“The local SNP in Renfrewshire including Derek McKay opposed GARL for years – they must explain why they opposed GARL and the chance of over 1000 jobs for the area.”

Fastlink is a light rail scheme to link Glasgow City Centre to Renfrew town centre via the Broomielaw and the Southern General. It would run on a dedicated link and be so much faster than a conventional car journey.

“Instead there will be a new link from Glasgow City Centre to the Southern General – but no link to Renfrew. I have campaigned for years for a light rail link to Renfrew. This is a bitter blow. All the economic evidence showed the line should come all the way to Renfrew. The SNP must explain why they are punishing Paisley and Renfrewshire”