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Wednesday 9 Sep 2009

PASSENGER REMINDER: CENTRAL STATION CAR PARK TO MAKE WAY FOR AIRPORT RAIL LINK

Region & Route:

Scotland’s Railway: Scotland

• Short-stay car park will close from September 27 as work begins to construct new platforms for the Glasgow Airport Rail Link

Glasgow Central station is about to see its biggest improvements for passenger services in more than 100 years with the creation of two new platforms.

The platforms will provide the capacity needed for Transport Scotland’s Glasgow Airport Rail Link project and also enhance Central’s ability to accommodate the growing number of passenger services using Scotland’s busiest station.

The new platforms, which will be numbered 12 and 13, will be created in the area of the existing short-stay car park between platforms 11 and 14 and, as a result, the short-stay car park and pick up/set down facilities will close permanently on September 27, 2009. The closure of the car park will also mean an end to private vehicle access at the station.

Ron McAulay, Network Rail director Scotland, said: “The new platforms will significantly enhance capacity at Central, not only for the new airport rail link, but for the growing number of services using what is Scotland’s busiest station each day. Network Rail is committed to expanding the country’s railway and we look forward to delivering this element of the Glasgow Airport Rail Link works.”

Nadia Savage, GARL Project Director for Transport Scotland, added: "Across the various areas of necessary work, we continue to make progress on this vital project for the economy of the west of Scotland and beyond and I am pleased to see another important piece in the jigsaw getting underway. As well as the link to the airport, this work is paving the way for significant improvements to Ayrshire and Inverclyde services in advance of the new fleet of 38 eco-friendly electric trains being launched to the west of Scotland by the Scottish Government in September 2010."

The existing platform 12, which is outwith the coverage of the main roof and a considerable distance from the concourse and station facilities, will also close permanently from Christmas to permit the track realignment necessary to create a route to the two new platforms.

Set down and pick up facilities for passengers will remain available in Union Street, adjacent to the step-free Gordon Street station entrance and also the stepped Union Street entrance. Additional options for set down and pick up facilities in the vicinity of the station are also being examined and commercial car parking facilities in Oswald St and other locations adjacent to Central are available.


ends


Notes to editors

1. The Minister for Transport informed Parliament on 27 June 2007 that GARL had been combined with a major piece of Network Rail's signalling renewal work on the existing line between Glasgow and Paisley.

2. As announced in summer 2007, GARL has been combined with Network Rail’s Paisley Corridor Renewal (PCR) work to avoid the duplication of work.

3. In April 2008, Stewart Stevenson, the Minister for Transport announced the project had reached an appropriate stage for Scottish Government agency Transport Scotland to assume the powers to deliver GARL from Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT).

4. The estimated outturn cost range for the combined GARL-PCR project is £365.5m to £395m excluding VAT. This figure cannot be compared to the original cost range for GARL as the project is now combined with a significant Network Rail renewal scheme (PCR) as outlined to Parliament by the Transport Minister on 27 June 2007.

5. The new rail link will be 15 km (nine miles), comprising:

• Branch Line* and Airport Station – new dedicated rail corridor and station facility.
• Three-Track Main Line** – enhancements to the existing main line between Shields Junction (West of Glasgow Central) and Arkleston Junction (East of Paisley Gilmour St).
• Wallneuk Junction improvements – including changes at Arkleston Junction.
• Glasgow Central – closure of the existing platform 12 and creation of two new platforms, 12 and 13, within the main station in the biggest change to the station’s layout since the completion of its extension in 1906.
• The Paisley Corridor Renewal (PCR) work being undertaken by Network Rail.
• Extension of the loop at Elderslie to accommodate longer freight trains.

*The GARL branch line is 1.2 miles (2km) of new track which will be built east of Paisley St James station. The link will cross St James Playing Fields on a viaduct, cross the M8 via a new bridge and loop round to a new purpose-built station at Glasgow Airport.
**The main line work involves the upgrade of 5.4 miles (9km) of existing track between Shields Junction and Paisley Gilmour Street station.