Location
Glasgow City Centre, Merchant City
, Glasgow
Description
The Crossrail project is widely regarded as the most important strategic rail infrastructure project in Scotland, because it closes a critical gap in the Scottish rail network.
The scheme has the potential to join south-west Scotland with the rest of the country by connecting services that operate on the routes into Glasgow Queen Street and Central stations. It will open a huge range of new rail connections across Scotland by integrating the network and providing faster journey times. Crossrail will also improve cross-Glasgow conurbation rail links and support economic regeneration in some of the city’s poorest areas.
In October 2005, Strathclyde Passenger Transport Authority completed a £600,000 feasibility study, funded by the Scottish Executive, to bring the Crossrail project to a detailed stage of development.
The study proved conclusively that the scheme was technically possible. It would consist of construction of the High Street curve, reinstating the Strathbungo link and building new sidings at Kelvinhaugh. The City Union line from Shields junction through West Street to High Street junction and the line between Muirhouse and Langside junctions would have a renewed double track. Use of the City Union Line would allow rail services to connect with Glasgow’s subway system at West Street which could become an interchange station.
Other new stations will be built at Glasgow Cross and Gorbals. The existing High Street station will be relocated east of its current site and completely renovated. The centrepiece of the project could be the transformation of the A-listed Mercat building at Glasgow Cross, into one of the city’s busiest railway stations. Finally an interchange with the subway at West Street will serve the new residential community of Tradeston.
Investment will be made in signalling and the electrification of rail services to deliver faster journey times and better reliability.
Options remain for the particular sections of line to be selected, the choice of stations and the use of diesel or electric trains.
Strathclyde Partnership for Transport are currently running a campaign to build support for this project. Please visit the Crossrail Glasgow website to find out more and add your support. Read more about the Glasgow Crossrail campaign on the Clyde Waterfront news pages.
Cost
Around £130million
Current status
Consultants have been appointed to compile a full business and economic case followed, if successful, by detailed design and the progression of the scheme to construction.
Timescale
Subject to approvals it is hoped project could be completed in 2011/12
Lead partner
Strathclyde Partnership for Transport
Other partners
Potential partners include:
Transport Scotland,
The Scottish Government;
Scottish Enterprise;
Network Rail;
First ScotRail.
Website
Crossrail Glasgow
Contact details
Malcolm Pickering, Strathclyde Partnership for Transport, 0141 333 3136