Revised Edinburgh/Glasgow rail plans unveiled
July 4 2012
The Edinburgh Glasgow Improvement Programme will reduce the current 50 min hop to just 40 min and include the upgrade of Queen Street Station to form a new “hub” terminus as well as creation of an Edinburgh Gateway Station to serve Edinburgh Airport.
The £650m plans are some £300m cheaper than originally envisaged after Transport Scotland agreed to delay both an increase in service frequency and electrification of the Dunfermline/Alloa line.
Transport Minister Keith Brown said: “The rail industry is always evolving and we have taken advantage of a number of developments to future proof this project. While the original EGIP plans were the best possible way of achieving these improvements at the time, the new proposals not only secure faster times between Edinburgh and Glasgow they will increase capacity, revitalise Queen St Station and protect local commuter services into Glasgow.
“The new scheme, which is already on site at Haymarket Station, will not only save hundreds of millions for the public purse but will also play a part in guaranteeing we have a railway service for the future.”
Councillor Gordon Matheson, Leader of Glasgow City Council, added: “Initial plans suggested that train services in the north of Glasgow would have been diminished by this investment. However, I am pleased that the Transport Minister has given me a personal assurance that this will not be the case. Further discussions will take place with Transport Scotland to ensure that Glasgow’s local rail services best meet the needs of passengers.”
Queen Street's existing 1960s frontage would be replaced by a new atrium
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7 Comments
#1 Posted by Rem Koolbag on 4 Jul 2012 at 12:03 PM
Can someone at UR please proof-read articles before they get hoisted up here? The paragraphs that aren't direct quotes are crap.
#2 Posted by Rem Koolbag's Pants on 4 Jul 2012 at 12:05 PM
And while I am here - sod the wifi access, how about sorting out the disgrace that is the Bath Street bridge, which has created the most awful bit of no-mans land right in the middle of the town?
#3 Posted by Beith Krown on 4 Jul 2012 at 13:49 PM
Wouldn't it be a better investment to bring the line up to Aberdeen into the 20th century by electrifying it? Oops, sorry. I forgot Transport Scotland don't set foot outside the central belt.
#4 Posted by fanny baws on 4 Jul 2012 at 14:24 PM
That paving ootside the station looks awfy slippy.
#5 Posted by Chris on 4 Jul 2012 at 20:09 PM
#2 The bridge is part of the station upgrade plans.
#6 Posted by glen on 5 Jul 2012 at 08:52 AM
What a waste, the goverment has talked about this for years but again we will still have a secound class rail system, improvements need to be made, mojor and fast, what about the cross Glasgow link, the cross Aberdeen link talk seems to have gone quiet there and the opening of new stations, and extending lines and opening old lines, lets be brave and put money for the future generations of Scotland.
#7 Posted by jim bob square pants on 5 Jul 2012 at 09:20 AM
I think its great that they are taking away that hideous hotel fronting the station but why design very large flat glass roof extension.... in Scotland of all places!.
I'm sure they have thought of this and shrugged it off claiming it will be cleaned and maintained regularly. All the other ill-maintained and dirty stations around the country indicate to me that this new glass box entrance will quickly look very tardy after a few years.
I'm sure they have thought of this and shrugged it off claiming it will be cleaned and maintained regularly. All the other ill-maintained and dirty stations around the country indicate to me that this new glass box entrance will quickly look very tardy after a few years.
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