16/04/2008 03:25:00
The Scottish Government is putting pressure on its transport minister to approve the construction of a cross-Glasgow rail link, which would connect passengers on Scotland's West Coast to Edinburgh and beyond.
The approval of the Crossrail project would mean that Glasgow's Central and Queen Street stations would be connected. This would mean that commuters coming from Ayrshire and the south of Scotland could travel through the city and on to Edinburgh without changing trains.
Conversely, the cross link would mean that tourists travelling by rail from Edinburgh to Scotland's West Coast - which is well-known for its scenic beauty - would also be able to avoid changing trains at Glasgow.
Behind the motion is Bill Butler, a Labour MSP for Anniesland, who stated: "It is not simply a Glasgow project but will have national benefits and we believe it is time for the Government to support this project."
According to the Glasgow Evening Times, the cost of the Crossrail project was estimated at £115 million to £187 million in 2005. However, more recent estimates - including one by Glasgow SNP list MSP Sandra White - place the cost at nearer £200 million.
Speaking on the project, Ms White commented: "This is not a parochial line for Glasgow but a Scottish line which links Ayrshire to Perth, Dundee and Aberdeen.
"I don't think that's a lot of money to get a transport system working the way people want it to work in the 21st century."