Hansard

As a Glasgow constituency member and convener of the Scottish Parliament cross-party group on Glasgow crossrail, I am delighted to have secured this debate on a proposal that, if implemented, would bring significant benefits to the lives of my constituents in Glasgow Anniesland and rail users throughout Glasgow and the west of Scotland, as well as to Scotland's national rail infrastructure.

I am sure that the Minister for Transport is in full agreement with what his wise predecessor said when he announced an award of £500,000 from the Executive to conduct the feasibility study into the Glasgow crossrail project. He said:

"The scheme could bring very significant benefits not only to Glasgow but also to the whole of Scotland.

This scheme has the potential to deliver major improvements to the Scottish rail network, allowing the north and east of Scotland to connect with Glasgow and the South West."

Those were the wise words of Nicol Stephen on 25 November 2003. I am sure that in his summing up the minister will agree that that was a sound analysis.

I acknowledge the efforts of Councillor Alistair Watson and everyone at Strathclyde partnership for transport in their work to promote the crossrail project, complete the feasibility study and prepare a detailed and sound economic and technical case for the project's implementation. I also place on the record my thanks to colleagues in the cross-party group and to members who supported the motion.

The commitment to support a number of feasibility studies for rail improvement schemes such as Glasgow crossrail was contained in the 2003 partnership agreement. I welcome the fulfilment of that commitment. The purpose of this debate is to stress the extensive and substantial benefits that crossrail would bring and to urge the Executive to take the next step and give its whole-hearted commitment to the Glasgow crossrail project's implementation. I hope that the minister will give members comfort on that point.

I am sure members remember that a clear, consistent and enthusiastic endorsement of crossrail is a feature of the Glasgow Airport Rail Link Bill Committee's report on the preliminary stage of the Glasgow Airport Rail Link Bill. The report explicitly emphasises the importance of progressing crossrail in conjunction with GARL. During the parliamentary debate on GARL on 21 June, members—and not just those who represent the people of Glasgow—echoed their support for crossrail.

In its preliminary stage report, the GARL committee expressed concern about low projected patronage figures for the airport rail link. It is perfectly clear that the establishment of the Glasgow crossrail scheme would enable passengers from throughout Scotland to enjoy a direct connection to Glasgow airport without having to change at Glasgow Central station or travel from Glasgow Queen Street station to Glasgow Central station if they were coming from the north or east of the country. The crossrail scheme has a significant role to play in increasing the number of passengers who would use the Glasgow airport rail link.

The so-called missing link between Glasgow Central and Queen Street stations is more than just an inconvenient 15-minute walk for passengers. It is a decisive split in Scotland's rail network—an avoidable gap in our passenger rail services. The Glasgow crossrail scheme is of strategic importance to our rail network. It would allow direct journeys from the north to the south and from the east to the west of the country. The cost of linking Glasgow Central and Glasgow Queen Street stations would be insignificant compared to the positive effects of a scheme that offers such widespread and fundamental benefits to the rail network.

Value for money is one of the most compelling arguments in crossrail's favour. Crossrail would not involve the construction of miles and miles of new track and infrastructure. The construction work needed would, in many areas, involve improvements to, and the renewal of, existing rail lines and infrastructure. We would see the construction of new stations at Glasgow Cross and the Gorbals; the laying of new track at High Street; the reinstatement of the Strathbungo link; and the building of new sidings at Kelvinhaugh. Further renewal and upgrading of the city union line from West Street to High Street junction, and between Muirhouse and Langside junctions, would also be required. The fact that crossrail makes the most of existing rail infrastructure, much of which is currently underused or not used at all, is another factor in its favour. It would mean minimal impact on the operational rail network while the necessary construction work was undertaken.

The crossrail scheme proposed by SPT is practicable and attainable. Previous suggestions to improve cross-Glasgow travel, such as a cross-city tunnel link, would be hugely expensive and impracticable. The proposed crossrail scheme offers significant benefits at a fraction of the cost of such a utopian project. The investment required to make crossrail a reality is projected by SPT to be between £115 million and £187 million. It would open up the possibility of a wide range of new rail connections across Scotland, integrating the rail network and speeding up journey times, with the result that we would be able to persuade more people to leave their cars at home and take the train as a more attractive transport option. I contend that the key environmental benefit of crossrail will be its impact in introducing sustainable and credible alternatives to car journeys throughout the west of Scotland. That is a very desirable objective.

The project would significantly improve the Glasgow conurbation's rail links. It would support economic regeneration in some of Glasgow's poorest and most disadvantaged areas. It would, without doubt, improve transport access into Glasgow city centre, lead to the creation of modern new stations in the city and connect with the subway at West Street. If given the go-ahead soon, crossrail would further strengthen Glasgow's bid to host the 2014 Commonwealth games—a bid that has received strong backing from the Scottish Executive, and quite right too. Crossrail would provide a modernised, fast and reliable rail network, which would be hugely advantageous to the bid and to the many thousands of potential visitors to Glasgow if the bid is successful.

There is strong cross-party support for Glasgow crossrail and widespread recognition that the scheme is one of the most important strategic rail infrastructure projects in Scotland—a scheme of national importance. It would not be an overstatement to say that it could revolutionise Scotland's rail network. It is for all those compelling reasons—economic, environmental and transport—that I urge the Scottish Executive to cast off its inhibitions and give a commitment to undertake the construction of Glasgow crossrail.