In the last 100 years, transport around Glasgow has changed so much - trams and trolley buses have been replaced with motor-buses, there’s a whole new swathe of train stations along the railway, and the Subway? Well the subway’s not changed too much.
Here in Glasgow transport holds a special place in our heart, creating transport in the form of ships was a massive part of Glaswegian culture for generations. We can see just how much we treasure vintage transport in Glasgow at the transport exhibition at Riverside Museum, and of course the former Museum of Transport at Kelvin Hall.
That’s why today we wanted to look at the future of transport in Glasgow - to see just how much things are going to change in 10 years.
From driverless subway carriages to the new metro system - here’s how transport in Glasgow will change in the next decade.
5. New and more modern train stations
With the way the Scottish Government and Glasgow City Council have been focusing on renovating transport hubs across Greater Glasgow - Robroyston back in 2019 and most recently Motherwell - we can expect to see new and more modern train stations in 2033. The most recent announcement from the council this year was regeneration work for High Street station and a brand new station near Parkhead Stadium, so we can expect similar projects at other East End train stations in the future. Photo: John Devlin
6. A brand new city centre to navigate
The Avenues project that was announced this year will completely revamp the city centre, tearing down Buchanan Galleries and replacing it with walkable (and cyclable!) green and civic space. This will change much more than transport in Glasgow, but in transport changes we can expect new bus routes, widened foot paths, and segregated cycle lanes. | Glasgow City Council
7. Much more cycle lanes
Announced earlier this year was the council’s plan to expand Glasgow’s cycle lanes into a citywide ‘cycle network’. Ultimately the City Network will add nearly 270 km of safer routes to the existing cycling infrastructure, which will see the city has almost 600 dedicated routes throughout Glasgow. This will expand much further than the city centre and West End however, with current plans focusing on the south side, east end, and north Glasgow in the near future. By 2033 we can expect even more cycle lanes integrated across Glasgow - if by that time motorists and cyclists have figured out how to stop being mortal enemies Glasgow could be a veritable transport utopia - we wouldn’t count our chickens before they hatch though. Photo: John Devlin
8. Driverless subway carriages
This is getting properly futuristic now - and it’s coming far sooner than 2033. The new trains will become operational this year - and will be the first underground network in the UK to run driverless trains with no staff on board as part of a £288 million overhaul. | jpimedia Photo: John Devlin