Glasgow metro could be twice the size of Manchester’s system

The project was recently named as one of 45 schemes across Scotland which have been recommended for investment over the next 20 years.

And members of the Glasgow City Region cabinet, which includes leaders from eight councils, received an update today on how the plan will progress.

What is the update?

A council officer said the project’s inclusion in the second Strategic Transport Projects Review (STPR2) was “welcome and positive news”.

He added the Metro is a “huge ambition” which, in terms of scale, is likely to be “twice the size of Manchester’s Metrolink” and could cost between £11bn and £16bn.

A consultation process is now underway, running until April 15, and the council officer said: “We’re committed to working closely with Transport Scotland to build pace and momentum in terms of engagement and communications.”

Final recommendations for STPR2 are expected to be confirmed around autumn this year, the officer said. “We will be working closely with our partner organisations to set up some interim governance arrangements.

“There has also been the setting up of a Clyde Metro programme steering group, with chief officials across partner organisations.”

Benefits

It is estimated 1.5 million people will be better connected to employment, education and health services.

The council officer said: “It’s fundamentally about improving connectivity and accessibility, addressing unserved and underserved communities across the region, improving access to key hubs, centres and facilities and creating new interchange opportunities.

“This is going to provide a new way of travel across the region, these interchanges will need to be easy and convenient from a customer perspective allowing experiences to rival those of other major cities, and be the catalyst for the behaviour change in adopting confidence in public transport systems.”

He said a map of the planned Metro is currently “very high level” and will be “taken forward for development and the next stage of the business case”.