Glasgow SNP MSP Bob Doris has met with Transport Minister Stewart Stevenson to discuss the future of the ageing Glasgow Subway. The underground service, so loved by Glaswegians, is needing radical improvement to ensure the future reliability of the service.

A modernisation programme could transform stations, improve disabled access and would replace the existing trains and track. An ever increasing percentage of ticket sales is being spent on repairs and the operating subsidy required is increasing. Problems caused by ageing mean that the service is not as reliable as it could be. Mr Doris believes that action may have to be taken soon by both the Scottish Government and Strathclyde Passenger transport to bring the Subway up to date.

Mr Doris commented: "I met with the Scottish Transport Minister Stewart Stevenson MSP to seek his support for a modernisation programme for the Glasgow Subway. The Minister assured me that he is fully committed to working constructively with SPT to assist them to deliver Glasgow subway modernisation.

"I am keen to have a time frame for progress and Mr Stevenson told me he is hopeful that specific and detailed proposals will be before him from Strathclyde Passenger Transport before the end of the year. It is vital that SPT provide a clear framework in relation to the time scale for the project.

"Any plan would need to have detailed and robust financial, engineering and commercial components and I am pleased that Scottish Government officials have been participating in a number of working groups to support SPT to develop its plan.

"I will now be writing to SPT’s Glasgow Subway team to offer my assistance in getting firm and detailed proposals to the Minister this year.

"Subway modernisation must be secured as the Subway is a vital part of existing transport infrastructure, not just to Glasgow and the West of Scotland, but to the entire nation. The Subway’s future is crucial not just for getting Glaswegians around the city but also for Glasgow to make continued progress as a top conference, retail and commercial centre, as well as a growing tourist destination.

"However, we must ensure that SPT get the governance and delivery of these plans right from day one. The Edinburgh trams project is an ill conceived shambles that nobody wants to see repeated in Glasgow. SPT will have to come up with substantial and detailed plans before any public cash is committed."

Note:

Mr Doris recently lodged the following parliamentary motion in support of modernisation:

S3M-06740 Bob Doris (Glasgow) (Scottish National Party): Committing to Subway Modernisation—
That the Parliament believes that Glasgow’s subway system is a well-loved and key asset to both Glasgow and the wider west of Scotland region and that it provides a vital service that effectively transports locals, workers and tourists across large parts of the city and eases congestion on Glasgow’s roads; further believes that, over 30 years since the last modernisation programme for the subway was initiated, it is now time for a new modernisation programme that will significantly improve, among other things, ticketing, stations, track and rolling stock as well as the frequency and reliability of trains and enhance the commuter experience; considers that, without such investment, both the operating deficit and public subsidy will significantly increase and the reliability of the subway will suffer, and calls on Strathclyde Passenger Transport (SPT) to provide the Scottish Government with a robust, detailed and affordable business plan for subway modernisation to allow it to scrutinise the plan in detail with a view to working with SPT to identify how subway modernisation can be supported, whether by guaranteeing, under strict conditions, future interest payments on loans taken by the subway operating body in order to enable the significant capital expenditure needed or by any other effective method.
Lodged on Thursday, July 15, 2010