Spiralling costs and budget cuts end GARL - 'Last thing Glasgow needs is Edinburgh trams fiasco'

The Scottish Government's announcement that it will offer financial support to Glasgow Fastlink to connect the city centre, with the Clyde, the new Southern General and the Commonwealth Games has been welcomed by SNP MSP Sandra White.

Ms White has been consulting constituents and partner organisations in Glasgow on the city's transport problems and possible solutions.

Ms White said: "Having met with BAA last week it is clear to me that costs at the airport were increasing dramatically, and GARL is no longer sustainable given Westminster's cuts in Scotland's capital budget.

"With one piece of the infrastructure cost going from £8 million to £70 million and the overall cost of the project more than doubling the viability of GARL has unfortunately been called into question.  The very last thing Glasgow needs is an Edinburgh trams fiasco.

"Investing in Fastlink will fill in the missing links within Glasgow that leave many areas of the city without effective public transport and the city centre gridlocked.  In connecting up the city, this will be to the benefit of the people of the city.

"Fastlink delivers for the waterfront, the new Southern General and the Commonwealth Games.

"The SNP Government has committed £2.7 billion to transport projects in and around Glasgow with more to come for FastLink which will bring real benefits to the city.

"Reductions in the Scottish Government's capital budget and rising costs for the GARL are simply not compatible and difficult decisions have to be taken, and priorities made.

"As we have seen with the Edinburgh trams, you cannot sit back and allow costs on transport projects to spiral out of control - particularly at a time when public spending is under serious pressure. Fastlink along with the rail improvements taking place around Glasgow, including to the airport offer a far more cost effective solution to Glasgow's transport needs."

Notes:

Overall project costs have gone from £160 million in January 2006 to £326 million in May 2008 to the latest estimate of £397.5 million

A key part of GARL is the urgently needed improvements to the Glasgow-Paisley rail corridor. This work - financed through Network Rail and including a new third track and two new platforms at Glasgow Central Station - is continuing and will be completed in early 2012.

The Scottish Government will also provide funding for Fastlink, a key Glasgow local transport project which will provide improved bus services linking the city centre, the SECC and the new Southern General Hospital. This will ensure better transport links within the city in time for the 2014 Commonwealth Games. Transport Scotland will also provide support and project management for the renovation of Dalmarnock railway station.

Work is continuing on the biggest transport investment programme in recent years to improve infrastructure in the Glasgow and West of Scotland area.

These improvements are costing around £2.7 billion, and include:

• Completion of the M74 motorway project (£690 million)
  
• Upgrade of the M80 Stepps to Haggs road (£330 million)
  
• Airdrie to Bathgate rail link (£300 - £375 million)
  
• Glasgow to Edinburgh rail improvements programme (£1.164 billion)
  
• Glasgow Central Station improvements and upgrade to Glasgow-Paisley rail corridor (£182 million)