Lanarkshire MSP, Graham Simpson, has today called on the newly appointed Transport Minister, Jenny Gilruth MSP, to clarify plans by the Scottish Government to establish a Clyde Metro across the Glasgow region which appears to include East Kilbride.
Mr Simpson’s call follows the introduction of the Strategic Transport Project Review 2 (STPR2) which was released last week.
STPR2, which the SNP describe as their transport vision for the next twenty years, sets out plans to develop a transit network across the Glasgow region but their proposal includes neither a funding commitment or precise timescale for completion.
Instead, the report contains a vague map which appears to suggest East Kilbride will be served by a ‘light metro’ system that loops imprecisely around the town but won’t connect to the current rail network.
With the Scottish Government already scrapping plans to fully dual East Kilbride’s rail line and service cuts on their way, Mr Simpson has asked the Transport Minister to provide more detail on the Clyde Metro’s proposed route.
Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scotland said: “A Clyde Metro scheme is included in the SNP's blueprint for transport over the next 20 years but it is ridiculously vague. All you can see is a map with no detail on it.
“There seems be a light rail line coming out to East Kilbride and then forming a loop but we have no idea exactly where it might go.
“We don't know if it would mean changes to the station - presumably the answer is yes. If that's the case then why not tie things in with work on the existing railway line.
“We need detail, timescales and costings. Otherwise we may cynically conclude that this drawing is a pie in the sky project.”
