Barrhead is gearing up to enhance its railway infrastructure. An ambitious £18.3m blueprint to introduce a fresh railway station to Barrhead has been championed by regional council stalwarts.
The influential Glasgow City Region Cabinet, representing eight council jurisdictions, has signaled the green light for this transformative initiative.
The envisioned Barrhead South Rail Station, strategically located along Balgraystone Road, is expected to serve as a catalyst for the town’s renewal and encourage residential developments nearby.
Commuters can look forward to the trains plying the Glasgow Central-Neilston route to whisk them to their destinations. The station will service this route, which boasts of a bustling half-hourly frequency, with even shorter intervals during rush hours.
The construction timeline is optimistic, with shovels hitting the ground by June next year, targeting a wrap-up by December 2025. This contemporary project, initially budgeted at £8.8m, saw a revision to £18.3m due to unforeseen inflation and design modifications.
The Glasgow City Region Cabinet, in their recent meeting, greenlit the preliminary business plan for the new station. They further committed to a £2m injection for subsequent developmental stages, pivoting the project towards its comprehensive business execution.
Expressing his elation, East Renfrewshire Council leader, Owen O’Donnell, remarked, “This pivotal development signifies a giant leap in bringing Barrhead South’s new train station dream to fruition. Our residents are in for a treat!”
Anticipated features of the station include dual platforms equipped with step-free amenities like elevators or ramps, in addition to a connecting overbridge. Commuters can also expect conveniences like shelters, seating areas, a helpline, a seamless bus interchange, and a dedicated taxi stand.
Thinking green and modern, provisions for cycle lockers and car parking are on the cards, with primary vehicular ingress via Balgraystone Road. Furthermore, those using bus routes 3 and 51 can take advantage of the integrated Park & Ride feature.
Financing the project, the Glasgow City Region City Deal—a collaborative infrastructure strategy buttressed by a hefty £500m each from the UK and Scottish Governments—is slated to allocate almost £16m for Barrhead’s new station. East Renfrewshire Council generously chips in with an additional £2.5m.
Highlighting the potential returns, a City Region cabinet dossier mentioned an impressive over 2:1 economic benefit on every public pound invested, underscoring the project’s commendable “bang for buck”.
Taking the helm on execution, East Renfrewshire Council has roped in the expertise of Network Rail as the prime contractor. Council spokespersons emphasized the station’s pivotal role in Barrhead South’s holistic development. The underlying objective? To stimulate housing initiatives in South Barrhead, maximize economic avenues, and bridge socioeconomic disparities.
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