THE problems which prompted the idea for the Glasgow Airport Rail Link have not disappeared since the project fell by the wayside.

Access to the west coast's main transport hub is acceptable if the roads are not busy but, as anyone who has tried to catch a flight from there knows, that is a big if.

Inclement weather, repair work, accidents and rush hour traffic can quickly gum up the surrounding area, leaving travellers – whether they are in buses, taxis or private cars – sweating over whether they can get on the right plane. The issue is coming into sharper focus in the run-up to 2014, when Scotland may have more visitors than ever before due to the Commonwealth Games and Ryder Cup.

With the public purse already stretched, any major project is going to be tricky to implement.

The disastrous example of the Edinburgh tram project will also be high in the mind of those responsible for public infrastructure.

But consideration also has to be given that Glasgow has capacity to grow passengers numbers from the current seven million a year to 13 million.

So any plan has to be fit for purpose for the long term and not just a sticking plaster to alleviate pressure around some major sporting events.

A new plan is necessary but it must also be one which properly addresses the needs of those travelling to and from Glasgow Airport.