A website dedicated to getting the Glasgow Airport Rail Link back on track has been set up by the country’s leading business organisations.
The move is the latest in the campaign to persuade Finance Secretary John Swinney to change his mind and deliver the project.
In a video on the site, Glasgow Chamber of Commerce chief executive Stuart Patrick sets out the reasons why Mr Swinney was wrong to axe the link from this year’s budget and the damage it will do to Scotland’s standing in the world.
Earlier this week, the six leading business organisations in Scotland combined to write to Mr Swinney to tell him Garl is affordable and it must be reinstated.
The letter in full appears on the website (www.connecttocompete.co.uk), together with the opportunity for the public to state their support for the project.
Mr Patrick said regardless of what the Commonwealth Games federation said, the decision would be seen as Scotland reneging on promises.
He said: “It’s not so much a question of whether the Commonwealth Games Committee is happy, but about delivering on our promises.
“If we go to the market for events and conventions and we make promises, our competitors will say don’t buy Scotland’s bid as they don’t deliver on their promises.”
The website lays out six reasons why the project, taking four trains an hour from Glasgow Central Station to a new station at the airport via Paisley Gilmour Street, should be funded.
The groups behind the campaign argue for Garl on the grounds of aspiration, integration, reputation, funding, growth and opportunity.
Mr Patrick added: “If your priorities are for long term competitiveness and for long-term improvements of the international connectivity of the country, then why we can’t afford £40m out of £3.2bn is very difficult to understand.”
