A 'HIGH level steering group' has been set up as part of moves to deliver a rail link to Glasgow Airport.
The move follows crunch talks between the council leaders in the west of the country promoting the plan and ministers, who continue to raise concerns about the business plan and costs for the link.
The Herald revealed yesterday how many in Government circles fear a repeat of the Edinburgh Trams fiasco, with a previous incarnation of the rail link scrapped because of escalating cost projections.
A spokesman for Glasgow Airport said work was on-going to resolve a number of issues including capacity on approach to and within Glasgow Central Station as part of attempts to find a solution to issues raised.
Following the meeting, transport minister Humza Yousaf said: "The setting up of a high level steering group with the two councils and chaired by Scottish Government is a clear sign of that commitment to work with them to ensure that success.
“It is important that the project team continue their work to produce a robust business case which sets out the impacts and costs in order to allow decisions to be made. I also confirmed to them that, following receipt of a robust business case, if City Deal Partners wish to pursue a rail link then it will be in our future rail considerations and that, with the £500 million funding commitment already made by Scottish Government, they were in the fortunate position of being able to fund all the infrastructure improvements that may be required.”
Renfrewshire Council leader Mark Macmillan said: “Delivering this transport project is key to achieving our ambitions for long term economic growth in Renfrewshire and the City Deal region.
"This was a constructive meeting and I am pleased the Transport Minister is taking a hands on approach to ensuring this can be delivered for the benefit not only of the West of Scotland, but for the country as a whole."
Amanda McMillan, managing director of Glasgow Airport, added: “Glasgow Airport has been experiencing unprecedented growth and it is widely acknowledged that the current transport links are simply no longer adequate. The airport is an asset of national economic importance and delivering the rail link is vital to our ability to support the continued growth of the regional and national economies."
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