WELCOME

Welcome to the thgRAIL web site dedicated to demonstrating our plans for an improved and extended Glasgow Subway system designed to create a truly world class mass transit system suitable for the ambitions, expectations and hopes of the travelling public, the residents and the increasing numbers of international visitors attracted to this fine city. 

The Glasgow Subway led the world in its innovative approach to the congestion problems of the late nineteenth century - then it stood still whilst the world moved on and the Glaswegians left the running of the Subway to the SPT.

COMPARE AND CONTRAST

Our web site is also designed to act as an interactive forum for other “amateurs” (and indeed any professionals) to make known their views on the Glasgow Subway system. 

In this respect a more detailed public consultation process can evolve and the end result will be sent to the SPT and Transport Scotland (the Scottish Executive Department responsible for nationwide transport policy) as a community led response to the problem of the 100 year old system and the solution to bringing it forward into the 21st Century. Even if you do not wish to plan a new system your views are still important. 

We offer a contrast between the SPT proposals and our own and ask you to choose the preferred plan.

BUT WHY?

Why do we dedicate a web site to these plans? Quite simple – the Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT), the body authorised by the Scottish Parliament to plan, manage and develop the transport system for the West of Scotland do not want you to know that there is such a proposal for bringing the Subway up to date and then extending it to match those metro systems which can be seen and enjoyed in any progressive city across the world. You see, the SPT has their own plan and they do not wish to have any “amateur” spoil their laborious system of endless government funded studies, market research and initiatives by making public a well thought out and workable proposal. That would raise questions like why did it take the SPT 20 months and £90,000 of tax payer’s money to draw up their proposals whilst thgRAIL put together their plan in 10 weeks at the cost of nothing to the taxpayer? Embarrassing?  

Metro system Poll

With the SPT all but scrapping the East End Circle plan, we have closed our on line Poll as at 1st November 2007.

86.7% 

voted in favour of a Glasgow wide metro system.

Thanks to all who took the time to vote. Go to Poll results.

DDA Compliance Poll

Our new poll asks:

"Should the SPT make a special case to the Government for funding to allow the Subway to comply with the DDA (Disability Discrimination Act)?"

Please register your vote now:

“WHAT THE PUBLIC WANTS, THE PUBLIC SHOULD GET” 

Such was the bold, no-nonsense comment from Councillor Alistair Watson, Chair of the SPT in response to an online poll conducted by the Evening Times newspaper during March 2007. The paper asked the simple question “Do you think the Subway should be extended?” and, in one of the highest responses to any of their on-line polls, they confirmed that just over 600 people said yes. The good Councillor however took that further and saw this response as a direct display of support for the SPT plan rather than a general comment that the Subway should be extended. Indeed, he consumed the poll result with great gusto, stating “This is a ringing endorsement from the people who would use the extended Subway” no less. 

The message is therefore clear. If our on-line poll records more than 600 votes and the majority are in favour of a certain scheme then that same “ringing endorsement” should be heard by the SPT and the appropriate plan developed as the future solution to the Glasgow Subway. Please record your views – remember what happened to the road pricing petition on the Downing Street web site.

AND, WHO/WHAT IS thgRAIL? 

thgRAIL is a trading name of Forbes Developments Limited a private property consultancy based in Glasgow and which looks at the development potential of transport related investment. The owner, William Forbes, is a Chartered Surveyor and has a long standing interest in transport systems, previously publishing the plan for a direct rail link to Glasgow Airport – a plan which was later copied and adopted by the SPT as their design solution. It is the hope and purpose of this web site that the Subway 2020 plan is also adopted by the SPT and a full detailed analysis of the proposal is developed and a case put forward to the government to invest in the urban transport system serving Glasgow. In this case we can be considered a pressure group or lobby to ensure that the views of the travelling public are heard and those responsible for implementing policy take heed. This web site and the public response it is designed to generate is therefore an important tool in that lobbying process.