THE thgRAIL PLAN

The thgRAIL plan for a new Glasgow Subway is based on two distinct initiatives: 

1 – Maximise the potential of the existing system, and 

2 – Examine the best opportunity for expanding the Subway. 

In the submission to the Regional Transport Strategy, thgRAIL considered that the Subway was so important and so integral a part of the regional transport network that it should be the starting point for a region wide transport strategy. The existing system has been much neglected over the years and the failure of the management to understand their assets has been a major contributor to the down at heal image the Subway projects to regular users and visitors alike. The existing system has a latent, untapped, property value in excess of £20 million. Nowhere is this more apparent than at Buchanan Street Station – the prime station on the circuit. When alighting from this station you can see one of Glasgow’s quirkier buildings. Quirky not only in design, but in use and in under management. The building in the prime retail street in Glasgow is right next door to Buchanan Galleries, it has a massive footfall in passing pedestrian traffic, it is in a prime retail position and it is used as an office for Scottish Enterprise – not even the Tourist Board! It has the lowest rateable value of any similar property on Buchanan Street and is a prime example of the SPT management not realising the potential of its stations. Every station has some kind of property potential – coffee bar, newspaper kiosk, Park and Ride, internet point, even a telephone call box. Every single station has that potential some (Hillhead, Bridge Street, Kelvinbridge, Kelvinhall) have substantial residential potential – but this flies past the current management. This is the starting point of the revitalisation of the Subway. From the base of good management of the existing assets then a more adventurous outlook can be taken – buoyed by the confidence that the current system is being well worked. 

The current system needs to be reviewed as a priority.

For a full copy of the thgRAIL report on the Glasgow Subway

Click here for a pdf copy

Click here for a Word copy

To expand the system, we looked at travel patterns in and through Glasgow and examined where the Subway could be used to respond to these movements just as it was done when the Subway was first designed in the 1880’s. 

As we hear on local radio reports day and daily, the M8 is a major source of congestion and traffic problems in Glasgow. It provides a largely East to West route through the City and to ease the use of this route any alternative transport form should follow this – intersecting where possible and offering modal change opportunities. 

Within the City boundaries we identified a number of known traffic generators and attempted to include these in the proposal for a new Subway. The biggest traffic generator in the region is the City Centre itself therefore a connection with the existing Subway is also important for not only getting people to the centre but also getting them around the centre. Other traffic generators such as the Airport, hospitals and major sporting arenas (Celtic Park, Hampden, and Ibrox Stadium) were identified as suitable locations to be served by a new transport network. 

However the most significant traffic generators beyond the City Centre are Glasgow’s major shopping centres. Braehead for example boasts a patronage of over 20 million visitors each year (40 million return road journeys) compared to the Airport (18 million) and the SECC (3 million) and providing an alternative non road transportation system to the major retail centres will go some way towards easing congestion – particularly during peak times. Glasgow Fort, The Forge, St. Enoch Centre, Buchanan Galleries, Braehead, Govan Shopping Centre and even the new Silverburn Centre (former Pollok Centre) are featured as destinations on the new network. 

Finally, to complete the route design we looked at where the new Subway could be directed to complement existing initiatives and support Government transport objectives on sustainability and positive social impact. The route designs therefore support initiatives such as the Clyde Corridor Regeneration, tourist and visitor destinations such as the SECC, Glasgow Science Centre, the new Transport Museum, Glasgow Harbour, The Burrell Museum, Springfield Quay Regeneration, as well as offering a greater transport choice to the people of East End, Pollok, Renfrew (the biggest town in the Region without any form of train link) and Govan. 

From this study, a new design for a modern metro system which supports the existing Subway Circle was devised. Two new lines are planned – 

The Clyde Line – a new east to west, partially underground, system which runs from Easterhouse to Glasgow Airport running almost diagonally through the City and following the route of the M8. The Clyde Line could be constructed in three phases after the main phase (from Braehead to Parkhead) is built in time for a successful Commonwealth Games bid. 

The T Line – this is a largely southern line which uses the Clyde Line as the cross piece of the “T” and a pre-metro type tram system running largely above ground to serve Pollokshields, Shawlands, the Victoria Infirmary and the National Stadium at Hampden on one leg; and Pollok and the new Silverburn Shopping Centre on another branch. 

The new train system would be of a modern European standard and as such incompatible with the existing Subway. However both systems would be serviced by an expanded depot at Broomloan in Govan and the Govan Subway Station would be a major interchange where all routes converge. A further interchange between the two systems would be created at St. Enoch Station.

Click here to view larger copy of proposed Clyde Line West layout.

 Click here to view larger copy of proposed Clyde Line East layout.