Research and Reports

Connecting Glasgow

he Glasgow Connectivity Commission is calling for approximately £10 billion of new transport infrastructure over the next 20 years, to help close the productivity gap between Scotland’s largest city and the rest of the UK. Measures outlined in the Connecting Glasgow report include a city-wide metro system of tram and light rail lines to connect deprived areas with the wider economy. This could include converting heavy rail routes to light rail, developing on-street trams, and reviving abandoned rail routes. The commission also recommends a new metro link to Glasgow Airport via Renfrew and Queen Elizabeth Hospital, a new tunnel connecting Glasgow Central and Queen Street stations, and an extension of Glasgow Central to the south of the River Clyde to prepare for HS2 services. The measures have been estimated to be worth an extra £4.6bn a year to the Scottish economy.