A Glasgow MSP is calling on an abandoned railway station in the city to be reopened as a tourist attraction once filming wraps up on the new Batgirl movie.
Glasgow Live revealed that scenes for the HBO Max flick will be shot in the old Botanic Gardens underground train station, which closed permanently to passengers over 80 years ago back in February of 1939.
Preparation work is well underway, with the old railway tunnel running under Great Western Road to Kelvinbridge being reopened to accommodate the shoot - which will feature a huge New York-style subway car that film crews have placed in the station.
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Having learned of the "unlocking" of the old railway tunnel, Labour & Co-op MSP Paul Sweeney said it would be a "shame" to see it "sealed away again" one filming comes to an end in the city, and thinks they should also reopen the old station to locals and tourists.
He told Glasgow Live: "It’s excellent to see the old railway tunnels in the west end of Glasgow being unlocked to film scenes from the new Batgirl movie.
"Given that it is the first time the old Botanic Gardens station will have been in use for over 80 years, it would be a shame to see it sealed away once filming has finished. That’s why I have suggested that the station be reopened as an attraction for tourists and Glaswegians alike bringing much needed revenue into the city".
The news that producers had chosen the old line and station to film scenes for the film as Glasgow once again doubles up as Gotham City has sparked fresh discussion around mothballed sections of the city's public infrastructure.
And the MSP believes consideration should also be given to reopening old railway routes which dot the city as part of the proposed new Glasgow Metro system.
He added: "Glasgow is one of the only cities in the UK with a functioning subway system, but we could do so much more with the infrastructure that already exists. Throughout the city including the West End, Springburn and Possilpark, and areas in the East End have old railway routes that were closed in the 1960s.
"It would be wonderful to see them reopened as part of a proposed new Glasgow Metro system and I hope that the Scottish Government will announce more details about the metro rail system in Parliament on Thursday (January 20). The benefits to the public of excavating, upgrading and making Glasgow’s disused railways as part of our 21st century public transport infrastructure are obvious.
“As someone who has a great passion for Glasgow’s infrastructure and architecture, it is heartening to see so many Glaswegians interacting with the topic and it seems as though the filming has inadvertently placed a spotlight on the future of Glasgow’s public infrastructure.
"That can only be a good thing, and I would encourage everyone who could benefit from the upgrading of our infrastructure to a world-class Glasgow Metro rail system to engage constructively with that discussion as it continues in the coming weeks and months.”
