A MSP is calling on newly appointed transport minister, Jenny Gilruth MSP, to clarify if Clyde Metro Project plans will benefit East Kilbride.
The Scottish Government unveiled proposals to establish a Clyde Metro across the Glasgow region which appears to include the town - but Tory Central Scotland MSP, Graham Simpson, has warned of a "pie in the sky project".
Mr Simpson’s call follows the release of the Strategic Transport Project Review 2 (STPR2).
Glasgow Metro plans would see tram lines return to the city for the first time since the 1960s, and major upgrades to the existing rail network.
Faster and more frequent trains linking the city centre to suburban areas would be created under a plan to introduce "heavy metro" services.
However, STPR2 includes neither a funding commitment or precise timescale for completion, says Mr Simpson.
A map appears to suggest East Kilbride will be served by a ‘light metro’ system but won’t connect to the current rail network.
With the Scottish Government already scrapping plans to fully dual East Kilbride’s rail line, Mr Simpson has asked the transport minister to provide more detail on the Clyde Metro’s proposed route.
He said: "A Clyde Metro scheme is included in the SNP's blueprint for transport over the next 20 years but it is ridiculously vague. All you can see is a map with no detail on it.
“There seems be a light rail line coming out to East Kilbride and then forming a loop but we have no idea exactly where it might go.
“We don't know if it would mean changes to the station - presumably the answer is yes. If that's the case then why not tie things in with work on the existing railway line.
“We need detail, timescales and costings. Otherwise we may cynically conclude that this drawing is a pie in the sky project.”
East Kilbride MSP Collette Stevenson says further detail is needed on the project and that she has written to the new transport minister to discuss the wider rail enhancement project for the town.
Ms Gilruth's predecessor - Graeme Dey - had promised MSPs and other stakeholders a briefing to discuss final proposals for the EK rail enhancement project following a Members' Debate in Holyrood in December which was tabled by Mr Simpson.
Now, there will be electrification only between EK and Busby but there is cross-party support for the original plans, including dualling, to be reinstated.
Ms Stevenson said: "We do need further details on this project, which is why I wrote to the minister two weeks ago to discuss the Clyde Metro plans and the wider East Kilbride rail enhancements.
"We need to take the right decisions now to ensure our transport infrastructure can meet future demand and be an attractive alternative to using the car.
"I have asked the Government to take a fresh look at the dualling of the rail line in light of the Clyde Metro proposals and I think commuters will agree with me that there needs to be joined up thinking.”
She added: "There were plans for a briefing early in the new year for MSP’s and stakeholders to interrogate final proposals for the enhancements and I also wrote to ask for further details on when this would be and who would be involved.
"I have asked to meet the transport minister and will once again reiterate my position that the East Kilbride line should electrified and dualled.”
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