ClydeMetro (part 3)

In this last blog post in the series, I propose expanding Glasgow’s rail network by adding new lines. The opportunities for expansion are numerous, but here I’ll focus on a couple of specific proposals in areas I know well. Other expansion possibilities exist, see for example the fantastic map by Angus Doyle.

My expansion suggestions involve the reinstatement of old track and the use of city roads that are currently dual carriageway, as opportunities to convert to single carriageway for cars plus tram tracks for the metro. You can see my expanded network vision in the following map:

Here are the line expansions (dotted lines on the map) I propose:

• Connecting the Allander Line with a new loop of rail track from High Street round to Glasgow Cross, joining up the two parts of the Allander Line. This area is currently vacant, mostly used as a car park, making it a feasible location for new rail infrastructure:

• Then we want to extend the Allander Line further on in its route: using the (currently unused) branch from Cardonald to Braehead, and then extending on new track to Renfrew (one of the biggest towns with no rail connection), Erskine, and Glasgow Airport, rejoining the existing track at Paisley St James.
• This would make the Allander Line: Light Green: Allander Line - Milngavie to Cardonald (for 2nd time) via Queen St Low Level, Glasgow Cross, Paisley Gilmore St, Glasgow Airport, & Braehead; and vice versa
• Reinstating the Track from Govan to Bellahouston so that the Southside Line links to the Subway Line - again this track bed can be easily seen in current photos and its reinstatement should not be difficult:
  

• This would make the Southside Line into a route from Govan to Uddingston via Mount Florida, Newton, Hamilton Central, and Motherwell.
• Reinstate the Kelvin Line from Lambhill on the Northern Circle Line, through the old Maryhill station, across the Kelvin, and through the Botanic Gardens, connecting with the Subway at Kelvinbridge and continuing through Kelvingrove Park to join the existing track at Exhibition Centre. The line would also extend from Bridgeton to Celtic Park and through Tollcross along tram tacks on the A74, rejoining existing track at Carmyle.
• This would make the Kelvin Line into a route from Lambhill to Whifflet, via Glasgow Central Low Level, and vice versa
• The WestEnd Line would use the reinstated tracks from Lambhill through Maryhill, but then extend westwards, taking the old branch west under Cleveden to the old station near Gartnavel at Great Western Rd (currently the 1051 GWR restaurant) to intersect existing track at Hyndland. The line would then continue to head west (probably need to compulsory purchase and bulldoze the houses in Clarence Gardens - but this is one of the few such land use changes in this proposal) through the (currently infilled) tunnel under Thornwood. The line then turns west along one of the carriageways of the Clydeside Expressway between Thornwood Roundabout, and Scotstoun, turning north along reinstated track (currently Victoria Park's Nature Walk) and joining existing track along the north side of Scotstoun Stadium. It should then leave the existing track at Scotstounhill and provide rail access to the current public transport desert of Knightswood, intersecting existing lines at GWR Retail Park, before continuing westwards to the towns of Hardgate and Duntocher.
• This makes the (Sky Blue on the map) WestEnd Line: Duntocher to Lambhill, via Scotstoun & Hyndland, and vice versa.
• The Clyde Tunnel Line would run from Canniesburn using a carriageway of Switchback Rd (serving the West of Scotland Science Park) before joining existing track at Temple (perhaps using a wee bit of Dawsholm Park to make this link). Then it leaves the existing track again at Jordanhill (perhaps making use of the land currently occupied by the BP garage and the Three Craws pub) running on tram tracks down one carriageway of the approach to the Clyde Tunnel (linking with the WestEnd Line at Whiteinch as it does so). Once south of the river, this line serves the QEUH hospital, links to many lines at Cardonald, links to the Canal Line at Corkerhill, serves the Silverburn shopping centre, before skirting the southern side of Pollok Park as it continues to meet the Argyll Line at Kennishead and the South Lanarkshire Line at Pollokshaws West.
• This makes the (Pinky on the map) Clyde Tunnel Line: Canniesburn to Pollokshaws West, via Whiteinch, QEUH, Cardonald, & Silverburn, and vice versa

While these proposals represent a significant expansion of Glasgow’s rail network, there are other potential projects, not shown on my map, that could be considered, especially to better serve peripheral towns:

• Completing the outer circle line anticlockwise from Greenock Esplanade through Port Glasgow High, Kilmacolm, Bridge of Weir, Kilbarchan, Barrhead, Newton Mearns, Eaglesham, Strathaven, and Lanark; and then rerouting anticlockwise from Coatbridge through Moodiesburn, Kirkintilloch, Milton of Campsie, Lennoxtown, and Strathblane
• Extending the Kelvin Line northwards from Lambhill through Summerston North, Bardowie, Balmore, Torrance, Milton of Campsie, & Kilsyth
• Extending the Canal Line westwards from Paisley Canal to Linwood and Houston.

Possibilities!

The above map can be viewed and edited at https://metromapmaker.com/map/edz5YKo1