r/Glasgow Tools

Title
Author	eenbiertje
Comment	I don't know the specific history of Manchester Airport station, so I can't be sure, but there'll have been some similar calculations and trade offs (which they accepted) there. Some key differences though: The first station that any Glasgow GARL spur line would've come into contact with is Paisley - a major regional interchange. Running extra services through that, and dealing with the complications, is different to running extra services through somewhere like Heald Green, in the case of Manchester Airport. Other big difference (and to be honest, Glasgow Airport could emulate this if the planning authorities wanted to do it), is that Manchester Airport became a major terminus station for trains coming from all over the place. From Manchester Central stations, to regional stations and even other cities. When you do this, the benefits of creating the station quickly outway any disruption to services on nearby lines. At least in the wider sense... Locals who see their trains per hour cut in half on nearby rail lines might not be so happy. In a Glasgow context, it would be like if we made a spur going east to Glasgow, and also a spur going west to Inverclyde and maybe even a third spur (somehow) to Ayrshire from Glasgow Airport. In that situation, Glasgow Airport becomes the main regional interchange station, instead of Paisley. This comes with costs for people travelling from Inverclyde or Ayrshire to Glasgow say. Generally, I don't think that was or ever would be acceptable. This is why GARL never got off the ground. The knock on effects were never deemed acceptable for the regional networks. The new tram line being talked about is the way to go. A totally independent line, which doesn't interfere with existing rail services. It's a shame this wasn't explored 50 years ago.
Reddit Link	https://www.reddit.com/r/glasgow/comments/u483q2/glasgow_airport_branded_embarrassment_over_lack/i4z27x0/
Created	Sat 16th Apr 2022 5:26pm
Status	normal ()

I don't know the specific history of Manchester Airport station, so I can't be sure, but there'll have been some similar calculations and trade offs (which they accepted) there. Some key differences though:

The first station that any Glasgow GARL spur line would've come into contact with is Paisley - a major regional interchange. Running extra services through that, and dealing with the complications, is different to running extra services through somewhere like Heald Green, in the case of Manchester Airport.

Other big difference (and to be honest, Glasgow Airport *could* emulate this if the planning authorities wanted to do it), is that Manchester Airport became a major terminus station for trains coming from all over the place. From Manchester Central stations, to regional stations and even other cities.

When you do this, the benefits of creating the station quickly outway any disruption to services on nearby lines. At least in the wider sense... Locals who see their trains per hour cut in half on nearby rail lines might not be so happy.

In a Glasgow context, it would be like if we made a spur going east to Glasgow, and also a spur going west to Inverclyde and maybe even a third spur (somehow) to Ayrshire from Glasgow Airport.

In that situation, Glasgow Airport becomes the main regional interchange station, instead of Paisley.

This comes with costs for people travelling from Inverclyde or Ayrshire to Glasgow say. Generally, I don't think that was or ever would be acceptable.

This is why GARL never got off the ground. The knock on effects were never deemed acceptable for the regional networks.

The new tram line being talked about is the way to go. A totally independent line, which doesn't interfere with existing rail services. It's a shame this wasn't explored 50 years ago.