Clyde Fastlink
Encyclopedia
Clyde FastLink is a proposed high frequency dedicated bus link
in Glasgow
, United Kingdom
. It is planned to run between Glasgow city centre and several local and regional destinations, including Glasgow Harbour
, the Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre
and Renfrew
. The scheme is being led by Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT)
and Glasgow City Council. The route will be almost fully segregated from normal traffic, except for a small area around Broomielaw due to land constraints, and around Glasgow Central station
.
From the city centre hub, the 'north bank' route is planned to follow the north bank of the River Clyde
in a westerly direction, serving the International Financial Services District
, the Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre
and the Riverside Museum
.
The 'south bank' route will follow the same route from Glasgow Central station to Finnieston
, before crossing the Clyde Arc
bridge to connect destinations south of the River Clyde, including Pacific Quay
, Govan
, the Southern General Hospital
and Renfrew
.
Additional proposals have been made to create an easterly line to serve the 2014 Commonwealth Games
venues and stadiums.
, was given planning approval by Glasgow City Council in July 2006. It was intended to be an interim measure before the introduction of light rail
sometime after 2010. The scheme was originally expected to be completed in 2010 and to cost £42 million.
However, Glasgow City Council's request for funding from the Scottish Government was rejected as part of the government's Strategic Transport Projects Review, citing its lack of regional impact, its failure to tackle congestion around Glasgow Central station and its lack of clear impact on emissions reductions. Instead, the Government promised to investigate the construction of a wider light rail network across Glasgow, and new city centre stations to resolve city-centre connectivity issues.
In January 2010 SPT adopted the 'Vision for Fastlink'. , which includes plans for a 'south' phase taking in both the prior link to the SECC
and a spur south of the river via the Clyde Arc
, serving the new South Glasgow Hospital (presently called the Southern General Hospital
), and extending as far as Renfrew
. It also contained significant new proposals for two easterly extensions to serve the 2014 Commonwealth Games
village and venues.
This document is intended to guide progress of the scheme in light of other developments, such as ongoing proposals for a light rail system.
Bus rapid transit
Bus rapid transit is a term applied to a variety of public transportation systems using buses to provide faster, more efficient service than an ordinary bus line. Often this is achieved by making improvements to existing infrastructure, vehicles and scheduling...
in Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
, United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. It is planned to run between Glasgow city centre and several local and regional destinations, including Glasgow Harbour
Glasgow Harbour
Glasgow Harbour is an urban regeneration scheme at Partick in the city of Glasgow, Scotland.After many years of dereliction caused by the decline of shipbuilding and the migration of Glasgow's docks to the Firth of Clyde, since the mid 1980s, the banks of the River Clyde at Glasgow have become a...
, the Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre
Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre
The Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre , located on the north bank of the River Clyde, in Glasgow, is Scotland's largest exhibition centre....
and Renfrew
Renfrew
-Local government:The town of Renfrew gave its name to a number of local government areas used at various times:*Renfrew a town to the west of Glasgow*Renfrewshire, the present unitary local council area in which Renfrew is situatated....
. The scheme is being led by Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT)
Strathclyde Partnership for Transport
The Strathclyde Partnership for Transport is a public body which is responsible for planning and co-ordinating regional transport, and especially the public transport system, in the Strathclyde area of western Scotland...
and Glasgow City Council. The route will be almost fully segregated from normal traffic, except for a small area around Broomielaw due to land constraints, and around Glasgow Central station
Glasgow Central station
Glasgow Central is the larger of the two present main-line railway terminals in Glasgow, the largest city in Scotland. The station was opened by the Caledonian Railway on 31 July 1879 and is currently managed by Network Rail...
.
Route
Fastlink's route is still being determined, but current proposals envision 'north bank' and 'south bank' routes, which will generally run on routes segregated from normal traffic. Both routes will share right of way with local traffic in a one-way loop around a terminus near Glasgow Central railway stationFrom the city centre hub, the 'north bank' route is planned to follow the north bank of the River Clyde
River Clyde
The River Clyde is a major river in Scotland. It is the ninth longest river in the United Kingdom, and the third longest in Scotland. Flowing through the major city of Glasgow, it was an important river for shipbuilding and trade in the British Empire....
in a westerly direction, serving the International Financial Services District
International Financial Services District
The International Financial Services District is a ten year project within the city of Glasgow in Scotland to create a highly attractive inward investment location for leading international financial services companies and a re-location option for existing Glasgow-based companies, seeking to...
, the Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre
Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre
The Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre , located on the north bank of the River Clyde, in Glasgow, is Scotland's largest exhibition centre....
and the Riverside Museum
Riverside Museum
The Riverside Museum is a new development for the Glasgow Museum of Transport, completed on 20 June 2011, at Pointhouse Quay in the Glasgow Harbour regeneration district of Glasgow, Scotland. The next day it opened to the public.-Concept and design:...
.
The 'south bank' route will follow the same route from Glasgow Central station to Finnieston
Finnieston
Finnieston is an area of Glasgow, Scotland, situated on the North bank of the River Clyde and between the city's West End and the city centre. It is home to the SECC, where many musical concerts and important conferences are held...
, before crossing the Clyde Arc
Clyde Arc
The Clyde Arc , is a road bridge spanning the River Clyde in Glasgow, in west central Scotland, connecting Finnieston, near the Clyde Auditorium and SECC with Pacific Quay and Glasgow Science Centre in Govan. A prominent feature of the bridge is its innovative curved design and the way that it...
bridge to connect destinations south of the River Clyde, including Pacific Quay
Pacific Quay
Pacific Quay is an area south of the River Clyde in Glasgow, Scotland. It is located at the former Plantation Quay and Princes' Dock Basin. The Princes' Dock Basin was the largest on the River Clyde when it was opened in 1900. It ceased to be used in the 1970s as the volume of Shipping using the...
, Govan
Govan
Govan is a district and former burgh now part of southwest City of Glasgow, Scotland. It is situated west of Glasgow city centre, on the south bank of the River Clyde, opposite the mouth of the River Kelvin and the district of Partick....
, the Southern General Hospital
Southern General Hospital
The Southern General Hospital is a large teaching hospital with an acute operational bed complement of approximately 900 beds. The Hospital is located in Linthouse in the south west of Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom and provides a comprehensive range of acute and related clinical...
and Renfrew
Renfrew
-Local government:The town of Renfrew gave its name to a number of local government areas used at various times:*Renfrew a town to the west of Glasgow*Renfrewshire, the present unitary local council area in which Renfrew is situatated....
.
Additional proposals have been made to create an easterly line to serve the 2014 Commonwealth Games
2014 Commonwealth Games
The 20th Commonwealth Games in 2014 will be held in Glasgow, the largest city in Scotland. The winning city was announced by the Commonwealth Games Federation on 9 November 2007 in Colombo, Sri Lanka. The Games will run over 11 days of competition from 24 July to 3 August 2014...
venues and stadiums.
History
The first phase of the original scheme, running from Glasgow Central station to Glasgow HarbourGlasgow Harbour
Glasgow Harbour is an urban regeneration scheme at Partick in the city of Glasgow, Scotland.After many years of dereliction caused by the decline of shipbuilding and the migration of Glasgow's docks to the Firth of Clyde, since the mid 1980s, the banks of the River Clyde at Glasgow have become a...
, was given planning approval by Glasgow City Council in July 2006. It was intended to be an interim measure before the introduction of light rail
Light rail
Light rail or light rail transit is a form of urban rail public transportation that generally has a lower capacity and lower speed than heavy rail and metro systems, but higher capacity and higher speed than traditional street-running tram systems...
sometime after 2010. The scheme was originally expected to be completed in 2010 and to cost £42 million.
However, Glasgow City Council's request for funding from the Scottish Government was rejected as part of the government's Strategic Transport Projects Review, citing its lack of regional impact, its failure to tackle congestion around Glasgow Central station and its lack of clear impact on emissions reductions. Instead, the Government promised to investigate the construction of a wider light rail network across Glasgow, and new city centre stations to resolve city-centre connectivity issues.
Current status
Fastlink is currently in review, in light of the Scottish Government's rejection of the original plan. However, funding now seems more certain given its inclusion in the Scottish Government's 2010 Draft Budget..In January 2010 SPT adopted the 'Vision for Fastlink'. , which includes plans for a 'south' phase taking in both the prior link to the SECC
Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre
The Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre , located on the north bank of the River Clyde, in Glasgow, is Scotland's largest exhibition centre....
and a spur south of the river via the Clyde Arc
Clyde Arc
The Clyde Arc , is a road bridge spanning the River Clyde in Glasgow, in west central Scotland, connecting Finnieston, near the Clyde Auditorium and SECC with Pacific Quay and Glasgow Science Centre in Govan. A prominent feature of the bridge is its innovative curved design and the way that it...
, serving the new South Glasgow Hospital (presently called the Southern General Hospital
Southern General Hospital
The Southern General Hospital is a large teaching hospital with an acute operational bed complement of approximately 900 beds. The Hospital is located in Linthouse in the south west of Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom and provides a comprehensive range of acute and related clinical...
), and extending as far as Renfrew
Renfrew
-Local government:The town of Renfrew gave its name to a number of local government areas used at various times:*Renfrew a town to the west of Glasgow*Renfrewshire, the present unitary local council area in which Renfrew is situatated....
. It also contained significant new proposals for two easterly extensions to serve the 2014 Commonwealth Games
2014 Commonwealth Games
The 20th Commonwealth Games in 2014 will be held in Glasgow, the largest city in Scotland. The winning city was announced by the Commonwealth Games Federation on 9 November 2007 in Colombo, Sri Lanka. The Games will run over 11 days of competition from 24 July to 3 August 2014...
village and venues.
This document is intended to guide progress of the scheme in light of other developments, such as ongoing proposals for a light rail system.