11 March 2013
Modernisation is the only way forward for the Glasgow Subway
Letter submitted to The Sunday Herald in response to its 10/03/13 article
'Subway upgrade may put us on wrong track':
Dear Sir,
I am writing in response to Colin Donald’s article (‘Subway upgrade may
put us on wrong track’, Sunday 10th March). Professor Peter White’s
suggestion that closure of the Subway should be considered would leave
Glasgow without a key link in its transport system from the city centre to
the west end and parts of the south side at a time when we should be
encouraging more rather than less people onto public transport. The
Subway – even at present – carries more people, relative to the length of
line and number of stations, than the Tyne and Wear Metro or many parts of
the rail network. The question remains of how the journeys currently
made by Subway would be made otherwise.
Professor White is correct in his assertion that the Subway has its
problems: having a unique gauge and structure are unfortunate although not
problems unknown elsewhere. However, more difficult to overcome are the
changes to the city’s layout, with several stations still blighted by the
worst excesses of urban clearance of the 1960s and 70s, and in Glasgow’s
case, subsequent periods. Any plan for the city has to ensure that sites
in the vicinity of stations are prime locations for redevelopment. The
solution is in making best use of the asset we have, rather than
abandonment and replacement.
Something which can be done in the shorter term is to ensure that the
Subway is fully integrated with both bus and rail systems serving the
region. Partly, this can be done through better location of bus stops
near certain stations, and a better link between Glasgow Central and St
Enoch. However, it also requires ticketing integration. The line cannot
survive standing alone and transport users connecting from train or bus
should be able to exploit the full range of options without penalty, as is
increasingly the case across Europe and elsewhere.
Modernisation is the only way to ensure that the Subway remains an
important transport asset, through reduced costs and a more attractive
travelling environment. Complete closure is an option that belongs to the
era of Beeching. Mercifully, in the last fifty years we have moved beyond
that.
Yours faithfully
Calum McCallum
Transport Campaigner & Board Member, Transform Scotland