It is a campaign group with many associate members but it appears to focus on buses. It supports the Glasgow Metro idea and, so it seems, would want to see buses integrated into a comprehensive plan.
Of course it has produced a video ...... which includes a call for full integration of public transport under public ownership.
There is also a map, based on the various reports including those reviewed by fbb in previous blogs. Unfortunately, the map seems to be a commercial venture on sale for money, rather than part of a genuine altruistic campaign.
One version on line is spoiled by large "ownership" watermarks and is thus messy. Another on-line version is huge, poster sized, and will not reduce. fbb has requested a "proper" PDF. The organisation advises fbb that the 'spoiled' map was available on-line.
So there was a compkete failure to read it understand fbb's request
As an introduction, here is a screenshot of part of a smaller graphic.
Its author has identified groups of train services with no mention of whether they might be "left alone rail" or converted to "metro" as outlined in yesterday's review of the SPT report. fbb is unclear what the difference might be, anyway.
The designer identifies ...
... and the rest of the purely local all stops services.
fbb is not at all happy with the designation "Commuter", implying that such trains are only for regular travellers going to work! What is wrong with "local, all stops"?
We also have ...
Perhaps the designer thinks everyone is travelling on a season ticket, i.e. a commuted fare ticket?
Then come the trams.
The "West" tram is a simple line not entering the city centre whilst the "Cross" tram is a collection of routes via the centre where the links are not clear, They are not clear on the SPT map either, but eventually the different bits will need some clearer identity.
How about route numbers ...
... OR different colours?
It's a wonder that idea has never been tried before!
So fbb will re-run yesterday's blog but with better understanding from a much better map.
We start in Paisley, home of the iconic pattern ...
... and home of a proposed rail re-opening and a potentially very expensive airport link by train and tram. fbb will concentrate on the "local" lines (called "Commuter" lines in the map).
DARK BLUE is the existing service from Glasgow Central to Gourock and Wemyss Bay.
LIGHT BLUE currently runs to Paisley Canal. Under the Clyde Metro plans,9 this would be re-opened to Kilmacolm.
Much of the route from Canal station through Paisley is a footpath and cycleway ...
When you get to Elderslie, the trackbed is lost for a while ...
... but evidence soon returns.
Might there be a clue in the name?
Of course there is. Whilst the platform side is much extended and altered, the road approach reveals ...
Here it is from the platform side ...
... with the extension where the train is below.
So is the railway extension viable? fbb guesses you could squeeze in a single track plus a footpath cycleway but it would be expensive!
Would it have a good cost benefit figure?
VERY unlikely.
But what about the line to Glasgow Airport and Renfrew.
Somehow, you have to get the branch from Paisley Canel through Paisley Town Centre and beyond. On this Google Earth view, Paisley Canal station is bottom left ...
... and you are aiming, via a tunnel under the Town Hall, to that scar to the left of the Gallowhill place name. That scar is a former branch line to Renfrew.
Then there is an industrial estate in the way.
But the new map ...
... shows the route as going via Glasgow Airport ...
... well to the west of the original route, but where there is no gap for a busy railway.
Have the SPT and the Get Glasgow Moving people really thought this through?
Maybe you could fill in the river and put the trains there?
Here are the SPT and the Get Moving team leaders hard at work.
More investigations will follow tomorrow!
Next Clyde Metro blog : Saturday 14th Feb
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