Latest news with #ClydeMetro
Glasgow Times
3 days ago
- Automotive
- Glasgow Times
Maserati to open new car showroom in Glasgow this month
Maserati is opening a dealership in the city's Southside as part of its new partnership with Arnold Clark. The Italian luxury brand, renowned for its racing heritage, will be based at a showroom in Mossland Drive in Hillington Park. Maserati's Glasgow location will offer both sales and after-sales. READ NEXT: Clyde Metro possible routes and cost known by 2027 Callum Rankin, group brand director at Arnold Clark, said: 'We're proud to have Maserati joining the Arnold Clark franchise. 'This iconic brand represents the pinnacle of Italian luxury and performance, and its arrival allows us to offer our customers an even more exciting and first-class driving experience. 'Maserati's legacy of innovation and growth aligns perfectly with our aims, and we look forward to working with them closely for years to come.' The Maserati range will be on display at the new showroom and forecourt. This includes the mid-size SUV Grecale, available in both petrol and electric form. Glaswegians will also be able to test drive the brand's new GranCabrio as well as the marque's flagship road car range, the MC20 (which has a top speed of 200mph), and the company's iconic model, the four-seater GranTurismo coupe. READ NEXT: 'Exceptional' Glasgow flat with 'stunning' views up for sale Mariangela Del Vecchio, Head of Maserati North Europe, commented: 'I'm delighted to welcome Arnold Clark to the Maserati family. 'They have a hard-earned reputation for high-quality customer service, and we look forward to serving Glasgow and Manchester and their surrounding areas with our beautifully crafted and designed cars, Made in Italy, in the coming months and years.' The brand is popular with celebrities including David Beckham, Sir Elton John, Lionel Messi, and more.
Glasgow Times
3 days ago
- Business
- Glasgow Times
Clyde Metro possible routes and cost known by 2027
Consultants are currently developing a case for investment which is seen as an 'essential' step towards providing a 'mass transit' system. Glasgow Labour has claimed the Metro scheme is a 'stalled plan dressed up as progress' — with no start date and no funding committed. READ NEXT:Glasgow's drug consumption centre is working says health secretary Transport spokesman Cllr Saqib Ahmed said: 'Clyde Metro should be Glasgow's next great infrastructure revolution — but right now, it's just another SNP soundbite.' A spokesman for the city's SNP group said the cross-party Glasgow City Region cabinet has allocated £12m to advance the business case, which Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT) is progressing. 'That's a considerable amount of spend and effort for a soundbite,' he added. The funding, which will support the development of the case for investment (CFI), is from the City Deal, a more than £1bn infrastructure programme funded by both the UK and Scottish governments. Council officials have said the CFI will identify the funding strategy for 'subsequent stages of the Clyde Metro programme'. READ NEXT:'Don't blame us': Taxis hit back in Glasgow city centre transport row They also said 'one of the key objectives is to improve the sustainable transport access to Glasgow Airport' and this will 'continue to feature as a key priority in all the options we are exploring.' At a council meeting on Tuesday, Cllr Kieran Turner, Labour, asked whether there would be potential routes and costs at the end of the CFI process. An official said: 'Yes, absolutely. At the moment, as part of the initial engagement, we have four network options which were presented. 'Those network options will then get synthesised into a preferred network.' The process will involve deciding on which modes of transport will be included, such as heavy rail or tram, as well as a recommendation on 'what the first move needs to be'. Cllr Turner added: 'Until people start to see something that is a little more concrete, even in terms of option selection, there are still going to be questions in our constituents' minds around if any of this is ever going to happen. 'Is lots of money just getting spent on consultants? And will anything come of this?' The official said there will be answers at the end of the case for investment, including potential timelines. It will be 'absolutely critical' for securing 'a commitment from government to give funding', he said. Public consultation on the project could be held in spring or summer next year. After the meeting, Cllr Ahmed said: 'Communities have waited too long for transformation. Instead, they've been left behind by a government more focused on branding than building. 'Glasgow Labour will keep fighting for real investment in our transport network.' Labour want a commitment from the Scottish Government to fund phase one of the Metro project and a 'clear, costed and deliverable' construction timeline. The SNP spokesman said Clyde Metro is 'an agreed national transport priority'. 'Labour's failure to deliver the type of modern transport system developed by our peers during their time in power in Glasgow is why we have decades of missed opportunities to catch up on. 'If Labour councillors want to start being constructive perhaps they can insist from their party colleagues that we received a share of the £15bn the Chancellor is allocating to English cities for major transport projects.'
Glasgow Times
05-05-2025
- Business
- Glasgow Times
Has a tram network been ruled out of Glasgow's Clyde Metro project?
The Clyde Metro project was first mentioned in 2017 by the Connectivity Commission investigating the future of transport in Glasgow. Eight years later, people in the city are no clearer about what this could be or whether it will actually happen than they were then. Last week, Mott MacDonald was appointed consultants for the next stage, described as 'helping to determine a scope and timetable for the delivery of Clyde Metro, including routes, destinations and specific modes'. READ NEXT: Clyde Metro latest update as firm appointed for next stage The Glasgow Times asked Strathclyde Partnership for Transport what Clyde Metro will look like and when we might see it. Valerie Davidson spoke to the Glasgow Times to answer some questions we still have about Clyde Metro. At the moment, the exact details have still to be decided. We do know one thing. It will not be a new tram network. SPT, Glasgow City Council, and Transport Scotland issued a joint 'Position statement' on Clyde Metro. It said Clyde Metro could include: 'Conversion of parts of the Heavy Rail network to Metro Rail. 'Extensions to those converted Metro Rail routes to serve new destinations. "Creation of new Light Metro lines. The statement also listed a number of things Clyde Metro is not, including: 'A 'tram project' as it encompasses a wide variety of modes. 'An individual route / standalone transport infrastructure project, as it constitutes a long-term programme and wider network." It said Clyde Metro is not 'being considered in isolation – it needs to be considered alongside other existing modes as well as the transformational impacts it can deliver.' Ms Davidson explained where the project is at the moment. She said: 'There is a process we have to follow. 'First, identify the case for change. That's been done. Then, identify the range of options. That's the stage we are in at the moment. 'It all contributes to the business case. Metro is a programme of activities, of different projects.' The Mott McDonald work will be complete by 2026/27. She added: 'That's the next big date, to have the case for investment and why you would do this? Is this buildable?.' Ms Davidson said there are four 'corridors' of work, considering 'What are we trying to connect and why?'. She added: 'It will decide a preferred outcome and what to do first. 'Heavy rail or tram or tram/train. Anything is possible.' Asked about the joint position, which appeared to rule out a tram, she said: 'It hasn't come out as one of the preferred options at this stage.' However, some new modes could be created. Ms Davidson said: 'Until we get through the process, we're careful not to say what and where. 'There's a difference between Metro and tram. It's to do with types of vehicle, capacity and frequency. 'Metro and tram are marginally different.' A new route connecting Glasgow Airport was said to be the first route of Metro. Ms Davidson said: 'We are obviously looking at what's the priority and that is part of the work we are doing just now. 'Connections to the airport area are still in there.' The next step is for the case for investment and preferred options to be brought forward. Ms Davidson said: 'We will present the work to our own partnership board, also to Glasgow City Region and also Transport Scotland. 'All three bodies are working in different capacities. If you are talking about who eventually approves it, we would be seeking the agreement of all three.'
Glasgow Times
25-04-2025
- Business
- Glasgow Times
This key feature has been axed from George Square plans
The initial plans had included a feature of fountains coming up from the ground and images showed children playing among the jets. Hoardings are to go up this month and work is to start in June before statues are removed to be restored. READ NEXT:Cost of George Square revamp is revealed as new contract signed The public was asked for opinions on what the square should look like, and a water feature was a new addition that was considered and included in the early design ideas. (Image: GCC) READ NEXT:Clyde Metro latest update as firm appointed to carry out investment work Now lack of budget means it has been removed from the tender and will no longer be part of the design In June last year The council issued an update on the plans which stated: 'The works in George Square will deliver high-quality stone throughout the Square; informal 'play' areas for children in sensory gardens in the eastern areas; a water feature; a raised lawn platform; bespoke sheltered seating; and feature lighting.' A new update to go before the contracts and property committee next week states: 'The work on George Square will deliver high-quality stone throughout; informal 'play' areas for children in sensory gardens in the eastern areas; a raised lawn platform; new trees species will be planted to add to the existing Norway Maple and Cherry trees in the Square; new seating to add to the remembrance benches; and feature lighting.' It has been revealed the water feature plan has been scrapped. In the paper to be discussed next week to approve the £20m contract states: 'Whilst there was an aspiration in early design stages to include a water feature as part of the redevelopment plans, this was removed from the tender documents to ensure that there was sufficient project budget to undertake the core works. 'Given the value of the landed tender for the Block C project, there is insufficient project budget remaining to include the water feature and it no longer forms part of the project scope."
Glasgow Times
25-04-2025
- Business
- Glasgow Times
Clyde Metro latest update as firm appointed for next stage
The multi-million pound investment programme was first revealed in the Glasgow Connectivity Commission report in 2019 and has since been adopted in the Transport Scotland Strategic Transport Projects Review . Mott McDonald has been engaged by Strathclyde Partnership for Transport to carry out two packages of work. READ NEXT:Homeless hotel owners see a massive jump in cash from council Stage one will 'evaluate Clyde Metro's potential impacts, benefits, and alignment with national and regional transport strategies'. Stage two will 'develop the preliminary engineering statement, which will outline the technical and engineering requirements for Clyde Metro'. The firm said Clyde Metro has the potential to benefit Glasgow and Scotland. Graeme Smith, managing director for transport and mobility solutions UK & Europe said: "Having worked on Clyde Metro from its early stages, it's clear that it has the potential to provide tremendous benefits, not only the Glasgow City Region, but for Scotland as a whole. Our Glasgow-based team, supported by the wider UK business, is excited to continue the journey with SPT and its partners; leading the way in making the case for investment in this generationally significant project. READ NEXT:The reason why there is a shortage of larger social rented homes in Glasgow SPT said the latest work will examine the options in greater detail. Bruce Kiloh, Head of policy and planning. said: 'We are delighted to appoint Mott MacDonald, alongside Stantec, to support to SPT and Clyde Metro project partners as we look to progress this next crucial stage of Clyde Metro's case for investment. 'The appointment for these commissions will build upon the earlier success of the case for investment, and we look forward to continuing to work with Mott MacDonald to examine Clyde Metro network and mode options in more detail, ensuring we develop a robust business case for this ambitious transformational mass transit project for the Glasgow City Region'.
