RAIL UNION RMT today demanded the immediate reinstatement of the planned Glasgow Airport rail link as new information emerged exposing the financial grounds on which the proposed scrapping of the scheme was justified by the SNP administration in Edinburgh as totally bogus.
Amanda McMillan, the managing director of Glasgow Airport, waded into the row over the rail link this morning by writing to all MSP's saying that the £70 million additional expenditure figure used by the SNP as grounds for axing the plan "is not one we recognise."
Her rebuttal of the key financial information has reinforced similar claims by Steven Purcell, leader of Glasgow City Council.
RMT today demanded an urgent meeting with Scottish Transport Minister Stewart Stevenson, warning that 1300 jobs are at risk from the proposed scrapping of the Glasgow Airport Rail Link which would deal a savage blow to the Scottish economy as it fights to pull out of recession. The absence of consultation with trade unions over the proposal flies in the face of an agreement signed off with the First Minister Alex Salmond two years ago.
Bob Crow, RMT General Secretary, said today:
"At a time when major infrastructure projects like the Glasgow Airport Rail Link are key to dragging the economy out of recession it is a disturbing that SNP politicians have used what appear to be bogus figures to justify axing the scheme.
"The Rail Link offers a sustainable, fast and efficient transport option to users of Glasgow Airport and would have a crucial role to play in the Commonwealth Games in 2014. That is why we cannot afford any further delays.
"It is not too late to pull this position around before more damage is done. Today we are calling for an urgent meeting with Scottish Transport Minister Stewart Stevenson with the objective of getting the Glasgow Airport Rail Link reinstated in the Scottish Parliament's budget."
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