THE transport secretary has been challenged over when work will start on the Glasgow Metro plans.

The proposal for a tram and light rail systems across the city region, starting with a link from Glasgow Airport to Paisley Gilmour Street station, is included in the latest list of major transport projects for the next two decades.

Michael Matheson told MSPs at Holyrood that detailed plans had been delayed due to "budget uncertainty".

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He said the Strategic Transport Projects Review 2 included plans for “mass transit programmes in the biggest city regions” of Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen.

Matheson was asked about the likelihood of the Glasgow Metro actually being built.

Graham Simpson, Conservative transport spokesperson, told him: “I don’t think there’s a cat in hell’s chance of it ever happening.”

He asked: “What is the timescale?”

Matheson said: “The leadership team, brought together, are already taking that work forward.”

He added: “The business cases will be developed over the course of this year.”

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Other MSPs were also demanding answers about the delivery of the Glasgow Metro.

Colin Smyth, Labour transport spokesperson, said: “The rail link to Glasgow Airport has never been so far away."

Glasgow Times:

Matheson said: “The Glasgow Metro scheme involves the route to the airport as part of the recommendations."

He added: “It had been the intention to publish the delivery plan but budget uncertainty has delayed the process.”

The Metro was part of the Glasgow Connectivity Commission recommendations for improving public transport in and around the city to give a feasible alternative to travel by car.

Neil Bibby, West of Scotland Labour MSP, highlighted a recent article by Susan Aitken, leader of Glasgow City Council who called for “bold leadership” to take the project forward.

He said "you won’t find that in this document" which he also said was “vague”.

Matheson said the Connectivity Commission recommendation was “ambitious” and the fact it was included in the latest Strategic Transport Projects Review showed that it was ambitious too.