Glasgow
Scotland’s largest city, with a population of 584,240 and a density similar to that of Manchester and Birmingham, Glasgow generates an annual GVA of £14.9billion (2007) and supports around 400,000 jobs. Recent successes in key sectors, such as financial and business services and tourism and retail, have led to significant economic growth; over 60,000 additional jobs have been created in Glasgow since 1995, boosting the city’s employment rate and increasing its importance within the wider region.
Despite the impact of the recession, Glasgow remains the UK’s second most popular city after London for inward investors, and the UK’s second-largest retail centre outside London’s West End.
Glasgow’s ten-year economic development strategy (2006-2016) demands a further step change in performance to achieve its strategic priorities: to move up the value chain, share its prosperity more equally, and create an excellent economic environment.
Central to this ambition is accessibility and connectivity, based on a modern, fit-for-purpose transport infrastructure. To maintain and further build on Glasgow’s economic success, high-speed rail would assist by improving existing intercity rail links, particularly to the south and London and, in turn, would offer a viable, sustainable alternative to air travel. HSR would bring the city’s transport to a standard that can support future visitors’ needs and allow Glasgow to compete effectively in global markets.
“Glasgow is fully supportive of the creation of a high speed rail network. We need a much improved and sustainable rail network that provides first class connectivity and a reduction in intercity journey times to be able to compete effectively with the rest of Europe.
With the west coast mainline reaching capacity by 2020 and the long lead in times needed for this project, we must act now to ensure that we can accommodate future growth and reap the benefits to our regional economy, from improved transport links.
I would like to see high speed rail services from London to Scotland become an integral part of HSR2.”
Steven Purcell, Leader of Glasgow City Council