| Glasgow Airport Rail Link Route Add-On | |
|---|---|
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| Availability | Currently on Steam |
| Scenarios | 5 |
| Price | £14.99 |
| Link |  Here!
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The Glasgow Airport Rail Link (GARL) add-on showcases the route that nearly was.
Background[]
History[]
The original project that was given the go ahead in 2006 was to provide a regular and fast rail service between Glasgow International Airport and Glasgow Central Station. Trains would call at Paisley Gilmour Street allowing passengers to connect to Ayrshire and Inverclyde services then travel non-stop to Glasgow.
A new 1.9 km airport spur was to be constructed starting from Paisley St James. This would extend from the existing rail line on an elevated viaduct crossing the M8 motorway and terminating at a new terminal station located next to the existing airport car park. The 9 km of existing track between Shields Junction and Paisley Gilmour Street station was to be upgraded by adding a third bi-directional relief line increasing overall route capacity. Two new platforms would also be built in Central Station accessed through the existing arch by extending platform 11a. The new rail link would provide a dedicated train service with a journey time of approximately 15 minutes.
On the 17th September 2009 GARL was cancelled by the Scottish Government due to budget cuts. However the line upgrade between Shields Junction and Paisley Gilmour Street station was still to go ahead along with the two new platforms in Glasgow Central.
Train Simulator[]
For Train Simulator, the route was developed by Thomson Interactive (then TotalizeMedia). This route is based in the year 2012 as if the project had gone ahead as originally planned, and includes a Class 380.
As part of driver familiarisation training, TotalizeMedia were hired to create a simulation of the infrastructure. This simulation was built using a professional derivative of Train Simulator 2012. With the cancellation of the project, TotalizeMedia redirected the development into a title that was released through RailSimulator.com on Steam. This explains the lack of scenery around the route, as drivers would not leave the cab view during training.
Route[]
- GARL: Glasgow Airport - Paisley Gilmour Street - Hillington West - Hillington East - Cardonald - Glasgow Central
Rolling Stock[]
- Class 380 in First ScotRail Saltire livery
- Driving Motor Open Standard (DMOS)
- Trailer Standard Open Lavatory (TSOL)
- Pantograph Trailer Open Standard Lavatory Wheelchair (PTOSLW)
Gallery[]
