A £7.4 million investment in road and rail infrastructure around Gleneagles will deliver a lasting transport legacy for communities, transport minister Keith Brown says.
The minister was speaking on Thursday as he marked the completion of the £3.5 million Gleneagles Station refurbishment and the opening of a new £3.9 million link road connecting the station to the nearby A9.
The projects have been completed in time to cater for the thousands of golf fans who will descend on Perthshire for the Ryder Cup in September.
The overhaul of the existing Gleneagles Railway Station buildings includes new lifts, new waiting rooms, toilet facilities and the installation of wifi, to bring the station up to modern standards.
Meanwhile, the new link road gives safer access to the A9, north and south, while the station car park has also been upgraded, providing around 100 spaces as well as cycle racks and a bus turning area.
Together, these upgrades are designed to deliver a transport hub for the community, boosting future public transport and improving access to local roads.
The work has been welcomed by residents, although Auchterarder and District Community Council chairman Ewan Mackintosh believes even more needs to be done. “I have been involved in attempting to secure improvements to the services offered by this station since 2010.
“Though I am pleased with the upgrade, there is the possibility of opening more platforms and making this a transport hub for Strathearn and Strathallan. Until we have a greater number of trains visiting the station the job is only half done.”
Work began on the £3.5 million Gleneagles Station enhancements in September 2013, and the £3.9m link road improvement in November 2013.
At the station yesterday to view the final results, Mr Brown said: “As we look forward to welcoming hundreds of thousands of golf fans to Gleneagles in September and with millions more watching on television these road and rail enhancements will help deliver the best possible travel experience for those attending this renowned event.
“At the heart of this work has been our commitment to ensure that this partnership investment in Gleneagles road and rail will deliver a lasting transport legacy. That means improvements in road safety and investment in public transport designed to ensure long-term benefits for the local community.”
Perth and Kinross Council’s enterprise and infrastructure convener, John Kellas, said: “We are delighted to see this long-held ambition become reality. The result will be safer, more accessible and better-integrated transport for the local community in Gleneagles and Auchterarder.”
ScotRail managing director Steve Montgomery added: “The real winners of this investment are the local people who will benefit from the improved access and station facilities for many years to come.”
During the 2014 Ryder Cup, the station improvements will be further boosted by additional rail services for the event, with 7,500 spaces for spectators daily. A temporary footbridge will also be installed over the A9 to ensure safe pedestrian access to the course.
In addition, the council has had “positive discussions” with local bus operators to amend existing routes to include the station.