CELTIC supporters and Parkhead Forge shoppers could soon be able to get rail access with the planned new station


ALISTAIR WATSON says new station is of critical importance for the East End

Proposals to create a station near Parkhead Forge are now at an "advanced stage" and rail bosses will hold talks about the long-awaited project next week.

Transport bosses believe the development will help cut congestion around the ground on match days and serve the new National Indoor Arena.

Hundreds of Celtic fans currently travel by train to Bridgeton or Bellgrove, the nearest stations to Celtic Park, and walk to the stadium.

Strathclyde Partnership for Transport commissioned a feasibility study earlier this year into adding Parkhead station to the Helensburgh to Airdrie/Drumgelloch line.

The findings, along with the outline design of the station for Craigmore Street, off Duke Street, will be presented to Transport Scotland and Network Rail on December 12.

The Celtic Park station has been in the pipeline for more than 10 years and Railtrack paid for a feasibility study in the mid-1990s but the project stalled.

However, with the Commonwealth Games 2014 bid and the multi-million regeneration of the East End, the proposals look likely to be finally given the go-ahead.

In February, Celtic fans backed a petition calling for better public transport to the club's ground. Councillors also support the idea

Alistair Watson, chairman of SPT, said: "Parkhead has been one of our top-three priorities for more than 10 years.

"There have been extensive talks over an extended period of time with Network Rail and their predecessors."

He added: "Parkhead is of critical importance to the East End regeneration."

Five other proposed railway stations for the West of Scotland will also be discussed at next week's meeting.

As well as the Parkhead plan, outline studies have been carried out into creating a new station at Jordanhill, which would serve the West End district and Scotstoun Leisure Centre.

Officials have also looked into siting new stations at Millerston, on the Cumbernauld line, Flemington, near Motherwell, and Healthfield, between Prestwick and Ayr.