The Clyde Metro could cost £16bn and we could be into the second half of the 21st century before it is complete the Transport Minister has said.

While admitting there was n o timescale yet and no date for the first phase from Glasgow Airport to Paisley Gilmour Street, Jenny Gilruth, said between 25 to 35 years is an estimate.

She was asked by Glasgow Labour MSP, Pauline McNeill, when progress would be seen, at the very least on the airport link to Paisley.

READ MORE: Glasgow Clyde Metro moves closer as it's included in government plan

The minister said: “The early estimated cost of the metro project is somewhere between £11 billion and £16 billion, based on the outturn cost of other comparable projects, with a timescale of 25 to 35 years to completion.

“The project will need longer-term political leadership and a new approach to delivery, but, as I mentioned in my initial answer, that delivery model has not yet been agreed. I cannot therefore give her a definitive answer to the timescale question.”

The Clyde Metro was included in the Scottish Governments list of priority transport projects, giving an indication it will be built.

Funding has been uncertain with the leader of Glasgow City Council Susan Aitken stating it will likely require some private funding.

McNeill wanted to know what oversight role the Scottish Government plans to take over the Clyde metro project to support its delivery.

READ MORE:Susan Aitken: 'It's Glasgow's turn' - transforming this great city

The Minister added: “STPR2 contains a number of recommendations on mass transport projects, and, as the member knows, this project could be an opportunity for transformational change, particularly for poorer communities.”

Conservative MSP, Graham Simpson asked about routes out of Glasgow, particularly to east Kilbride.

He said: “When I look at the map of the Clyde metro, it is all rather vague.

“There is a kind of random squiggle coming out to East Kilbride, with a loop around the town, and I am not sure where that is or what the exact route is.

“When will we get some level of detail on all this?”

Gilruth said: “The metro project is an umbrella project that looks at the level of public transport provision to serve and improve connectivity in the Glasgow city region.

“It will look at a vast range of transport modes that exist under the term “metro” in the GCR context including, of course, subway, tram way, tram, train and bus rapid transit.