The service may be up and running by the end of 2008

These would be on top of the 650 already forecast to be created by the link in Glasgow and Renfrewshire.

The report by Roger Tym & Partners says the service will generate �84m of economic benefits in Renfrewshire during its first 10 years of operation.

If the link is given the go-ahead by the Scottish Parliament, it could be running by the end of 2008.

The consultants' report, released by Strathclyde Passenger Transport, estimates that the link would support the development of 135,000 sq ft of office accommodation in the centre of Paisley three to four years after it begins service.

The number of new jobs would be between 675 and 700, it says.

One stop

Councillor Alistair Watson, chairman of SPT, said trains running between Glasgow Airport and Glasgow Central would make just one stop, at Paisley Gilmour Street.

"This not only provides easy access to people living in Paisley and working at the airport but also means Paisley could be the first stop for the 8.2 million and rising people who travel from and to Glasgow Airport ever year," he said.

SPT proposes to upgrade 5.4 miles (9km) of existing track between Shields Junction and Paisley Gilmour Street station and to lay 1.2 miles (2km) of new track between Paisley St James Station and Glasgow Airport.

Consultation process

The track will cross St James Park and the M8.

SPT sent its draft bill to the Scottish Parliament on 10 June and aims to submit its final bill in October. Objectors will then have 60 days to register their views.

The formal consultation process ended in February, during which there were 1,638 formal responses.