GLASGOW.- Glasgow's much loved Museum of Transport will close its doors for the final time on 18 April 2010. By the time it shuts, it will have welcomed well over 10 million visitors since it moved to its current location in 1988.

The closure will allow items to be moved to the new £74 million Riverside Museum which opens to the public in 2011.

The Museum of Transport is home to such popular attractions as:

• trams
• trains
• cars
• ship models in the Clyde Room
• the underground station and carriages, and
• shops and cinema in Kelvin Street.

It regularly attracts more than 500,000 visitors a year, making it one of the most popular attractions in Scotland.

The closing date of 18 April falls at the end of the school Easter holidays. This gives families the chance to come and enjoy the final few weeks. There will be an exciting programme of free events celebrating the life and times of this Glasgow institution in the weeks before closure.

Bailie Liz Cameron, Chair of Culture and Sport Glasgow said, ‘The Museum of Transport has always been the source of great pride and affection for the people of Glasgow and is always among the most visited attractions in the city.

‘For many, the occasion will be one tinged with a little sadness amongst the great hope and expectation that is building as the magnificent Riverside Museum takes shape nearby.

‘The new museum will be home to many of the much loved exhibits housed in an iconic building with space for many new attractions which will educate and captivate visitors for generations to come.’

The innovative and inspiring Riverside Museum has been taking shape in recent years on the banks of the rivers Clyde and Kelvin. And anticipation is building for what will be an outstanding addition to Glasgow's architecture and cultural heritage.

The Riverside Museum has been designed by the internationally renowned architect Zaha Hadid. Support for the £74 million project has come from Glasgow City Council, the Heritage Lottery Fund, and Glasgow Harbour.

The Riverside Museum Appeal recently topped £3 million and has just £2 million pounds to go to reach its £5 million pound target. The public phase of the Riverside Museum Appeal will launch in the next few weeks.