City council chiefs have unveiled ambitious £70million plans for a rail link to the airport and new exhibition and conference centre.

This artist’s impression shows the route the new line would take and potential locations for stations.

The heart of the city could be connected to Aberdeen International Airport by a light or heavy railway.

And passengers would also be able to head straight to the new £333million Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre – which is due for completion in 2019 – for concerts and shows.

Both venues would have their own stations.

Travelling to the airport from either the north or south currently involves getting off at Dyce Station and completing the journey by bus.

Funding options are already being explored and the local authority is still hopeful it can convince the Scottish Government to devolve air passenger (APD) and allow the council to collect about £20million annually.

The new link would utilise the existing Aberdeen-Inverness line and would also run from the new AECC to the airport.

Last night, Aberdeen City Council finance convener Willie Young said the local authority owned all the land and could start preparation works almost immediately.

A report will be presented to the local authority’s city deal committee, which decides how best to use the £250million awarded by the UK and Scottish government at the start of the year.

Councillor Young said: “What people always tell us is the AWPR came about 20 years too late, we must not make that mistake again.

“That’s why it’s so important that we get this moving as quickly as possible.

“We own all the land so there is no need for compulsory purchase, if we get our act together and get the preparation work done I don’t see why this can’t move quite quickly.

“It’s madness that we currently have the station at the wrong side of the airport.

“With this, folk travelling to the AECC or airport from the north or the city can easily make it in with no traffic and even have a drink.”

He added the council had “no intention” of running the trains itself, adding he was “confident” the line would be lucrative enough to attract a private operator.

He said: “What we have to look at is not just now but 10 to 15 years in the future. What all the studies show is that if you have a good rail link then people will use it.

“We want more people using public transport and for that to happen we need to put the infrastructure in place.”

Last night the plans were cautiously welcomed by north-east transport body Nestrans.

Deputy chairman, Peter Argyle, said: “It’s very early days in what will clearly be a very long-term project but if Aberdeen is to have better transport links then it is certainly something we have to consider.

“A direct link to the airport could only be a good thing for the regional economy.”

But SNP group leader Stephen Flynn branded the idea of APD being devolved as “nonsensical” and said the rail plan had echoes of the Edinburgh trams fiasco.

He said: “I would have profound reservations about this until I see a full business case.”