5 March 2004

SPT resumes withdrawn services

SPT is delighted to inform passengers that virtually all services have been resumed, after HAD Coach's decision to cease operating SPT contracts without warning this morning (Friday).

The operator held 22 contracts with SPT and a further 7 schools contracts for which SPT is the local authorities' agent. Services affected included Ring 'n' Ride services in rural communities, Dial-a-bus services for the elderly and disabled and some subsidised local bus services.

SPT has worked hard to ensure that services have resumed as soon as possible. All bus services are being operated in the short term by alternative transport operators while the long-term operation options are considered. Details of alternative operators can be found below.

Timetables will run as normal from tomorrow (Saturday) aside from service 346 which will run to timetable from Monday 8 March 2004. Dial-a-bus services have resumed and passengers wishing to make journeys using SPT's Dial-a-bus service should contact 0845 128 4025 as usual.

Councillor Alistair Watson, chair of SPT said:

"I am delighted that we have been able to step in to ensure that our passengers have regular public transport after HAD's decision to withdraw services. I apologise for any inconvenience that today's disruptions have caused.

"It is testament to the work of SPT that we have been able to reinstate virtually all services with different operators eight hours after services were withdrawn. The structure and powers of SPT have meant that we have been able to meet the needs of our passengers as quickly as possible. Today has been a case in point on how valuable SPT is to public transport provision in the west of Scotland."

ends

Notes to editors:

The services will be provided by the operators listed below. Service 346 (Cumbernauld, Seafar-Wardpark ) will run to timetable from Monday 8 March, all other services resume normal service tomorrow (Saturday).

• Service 348, Croy Interlink service - Jays Coaches
• Service 346, Cumbernauld, Seafar-Wardpark - Stuart's Coaches (from Monday)
• Service 399, Hairmyres Station Interlink - McKindless Coaches
• Service 317, Hamilton-Lanark via Clyde Valley - McKindless Coaches
• Service 8, Lanark-Lesmahagow (Sundays) - McKindless Coaches
• Service 9, Lanark-Glespin (Sundays) - McKindless Coaches
• Service 10, Wishaw Hospital-Lanark - Stuart's Coaches
• Service 191, Lanark-Biggar -McKindless
• Service 254, Hamilton-Strathaven - Whitelaw's Coaches
• Service 211, Hamilton-Airdrie/Coatbridge - Stuart's Coaches
• Service 400, North Lanarkshire Ring n'Ride - First Glasgow
• Service 305, Luss-Alexandria - McColl's Coaches
• Service 306, Helensburgh-Alexandria - McColl's Coaches
• Service 309, Luss/Old Bonhill-Balmaha - McColl's Coaches
• Service 343, Ayr-New Cumnock (Sundays) - Ayrways
• Glasgow South East Dial a Bus - McKindless Coaches
• Renfrew Dial a Bus - Arriva Scotland West
• Kilmarnock Dial a Bus - Direct Passenger Transport
• Irvine Valley Ring n'Ride - Direct Passenger Transport
• Hamilton Dial a Bus - Henderson Travel and McDade's Coaches
• East Kilbride Dial a Bus - MCT, Motherwell
• Cumbernauld Dial a Bus - LA Travel
• Ayr Coast Dial a Bus - Ayrways
• Glasgow North East Dial a Bus - McKindless Coaches
• Clydebank/Scotstoun Dial a Bus - Avondale Coaches and Slaemuir Coaches
• Glasgow South West Dial a Bus - Arriva Scotland West
• East Ayrshire Dial a Bus - Ayrways
• Lanark Ring n'Ride - McKindless Coaches
• Inverclyde Dial a Bus - Slaemuir Coaches
• Greenock-Largs - Slaemuir Coaches
• Morningside Primary School-Bonkle/Crindledyke - McKindless Coaches
• Clyde Valley High School-Greenhead Road - McKindless Coaches
• Larkhall Academy-Ashgill - Whitelaw's Coaches
• Calderhead High School-Harthill - Golden Eagle Coaches and McKindless Coaches
• Allanton Primary School-Hartwood - KC Transport
• High Mill Primary School-Carluke - KC Transport