25 November 2005

SPT saves three Glasgow bus services

Strathclyde Passenger Transport has stepped in to replace three axed bus services in Glasgow.

Following recent service withdrawals by FirstBus, the SPT Executive recently agreed to subsidise three services which would otherwise have been discontinued.

SPT Chair, Councillor Alistair Watson was delighted to welcome a new Service 124 to his North Cardonald constituency which has partially replaced a withdrawn FirstBus service and will also provide new links to the Cardonald area by serving North Cardonald, Cardonald, Mosspark and Govan ASDA. This service - on a low-floor bus accessible to wheelchair users – will be operated by Arriva from Monday to Saturday from approximately 9.30am to 2.30pm (3.30pm on school days).

A new Service 29, operated by First Glasgow, will serve the route between Mansewood, Hillpark and Glasgow City Centre every hour on Monday to Saturday evenings as well as all day on a Sunday.

And between Castlemilk, Rutherglen, Parkhead and Greenfield, a First Glasgow Service 46 will operate on an hourly basis every evening.

Welcoming the new services, Cllr Watson said, "SPT tries wherever possible to subsidise vital bus services which have been withdrawn to ensure as little upheaval as possible for passengers. These three new services, which are all now in operation, should hopefully ease any fears that local people in these areas may have had about losing bus services which they have come to rely on."

SPT is also set to introduce an extended Ring'n'Ride service in Gryffe Valley on 20 November which will allow passengers to travel from Bishopton or Erskine to the Ferry Road area, including Erskine Hospital.

Cllr Watson added, "Ring'n'Ride is an important service for people who live in areas which are not covered by normal bus services so this extended service will provide greater access to the scheme for more passengers."

Timetables for the new services are available by calling Traveline on 0870 608 2608, and for further information on Ring'n'Ride call 0845 123 5048 or 0845 128 4025.

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