13 June 2008
SPT invests in vital bus services
We're continuing to play our part in making public transport more accessible with the renewal of two Demand Responsive Transport (DRT) services in the north west Glasgow and Dumbarton areas.
SPT's members have agreed expenditure of £1,904,292 to continue the provision of two Dial-a-Bus services for a further five years.
We provide the Dial-a-Bus services for people who have difficulty using public transport as a result of disability or age.
Service M10 Dumbarton has been awarded to Arriva Scotland West at a cost of £861,221, with service M18 Glasgow North West awarded to Glasgow City Bus at a cost of £1,043,071.
Tenders for two services affecting Argyll and Bute, East Dunbartonshire, Glasgow City and the West Dunbartonshire Council areas were invited earlier this year.
The tender prices received were not acceptable for a number of reasons, mainly due to large price increases.
The contracts were re-tendered with revised contract specifications, to include a new vehicle leasing arrangement plus a local bus service element.
SPT’s Director of Bus Operations, Eric Stewart, said: "Our demand responsive services are vital to so many people and are an essential part of public transport provision in west central Scotland.
"These services make sure that people who have difficulty accessing public transport – for whatever reason – are not left stranded."
State-of-the-art
In an innovative move to deliver value for the public purse, the new contracts involve the operator using SPT supplied vehicles.
The operator leases a new state-of-the-art vehicle from SPT and provides the drivers to run the service.
Mr Stewart added:”This new arrangement is a win-win situation for everyone - the bus operators, passengers and the public purse.
"We’ve got to work within limited budgets and for us the sums add up.
"By supplying the vehicle, SPT can make savings in the contract price and the capital cost of purchase will be recovered within the five-year lifetime of these contracts.
"The operators have new fuel efficient vehicles to run without taking on new capital investment and passengers get to travel on modern, comfortable buses."