27 June 2008
Boost for bus link between Greenock and Clydebank
SPT approves £230,000 to improve bus route network
Today (27 June) members of the Operations Committee approved funding of £230,000 over three years to improve an existing bus service between Greenock and Clydebank.
The service X22 operated by Scottish Travel currently runs on Wednesdays and Saturdays only, every 90 minutes. Its route is via M8 and Erskine Bridge.
The proposal approved today will result in the revised service operating daily with improved frequency and on an expanded route. The route will now take in the towns of Bishopton and Erskine. After crossing the Clyde, the service will call at the Golden Jubilee Hospital and Clydebank College.
The grant for the improved bus service is in line with the Bus Route Development Grant (BRDG) created by the Scottish Government. Last November the Scottish Government devolved public transport funding to councils.
SPT, in partnership with member councils, has utilised the BRDG scheme principles to make grant funding awards to develop the bus network across the Strathclyde area.
The new X22 will provide direct public transport services across the River Clyde and improves access to healthcare.
It’s a funding condition that operator, Scottish Travel, runs this service for four years. Certain legalities need to be completed, including registering the service with Scotland’s Traffic Commissioner, before the improved X22 begins to run.
It is anticipated the service will be operational by the autumn.
Eric Stewart, SPT’s Director of Bus Operations said: "This proposal ticks the boxes in a number of important policy areas. It improves access to health care, expands bus service provision for rural areas and caters for future areas of development on both sides of the Clyde.
"By providing this grant, SPT has the power to stipulate that the vehicle to be used on the route must be a new type easy to use, low floor model, equipped with CCTV. This is good news for passengers, especially those with mobility problems.
"I hope the people living in Inverclyde, Renfrewshire and West Dunbartonshire council areas will make good use of the new look X22 service."
ends