SPT’s operations committee has awarded 39 local bus service contracts worth a total contract value of more than £15 million.

The contracts awarded cover Argyll and Bute, East Ayrshire, East Dunbartonshire, Glasgow City, Inverclyde, North Ayrshire, North Lanarkshire, Renfrewshire, South Ayrshire, South Lanarkshire, and West Dunbartonshire council areas.

SPT currently subsidises 152 local bus services, helping to connect communities not served by the commercial market.  Sixty-two of the current bus contracts will expire during 2019.

Of these 62 contracts, 39 have now been approved by the operations committee at a cost of £15,613,498. The remaining 23 contracts will be retendered as the renewal prices were considered excessive representing additional costs of £842,000.

The length of contracts awarded varies from one and half to seven years in length.

Chair of SPT Operations Committee David Wilson said:

“This is a substantial investment for SPT to ensure that communities remain connected to a wealth of services for work and leisure across the West of Scotland.  These services are often a lifeline for many at weekends and evenings.

“However, as this is the public purse, we must always ensure that we are providing the best value for money when seeking contracts.  SPT carries out a full needs analysis for each specific journey it subsidises so it can demonstrate value for money for all contracts awarded.”

For a full list of the contracts awarded, see committee paper here.