Following the withdrawal of Blue Bus service 77 (Lanark to Livingston), SPT has stepped in to ensure part subsidy of a newly extended Stuart’s Coaches 34A service to operate Lanark to Livingston via Shotts and Harthill. SPT will subsidise the section of the route between Forth and Shotts, in order to maintain transport links to West Lothian for those travelling for work, education, and shopping.

The extended service will commence on 23 December and will run until 28 March 2020. This will give us an opportunity to analyse the patronage, while we continue to look for a more sustainable long-term solution.

Chair of SPT Operations Committee David Wilson said:

“Although not wholly within our area, SPT has recognised the impact the loss of these services could have on residents in Lanarkshire who travel to West Lothian for employment, educational or recreational purposes.

“Despite the previous operator not sharing any patronage data to allow us to determine the exact demands for travel, SPT has decided the best approach is to work with another local operator, Stuart’s Coaches, to partly subsidise an extension to their existing commercial service.  This will give us an opportunity consider the patronage information and look at our options for the service in the future.”