First Bus invests to continue modified Service 65 for local communities
First Bus has confirmed it is investing to continue operating Service 65 between Glasgow City Centre and Halfway on a modified timetable.
Following extensive engagement with the local community, local authorities and political representatives in recent weeks to understand their concerns, First Bus has committed to run Service 65 at a reduced hourly frequency from Monday 14th July.
The first trip towards the city centre will leave Rutherglen Town Hall at 6:42am, arriving at Osborne Street at 7:02am, and from Halfway at 7:07am, arriving at Osborne Street at 8:02am.
The operator announced the difficult decision to withdraw the service last month following a period of over 12 months where the route has consistently had insufficient passenger demand, meaning it was no longer sustainable.
First Bus has continued to collaborate with local representatives and South Lanarkshire Council in recent weeks and sought to address any local concerns regarding proposed changes to the service, particularly around the access to education and employment.
All stakeholders First Bus have met with have supported the service review and mitigation of any potential gaps by ensuring there is sufficient capacity on alternative routes.
The issue of delays and congestion remains one of the biggest challenges to running efficient bus services in Glasgow. Slower journeys increase the resource required to operate timetables.
First Bus is committed to improving bus services across Greater Glasgow and, as part of that commitment, it has invested over £3m since April in additional bus, driver and timetable resources across the city to increase the reliability of its services.
If buses were removed from congestion through bus priority measures, this level of investment could be used elsewhere on expanding the bus network in the city or into better fares.
Duncan Cameron, Managing Director of First Bus Scotland, said: “We understand Service 65 is a lifeline for many and we have worked hard to find a solution that ensures a modified version of the service can continue.
“While insufficient passenger demand has meant the service is no longer sustainable, our commitment to connectivity for local communities in Glasgow means we will invest to ensure the continue operation of the service.
“We have listened to the concerns raised and have engaged extensively with local stakeholders on the future of Service 65 over recent weeks.
“We recognise the passion towards the importance of bus travel in the city. We hope this is reflected in discussions and debates in government forums on the need to speed bus journeys up through more effective bus priority.”
ENDS
Notes to editors
Notes to editors
About First Bus
At First Bus, we’re on a mission to grow bus usage – so we’ll get behind initiatives that move people out of cars and onto the bus.
We’re one of the UK’s largest bus operators, transporting more than 1.5 million passengers a day. Our local bus services serve more than 25% of the population of Great Britain and over half of the UK’s top 15 most populated urban areas.
We are a leading operator in the majority of our local areas, including major urban centres such as Glasgow, Bristol and Leeds.
We have proudly launched our First Bus London operation and now operate 83 routes in west and central London from 10 garages serving 180 million passengers annually.
The combined operation now manages a fleet of over 5,750 buses across the UK.
Transforming our business for the better, we’re putting our people and customers at the heart of everything we do. That’s why we’re the UK’s largest national bus operator to achieve real Living Wage employer status, cementing our position as an employer of choice in the sector.
First Bus is committed to operating a zero-emission bus fleet by 2035. We will have over 1000 zero-emission buses in operation across our UK fleet by the end of 2025.
We’re passionate about giving back to the communities we serve, which is why we’re helping local businesses to progress their decarbonisation journeys – giving them access to our charging hubs while our buses are on the road.
We also operate, Specialist Passenger Solutions, First Travel Solutions, York Pullman Bus Company, Lakeside, Ensignbus, Anderson Travel - and the Aircoach network and Matthews in Ireland.
First Bus is a division of FirstGroup.
Find more information here: https://news.firstbus.co.uk/