First Bus marks history with new services for future Lanarkshire travel

First Bus is introducing a raft of new routes in a major improvement to its Lanarkshire network 100 years since bus services first began operating in the area.

Beginning Sunday 29 March, the refreshed network will deliver new, frequent services, some operating every 15 minutes, along with new early morning and later evening trips. Sunday services will also run for the first time on several routes. Existing services will receive timetable adjustments to improve reliability and punctuality and expand the hours of operation.

Graeme Macfarlan, Commercial Director of First Bus in Scotland, said: “These new services will provide better connectivity, greater convenience and more options for customers travelling around Lanarkshire.

“We have looked carefully at the overall network to see where we can best satisfy travel needs for shift workers, health appointments and leisure to support the Lanarkshire economy.”

First Bus can trace its beginnings to the Glasgow General Omnibus Company that started operating buses in 1926.

“History was made here 100 years ago and today we’re building on that legacy with new bus services taking Lanarkshire into the future,” added Graeme Macfarlan.

To mark the centenary of bus services, First Bus was joined by the Glasgow Vintage Vehicle Trust and its prized 1954 Central SMT L484 Leyland Titan bus at the Ravenscraig Regional Sports Facility in Motherwell.

Network Planning Manager, Max Cains was accompanied by Linda McNeish, a member of the First Bus training team who began working in Lanarkshire’s bus industry in the 1970s, and driver Margaret Lynch.

Graeme Macfarlan said: "We are determined to expand our Lanarkshire network further in the future as we continue to improve our services and look forward to the next 100 years of connecting Lanarkshire."

Head of Bus Service and Delivery at Strathclyde Passenger Transport, Julie Wilson said: “SPT welcomes any additional services to the region which help better connect communities and encourage more people to use public transport.”

Among the highlights of the new services are:

Service 211 – new service to replace the 202 and 229 offering new cross-Lanarkshire connections between Thrashbush, Airdrie, Maxim Park, Holytown, Motherwell, North Lodge & Hamilton, Eddlewood with hourly trips Monday to Saturday ensuring no gaps during the day.

Service 209 - new service every 30 minutes, Monday to Saturday, between Motherwell, New Stevenston, Mossend, Bellshill and Clay Crescent.

Service 225 - new service every hour, Monday to Saturday, between Hamilton Bus Station, Hamilton Retail Park, Whitehill and UWS/Hamilton Technology Park.

Service 243 - new service every 15 minutes, Monday to Friday, 20 minutes on Saturday and 60 minutes in the evening and on Sunday. Operating between Lanark, Braidwood, Carluke, Waterloo, Wishaw, Wishaw General, Craigneuk, Motherwell and North Motherwell.

Service 291/293 - new circular services to replace the 241 and 254, operating approximately every 15 mins Monday to Saturday and hourly on Sunday. Service 291 will operate clockwise and Service 293 anticlockwise.

Full details of the news services can be found on the First Bus website https://www.firstbus.co.uk/greater-glasgow/plan-journey/lanarkshire-network-changes

Picture captions:

First Bus Lanarkshire 1,5,6: All smiles as (from left) Max Cairns, Martin Walker from the GVVT, Linda McNeish and Margaret Lynch celebrate new routes on the centenary of bus services in Lanarkshire.

First Bus Lanarkshire 2: Now and then: Linda McNeish (centre) chats about Lanarkshire services past and present with Max Cairns and Margaret Lynch flanked by Martin Walker (left) and Ken McCalden from the GVVT.

First Bus Lanarkshire 3,4: Now and then: Max Cairns (second left) with Linda McNeish and Margaret Lynch welcome new services in Lanarkshire flanked by Martin Walker (left) and Ken McCalden from the GVVT.

Ends

Central SMT - L484 - Leyland Titan new in October 1954

L484 is the only surviving Central SMT Leyland Titan double decker from a fleet of 631. Built in 1954, it served until 1969 and later worked as a crew bus before being preserved in 2005. A £50,000 Lottery grant enabled a full restoration including a replacement engine, recreated seat fabric and newly manufactured hopper windows.