The news this week (10 July) that First Bus are due to withdraw their night bus service in Glasgow at the end of this month has been met by dismay by NTIA Scotland.
First Bus have said that they are dropping the service, which was re-introduced after the covid restrictions ended, as a result of low demand. The changes will impact 11 routes that operate across the city in the early hours of Saturday and Sunday mornings and covered travel from the city centre across Glasgow and the surrounding areas including Clydebank, Paisley, Newton Mearns, East Kilbride, Hamilton, Motherwell and Wishaw.
NTIA Scotland said, “This is devastating news for the Night Time Economy in Glasgow, and for people living in surrounding areas. We are already challenged with limited transport infrastructure after 11pm across the city. The removal of the night bus service across Glasgow is short sighted and dangerous, showing no consideration for the safety of thousands of night workers and customers coming home in the early hours of the morning.”
“In many cities across the world the local authority drives initiatives to subsidise late night transport services, and to support an industry which at present is suffering heavily under the current trading environment. We would ask First Bus and Glasgow City Council to urgently review this position.”
Graeme Macfarlan, Commercial Director at First Bus Scotland, said: “We were delighted to be able to reintroduce our night bus network last June in an attempt to support the city’s night-time economy.
“Despite a wide variety of efforts by First Glasgow and partner organisations to increase the number of people using the night buses, it has not reached the level required to sustain these services beyond July. To do so, we would require the number of people using them each weekend to treble overnight, which is not realistic.”
However since that news broke McGill’s, the bus group owned by Scottish billionaire brothers Sandy and James Easdale, have said they will look into offering a night service instead, saying it was exploring whether the scheme would be financially viable.
CEO Ralph Roberts said: “We are only at an initial stage of looking at what may be achievable.
“The First Glasgow services that are being terminated are extensive and we cannot say at this stage that a like-for-like replacement will be feasible.
“That said, we know there is a level of demand for night-time bus services and if Glasgow is to thrive as a city, it needs companies such as McGill’s together with city leaders to see what we can achieve.”
Picture: First Bus