NO new Fastlink buses will run in Glasgow before or during the Commonwealth Games, it has been admitted.
Instead transport bosses said a collection of chartered mini-buses, coaches and double deckers will ferry officials and athletes to venues and possibly spectators, but it won't be a public service.
After the Games, on a date still to be confirmed, the Fastlink service will begin when current bus operators will start running their own services on the route.
Last week the Evening Times revealed how the service would not be ready in time for the Commonwealth Games, in 2014 despite pledges it was being funded as part of the transport measures.
Now Transport Scotland said the route, which is being built by Glasgow City Council, will be used in some capacity but plans are still to be finalised.
SPT said that after the Games it will close then open fully the next year.
A spokesman said: "SPT and its partners are in the process of providing the infrastructure for Fastlink which will first be used as a component of the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games transport strategy.
"This strategy will be determined by the Commonwealth Games organising committee and Glasgow City Council.
"Once the Commonwealth Games have concluded, the infrastructure will be temporarily out of use as the route is enhanced and extended to the New South Glasgow Hospitals Campus in time for its opening in 2015."
THE £40million project will see segregated roadways and priority signalling for Fastlink services.
These will travel from the city centre to the SECC and then over the Clyde Arc bridge on to the new Southern General Hospital site on the south of the River Clyde.
It will not include the purchase of any new buses. Instead private firms will take over the running of the service.
The city council said the Fastlink experience must be different from current bus services and want it to be obvious that passengers are travelling via Fastlink and that it is a superior bus service.
Officials want to see Fastlink established as a distinguishable service in its own right, which will become the standard for bus travel in Glasgow.
While there will be no new buses purchased, transport bosses said those permitted on the route will be of an enhanced standard.
A spokesman for Transport Scotland said: "The Fastlink routes will use enhanced buses with exterior and interior standards equivalent to a tram.
"Transport Scotland understands that SPT intend to work with Glasgow City Council and bus operators to develop a Statutory Quality Partnership for Fastlink.
"Part of the formal consultation process with bus operators and their representative body, the Confederation of Passenger Transport (CPT), will be to determine the standards for vehicle quality. These will primarily deal with accessibility, ticketing, passenger information, comfort, emissions and branding.
"The type of transport that will run on the Fastlink infrastructure during the Commonwealth Games is still under consideration.
"It is expected that the Fastlink route will be used either as part of the Games Route Network to shuttle athletes and officials to the SECC or as a route for Spectator Shuttles from the city centre."
HE added: "The final use will emerge as the Organising Committee's overall transport proposals are more fully developed.
"The Organising Committee are currently developing proposals on the type of buses required for the athlete bus fleet. This will most likely be a mix of mini-buses, coaches and double deck buses."
A Glasgow 2014 spokesperson said: "We are developing a strategic transport plan to keep athletes, spectators and workforce moving during the Games.
"This includes a core Games Route Network on existing roads to transport athletes between the athletes' village and venues in buses, coaches and mini-buses."