GLASGOW'S biggest bus operator is to shake up services after massive public demands for improvements.

First will introduce new routes from next month - with more planned for October - as well as a series of extensions to existing services. What transport bosses are planing

GLASGOW NORTH/WEST

(Drumchapel, Knightswood, Maryhill, Hillhead, Partick and Yorkhill) July: More services to Gartnavel Hospital from Drumchapel, Garscadden, Anniesland and Kelvingrove. New service between Glasgow Harbour, SECC and city centre. New express service (217) from July 29 between Duntocher and city centre via the Clydeside Expressway. Extension of Braehead Bullet limited-stop service (747) to Glasgow Airport.

October: Evening extension to No 42 timetable between Drumchapel, Partick, city centre and Royal Infirmary. New service between city centre, Byres Road, Kirklee, North Kelvinside and Wyndford.

Long-term aims: Better Inner Circle service 89/90 with a higher frequency, and low-floor buses. GLASGOW NORTH/EAST

(Possilpark, Springburn, Balornock, Carntyne, Easterhouse, Parkhead and Dennistoun) October: Better local bus service network in north-east to link communities with Stobhill Hospital. Evening extension to No 42 between Barlanark, Greenfield, Carntyne, Royal Infirmary and city centre.

Long-term aims: Better Inner Circle service 89/90 with higher frequency, low-floor buses, and improved route at Sighthill and Royal Infirmary. New direct service linking East End and East Kilbride via Parkhead, Shettleston, Carmyle and Cambuslang. GLASGOW SOUTH/EAST

(Oatlands, Govanhill, King's Park, Castlemilk, Battlefield and Shawlands) July: More frequent and later evening service between the city centre and Castlemilk on No 5, via Victoria Infirmary.

October: More frequent evening service on service 34 between Castlemilk and Govan Cross. New service between Castlemilk and city centre via Castlemilk Drive, Croftfoot roundabout and Toryglen Asda.

Long-term aims: Upgrade of No 7 through Govanhill and King's Park with higher frequency, low-floor buses, and better reliability. Better Inner Circle service 89/90 with higher frequency, low-floor buses and improved route at Battlefield and Shawlands. GLASGOW SOUTH/WEST

(Pollokshields, Pollokshaws, Pollok, Govan and Cardonald) July: Limited stop service (747) linking Partick Interchange and West End, Southern General, Ikea, and Glasgow Airport.

October: New express service during day between Silverburn centre and city centre and new local links to serve mall. More frequent evening service on No 34 between Castlemilk and Govan Cross.

Long-term aims: Better Inner Circle service 89/90 with higher frequency, low-floor buses, improving access to Southern General Hospital and Victoria Infirmary. Upgrade No 59 through Pollokshields with higher frequency, conversion to low-floor buses and extension to serve Cardonald College. SOUTH LANARKSHIRE

(Hamilton, Blantyre, East Kilbride, Cambuslang and Rutherglen) July: Low-floor buses on 201, Airdrie/Monklands Hospital/ Motherwell to Hamilton, East Kilbride and Hairmyres Hospital.

October: New local service in East Kilbride to link the bus station and relocated South Lanarkshire College.

Long-term aims: Better Inner Circle service 89/90 through Rutherglen with higher frequency, low-floor buses, improving access to Southern General, Royal and Victoria infirmaries. New direct links between East Kilbride and Parkhead Forge, Cambuslang, Giffnock and Silverburn centre. Higher capacity on buses between Glasgow, Rutherglen, Cambuslang, and Blantyre. Upgrade of No 7 through Bankhead and Rutherglen with higher frequency, low-floor buses, and improved reliability. NORTH LANARKSHIRE

(Cumbernauld, Monklands, Motherwell, Wishaw and Bellshill) July: Improvements to express service FX4 between Cumbernauld, Abronhill and city centre with low-floor buses on some journeys. New summer motorway express service (X7) between Buchanan bus station and Strathclyde Country Park. Low-floor buses on No 201, Airdrie/Coatbridge/Bellshill/Motherwell to Hamilton and East Kilbride. Better links to Wishaw General Hospital from various parts of Motherwell and Wishaw.

October: Diversion of a Glasgow-Cumbernauld express service to serve new housing developments at Smithstone. EAST DUNBARTONSHIRE

(Bearsden/Milngavie, Bishopbriggs, Kirkintilloch and Lenzie) July: Express (X85) between Campsie Glen, Lennoxtown, Milton of Campsie, Lenzie and city centre (working day). Express service (X87) between Kirkintilloch, Harestanes, Lenzie and city centre (working day). New link from Milton of Campsie to Lenzie railway station.

October: Reinstate link between Bearsden and West End including Byres Road, Kelvingrove and Charing Cross. WEST DUNBARTONSHIRE

(Dumbarton, Vale of Leven and Clydebank) July: New express service (247) from July 29 between Duntocher and city centre via Clydeside Expressway.

October: Half of No 40 journeys to be extended to Queen's Quay to serve the relocated Clydebank College. Half of No 40 journeys to be extended to Coldstream Road turning circle to improve access to Clydebank centre. Improved links between Duntocher and West End for better access to Glasgow University and Kelvingrove.

Long-term aims: Low-floor buses on key services. RENFREWSHIRE/EAST RENFREWSHIRE

(Paisley, Renfrew, Busby, Clarkston, Eaglesham, Newton Mearns, Giffnock and Thornliebank) July: Higher frequency on No 38 between Newton Mearns, Giffnock and Glasgow city centre. New limited stop service (747) linking Partick, Southern General, Ikea, and Glasgow Airport.

October: New links between East Renfrewshire, Renfrewshire, Silverburn centre.

Long-term aims: New service through Giffnock, Clarkston and Busby to East Kilbride and Cambuslang.

The move comes in response to the Evening Times' Get Glasgow Moving campaign, which is demanding an end to bus service cuts and a better deal for passengers on all forms of public transport in the city.

First's move was welcomed, but the head of the agency that oversees all transport in Strathclyde warned the additions could not be at the expense of other routes.

Many of the changes are geared towards giving better access to Glasgow Airport, tourist attractions such as Kelvingrove Museum, hospitals across Greater Glasgow, and the new Silverburn shopping centre at Pollok, which opens in October.

The improvements include: lAn extension of the 747 Partick to Braehead service to include Glasgow Airport (30-35 mins from Partick) and the Southern General, starting July 1.

lA new summer service between the city centre and Strathclyde Country Park, starting July 1.

lNew local links to Silverburn and an express bus from the city centre from October.

lA new service 217 from Duntocher to the city centre going along the Clydeside Expressway and stopping at Glasgow Harbour and the SECC.

lLater evening services on routes, including two that stop at hospitals - the No 5 from the city centre to Castlemilk via Victoria Infirmary (from July 1), and the No 42 from Drumchapel and Barlanark to the Royal Infirmary (from October).

lMore low-floor buses with better disabled access on many routes, especially ones that stop at hospitals.

First, which runs 1000 buses in Glasgow and surrounding areas, has also promised a raft of other timetable changes, which are detailed below.

In addition, bosses promised to listen more to passengers and consider other new routes in response to customers' suggestions.

Mark Savelli, First's managing director in Glasgow, said: "Get Glasgow Moving is a great example of an initiative that raises awareness of the service improvements passengers would like to see.

"By developing our plan for enhanced services we have listened to what our passengers are saying and are working towards providing a comprehensive service to benefit as many people as possible."

First faced a huge public backlash last year after slashing unprofitable services in communities across the city - one of the triggers for our Get Glasgow Moving campaign.

Alistair Watson, head of Strathclyde Partnership for Transport, said: "I hope this is the start of something radical for the provision of bus services in and around Glasgow.

"It is always great to see new services and opportunities for passengers, and that must be welcomed. But it must not be at the expense of existing routes.

"We need to ensure people in poorer areas or ones with fewer bus services are not losing out and have access to new developments, like Silverburn."

Mr Watson said talks were continuing with firms about how to plug gaps left by service cuts last year.

Problem areas include the north-east - parts of which have some of the lowest car ownership rates in the UK - where communities complained about being left stranded, particularly at night.

First said its plans were drawn up based on requests from passengers and following talks with SPT and councils.

Part of the blueprint, called the Route Development Plan, has a list of long-term aims for different parts of the area and First wants opinions from passengers before putting the plans into practice.

The firm is asking for views on its website and sending out a Listening Bus' to tour communities. Its first stop will be Silverburn tomorrow.

Mr Savelli said: "This plan represents a key milestone in our delivering on the promises made in the Growth And Stability Pact recently signed by First, Glasgow City Council and Strathclyde Partnership for Transport.

"Our joint aim is to get people out of their cars and on to public transport and the consultation exercise offers First a great opportunity to ensure any changes we make to our route network are relevant to the needs of the people we serve."

In March, the firm introduced a two-journey £2 ticket, available after 9.30am until midnight after a letter in the Evening Times called for a flat fare.

And in April six Nightrider buses followed the inner and outer circle routes of the Subway after complaints about the Underground not running late at weekends.

The service runs 11.40pm-6.30am on Fridays and Saturdays and 6pm-11.30pm on Sundays. All journeys have a flat fare of £2.