Public anger reshapes First Bus plan for city

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Public anger reshapes First Bus plan for city

GLASGOW'S biggest bus firm has done a U-turn on a shake up of routes after passengers opposed a list of changes.

Ronnie Park said the company had made the changes after listening to its customers
Ronnie Park said the company had made the changes after listening to its customers

First bus has agreed to change more than a dozen of its original plans to cut frequency or axe routes altogether.

Most of the alterations will still take place as proposed by the company, which said it was responding to customer feedback on the SimpliCITY proposals.

Last month the Evening Times revealed First's plans to reduce the number of services but increase frequency on many of those that remained.

Readers gave their opinions, with hundreds of responses received by the company, who after consideration has agreed to scrap some proposals.

The changes include:

l Service 11 – Clydebank to Anniesland section will be retained for a six month trial on current 30 minute frequency.

l Service 19 – Following concern about the loss of service on the lower section of Crow Road, the current route will be retained. As will evening services from Summerston to the city centre.

l Service 21 –The 15 minute frequency during the morning and evening peak hours will be retained and the evening service to Gardenhall will not be scrapped.

l Service 36 – Early morning buses will be retained for workers travelling to Westfield Industrial Estate in Cumbernauld.

l Service 4/4a – The 30 minute frequency will be kept in the morning and evening peak hours. The number of buses to Jordanhill and Knightswood will increase from three to four buses per hour.

l In Cumbernauld, plans to withdraw Service X80 will go ahead but plans to withdraw a number of Sunday and evening services will be amended.

First said the revised plans should be in place by May 12.

Ronnie Park, managing director said: "We are delighted with the public response.

"I'd like to thank all those that took part in our consultation.

"We wanted to be open and transparent about our plans and ultimately put in place a network that meets the needs of the overwhelming majority of our customers.

"We've listened to our customers and carefully considered every piece of feedback we've received during the consultation.

"I'm confident that following the launch of SimpliCITY, Glasgow will enjoy one of the best bus networks in the UK."

stewart.paterson@ eveningtimes.co.uk

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