BUSES in Glasgow will be operating on a reduced timetable amid a rise in staff absences due to Covid-19.

First Bus has announced services in the city will continue to run at the current festive service level on January 5, 6 and 7 after it was due to end tomorrow. 

The company has said it will try to add additional early morning journeys where possible, and they expect this to happen from January 10.  

The situation will be reviewed on an ongoing basis, with services being reintroduced when staffing levels allow. 

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Duncan Cameron, interim managing director for First Bus in Scotland, said: "Along with many other organisations up and down the country, we are experiencing a higher than normal level of staff sickness and absence due to the current wave of Omnicron cases. 

"The safety of our staff and customers will always be our number one priority.

"As a result, we have had to introduce a temporary reduced timetable across our Glasgow network.

"This means that our current festive service level, due to end on January 4, will now continue on January 5, 6 and 7, but we will look to supplement this with additional early morning journeys as and when resource allows, which we anticipate starting from January 10.

"We are doing everything we can to minimise disruption to services and inconvenience to our customers and our teams are working extra hard to ensure as many buses run as is possible.  

"We’ll be reviewing the situation on an ongoing basis and when absence levels improve, we’ll be working hard to reinstate more services as a matter of urgency

"We are continuing to do everything we can to support and look after our colleagues whilst in the workplace with hand sanitiser, face coverings and enhanced cleaning taking place to minimise the risk of transmission of the virus.

"Our local teams continue to ensure our vehicles are cleaned regularly to a high standard.

"I would like to apologise in advance to all customers who are affected by these timetable changes.

"For the latest information, we will continue to provide regular updates on services in Glasgow through our local websites and our social media platforms."

To visit the First Glasgow website click HERE.