First Bus and SPT lock horns over 'axed' Glasgow bus route

As of February 5, First Bus stopped operating several local bus services that were supported and contracted with SPT.

The bus operator claimed necessary changes were made to the Glasgow network due to a driver shortage and not on commercial grounds.

However, bosses at SPT issued a letter, seen by the Glasgow Times, claiming that the changes were a “breach of contract” and that the move was “both concerning and disappointing”.

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First Bus claimed it had an “open dialogue” with SPT “since late 2022” despite SPT arguing it was only “recently advised” of the changes.

One of the cancelled services is the 189/190 route which connects Partick, Ruchill, Possilpark, Springburn, Parkhead, Rutherglen, Shawlands, and Govan.

It also links with key hospitals including Glasgow Royal Infirmary, Stobhill, New Victoria and the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital (QEUH).

Temporary contracts have been awarded to ARG Travel and Hobsons respectively, and frequency on the evening route has been reduced from an hourly service to every two hours.

Stephen Dornan, SPT chair, has hit out at First Bus for axing the 189/190 service "despite" receiving a government grant, forcing SPT to secure the new contracts at "considerably increased" costs.

He said: “Despite receiving a financial network support grant from the government, First Bus recently advised SPT that it was withdrawing a number of key services across the region.

“This was very disappointing as a number of the services affected were contracted SPT-supported services.

“In order to maintain these services for passengers, SPT had to engage in a number of procurement exercises to find new contractors to operate them.

“While we have managed to procure new operators for most services, a small number saw a reduction in the level of the usual service passengers will be used to."

He added: “The new contracts also came at a considerable increase in costs.

“Unlike bus operators, SPT has received no financial support from Government and any additional costs for supported services has to be found within the limited budget available.

“As stated previously, SPT does not have endless resources to replace services.

“If operators continue to prioritise commercial services over socially necessary supported routes, there is a real risk that it will further isolate already vulnerable communities.”

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Graeme Macfarlan, commercial director for First Bus Scotland, claimed the allegations made by SPT were “unfounded and untrue” and that the company "puts communities at the heart of decision-making".

He said: “Any suggestion that First Bus prioritised commercial services over socially necessary supported routes is completely unfounded and untrue.

“The changes made to our Glasgow bus network from February 5 due to driver shortages were spread across both our commercial services and SPT subsidised services to ensure the impact on any single service was minimised and the adjustment to our commercial network didn’t leave any community without a service.

“First Bus continues to put communities at the heart of its decision-making ensuring connectivity for people across Glasgow remains our priority.”

In response to the letter issued by SPT, Labour MSP Pam Duncan-Glancy claimed that First Bus ‘should have done more to notify SPT sooner’ and praised SPT for finding new contractors “at particularly short notice”.

She said: “People rely on Glasgow’s bus network, and it plays a crucial part in reducing the city’s carbon emissions – the decision by First Bus to default on so many services is really disappointing and a worry for people in Glasgow who rely on the service to get around.”

She added: “Bus companies should prioritise working with the public when making decisions about services to ensure that they don't leave communities cut off from the places and services they need to access.”

Graeme said: “None of these decisions were taken lightly and we explored all possible opportunities and solutions to maintain the network we had in place.

“We are hopeful the changes we have made are temporary and as driver numbers increase, we will be able to increase services across the city in the future.”