Residents Concerned as Circular Routes Hit Hard in McGill’s Revised Timetable
Residents of Renfrewshire are set to be impacted by the latest round of bus service cuts announced by private bus company, McGill’s Buses. The company has revealed that seven services will be withdrawn and more than a dozen reduced as part of its revised timetable to come into effect from May 1.
According to McGill’s, the pandemic has resulted in changes to how, when, and why people travel, and more recently, inflationary pressures such as fuel, energy, materials, and wage costs have led to a 25% increase in operating costs. As a result, some provisions have become unaffordable.
Although McGill’s says that the Scottish Government’s covid recovery cash for public transport has allowed more bus services to run than would otherwise be affordable, Neil Bibby, MSP for West Scotland, has described the cuts as “very concerning.”
Circular routes serving town centers and local residential areas have been particularly hit, with the number 31 Cochrane Castle to Houston Square being withdrawn alongside the Barrhead circular bus, number 52, and Neilston Circular, number 54. However, McGill’s says that these areas will still have bus cover with the variation of other bus routes, including the number 20 in Johnstone and 66 in Neilston.
The 64 Linwood to Gallowhill service is being axed, and a new 7A service introduced, as well as an extension to the 61 bus route. In Paisley, the number 17 bus will no longer operate on Sundays and will have a reduced timetable Monday to Saturday. The bus, which runs from Foxbar past the Royal Alexandra Hospital, through Paisley town center to the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, will specifically see cuts before 8 am and after 5 pm on weekdays. The number 38 will also cease journeys between Johnstone and Kilbarchan and Spateston.
A host of other bus routes will also see the frequency of buses reduced alongside the hours of operation, including bus numbers 6, 7, 10, 17, 20, 21, 30, 32, 38, and 51. Despite the upcoming cuts, McGill’s has emphasized that they will continue to provide bus services to the affected areas.
Residents are understandably concerned about the impact of these changes, particularly in relation to circular routes that serve their local areas. McGill’s CEO, Ralph Roberts, acknowledged that the pandemic has resulted in changes to how people travel, but also highlighted that the company is facing significant inflationary pressures.
It remains to be seen how these cuts will impact the wider community in Renfrewshire, but with the reduced services set to take effect from May 1, residents will be paying close attention to the impact on their daily lives.
