First Glasgow increases bus services as lockdown eases

First Glasgow is ramping up services to reflect an uplift in people travelling as the Scottish Government continues to ease the lockdown.

The move follows further funding being made available to bus operators to support the increase of services across Scotland by Transport Scotland.

This new funding follows on from the current scheme that is due to end in June and will provide an additional £47m to support an increase in bus service levels as the current two-metre physical distancing measures limiting the capacity on-board remains in place for the foreseeable future.

The new timetables see increases in frequency on many First Glasgow services to provide more buses and therefore more journeys along the routes.

Weekend services will also see some increases to try and match the demand for services by customers.

Andrew Jarvis, managing director at First Glasgow, said: “We welcome the additional funding from Transport Scotland, which will enable us to increase services and support the continued wellbeing of our customers and drivers through ensuring safe travel on our buses.

“This is critical as more employees start returning to work following the government’s announcement that some non-essential shops can reopen.

“All our vehicles are now fitted with measures to ensure that customers who need to travel can adhere to the Government physical distancing guidelines.

“This includes signage to advise customers on where to sit to keep a safe distance and new technology to help drivers monitor the number of people on board at any one time.

“We are working very closely with the Transport Scotland, SPT and other stakeholders to ensure that we continue to provide an appropriate level of service and information for those who use the bus.

“We expect there will still be occasions when customers may not be able to board their intended journey due to capacity levels being reached.

“We are therefore advising people to check their journey details in advance on our app, avoid busier periods which are currently the afternoon and allow extra time for their journey as they may need to wait if their bus is full when it arrives.

“The wellbeing of customers and our team is my number one priority, and I would like to thank customers for their ongoing patience and co-operation in these difficult times.

“I would also like to pay tribute to all my colleagues at First Glasgow who have been superb throughout the last three months and have helped keep the key workers of the region moving.

“As the lockdown continues to ease, we all have a crucial role to play in getting the wider population moving again safely.”

All passengers travelling on public transport in Scotland, including bus services, must wear a face covering unless they are exempt through being very young or have specific medical reasons.

Details of the service improvements are available on the First Glasgow website