SPT News
SPT approves £138,000 to improve bus route network.
New bus link between Hamilton and East Kilbride
March 2, 2010 14:20 UKNewsMembers of the Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT) board have approved funding of £138,000 over three years to improve existing bus services between Hamilton and East Kilbride.
The new X4 service will provide an hourly service between Hamilton town centre, Hamilton International Technology Park, Kingsgate Retail Park, Stewartfield and East Kilbride town centre.
It will be operated by Irvine's Coaches and is aimed at improving public transport connections between areas of employment, retail and residential areas in South Lanarkshire.
For the first time, the new sports complex in Stewartfield Way, East Kilbride will be served by public transport.
The funding comes from SPT's Network Enhancement Grant Scheme - a development of the Scottish Government's Bus Route Development Grant - which is operated in west central Scotland on behalf of SPT member councils. These grants are used to develop bus routes across the Strathclyde area.
The proposal, approved on 26 February, will result in a new service operating from 8am to 5.30pm Monday to Friday and between 9.15am and 5.30pm on Saturday.
It is a condition of the grant that operator, Irvine's Coaches, runs this service for four years. The service now has to be legally registered with Scotland's Traffic Commissioner. It is expected to start running at the end of April.
Eric Stewart, SPT's Director of Bus Operations said: "This proposal ticks the boxes in a number of important policy areas. It improves access to employment, expands bus service provision in South Lanarkshire and provides more choice for passengers.
"It is an excellent example of SPT working in partnership with the bus industry to provide new transport opportunities."
