X1 bus petition gathers over 3000 signatures

A petition has been launched to stop First Bus scrapping the X1 service from Hamilton to Glasgow.

Over 3000 people have signed in the hope that the company will change their minds about getting rid of the popular route next month.

First Bus announced that they planned to axe the route due to passenger numbers declining, but will be putting on a similar alternative.

Residents and politicians have hit out at the decision and are calling for the firm to reconsider the move.

Graeme Macfarlan, commercial director for First Glasgow, said: “At First Glasgow, we conduct a review of our network on a regular basis to ensure that our coverage remains in line with demand for our services in a given area.

“As a responsible operator, we also need to be mindful of the effects that operating services that carry very few, if any passengers at all, can have on the environment.

“The Service X1 is a route that has been in decline for a number of years in terms of passenger numbers, despite a number of efforts to make the route attractive to service users.

“This is due to a number of factors such as increased congestion on the M74 which slows down journey times quite dramatically, increasing competition from the subsidised local rail network in Hamilton connecting to Glasgow, and these have led to an overall decline in bus patronage.

“The hope with the service was that we may in time see a boost to passenger numbers. Unfortunately, this has not transpired and in fact passenger levels have now fallen to a level that makes the route unsustainable on a commercial basis.

“Therefore, in our latest network changes, having exhausted all efforts to boost the service, we have now taken the difficult decision to cease the service from operation.

“However, we have introduced the new 225 service which will cover part of the route between Little Earnock and Hamilton Palace Retail Park. Customers can also still continue to catch connections to Glasgow via our 267 and 255 services that service the same area.

“We have arranged to meet with Monica Lennon MSP and a number of other stakeholders, who have been in touch regarding the X1, over the next few days to explain the reasons behind this business decision.”

You can sign the petition at: www.change.org/p/first-busstop-first-bus-from-scrappingthe-x1-bus-to-glasgow