Road rage as bus firm boss accuses rivals of wanting to oust them
A war of words has erupted in Renfrewshire involving two bus firms amid claims that one is trying to oust the other from a route they saved just last month.
Shuttle Buses took on the Johnstone Castle and Spateston services on March 18 after Key Coaches abandoned them, citing a lack of drivers.
And now, one month later, McGill’s Buses has announced it will be running a service along the old Key Coaches service one and service five routes, too.
Their expanded 30, 31 and 32 timetables will serve the areas from Monday, April 22.
Shuttle Buses, based in Kilwinning, North Ayrshire, says the bigger firm is trying to force them off the routes and accused McGill’s of standing idle when the services were initially at risk of being lost after Key Coaches pulled out.
The company took over the routes within days of Key Coaches ceasing to run services and similarly intervened in November 2023 when Key Coaches abruptly cancelled their Johnstone to Lochwinnoch service.
Ross Granger, managing director of Shuttle Buses, said: “Our passengers are rightly up in arms that McGill’s seem to be using their muscle to try and get rid of us.
“McGill’s weren’t interested when Key Coaches left Lochwinnoch without a daytime service, and then they stood back and did nothing when
“Key stopped running to Spateston and Johnstone Castle.
“But now that we’ve introduced our own successful services in Johnstone they appear to want us out of the way, which would leave them with a complete monopoly in the town.”
He added “This is going to be a real David vs Goliath battle. But we’re getting an amazing level of support and I’m confident that our passengers will stick with us and keep us on the road.”
McGill’s, for its part, say that customers had been asking them to offer services on the routes.
Ralph Roberts, CEO of McGill’s Group, said: “There is no David v Goliath battle here.
“We received numerous requests from passengers who were already using our services asking us to operate these services, thereby reducing the need for multiple tickets and reducing the cost to the customer. There is now a choice for bus users.
“The clear and present danger to both businesses is not competition but the decision of Renfrewshire Councillors to pursue franchising which could ultimately lead to both businesses being seized by local authorities.
“We wish Shuttle Buses well in their endeavours.”
This is a real David v Goliath battle... but we have amazing support