SPT Tendered Routes

[Stan Drews]

Perhaps not through to East Kilbride, but at the very least those last two arrivals at Uplawmoor could return to Neilston, or Barrhead, thus providing connections into train and other bus services. One would think that as SPT subsidise the service they would consider such things!

SPT’s main consideration is cost. Virtually all these contract renewals incorporate reductions to the timetables and/or routes.
This was an optional timetable offered by the tenderer, almost certainly at a more attractive price than any other submission. Their depot is in the opposite direction to Neilston/Barrhead, so any ‘extras’ would likely have been too difficult to justify on cost grounds for the occasional passenger.
The last bus from Uplawmoor to EK was 1523, with an 1828 to Neilston Station, for which they will have passenger data - well if anyone has ever actually used it!

 

[Falcon1200]

The last bus from Uplawmoor to EK was 1523, with an 1828 to Neilston Station, for which they will have passenger data - well if anyone has ever actually used it!

That's the problem I mentioned earlier; Because the bus service (and public transport in general) at Uplawmoor is so poor, everyone needs a car; Because everyone has a car public transport is poor!

 

[Stan Drews]

That's the problem I mentioned earlier; Because the bus service (and public transport in general) at Uplawmoor is so poor, everyone needs a car; Because everyone has a car public transport is poor!

The 395 service used to run hourly to/from Uplawmoor, but generated minimal usage. The last contract (3years ago) turned alternate buses at Neilston in an attempt to address the poor punctuality whilst retaining the 3 PVR. The new contract has reduced to a PVR of 2 but with other sections of the route removed, the 3 hour round trip has been reintroduced and Uplawmoor sees more daytime trips again.
It’s the classic use it or lose it dilemma, coupled to how much financial support the local authority/SPT are willing to provide.

 

[Falcon1200]

The 395 service used to run hourly to/from Uplawmoor, but generated minimal usage.

.

It’s the classic use it or lose it dilemma, coupled to how much financial support the local authority/SPT are willing to provide.

Which are valid points; On the few occasions I have used the 395 it has not exactly been overwhelmed with passengers!

 

[GordonT]

Not sure it is an odd timetable. Frequency is every 90 minutes and requires 2 buses. If there was a 1710 ex Uplawmoor presumably there would need to be an 1840 ex East Kilbride. Is there likely to be any need for such journeys? My instinct would be virtually zero.

There must be many tendered operations where reimbursing taxi fares of users would theoretically be cheaper than buying in a bus and driver. Not sure how you would limit the taxi use solely to the usage which the bus would have attracted, though.

 

[sannox]

Which are valid points; On the few occasions I have used the 395 it has not exactly been overwhelmed with passengers!

395 always seemed do to OK within EK and up to Eaglesham.

 

[Falcon1200]

395 always seemed do to OK within EK and up to Eaglesham.

Fair enough, my use of the 395 has never gone further east than Sainsburys at Darnley!

 

[smtglasgow]

395 always seemed do to OK within EK and up to Eaglesham.

Yes, I’ve seen it leaving EK bus station with very decent loads – but probably almost all heading to destinations within the town. Seems crazy that the 395 is the only bus to Lindsayfield. The area has only grown since First gave up on it – can’t help but think a more forward-thinking company would have been running in there commercially.

The 395 is a strange beast. It must have replaced something else (EK-Eaglesham?) but it also created a lot of genuinely new links which are nice to have but possibly not need to have. A bit of a throwback to the days when budgets were larger…

 

[KrisEK]

Yes, I’ve seen it leaving EK bus station with very decent loads – but probably almost all heading to destinations within the town. Seems crazy that the 395 is the only bus to Lindsayfield. The area has only grown since First gave up on it – can’t help but think a more forward-thinking company would have been running in there commercially.

The 395 is a strange beast. It must have replaced something else (EK-Eaglesham?) but it also created a lot of genuinely new links which are nice to have but possibly not need to have. A bit of a throwback to the days when budgets were larger…

In the late 90s, I think as far back as the route goes or at least the earliest evidence I can find of it, the (even then SPT-supported) Henderson Travel 395 ran Uplawmoor to Eastwood Toll, with an alternate 396 Uplawmoor to Newton Mearns.

I'm not sure at what point it got extended to East Kilbride, but I don't recall what filled the gap between East Kilbride and Eaglesham after the old Central 205/206 were removed. Certainly by the time First bought out Strathclyde's Buses and Kelvin Central they weren't running any direct EK-Eaglesham buses, but I have no recollection and can't find any record of what was running around that time.

 

[overthewater]

Of course the new express road never opened until 2005/06? Back in the 90s the would have been a bus, maybe some one can remember but they would have been something around that area. I remember Whitelaws running a few services in the area maybe it was them under contract?

 

[sannox]

In the late 90s, I think as far back as the route goes or at least the earliest evidence I can find of it, the (even then SPT-supported) Henderson Travel 395 ran Uplawmoor to Eastwood Toll, with an alternate 396 Uplawmoor to Newton Mearns.

I'm not sure at what point it got extended to East Kilbride, but I don't recall what filled the gap between East Kilbride and Eaglesham after the old Central 205/206 were removed. Certainly by the time First bought out Strathclyde's Buses and Kelvin Central they weren't running any direct EK-Eaglesham buses, but I have no recollection and can't find any record of what was running around that time.

My head says Irvine's operated some services out towards Hairmyres/Eaglesham. GCT were running stuff to Eaglesham too at one time, but not sure when that stopped.

 

[KrisEK]

My head says Irvine's operated some services out towards Hairmyres/Eaglesham. GCT were running stuff to Eaglesham too at one time, but not sure when that stopped.

Irvine's did have the 205 under SPT contract for a long time (the route still going under ARG Travel now). I remember it as just a Hamilton-Hairmyres route, but if it's the direct descendant of the Central 205 then it would make sense if that had gone to Eaglesham at some point.

 

[overthewater]

I remember the 205, im sure that was commercial service which come under Bus Route development grant. Im doubt that was the service?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 15 Jul 2025 ==

Ive done some digging:

* July 2000: SPT Service No95: Operated by Darts buses: Castlemilk - Eaglesham - East Kilbride
* July 2001: SPT Service No95: Operated by Irvines coaches: Eaglesham - East Kilbride only
* July 2002: Spt service 395: Operated by Henderson Travel Uplawmoor - Eaglesham - East Kilbride replacing Service no95.

Does anyone Remember X4 and X5 by Irvines..

 

[AndrewTaylor95]

I remember the 205, im sure that was commercial service which come under Bus Route development grant. Im doubt that was the service?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 15 Jul 2025 ==

Ive done some digging:

* July 2000: SPT Service No95: Operated by Darts buses: Castlemilk - Eaglesham - East Kilbride
* July 2001: SPT Service No95: Operated by Irvines coaches: Eaglesham - East Kilbride only
* July 2002: Spt service 395: Operated by Henderson Travel Uplawmoor - Eaglesham - East Kilbride replacing Service no95.

Does anyone Remember X4 and X5 by Irvines..

I'm sure that's when Hendersons had that Yellow Caetano Numbus Black Bear that was for the 395

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Random question

I am sorting through some photos and found this. I can't recall the location nor WHY I actually took the photo but I suspect it was c.1999 when I was working in Scotland. It's a Strathclyde location and I'm guessing somewhere in Lanarkshire - any help would be appreciated.

View attachment 1752663634081.jpeg

 

[smtglasgow]

Think that's Lanark station. No idea what Stonehouse Coaches would be operating there

 

[KrisEK]

Random question

I am sorting through some photos and found this. I can't recall the location nor WHY I actually took the photo but I suspect it was c.1999 when I was working in Scotland. It's a Strathclyde location and I'm guessing somewhere in Lanarkshire - any help would be appreciated.

View attachment 184101

smtglasgow is right, definitely Lanark. Taken from the station entrance, looking in the direction of what is now Morrisons, here's a matching Street View: https://maps.app.goo.gl/ACgxMH9LvjpBXdSk6

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Think that's Lanark station. No idea what Stonehouse Coaches would be operating there

smtglasgow is right, definitely Lanark. Taken from the station entrance, looking in the direction of what is now Morrisons, here's a matching Street View: https://maps.app.goo.gl/ACgxMH9LvjpBXdSk6

Thanks @KrisEK and @smtglasgow. Now why I was there and took it... I have no idea

Again, much appreciated.

 

[overthewater]

Stonehouse Coaches had the following Contract around that time

* Journeys on the No9 Lanark to Glespin, of course Stoke buses had the daytime commercial service
* Journeys on the No30 Larnak to Leadhills, which was shared white ribbon.

 

[Supercus]

Is it possible that the PVT tendered 335 circular bus route from Cumbernauld shopping centre,north and Cumbernauld shopping centre,north via Carfin and Motherwell from January 11 2026 have been registered on VOSA in error or is it an experimental bus route please note I don’t believe that PVT Transfer have a bus service numbered 335 at present in Scotland

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 20 Dec 2025 ==

I presume that Captain Jobsworth will find fault in my previous post and certainly in this one

 

[markymark2000]

Is it possible that the PVT tendered 335 circular bus route from Cumbernauld shopping centre,north and Cumbernauld shopping centre,north via Carfin and Motherwell from January 11 2026 have been registered on VOSA in error or is it an experimental bus route please note I don’t believe that PVT Transfer have a bus service numbered 335 at present in Scotland

The 335 which is registered actually operates as a 334 (not sure why it's not reflected on the Traffic Commissioners database).

The change looks to just be adding an extra trip in the morning.

Current timetable: https://www.spt.co.uk/media/32ebuv1d/service-334-november-2024.pdf
New timetable: https://www.spt.co.uk/media/0w2jasxz/service-334-january-2026.pdf

 

[Supercus]

The 335 which is registered actually operates as a 334 (not sure why it's not reflected on the Traffic Commissioners database).

The change looks to just be adding an extra trip in the morning.

Current timetable: https://www.spt.co.uk/media/32ebuv1d/service-334-november-2024.pdf
New timetable: https://www.spt.co.uk/media/0w2jasxz/service-334-january-2026.pdf

I agree that you are probably right but the 335 registered on the VOSA to start from 11 January 2026 seems to operating a circular route via Carfin and Motherwell
The 355 bus route between Newhouse and Motherwell via North lodge has also been registered but with no change of route

There is no 334 bus service registered on VOSA for any bus company at present but the 335 is registered for Thomas Buchanan (PVT transfer)
It would have made more sense to merge the 334 bus service with the 355 bus although the 355 is only an Evening and Sunday service at present

 

[overthewater]

A number of other SPT changes are happening in January

* 9 Johnstone Station - Brookfield - Bridge of Weir - Quarrier's Village, will switch from McGills to Shuttle bus
* 310 Marnoch - Baillieston is going to 70min timetable

Bus Timetables | SPT | Strathclyde Partnership for Transport

SPT subsidises local bus services in areas not served by commercial bus operators. Timetables for these services are provided below. For commercial services visit the operators' website, use the timetable finder below or call Traveline Scotland on 0871 200 2233.

www.spt.co.uk

Few other service changes listed here;

Glasgow Bus Timetable Finder - Forthcoming Service Changes

 

[markymark2000]

I agree that you are probably right but the 335 registered on the VOSA to start from 11 January 2026 seems to operating a circular route via Carfin and Motherwell
The 355 bus route between Newhouse and Motherwell via North lodge has also been registered but with no change of route

There is no 334 bus service registered on VOSA for any bus company at present but the 335 is registered for Thomas Buchanan (PVT transfer)
It would have made more sense to merge the 334 bus service with the 355 bus although the 355 is only an Evening and Sunday service at present

The 334 service is registered under PM2044658/6 it seems. This shows up as a 335 which was an old route number. This registration has been active since May 2022 and had a few changes since. The change in January is listed by the traffic commissioner as a change of timetable.


The 355 in Motherwell is a completely separate route and registration and operates under PM2044658/7. The registration for January is a change of route and timetable.

If its not yet showing on the main OTC registration search, you can also use Bustimes which gets data from the OTC still but somehow the OTC use different databases for the registration search, and their open data, such that their open data gives out more details (illogical but hey, welcome to government departments)

PM2044658 – THOMAS BUCHANAN – bustimes.org

bustimes.org

 

[sannox]

374 changes look like reducing one journey that avoids the Merrylee area - the one that gets there around school kicking out time in the afternoon. I don't envy bus drivers getting around that estate - cars dumped everywhere.

 

[AndrewTaylor95]

374 changes look like reducing one journey that avoids the Merrylee area - the one that gets there around school kicking out time in the afternoon. I don't envy bus drivers getting around that estate - cars dumped everywhere.

Merrylee scheme is a nightmare to get through even outwith these times

 

[leomoore]

The 395 service used to run hourly to/from Uplawmoor, but generated minimal usage. The last contract (3years ago) turned alternate buses at Neilston in an attempt to address the poor punctuality whilst retaining the 3 PVR. The new contract has reduced to a PVR of 2 but with other sections of the route removed, the 3 hour round trip has been reintroduced and Uplawmoor sees more daytime trips again.
It’s the classic use it or lose it dilemma, coupled to how much financial support the local authority/SPT are willing to provide.

Hello, what in the route has been removed?

 

[DanT2014]

is the 49A a tendered route in Cumnock?

 

[overthewater]

is the 49A a tendered route in Cumnock?

Is this the service you are on about? https://www.spt.co.uk/media/fohke2cd/service-49a_49b-tt.pdf

 

[DanT2014]

Yes that is the one.