SPT Tendered Routes

[overthewater]

Not really Hobson is doing it commercially for most of the day.

 

[danielhogg2005]

Not really Hobson is doing it commercially for most of the day.

Probably what made SPT decide to pull the contract from JMB as they'd only need to fund a morning return journey and the evening service.

I'm right in thinking that SPT award contracts to the operator which can provide the least amount of operating costs of the service? (I'm not really someone who knows alot about the tendering process).

 

[AndrewTaylor95]

Apart from that it's the same before it was changed to the 42A

Not really Hobson is doing it commercially for most of the day.

 

[overthewater]

The interesting question has to be is why JMB didn't think it was worth its time doing the daytime runs commercial anymore?

 

[JKP]

Hobson Travel have it, numbered as 251

Link from SPT bus timetables website of the PDF timetable: https://www.spt.co.uk/media/13lb1tnb/service-251-august-2026.pdf

Does anyone know why the Sunday timetable runs on the opposite half hour from Monday to Saturday? Is there another Sunday route it interworks with? Just looks odd.

 

[NorthClyde320]

Not really Hobson is doing it commercially for most of the day.

The interesting question has to be is why JMB didn't think it was worth its time doing the daytime runs commercial anymore?

The interesting thing is there was a timetable on the SPT website from Jan 2026 for the Larkhall to Wishaw end and it showed JMB operating that section commercially off peak Mon-Sat but it's been taken down now but I attach a copy. Perhaps and from what I've heard it carried fresh air off peak so perhaps JMB wanted it subsidised again but SPT refused so JMB contacted Hobson. This seems to be similar to the Carluke local 47 service when JMB ran the Mon-Fri service commercially and Sat subsidised then Hobson took over the whole service, perhaps these services not sustainable for JMB but ok for Hobson as much less overheads.

 

[G42]

SPT 46 extended to Glasgow Fort from next month:

Pardon Our Interruption

 

[CMBS]

Does anyone know if rural MyBus services (R numbered routes) can be used by the general public or do the same criteria for using them as other MyBus services apply? Just asking as I was maybe considering doing a through journey between Strathaven-Darvel or Glespin-Muirkirk

 

[sannox]

Does anyone know if rural MyBus services (R numbered routes) can be used by the general public or do the same criteria for using them as other MyBus services apply? Just asking as I was maybe considering doing a through journey between Strathaven-Darvel or Glespin-Muirkirk

The rural services used have less strict rules and I think were opened to all but might at one time had to live in the area served. I looked it up and it's woefully unclear!

 

[KrisEK]

Does anyone know if rural MyBus services (R numbered routes) can be used by the general public or do the same criteria for using them as other MyBus services apply? Just asking as I was maybe considering doing a through journey between Strathaven-Darvel or Glespin-Muirkirk

I enquired about access a while back, also interested in using it for the Strathaven-Darvel gap. The response I had from SPT seemed to imply I could use it, but they then directed me to register on the same website as for the standard MyBus services and I got a response back from that saying I wasn't eligible, and I gave up at that point.

 

[overthewater]

I believe the "R" services are open to everyone, in fact when old 212 was withdrawn from Caldercruix to Blackridge they told passengers to use the R400. There is a phone number on the website:

 

[AndrewTaylor95]

I see JMB are taking over the 329 from 1st November

 

[Deerfold]

I believe the "R" services are open to everyone, in fact when old 212 was withdrawn from Caldercruix to Blackridge they told passengers to use the R400. There is a phone number on the website:

The R400 leaflet has a QR code to the standard Mybus part of the SPT website. There's nothing to suggest the R routes are open to a wider section of the population there, or any way to register if you're not disabled, over 80 or infirm.

 

[overthewater]

The R400 leaflet has a QR code to the standard Mybus part of the SPT website. There's nothing to suggest the R routes are open to a wider section of the population there, or any way to register if you're not disabled, over 80 or infirm.

I phoned SPT today... as I suspected, "R" services are open to everyone and have been for 20 years.

I enquired about access a while back, also interested in using it for the Strathaven-Darvel gap. The response I had from SPT seemed to imply I could use it, but they then directed me to register on the same website as for the standard MyBus services and I got a response back from that saying I wasn't eligible, and I gave up at that point.

You do have to register via "My bus" thing, it should allow normal bus user to apply for the "Rural Services" If you are having problem I would suggest you phone them and ask them what is going on. It seems they might be a internal problem, and there is a conflict with new applications.


Here is he original details.