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SPT consultation for Buchanan Bus Station

overthewater

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It seems they want to completely overhaul the site and sell off some of the land for new buildings. It would also seem there would be less stances overall and less space for layovers. I'm not that keen on this redesigned, you do have a chance to give your views until 23rd November. There is maps and photoshop pics of the new layout and design on the website.


SPT is developing a masterplan for Buchanan Bus Station and the urban block around it. The long-term vision is for the area to become a vibrant new gateway to Glasgow, fully integrated in the local area, with a modern bus station and transport hub at its core.

The masterplan and vision will look at ways to maximise use of the site and enhance the experience of all users. This will include changes to the existing bus station, its surrounding public realm and how it interacts with neighbouring locations, as well as responding to the needs of a modern bus station.

SPT is working closely with Glasgow City Council and has appointed AtkinsRéalis and New Practice to deliver the masterplan on our behalf. The project is taking a place-based approach to developing and evaluating future land use options for the site which are complementary to an enhanced transport hub. SPT want to hear the public and key stakeholders’ views on the early proposals which have been developed.
 
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Being a younger person probably leads me to quite enjoy this design more than others. Would be nice if it encorporated a community space as well that charities could book out.

Is the small section of stances just 38-46 or do they have "through" stances for through services? I could see them adding them for extra capacity and to incentivise bus routes to pull through the station rather than stop outside.
 

Bletchleyite

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Being a younger person probably leads me to quite enjoy this design more than others. Would be nice if it encorporated a community space as well that charities could book out.

I am no longer what could be described as "young" but I quite like it too having used the current one a few times (and finding it a bit oversized and awkwardly laid out). If the issue is land for buses to be stored, then really that should be replaced on the outskirts somewhere - it isn't a good use for expensive city centre land.
 

Glasgowbusguy

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The current station is really good In my view , less stances is a wild idea considering how tight it can be at times.
 

Man of Kent

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I am no longer what could be described as "young" but I quite like it too having used the current one a few times (and finding it a bit oversized and awkwardly laid out). If the issue is land for buses to be stored, then really that should be replaced on the outskirts somewhere - it isn't a good use for expensive city centre land.
Buses need layover space at termini, to ensure punctuality on the next trip. Moving it elsewhere is always a wish of developers, who see it as quite acceptable to store cars on expensive city centre land.

More practically, how long would this scheme take to build, and in the meantime, where do the buses go? I'd estimate that temporary arrangements would be needed for at least two to three years, and the design is such that there is little of the existing bus station that could be kept in operation until the new one is ready. It took nearly nine years in Cardiff....
 

Clydeflyer

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Is the small section of stances just 38-46 or do they have "through" stances for through services? I could see them adding them for extra capacity and to incentivise bus routes to pull through the station rather than stop outside.
I assumed the small section of stances were the 'prime' ones for Citylink/Ember/Flixbus but then what arguments start when (say) McGills/Clydeflyer get kicked further away from the building to the other stances - they currently have prime stances because they are ex-Citylink routes - and then all the Stagecoach long distance services get further away from the prime location too?

Lack of layover space seems a nightmare.... no longer is it arrive, unload, park in middle/layover, then after layover drive back on to stance to load... there's now journey and drive time to get from Buchanan to layover area and back! Wherever the layover area is.

Don't think services stopping outside would want in... drive in, go to stance, unload/load, wait for an SPT banksman to reverse you off stance and leave? That seems a faff compared to stopping outside.

Buchanan is nothing special at the minute but doing this makes it operationally unappealing? But that doesn't matter because SPT will make a buck on selling the development plots...
 

EMU303

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One thing that strikes me is the proposed bus access points directly into West Nile St on the west side and North Hanover St on the east side. Those points would be squeezed between two fairly short distances between Cowcaddens Rd and Killermont St. Today the street layout around the station is a rectangle with traffic light junctions at each corner. The proposed layout would seem to add another set on both the west and east sides. Unworkable?
 

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markymark2000

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It may be worth noting that on illustrative view 5 and on the masterplan 'ground floor' plans, it does look like there will be layover space available at the northern part of the site which will be located under a kind of overhang on Cowcaddens road.

wait for an SPT banksman to reverse you off stance and leave?
I think the banksmen are only there for now because of buses reversing in all directions and buses in some cases needing to turn while reversing. There are no bankspeople at Hamilton or Govan for example which also work off drive in, reverse off. And there are also rather large bus stations such as Preston and Warrington which are drive in, reverse off, without bankspeople because all of the stands are in one line (I imagine if there was another bus station which required buses to kind of reverse into eachother, bankspeople would be present).


Unrelated to the above comments though, I wonder if they would be better making two level bus station and having a coach station on the upper deck, with access on/off Cowcaddens Road, and then try and make a smaller bus station overall (bearing in mind you won't need coach stands) which would give even more space for other developments? More more efficient land use, means the coach station can better suit the needs of the coach passengers (local bus and coach passengers have very different needs) and has less pressure on West Mile Street and North Hanover Street (as noted by Emu303). It may also prove more beneficial too for coaches to use Junction 16 on the M8 and thus reduce through traffic on Cathedral Street.
 
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It may be worth noting that on illustrative view 5 and on the masterplan 'ground floor' plans, it does look like there will be layover space available at the northern part of the site which will be located under a kind of overhang on Cowcaddens road.


I think the banksmen are only there for now because of buses reversing in all directions and buses in some cases needing to turn while reversing. There are no bankspeople at Hamilton or Govan for example which also work off drive in, reverse off. And there are also rather large bus stations such as Preston and Warrington which are drive in, reverse off, without bankspeople because all of the stands are in one line (I imagine if there was another bus station which required buses to kind of reverse into eachother, bankspeople would be present).


Unrelated to the above comments though, I wonder if they would be better making two level bus station and having a coach station on the upper deck, with access on/off Cowcaddens Road, and then try and make a smaller bus station overall (bearing in mind you won't need coach stands) which would give even more space for other developments? More more efficient land use, means the coach station can better suit the needs of the coach passengers (local bus and coach passengers have very different needs) and has less pressure on West Mile Street and North Hanover Street (as noted by Emu303). It may also prove more beneficial too for coaches to use Junction 16 on the M8 and thus reduce through traffic on Cathedral Street.
Hamilton definitely has bankspeople. Not so sure about Govan.
 

GusB

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Unrelated to the above comments though, I wonder if they would be better making two level bus station and having a coach station on the upper deck, with access on/off Cowcaddens Road, and then try and make a smaller bus station overall (bearing in mind you won't need coach stands) which would give even more space for other developments? More more efficient land use, means the coach station can better suit the needs of the coach passengers (local bus and coach passengers have very different needs) and has less pressure on West Mile Street and North Hanover Street (as noted by Emu303). It may also prove more beneficial too for coaches to use Junction 16 on the M8 and thus reduce through traffic on Cathedral Street.
I'm not sure if a two-level bus station would be a good idea. Unless there is some sort of plan to bring daylight into the lower level, you'll just end up with a dark and unpleasant space underneath. Do we really want to have another Anderston?

I'm not convinced that the plans as they are will ensure that the lower levels will receive enough light. It already appears to be a property development that just so happens to have a bus station attached.
 

Flying Snail

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It already appears to be a property development that just so happens to have a bus station attached.

That is exactly what this plan is, a cash grab at the expense of bus users and operations.

The scale in that plan drawing is way off, they appear to be able to fit 40 bus bays in a shallow curve in a space that is only slightly larger than the current station that houses 20 bays in a straight line. There is absolutely no way this plan would provide close to that many bays for actual size buses.
 

Mag_seven

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That is exactly what this plan is, a cash grab at the expense of bus users and operations.

The scale in that plan drawing is way off, they appear to be able to fit 40 bus bays in a shallow curve in a space that is only slightly larger than the current station that houses 20 bays in a straight line. There is absolutely no way this plan would provide close to that many bays for actual size buses.

Thread unlocked to allow @overthewater to post an update.
 

overthewater

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The concept was talked about recently at a committee meeting. Looks like there really do want to overhaul the location and redeveloped. Some people have said the new station might not have enough stance, I do have to say Outwith citylink and Ember stance the bus station isn't as busy as it used to be if you look around the other stances.


An update on the progress of the concept Masterplan to significantly change the travel hub was given to a Glasgow City Council committee on Tuesday. The concept Masterplan for the bus station and surrounding city block was produced by Glasgow City Council and SPT (Strathclyde Partnership for Transport) and proposes a mixed-use development with a modern and flexible bus station and mobility hub at its heart.

Potential other uses for the site include flats, student accommodation, shops, offices and a hotel, which designers say will feature "improved public realm and new green space". Provisions for the replacement of Concert Square Car Park will also be considered in the Masterplan as it further develops.

  1. Five key themes of Buchanan Bus Station plans: The concept Masterplan has five key themes identified through extensive public engagement, including an online survey, a variety of groups, and subsequent workshops:
  2. A 21st Century Mobility Hub: Enhanced User Experience: Passenger comfort, safety, and convenience are central to the design;
  3. The bus station is envisioned as a modern, sustainable and resilient multimodal transport interchange that supports seamless connectivity across Glasgow and beyond
  4. Quality Development: The development will be underpinned by high-quality architecture and placemaking.
  5. Future of Cowcaddens: The bus station will act as a catalyst for the regeneration of Cowcaddens, helping transform it into a lively, mixed-use urban quarter.
Integrated Glasgow: The station will be a key node in Glasgow’s integrated transport network, supporting active travel and public transport interchange.
The development of the concept of the Masterplan was guided by the council’s City Centre Strategic Development Framework, which identified Cowcaddens and Townhead as districts with transformational potential, where urban repair could help drive the re-densification and re-population of Glasgow city centre.

Other city centre strategies identified both the underperformance of areas around the bus station and the potential for more effective integration with surrounding areas. Better integration with such an important hub would deliver considerable multimodal transport benefits.

The Masterplan will become a material consideration for developers looking to invest and for planning officers' decision-making, once and if approved by the council’s City Administration Committee.
 

markymark2000

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Looks like there really do want to overhaul the location and redeveloped.
The area needs it. Some of the stances are are the far end of nowhere and theres so many stances that aren't used due to suitability or lack of services, and others thare have become coach parking for coach tours. Neither of which are good uses of land.

Some people have said the new station might not have enough stance, I do have to say Outwith citylink and Ember stance the bus station isn't as busy as it used to be if you look around the other stances.
You certainly need more coach bays and less service bays, but the issue is that the proposals don't give scope for PSVAR coaches which need space for the wheelchair lifts. The plans in the consultation felt very much as if someone saw the brief for it to be a BUS station and failed to accomodate the fact that the station is used by so many coaches.
 

Glasgowbusguy

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The area needs it. Some of the stances are are the far end of nowhere and theres so many stances that aren't used due to suitability or lack of services, and others thare have become coach parking for coach tours. Neither of which are good uses of land.


You certainly need more coach bays and less service bays, but the issue is that the proposals don't give scope for PSVAR coaches which need space for the wheelchair lifts. The plans in the consultation felt very much as if someone saw the brief for it to be a BUS station and failed to accomodate the fact that the station is used by so many coaches.
Problem with coach parking is that it's an issue of SPTs own making as the closed Anderson and have failed to provide alternative coach parking within the city center
 

markymark2000

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Problem with coach parking is that it's an issue of SPTs own making as the closed Anderson and have failed to provide alternative coach parking within the city center
Is it an SPT issue though? I'm not sure it falls under their remit to provide coach parking, that feels very much like a local authority issue. And if the local authority doesn't create coach parking, then the free market should probably try and accomodate coaches in the daytime by using spare space in the bus depots. I know that Doigs used to do this but their website now says that parking is suspended.
Overnight parking is a bit harder but if there is demand, either the council can look at roadside coach parking, or private companies will fill a gap somewhere.
 

Glasgowbusguy

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Is it an SPT issue though? I'm not sure it falls under their remit to provide coach parking, that feels very much like a local authority issue. And if the local authority doesn't create coach parking, then the free market should probably try and accomodate coaches in the daytime by using spare space in the bus depots. I know that Doigs used to do this but their website now says that parking is suspended.
Overnight parking is a bit harder but if there is demand, either the council can look at roadside coach parking, or private companies will fill a gap somewhere.
Spt are responsible for bus and coach provisions in Glasgow
 

Glasgowbusguy

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Where else do buses terminate in Glasgow then ?
There's a number of on street terminus Holland street , Douglas street , Wellington street , west regent street , Oswald street , cowcaddens, George sq and a few others I am forgetting about
 

markymark2000

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Spt are responsible for bus and coach provisions in Glasgow
SPT will be responsible for local bus and registered coach provisions. And reasonably unregistered but scheduled intercity coaches would be signposted SPTs way for suitable stopping arrangements or wanting to get access to the bus stations for departures. But I don't believe that SPT has any obligation to provide coach parking for tourist coaches, which is indeed what is happening currently on some the stances at Buchanan Street (and the point that I was making). In the same way that TFL doesn't do anything in the way of coach parking, it's all done as a side hustle by existing transport operators, a commercial initiative by car park owners or by local authorities in the own car parks or setting up roadside bays.
 

Stan Drews

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SPT will be responsible for local bus and registered coach provisions. And reasonably unregistered but scheduled intercity coaches would be signposted SPTs way for suitable stopping arrangements or wanting to get access to the bus stations for departures. But I don't believe that SPT has any obligation to provide coach parking for tourist coaches, which is indeed what is happening currently on some the stances at Buchanan Street (and the point that I was making). In the same way that TFL doesn't do anything in the way of coach parking, it's all done as a side hustle by existing transport operators, a commercial initiative by car park owners or by local authorities in the own car parks or setting up roadside bays.
SPT will get considerable additional income by allowing coach operators to make use of the stances that aren’t required by the local bus services using the bus station, so a sensible commercial decision.
 

Metal Mickey

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Problem with coach parking is that it's an issue of SPTs own making as the closed Anderson and have failed to provide alternative coach parking within the city center
I don’t think SPT owned Anderston Bus Station at the time it closed but it was a hellhole of a place and it’s not missed one bit.
 

Bletchleyite

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Do local buses really need to use the bus station, which is extremely awkwardly sited just outside the core of the centre and up a massive hill? Would cross city operation not provide better accessibility for local bus users in what is quite a large and hilly city centre, which could allow for a much smaller provision for coaches only as per, for example, Oxford?
 

cadder toad

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There's a number of on street terminus Holland street , Douglas street , Wellington street , west regent street , Oswald street , cowcaddens, George sq and a few others I am forgetting about
Also Cochrane St, George St (as well as George Sq), Holm St, Cathedral St bridge and Renfrew St. Some have been in use for 50 years or more. Some are currently not used because of temporary diversions after the Central Station fire or George Sq reconstruction. Where is the on street terminus at Cowcaddens?
 

Stan Drews

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Do local buses really need to use the bus station, which is extremely awkwardly sited just outside the core of the centre and up a massive hill? Would cross city operation not provide better accessibility for local bus users in what is quite a large and hilly city centre, which could allow for a much smaller provision for coaches only as per, for example, Oxford?
There aren’t many ‘local’ bus routes that use the bus station as their city terminal. The vast majority of routes terminating there are what could be described as the former Scottish Bus Group routes that run to/from places outwith the traditional city boundary. The routes that would have been run by Glasgow Corporation/Strathclyde PTE/Buses still largely run cross-city or terminate elsewhere around the city centre using some of the stands mentioned.
 

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