SPT News
Dial-a-Bus, Ring'n'Ride and community transport groups to benefit from accessible, fuel-efficient vehicles.
SPT spends £1.5m on new buses for much-needed services
January 25, 2010 16:30 UKNewsSPT's Operations Committee has approved the purchase of a further 20 brand new buses for vital services.
Seven of these vehicles will be used for Dial-a-Bus and Ring'n'Ride in South Ayrshire, North Ayrshire, South Lanarkshire and Renfrewshire. The remaining 13 are for a variety of uses, including community transport.
Dial-a-Bus services are for people who have difficulty using public transport as a result of disability or age. Ring'n'Ride services provide transport links to areas with limited or no public transport.
Today's decision brings the number of buses in SPT's fleet to 68. The total cost of the 20 new buses is £1,483,680 (£74,184 per bus).
The Tucana model buses are low-floored, fully-accessible, fuel-efficient and environmentally-friendly. They are manufactured in Scarborough by Bluebird Vehicles Ltd and SPT expects to take delivery of the new buses by 31 March 2010.
Of the new buses, 18 have seating for up to 15 passengers and two have around 20 seats. Additional space can be made for wheelchair users by folding back seats. This avoids a return journey to the depot to have seats removed.
SPT's new policy of supplying the vehicle to be leased by the bus operator has saved almost £1.6 million in comparison to old-style contracts, where the operators provided their own vehicles.
Chair of SPT's Operations Committee and member for South Lanarkshire, Councillor Davie McLachlan, said: "The purchase of these new buses underlines our commitment to continue driving up the standard of vehicles used for bus services and at the same time, ensuring value for money for the public purse.
"By supplying the vehicle and leasing it to the operator, passengers are assured of journeys on the latest model low floor buses that are environmentally friendly and fuel efficient.
"We're determined to continue to make a step change in the quality of vehicles at an affordable price that delivers savings for the public purse."
The new buses will be used on the following Demand-Responsive Transport (DRT) services:
- Carrick Ring'n'Ride (1 bus)
- South Ayrshire DRT (2 buses)
- Lanark DRT (1 bus)
- Renfrewshire DRT (3 buses)
The remaining buses are earmarked for a variety of community transport groups across west central Scotland. The detailed arrangements are currently being finalised with member councils.
Also at last week's Operations Committee, it was agreed to spend £3.2 million renewing Dial-a-Bus and Ring'n'Ride contracts for East Ayrshire, South Ayrshire, Renfrewshire and South Lanarkshire Council areas until 2015.
Contracts were renewed on the following DRT services:
Lanark DRT (Monday to Saturday 07:00 to 18:00) was awarded to Stuart's Coaches at a cost of £562,800 for 5 years. This service will include elements of local timetabled bus services to achieve contract cost savings.
These are the evening and Sunday journeys of services 8/8a/9 from Lanark to Glespin/Lesmahagow and early morning Monday to Saturday journeys of service 135 New Lanark to Lanark.
East Ayrshire DRT was awarded to Ayrways Coach Travel Ltd at a cost of £151,200 for three years. This service will operate between 08:25 and 15:30 Monday to Friday.
Ayr Coast Dial-a-Bus was awarded to Shuttle Buses Ltd at a cost of £751,023 for five years. This service will operate daily, Monday to Saturday, from 08:45 to 18:00 using two buses. One bus will operate the Sunday service 08:45 to 18:00.
Gryffe Valley DRT was awarded to Colchri Ltd at a cost of £1,299,000 for five years. This service will operate daily, Monday to Saturday, from 07:00 to 18:00 using three vehicles, and two buses will run on Sunday 09:00 to 18:00.
This service will include elements of local timetabled bus services to achieve contract cost savings. These are the evening and Sunday journeys of Service 307 Lochwinnoch Station to Johnstone Station and an early morning Monday-Friday journey of Service 301 Kilmacolm to Johnstone Station.
