Bus firms ditch 'too slow' £40m fast lanes in Glasgow Published duration 2 October 2015

image copyright Google image caption McGill's is one of two operators to withdraw from using the Fastlink lanes

Two major bus firms have stopped using the newly-built £40m Fastlink lanes in Glasgow because they are too slow.

McGill's Buses and Stagecoach said problems with traffic light timings was affecting journey times.

They have now told drivers to avoid the lanes, which connect the city centre to the new Queen Elizabeth University Hospital on the south side.

Glasgow City Council is to meet with the operators next week in a bid to resolve the issue.

The Fastlink project is led by Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT) and Glasgow City Council.

'Technical glitches'

The aim is to provide high-frequency bus services between Buchanan Street Bus Station and the new hospital via Central and Queen Street Stations.

The route goes along the River Clyde, past the SECC, in dedicated lanes which are partly segregated from traffic.

McGill's and Stagecoach withdrew from using the lanes after they decided they were not fast enough.

A spokeswoman for McGill's Buses said: "There have been a few minor technical glitches with the traffic lights on the Fastlink infrastructure.

"This was causing confusion amongst staff and customers.

"We withdrew from the infrastructure to give Glasgow City Council the space to rectify the situation without the added pressure of coping with bus movements as well."

'Teething problems'

A spokeswoman for Stagecoach said: "We are not currently using the new Fastlink route bus lanes due to problems with the traffic lights which mean that journey time improvements which can be achieved through the new bus lanes are not being realised.

"Positive investment in targeted bus priority measures can help improve traffic flow for all road users and we look forward to resuming use of the bus lane when these issues are resolved."

Glasgow City Council said it would be meeting with the operators and SPT next Friday to resolve the issue.

Councillor Alistair Watson, the council's executive member for sustainability and transport, said: "I am arranging a meeting with all parties involved so we can sort this out as soon as possible.

"We're all in the business of getting more people to use public transport so if there are teething problems then we'll resolve them round the table."