Bus passengers hit out at bus firm

Published 26 May 2010 13:59 7 Comments

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ANGRY residents are seething at the latest changes to Barrhead's bus timetable.

Raging locals are fighting back against Arriva after the company cut the number of service stops in Auchenback.

The number three route now loops around the area instead of visiting all the streets and users claim that the cutbacks are causing big problems.

Regular passengers have accused Arriva of providing them with no information about the change in service times and of leaving them stranded at bus stops.

Whilst the popular service three served several parts of the community, the new route makes it impossible to board a bus anywhere other than Aurs Drive, Patterton Drive or Newton Avenue.

Annoyed commuters say that the lack of posters and display information has left them feeling abandoned by the bus company.

Several of them have even had to rely on the kindness of strangers to learn about changes in designated stops.

Local resident Irene Simpson is furious at Arriva's decision to miss out half of Auchenback in the new bus route and is keen for them to reverse their decision.

She said: "The bus only goes halfway down Aurs Drive.

"The company won't talk to us at all.

"The buses don't stop to pick up and the first stop you can get off is all the way down Auchenback.

"I don't know what their idea is but they must have lost passengers.

"I don't understand why they made these changes to this service and it's very confusing.

"I know that a lot of people were asking for the bus to go in the town but not instead of dropping them near their house.

"I've had to explain the change of route to my son who gets the bus with his carer all the time.

"He's so used to the previous one that he's finding it difficult to cope with the changes and I'm worried he'll end up staying on too long or getting off and not knowing where he is."

And local woman Rita Connelly is also looking for answers.

The regular ARC user wants Arriva to explain the reasons for changing the service.

Rita said: "They never consulted with us.

"We are the eye of the community and they never contacted us at all and they should have.

"People who use this centre use the buses to get around the town.

"They did the same with the low level buses when they took away the ones with disabled access and put them on to another route. If they don't communicate to us what changes are happening to the services then we can't tell anyone.

"How are we supposed to communicate without information?"

Commercial development manager for Arriva, Murray Rogers, said: "On Monday May 10 2010, Arriva made comprehensive improvements to the network which included extending Service 101 from Braehead Shopping Centre to Barrhead every ten minutes.

"Also, due to requests, the Glasgow bound service three was re-routed to operate via Barrhead Centre.

"Various information streams were employed to ensure customers were aware of the changes and if this has not been the case in certain areas we sincerely apologise.

"I will ensure that all local community halls will receive timetables and information immediately."

This article appeared in Barrhead News 26 May 10

Have your say. Post a comment on this article.

Anne Fox
Unregistered User
May 26, 13:36
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As a regular user of the number 3 from Patterton Drive to Glasgow - I would agree that this is an unpopular change to the service. As to the comment from Arriva that the bus is re-routed through "Barrhead Centre" - my understanding of Barrhead Centre is the area round Cross Arthurlie Street not Arthurlie Street. There are no bus stops in Arthurlie Street so what is gained from the change to the route?

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Big H
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May 27, 12:29
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It's a total joke. i can't believe the bus isn't stopping at half the streets in the area anymore. At least if they were going to do that they could have told us about it - and then we could have made other plans.

No one cares about this area - if they did then they woulnd't be making desicions like this. there's the recession and things but you think they would take away services from other areas - not from this one where we obviously need them.

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Jamie
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May 27, 14:37
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It's always been a bit of a joke that the 3 stops at just after 7pm from Glasgow. Meaning many people have to use both Arriva 3 and First Glasgow 303.

I would propose McGills start an X53 Express with immediate effect running from outside their Carlibar Depot, Carlibar Rd, Cross Arthurlie St, Main St, Arthurlie St, Auchenback Loop, Aurs Rd, Darnley Rd, Parkhouse Rd, Nitshill Rd, M77 Junction 3, M77, M8, Bothwell St, Glasgow City Centre. - If that wouldn't be a wake up call for Arriva nothing will be!

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Jamie
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May 27, 14:43
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It's always been a bit of a joke that the 3 stops at just after 7pm from Glasgow. Meaning many people have to use both Arriva 3 and First Glasgow 303.

I would propose McGills start an X53 Express with immediate effect running from outside their Carlibar Depot, Carlibar Rd, Cross Arthurlie St, Main St, Arthurlie St, Auchenback Loop, Aurs Rd, Darnley Rd, Parkhouse Rd, Nitshill Rd, M77 Junction 3, M77, M8, Bothwell St, Glasgow City Centre. - If that wouldn't be a wake up call for Arriva nothing will be!

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Jason
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May 28, 15:51
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I would agree with the rest of the people here. It's ridiculous that the bus doesn't stop at half the streets anymore. I wonder if they even have any idea how many people in Barrhead use the bus? One of the Arriva managers should take the bus route that we now have to use to get home and see how difficult it is - maybe then they'll change their mind.

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John
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May 31, 15:00
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I am as angry as everybody else. It is hard enough having to walk that extra distance home now, but it will be even worse in the winter months when it means having to walk more outside in the rain or on the ice. It could lead to people deciding to stay at home, when with the old route they would have had no hesitation in getting out for the day.

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lilmizzgigglez
2 posts
Jun 30, 19:16
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Does the 101 not serve all the stops in Auchenback? As a resident of Paisley,I dont have this problem,however I do sympathise. Not sure if anyone knows,but the Paisley-side stop next to Lidl's is out of use,as is the one after that,so,unless you use the stop on the main street,you need to walk all the way down to the train station...Hardly fair is it!! I back your campaign to get the 3 rerouted.

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