Strathclyde Partnership for Transport’s Chair, Councillor Martin Bartos says that closing Glasgow Subway is not an option on the table.
It comes following a meeting of the SPT to discuss its financial stability.
Since March, the organisation has been calling on Transport Scotland for financial assistance to help it address the financial gap arising as a direct result of the global Covid-19 pandemic.
By March 30 there had already been a 97% fall in passenger journeys on the Subway – in line with that commercial bus, rail and other transport operators had experienced.
The organisation is predicting a potential deficit of up to £20 million for the current financial year.
SPT Chair Councillor Dr Martin Bartos said: “Closing the Subway is not an option on the table. Given the investment the Government and SPT has put into Subway modernisation, and the work that has been done to upgrade and the system, the rollout of modernisation will continue.
“The aim of the Partnership paper is to look at ways we can ensure the future for Subway and all SPT services. Transport Scotland has stepped in to fund other transport modes and is well aware of our need for support.”
During the pandemic, SPT has continued to operate Subway services and maintain strategically necessary bus services while commercial services were withdrawn. This was despite receiving no support, or help, to replace passenger related income lost from the Subway or from its bus stations. Continuing to run these services enabled many key essential workers to continue to travel to and from work at this challenging time.
Following the meeting which set out the challenges faced by the organisation and the financial cost, Councillor Bartos said: “SPT will consider all the options to determine the best way forward. We are very aware of the importance of supported bus services and the impact that any reduction on services could have on many of our more isolated communities. This is a key part of what we do and we need to be able to continue this necessary work to try and ensure that the most vulnerable members of our society are not left isolated.
“We value the contribution of all our staff. As has been seen during the crisis, all our staff – frontline and behind the scenes – have played a critical role in continuing to deliver services. The continuing operation of SPT needs all of them to be part of that.”
- A reminder that the Subway is set to suspend all train services for the weekend of 4 and 5 July to allow essential upgrade works to be carried out in the Subway depot. A replacement bus service will be in operation for Subway passengers who need to travel. The upgrade work has been planned to allow contractors to install new signalling and power cable routes in the depot operational areas.
Photo credit: Strathclyde Partnership for Transport
