'Threat' to rail line
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DECISION has been reserved on the first attempt by an independent to gain licence authority to operate a stage service within the Strathclyde PTE monopoly area.
McGill's Bus Service Ltd, of Barrhead, applied to the Scottish Traffic Commissioners for a service between the Auchenback housing estate in Barrhead and Glasgow city centre at a public sitting last week. The application was originally opposed by the PTE, British Rail and Western SMT, but Western withdrew its objection before the hearing.
The PTE said that it was particularly concerned about the abstraction of traffic from the Barrhead and Glasgow rail service which operated at a 30-minute .frequency at peak and hourly at off-peak. Existing services of both Western SMT and McGill passed the railway station in Barrhead. Ironically, the hearing took place on Tuesday last week, a day before a two-day rail strike.
The objectors accepted that there was some need for a direct service between Auchenback and the new shopping centre at Pollok and the PTE had written to McGill's suggesting a service on that basis. However, the PTE feared the impact of the local rail service of McGill's proposed direct service into the centre of Glasgow.
A detailed survey of the traffic carried on the rail service showed that considerable traffic was carried from Barrhead with between 10 and 17 per cent starting from Auchenback.
Evidence in support of McGill's proposals was given by the Barrhead Community Coun
cil and the Commissioners are to announce their decision in writing at a later date.
Proposals by Graham's Bus Service Ltd, of Paisley, to operate a new stage service between Paisley and Erskine which also impinges on the PTE's areas are being dealt with by the Cornmissioners in chambers (CM, January 23).