r/Glasgow Tools

There's a danger of us simply continuing to go round in circles here.

There's a widespread misunderstanding among the public about the options we have. It's important that the public does understand things, so we know where to direct anger and demands for action.

First Bus can't be coerced to reintroduce night services. They can't be coerced to do anything. I keep reading people demand the council "tear up their contract!", but there is no contract to tear up. We don't have a franchise agreement system for the buses (yet), like how Scotrail was run for example with the likes of First, Arriva or Abellio bidding to run set routes for a number of years: It's a near free-for all with private operators running services they see fit to. It's been this way since UK transport laws made it so in the 80s.

First run a private bus service. And that's it. Angry letters from leading politicians to the company and petitions asking them to politely reinstate services should not be celebrated. It's embarrassing and impotent. This will not achieve substantial, lasting change, even if First were to relent on this single issue. Nor should the news that McGills Buses might, maybe, if it the wind blows the right direction and it makes financial sense for them to do so, begin running competitor night buses on very select routes in Glasgow. This is a sticking plaster and should not be celebrated by anyone as a lasting solution.

Fundamentally, First are simply doing what is in their own interest and no one can fault them for that.

But just as First Bus are acting in their interest, the time has come for Glasgow to act in its own interest.

The city [recently kick started the process to develop a franchise system for buses](https://www.glasgow.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=29774), making use of [changes the Scottish Government is in the middle of making to transport law in Scotland](https://www.route-one.net/news/legislation-to-enable-bus-franchising-to-be-introduced-in-scotland/). But a Glasgow bus franchise system is not expected to be close to launch for a *minimum of seven years*, according to the council's own evaluation of current timelines.

Hopefully this action by First Bus is a catalyst for change, and that it's focused minds on the need to improve things with urgency. But it's important to know where to direct demand for action. The franchise route being explored by Glasgow is the answer, but seven years is too long to wait. The council and govt needs to be pressed on much more urgent action, which undoubtedly will mean treating it as a priority project in terms of policy and funding.