Clydebank nurse faces two hour commute after bus services cancelled

It now takes Sandra Jenkinson, 53, an extra hour and a half on her journey to Gartnavel Hospital from Duntocher after the bus she used was unexpectedly cut.

Her usual commute to work took 25 minutes, however, the 6B and 118 services run by McColls on behalf of SPT were cut last month.

Sandra has explained how she felt after hearing the news from a fellow passenger.

She said: "When I was on the bus last week, it was actually another passenger who asked me 'Do you know the bus is stopping?'.

"I asked the bus driver about it and he said they are stopping and apparently West Coast buses were taken over it.

"The bus takes me and at least six other workers into the hospital or to Glasgow city centre. We've been using it for years and years.

"They have just stopped this without any notice and have not even changed the signs at the bus stops."

Gartnavel General Hospital is on Great Western Road in the West of Glasgow (Image: Newsquest) McColls buses run across Dunbartonshire (Image: Newsquest) McColls have confirmed on their website that the 6B and 118 services will 'no longer operate' and that alternative provisions will be available from West Coast Motors Services 15 & 17.

West Coast Motors announced last week that they are extending their services on the 15 &17 routes saying their plans would improve the frequencies with a 'whopping increase of over 250 additional journeys'.

West Coast Motors announced last week that they are providing additional services (Image: Supplied) Sandra, who works 12-hour shifts, says these service timetables don't start as early and run as late as McColls buses did. 

She added: "There was a possibility I would need to use the 17 and then change and get a 15. They were putting in the buses to cover the routes that we used to get. But there are no connecting times for me to get off the 17 and get the 15 to my work.

"They do run every half hour but the first one is at 7.37am and I start at 7am.

"I got directions to get a number 2 from Faifley and then get a number 6 but that would add on 45 minutes and still not get me into work on time.

"I could get a train, but the times don’t match up either and I'd be waiting 40 minutes and you have to go down a dark pathway and I don’t feel comfortable about it.

"I just feel totally stressed out about it. How am I going to get to work?"

After finishing her shift at 7pm this week, Sandra says she got home after 9pm.

An SPT spokesperson said: “SPT’s Framework for Supporting Local Bus Services supports subsidised bus services if there is funding available and if commercial services operating in the area are limited and not meeting the needs of the majority of users.

"Due to a significant increase in commercial services 15 and 17 in the area, supported services 118 and 6B cannot be maintained as they were originally contracted.

“We apologise to all passengers impacted by the cancellation of the 118 and 6B services and recognise the inconvenience caused to passengers who may experience a longer walk and an increase in journey time if some direct services are no longer available.”