The X10 service has come in for criticism from locals over the reliability of the fleet and late cancellations – but a report from the Bus Users UK group has been hailed by the service’s operators.
An under-fire bus route has been praised in a new independent report from a passenger watchdog – despite criticism over unreliability.
A monitoring exercise from the Bus Users UK group focused on the X10 and X10A route which connects Stirling and Glasgow through Milngavie.
The bus is also a vital lifeline for passengers in rural Stirling, with the service making its way through villages such as Strathblane, Balfron and Kippen.
The service was found to have a 97 per cent punctuality rate, with all scheduled journeys successfully operated from the 183 monitored.
Inspectors also highlighted the “consistently high” standard of vehicles on the route and noted their clean and comfortable ride for passengers.
Greig MacKay, Director for Scotland, Bus Users UK, said: “Following a recent monitoring exercise concerning the X10/X10A routes that connect rural Stirling villages to Glasgow and Stirling.
“Bus Users UK recorded an overall punctuality score of 97 per cent.
“This represents a significant improvement in punctuality standards for these two lifeline services. Passengers have also benefited from new investment by McGill’s Midland Bluebird which has contributed to more reliable services for the passengers who use them.”
The state of the X10 has been a running complaint for local bus passengers, with Buchlyvie resident Iain Smith one of those left frustrated by inconsistent arrival times.
Mr Smith wrote to McGill’s Group CEO Tony Williamson in February following a case where he and several other passengers were left out in the cold waiting for an X10 bus at Stirling bus station, with Mr Williamson eventually forced to fork out for a taxi to get home.
The reliability of the fleet operating the route has also come in for criticism after a recent incident where an X10 bus was pictured at the side of the road near Cambusbarron with smoke pouring from the back as traffic built up around the bus.
A spokesman for Midland Bluebird blamed the incident on a “coolant leak” with the issue resolved.
Reacting to the report, officials from McGill’s – who run Midland Bluebird – said it worked as justification for the hard work on making improvements to the X10 offering.
Colin Napier, Group Service Delivery Director for McGill’s Group, said: “This is a strong endorsement of the X10 and X10A services and the effort our drivers and operational teams put in every day, particularly given the level of disruption on the network.
“We’re seeing around 90 per cent satisfaction from our own passenger surveys and a steady five per cent increase in footfall, which shows that customers value the service we’re providing. In the areas where we can continue to improve, we will strive to ensure we do that.
“To build on this progress, we need continued support from local authorities and partners.
“Investment in better infrastructure – such as improved shelters with real-time information, high-access kerbs, traffic light priority and dedicated bus lanes into and out of Glasgow – would make a real difference for passengers and help us deliver even more reliable services.”
Graeme Leslie, Area Director of Midland Bluebird, added: “We’ve made a real effort to listen to the communities along the X10 and X10A corridor.
“The feedback we gathered at our drop-in sessions in Balfron and Milngavie has helped shape practical improvements to the service, and it’s great to see that reflected in both performance figures and independent recognition.
“We’re committed to building on that progress and continuing to deliver a service that people can rely on.”
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