Transport Planning and Integration: a Public Transport Scenario for the Clyde

Please click here for the full presentation or read on for a summary of the talk.

Douglas Ferguson, Director of Operations for Strathclyde Passenger Transport (SPT), presented the work of SPT around the Firth of Clyde, describing the present situation as well as the potential for future transport in the area, including river based transport.

The presentation began with a look at transport statistics in SPT’s area. In general, car ownership has been increasing steadily over the last twenty or so years to a peak of around 350 cars per 1000 population. In 2001/02, 43% of Scotland’s population were based in SPT’s area. 37% of the distance travelled in total by Scotland’s road vehicle traffic and 40% of car ownership also occurred in area. Public transport use in the area was however, similarly high with 68% of Scotrail journeys and 47% bus journeys being taken in the SPT area. Within Glasgow City Centre at the morning peak time, 41% of journeys are made by car while the remainder are made by bus (28%), rail (25%) and underground (6%) (SIMT, Glasgow Motorway Box Cordon 1996).

Douglas Ferguson then moved onto outlining Strathclyde Passenger Transport Authority’s remit. The present authority was created by the 1994 Local Government etc (Scotland) Act, but its powers and duties derived from the 1968 Transport Act. The organisation is a body corporate with a perpetual succession and a common seal. It is made up of 34 members who are appointed from the membership of the 12 unitary authorities which are either completely or partly within the SPT area. This area was defined by the Strathclyde Passenger Transport Area Designation Order 1995.

SPT’s mission statement is “using its available resources to best advantage, SPT will work to ensure the provision of public transport that meets the current and future needs of west central Scotland, and that is attractive, accessible, integrated, efficient and safe for people and our environment.”

SPT’s general policies are to facilitate access to, and promote, maintain and enhance, affordable, attractive, public transport to all. Linking directly with the subject of the conference, SPT also promotes and strives towards the implementation of integrated transport between difference services and modes of transport and also with existing and planned development. In the course of this work, SPT strives towards safety and security on their services, environmental improvements and ensuring that public transport supports economic growth by giving access to employment, tourism and other aspects of economic activity.

SPT is also involved in transport planning and monitoring, running and inspecting bus and rail services, producing timetables, marketing fares and services and integrated ticketing. SPT provides an impressive number of public transport journeys by bus, train, subway and by their Dial-A-Bus services. 37.58 million train passenger journeys are made each year, 190 subsidised bus services are provided and almost 14 million subway journeys are made each year. In addition, SPT’s travel centres handle almost 2 million enquires annually.

SPT operates passenger ferry routes on the Clyde from Gourock to Kilcreggan, Kilcreggan to Helensburgh and Helensburgh to Gourock. The Renfrew Passenger Ferry operates on demand from Yoker to Renfrew around 6 to 10 times a hour.

There are examples of traditional integration in the existing SPT services. For example, the train/ferry interchange facilities at Wemyss Bay, Gourock and Brodick. There are also links between the SPT rail, bus and subway networks. Integrated ticketing is offered by SPT with their Zonecard, Day Tripper, Roundabout and Conference tickets. There are also rail/ferry tickets to Mount Stuart on Bute, Brodick Castle on Arran and Benmore Botanic Gardens on the Cowal Peninsula. Rail and sail is also possible to Belfast via Troon. Future network enhancements include a rail link to Glasgow Airport from Glasgow Centre station via Paisley St James.

The presentation concluded with a look to the future. In the short term, there is scope for expanding the Renfrew-Yoker route to a triangular service which would include Braehead. Market research and engineering costings have been undertaken and a cost-benefit analysis is being carried out. It is envisaged that a pilot service will start in 2005. Other future route developments on the river are also being examined. Whilst a linear ferry service along the Clyde has been proposed, Douglas Ferguson, pointed out that this service would have to rely on developer contribution and that commuter transport would have to be supplemented by leisure and recreational use.

For further information on Strathclyde Passenger Transport, please see their website at www.spt.co.uk or telephone 0870 608 2 608 for travel enquiries and 0141332 6811 for the general head office switchboard.