McGill’s Buses Managing Director Ralph Roberts has criticised local and national government for “favouring the car and train” over buses. He says the bulk of infrastructure money goes to those modes despite buses delivering 74% of public transport journeys.
“Buses receive peppercorn levels of infrastructure investment,” he adds. The Greenock operator carries almost 750,000 passengers per week and since 2014 it has invested around £21m in its fleet.
Mr Roberts says that McGill’s is in discussions with government at both local and national levels to release more funding for buses. Local politicians see doing so as a high-risk strategy that may lead to a voter backlash.
“They need to remember that bus users are also voters,” he adds.
However, he accepts that it is unsurprising that Renfrewshire – where the bulk of McGill’s revenues are earned – chooses to prioritise cars. Renfrewshire has the highest car ownership in Scotland.
Mr Roberts was speaking after McGill’s revealed its financial results for the year ending December 2018. On a turnover of £38m it recorded a pre-tax profit of £1.4m, an increase on 2017.
However, the operator recorded a drop in passenger numbers that it believes has been driven by high street decline. Echoing Mr Roberts’ views, Director Sandy Easdale has called for more investment in waiting facilities and better management of car parking and roadworks.
