26/09/2026
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1BmW2dR27a/
New Bus Service! An absolute drum roll for people power here....
Gourock Community Council have just received confirmation that we've helped to finally secure a new and funded IRH-Midton-Gourock Rail Station bus service.
It’s a temporary 26/27 service, running from 1st November to 27th March on a Monday to Saturday daytime basis. However, there's the chance to make it commercially attractive for 27/28 by ensuring it is well used. So... spread the word so that as many as possible are aware of this new service and use it well. Evidence around demand is being gathered over those months.
As many will know, the community council has been working on the issue of bus access for some time, particularly to help Upper Gourock residents. Have a look then at the extract from Strathclyde Partnership for Transport’s response (SPT) below and the attached timetable in the comments. Our earlier letters to SPT are further down the timeline too and we'll soon post more on this issue.
In the interim, thank you to SPT and MGill's for their support and to our local councillors - particularly Cllr Reynolds who has been especially active on this issue - and our MSP.
SPT RESPONSE...
“…I am pleased to confirm that having successfully secured Scottish Government funding through the Transport to Employment Programme for the 2026/27 financial year, a new bus service (service 540) shall be operating between Inverclyde Royal Hospital, Midton and Gourock Rail Station on a Monday to Saturday daytime basis. A copy of the proposed timetable has been provided for convenience.
Work is underway to facilitate the introduction of the service from Sunday 01 November 2026 and operate until Saturday 27 March 2027.
The TTE funding is restricted to the 2026/27 financial year and must be fully used within that period, and please note that the operation of the new service can only be funded for the duration of the TTE programme. There’s no confirmation at this stage of any funding in the 2027/2028 financial year.
It is hoped that the introduction of Service 540 over this 21-week period will provide a robust evidence base to assess passenger demand and become commercially attractive for an operator to take on beyond the TTE funding envelope. Any decision regarding the continuation of such a service after March 2027 will ultimately be a matter for a bus operator."