McGill's: 'You are holding us to ransom' - Renfrewshire passengers hit out at fare increase
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Jack Haugh @jackmhaugh
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'You are holding us to ransom' - passengers hit out at McGill's fare increase
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BUS bosses have been accused of "holding passengers to ransom" after it emerged fares on a crucial Renfrewshire route are to nearly double.
At another fiery public meeting in Renfrew last night, McGill's chiefs revealed long-awaited proposals for the X23 and 23 services, which link Renfrew, Inchinnan and Erskine with Glasgow.
Nearly 100 people were at the Normandy Hotel to hear McGill's managing director Ralph Roberts outline plans to increase prices on the X23 from £4.50 to £7 for a day ticket, from £18.50 to £30 for a weekly ticket and from £61.50 to £100 for a monthly ticket.
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Mr Roberts, who was joined by McGill's head of services Colin Napier, said there would be no increase to off-peak prices – after 9am – and no changes to the 23 service.
Ralph Roberts, McGill's MD, took questions at the meeting
The service will offer greater capacity at peak times, with 16 journeys instead of the current 12.
There will also be the introduction of a new fleet, costing approximately £180,000 per bus.
However, passengers hit out at McGill's chiefs over the price rises, with one woman accusing them of "daylight robbery."
One irate passenger who attended the meeting told The Gazette: "We are being held to ransom by a company that, in my opinion, is not interested in serving the community.
Gavin Newlands, Paisley and Renfrewshire North MP, was in attendance at the meeting
"They only want to fill their coffers, with the people of Renfrewshire left with no other choice but to pay these abhorrent prices.
"Surely this cannot be allowed to happen?"
Unlike other towns in Renfrewshire, neither Renfrew nor Erskine has a train station – and the X23 and 23 are the only bus services to Glasgow.
At the heated meeting, passengers of all ages and from across Renfrewshire questioned the need for such large price increases.
One woman said: "The ones who use the service the most are the ones who are being penalised."
During the meeting, one man was ejected after calling McGill's chiefs "lying, scumbag b******s."
Around 100 people packed into the meeting
Several passengers hit out at the new £7 fee for a day ticket, pointing out that it was almost as much as the national minimum wage, which stands at £7.83 per hour for those aged 25 or over.
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Mr Roberts put himself in the firing line by answering questions from the audience.
And he insisted there is no alternative to significant price rises if the service is to survive.
Mr Roberts told the meeting: "I am in a corner with this. The only other thing we can do is to raise prices across the network to subsidise the route."
