McDonald and Hepburn Take Up Bridge Closure Concerns

Cumbernauld, Kilsyth and Kirkintilloch East MP, Stuart McDonald, and Cumbernauld and Kilsyth MSP, Jamie Hepburn, have today taken up concerns over the bus service between Cumbernauld and Kirkintilloch following the closure of the Dumgrew railway bridge.

Mr McDonald and Mr Hepburn have been contacted by a number of constituents concerned that DA Coaches who run the 047 bus service from Kirkintilloch via Cumbernauld to Monklands Hospital will cease to run the Cumbernauld to Kirkintilloch leg of this journey. Instead this service will only run from Cumbernauld to Monklands Hospital as DA Coaches have been unable to find financial support to run a replacement bus service from Kirkintilloch to Cumbernauld. Drumgrew Bridge will be closed for 9 months for infrastructure improvements.

Stuart McDonald commented:
“This is one of the main routes between Kirkintilloch and Cumbernauld and its closure for 9 months means that those who rely on good public transport links to be able to get to work have been left wondering what to do.

“Along with my colleague Jamie Hepburn MSP I have written to DA Coaches, who run this route, offering out assistance in finding a resolution in this matter. I am also aware that there is still very little information available to the public to make them aware of these service changes.

“We have also simultaneously contacted Network Rail, Strathclyde Partnership for Transport, North Lanarkshire Council and East Dunbartonshire Council to ask if they could work collaboratively to take all necessary steps to ensure that this well-utilised service can continue to be provided for those who rely upon it.”

Jamie Hepburn added:
“A number of constituents have been in touch with our office to stress their concerns at the impact the withdrawal of this service will have on their day to day lives, as all public transport between these two towns will become significantly harder.

“In our correspondence with DA Coaches we have asked them if they will consider continuing to provide some level of service and assistance to those needing to travel between Cumbernauld and Kirkintilloch until such a time as an agreement can be established for the remaining 9 month period.
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“I hope that all those concerned are able to work together to allow a reasonable solution to be found for everyone who depends on this service.”