Largs and Garnock Valley: 'Bring bus stop timetables into digital age'

The electronic signs, which provide up-to-the-minute updates of bus timings, are commonly seen in cities and towns around Scotland but have been absent from the Largs area, Fairlie, West Kilbride, and the Garnock Valley.

The A1 service from Ardrossan to Kilmarnock has long had them in place, but Largs – with its plethora of McGills 901 and 906, Stagecoach 585 and 585A services – have had to go without.

North Coast councillor Todd Ferguson, who has been pursuing the matter on behalf of constituents, has received confirmation that a funding application has been submitted by North Ayrshire Council to the transport authority.

Cllr Todd Ferguson (Image: North Ayrshire Conservatives)

He said: “I am absolutely thrilled by the announcement that North Ayrshire Council has submitted a funding bid to Strathclyde Passenger Transport (SPT) for the installation of Real Time Passenger Information (RTPI) displays on the North Coast and the Garnock Valley.

“I first raised the project to implement RTPIs after being contacted by constituents in West Kilbride. These calls have recently been echoed by residents in Largs and this latest announcement from the council will be very welcome news indeed for local bus commuters.

“The RTPI systems are readily available in other parts of North Ayrshire, so it makes absolutely no sense that commuters in the North Coast and the Garnock Valley should not have the same digital displays as those in Irvine do. 

“Ultimately the decision will be up to SPT to award the funding bid to the council. However, I would urge them to do just that so that we can bring the service into the digital age here on the North Coast and Garnock Valley."

Following a review of the current RTPI provision, North Ayrshire Council identified a "gap" in provision in both the North Coast and Garnock Valley, and should be notified in the next few months about whether they have been successful with their application, and, if not, will discuss with SPT about other "delivery opportunities."

The newly extended Sunday service on the Stagecoach 585 through Ayrshire saw a restoration of services near to pre-pandemic levels after a concerted News campaign.

Councillor Ferguson, who had supported the calls for the Sunday service to be extended, added: "It is great to see the buses being utilised on the extended service and long may it continue."