Fresh calls are being made to reintroduce a popular Lanarkshire bus service that was scrapped during the pandemic.
First Bus initially axed the X1 service between Hamilton and Glasgow in October 2019 but it was later brought back after disgruntled locals launched a petition which reached 2500 signatures.
However, it was pulled once again only a few months later when Covid-19 hit.
First Glasgow said at the time it was no longer viable and cancelled the service due to dwindling passenger numbers, with social distancing restrictions impacting this further.
Local residents branded the decision in 2020 as “outrageous” and “ridiculous” as they voiced their disappointment.
Now, almost two years on, Central Scotland MSP Monica Lennon and a local election candidates are pleading with the bus operator to bring back the X1.
And with the lifting of Covid measures, they believe now is the time to return a "vital" community link to local bus users.
Ms Lennon says it should pave the way for the return of the X1, a measure she says would help with the cost of living crisis.
She told Lanarkshire Live : “As the only direct link from Hamilton to Glasgow, local residents are understandably desperate to have the X1 reinstated.
“I’m knocking on doors across Hamilton with Scottish Labour’s candidates and people ask about the X1 constantly.
“Our communities have been badly failed by First Glasgow, who used the pandemic to withdraw this vital service.
“They blamed this on passenger numbers and the viability of running the service while restrictions such as social distancing were in place.
“These issues are no longer in play – so it’s time to get the X1 back on the road.
“So eager are Hamilton residents to have a direct service to Glasgow, that constituents have been contacting my office with any alternative routes and solutions they can think of.
“I have recently written to First and the Minister for Transport calling for a fresh look at transport links between Hamilton and Glasgow.
“The X1 offered a vital service getting local residents into the city for work and education and Scottish Labour will continue to fight for better local bus services.”
The Scottish Labour and Co-operative MSP rallied against plans by First Glasgow to scrap the express bus service in 2019 and people power seemed to win over Lanarkshire's biggest bus operators.
But celebrations were cut short when First made its dramatic U-turn.
Jim Lee, Scottish Labour candidate for the Hamilton West and Earnock ward in next month’s Local Government elections, said the issue has been raised repeatedly on doorsteps during his campaign.
He said: “The removal of the X1 service has been a massive loss to the area, so it’s no surprise it has been raised many times by residents over the past few weeks.
“People in the area really relied on it to get to work and university, and for socialising and shopping in the city centre.
“Only Scottish Labour is making this a priority.”
Another candidate standing in next month's elections is Mark McGeever, who recently took to social media to back calls for the X1 to be reinstated.
He said: "The loss of the X1 seriously impacted residents" and called for Hamilton to be "properly connected to the city centre and beyond by a convenient, reliable and cheap bus system."
He added: "That is vital for the economy, businesses, and people's life chances."
Paul Clark, head of operations for First Glasgow, told us:“ We are continuing to experience an acute shortage of drivers, and while we’re recruiting aggressively to combat this, we still have a considerable way to go before we reach the staffing levels that would support pre-pandemic frequencies network wide.
"Only once we have reached that stage will we then be in a position to consider other network expansion opportunities such as the X1.
“Demand for bus services is currently at 70 per cent of pre-pandemic levels and we are seeing some changes in people’s travel patterns which appear to have become permanent.
"For example, fewer people work every day in the office, reducing further the demand for predominantly peak, express services such as the X1.
“We will continue to review our services and passenger demand as our driver numbers increase with the hope of more services returning to the network in future.”
Also standing in this year's local elections for the Hamilton West and Earnock ward is: Mary Donnelly (SNP); Allan Falconer (Labour); Graham William Fisher (Conservative and Unionist Party); Leonard Gingell (Scottish Green Party); Graeme Horne (SNP); and Mark McGeever (Liberal Democrats).
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