Destinations > Scotland > Glasgow > Local Transport

Glasgow

Local Transport

Glasgow has a good public transport system, operated by Strathclyde Passenger Transport (SPT; tel (0141) 332 7133; website www.spt.co.uk), which is comprised of buses, ferries, suburban trains and the subway.

BUS

There are a large number of bus routes that are operated by SPT and several private companies. However most travellers find trains and the subway to be an easier way to get around.

FERRY

SPT also operate a couple of ferry services across the Clyde but these are of little use to most travellers. The Renfrew-Yoker ferry crosses the Clyde just west of the city centre and it has been running for over 500 years making it one of Scotland's longest running ferry services. The one-way fare is 90p.

TRAINS & SUBWAY

Glasgow's subway consists of a single circular line that is nicknamed the Clockwork Orange. After London and Budapest, the Glasgow subway is the world's third oldest metro system. Trains run every five to eight minutes. Because it is a circular system, clockwise trains are referred to as running on the Outer Circle and anti-clockwise trains, the Inner Circle.

A single fare on the subway costs £1, you can also buy a 10-trip ticket for £8 or a 20-trip ticket for £13. A Discovery ticket allows one day unlimited travel for £1.70, but you cannot travel before 9.30am Mon-Sat. Weekly passes (£8) are also available.

A good suburban train network that also has underground stations in the city centre complements the subway. Transfer stations between the subway and suburban train networks are at Partick to the west of the city centre and Buchanan Street subway station, which connects with Queen Street train station at the eastern end of the city. Most travellers will only use the train between stations within the city centre, although there are some handy services such as to Balloch on Loch Lomond and also to Prestwick Airport.

Train fares vary depending on the length of the journey.

TRAVEL PASSES

In addition to individual tickets and passes restricted to a single mode of transport, there are some useful passes that make it easy and affordable to get around Glasgow.

Roundabout

The Roundabout ticket gives you unlimited travel for one day on trains and the subway after 9am Mon-Fri and all day on weekends. Travel is only valid within a limited area, but this covers most of suburban Glasgow including Glasgow Airport. The Roundabout ticket costs £4.50.

Daytripper

The Daytripper is useful if you want to make long daytrips to the surrounding countryside. It allows you to travel as much as you want on most buses, some ferries, on the subway and on trains in a large area that covers Glasgow and the surrounding countryside including Loch Lomond, Ayr and Lanark. It costs £8.50 or £15 for two people and is valid after 9am Mon-Fri and all day on weekends.

ZoneCard

If you're planning on working in Glasgow or staying at least a week, then a ZoneCard is a better idea. These allow unlimited travel on most buses and ferries plus trains and the subway within a specified area and are excellent value. A one-week ZoneCard ranges in price from £12.40 for travel in the two zones that comprise central Glasgow and £44.50 for travel in all zones.