THE SUBWAY
The Subway system is one of the most efficient ways of travelling around the city and is a true Glasgow icon.
Tickets can be bought at staffed ticket offices at any Subway station, or from vending machines at the stations.Ticket prices are based on a single or return flat fare, regardless of how long the journey is. There are also multi-journey and season tickets available that can save you time and money. Multi-journey and season tickets are for individual use only. The range of tickets and prices is displayed at each station. Tickets can also be bought at selected SPT Travel Centres.The Subway operates every 4/5 minutes during morning and evening peak periods, Monday to Friday, and between 12:00 and 18:30 on Saturday.
The service frequency will vary during off peak periods to match passenger demand, with evening and Sunday timetables generally operating every 12 minutes.
The Subway provides close interchange with the suburban and national rail network at Buchanan Street, Partick and St Enoch stations. Bus stances at Govan and Partick stations assist the bus links available from most Subway stations. Park and Ride facilities at Kelvinbridge, Shields Road and Bridge Street stations provide 1,109 car spaces to ease city access by the Subway. Multi-modal public transport is encouraged through the use of ZoneCard, SPT's season ticket that permits easy use of the Subway, suburban rail and bus services.
BUSES
Private bus operators (notably First Glasgow, 0141 423 6600 and Stagecoach: Glasgow, 0141 333 1100 ) provide a comprehensive network of services from early morning until about midnight. You can get on a bus from clearly signposted bus stops in the street - just put out your hand to indicate that you wish the bus to stop. Please note that most buses run an 'exact fare' policy where money is entered directly into a cash box next to the driver and a ticket is then issued with no change given. Prices vary, but a fare of approximately £1.15 should get you on most rides within the city. Night bus services operate at weekends only, when they can be quite boisterous. Tourist bus services operating from George Square are a very popular and informative way to see the city sites. Bus services to and from other UK towns and cities depart from Buchanan Street Bus Station (0141 332 7133).
TRAINS
An extensive network of regular and frequent local rail services operates in Glasgow, its suburbs and the West of Scotland. Most suburbs and towns within this area are accessible by train, however, the level of service varies greatly and some stations are closed on Sundays. Free timetables are available for each line from the appropriate train station and should be checked before travelling . Telephone enquiries can be made to 0345 484950.
Tickets should be purchased in advance of travelling from the station Booking Office or from the conductor on the train if the station booking office is closed. If you are staying outwith Glasgow and do not want to drive into the city, you can use the 'Park-and-Ride' system which allows free parking at suburban rail stations, where you then continue your journey by train. CCTV protects most of the parking facilities - the Park-and-Ride also operates at four Glasgow Underground stations.
TAXI
Glasgow has approximately 1500 traditional London-type black hackney taxis, all of which are licensed by Glasgow City Council. Each taxi is fitted with a sealed meter which has been approved by council officials and displays the current fare at all times. A fare card stating the tariff should be displayed in a prominent position within the taxi - as should the driver's licence card. As a rough guide, a three mile journey will cost in the region of £7, remember the 10% tip for a good job. Each hackney taxi can carry up to a maximum of five passengers - please do not ask the driver to carry more, as it will cost him his licence if he does.
Taxis can be flagged-down in the street or queued-up for at designated taxi stances. The stances are usually located at busy spots such as stations and main thoroughfares - a taxi will not usually stop to pick up a hire if they are within a quarter of a mile of a stance. The major taxi companies offer tours of the city for under £30, but always ask in advance for a quote before travelling. If you are going on a longer journey - especially outside the city boundary - certain extra charges may apply and on some occasions the driver may ask for payment in advance. If you require a taxi with wheelchair access, you are best to phone a taxi company and order one.
Glasgow also has many licensed 'private hire cars' which operate on a similar basis as the black hackneys, except that they cannot be flagged-down in the street and they tend to be slightly cheaper. Always, always look for the yellow licence plate sign in the private hire car window (and the metal plate on the back of the car), before taking a journey and never accept a journey from a private car which stops claiming to be a private hire cab, as this is against the law and no reputable driver would do this.
Sources: www.spt.co.uk
www.glasgowguide.co.uk
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