The redevelopment of Partick Bus Station by Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT) is now complete after 11 months of construction with the facility scheduled to open on September 2.

The new bus station forms part of a vital multi modal transportation hub in the west of Glasgow; integrating bus, rail and subway with national cycle and local footpath networks. It is one of Glasgow’s busiest interchanges serving one of Scotland’s most densely populated districts; connecting to the Riverside Museum, Glasgow Harbour, Glasgow University, Kelvingrove and bus routes to the new Queen Elizabeth Hospital.

Lead design consultant Austin-Smith:Lord said its design solution increases the number of stances by 20% to accommodate increased bus patronage associated with the opening of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital and anticipated growth resulting from recent and forecast development within the area. The new bespoke bus stances are designed to current best practice and provide modern high quality waiting space that fully integrates lighting, CCTV, seating, and customer information technology.

The stances with their cantilevered roof form and curved glass ends add an attractive and prominent presence within their context, representing the commitment shown by SPT to invest in the creation of a high quality of environment to meet today’s passenger expectations and encourage bus travel as a main transport mode in the west of Scotland.

From project outset, a significant emphasis was placed on improving safety in and around the bus station. The design achieves this by segregating bus movement from other vehicles, segregating pedestrians from the bus manoeuvring area and creating improved road crossing points. New lighting within the bus station and stances also promotes an improvement to public safety.

The public realm linking the new bus station with the existing interchange and surrounding streets is dramatically transformed with the installation of new granite paving, seating, trees and lighting which is extended along the interchange frontage to tie in with the recently completed public realm upgrade works by Glasgow City Council.

Austin-Smith:Lord’s project director, Andrew McCafferty, said: “We are delighted to have led the delivery process from concept to completion. We have enjoyed working closely with SPT and their stakeholders to develop a design solution that will improve the bus passenger experience, promote the ‘seamless journey’ and connectivity with the existing subway/rail Interchange and enhance the quality of environment for those who live and work within the area.

“The response to the project brief and our vision for the design of the new stances and transformation of the public realm has been realised through successful collaboration between Austin-Smith:Lord and our client SPT, (our sub-consultants Curtins and SVM), cost consultants Currie & Brown, Luddon Construction and specialist sub-contractor Trueform.”

SPT senior director, Charles Hoskins, said: “Partick Interchange is an important integrated transport hub for West Glasgow serving one of Scotland’s busiest and most densely populated areas. SPT investment in Partick and the new facilities will significantly improve the bus passenger experience.

“The introduction of bespoke high quality shelters providing proper protection from the weather, real time passenger information displays, CCTV, and improved LED lighting as well as better provision for wheelchairs with high kerbs offering level entry to the buses, makes the station much more attractive and accessible to the whole community.”