Full Breakdown
First Bus Suspends 240 Service Through Viewpark After Vehicle Attacks
By Drooid · · How we work
Service Withdrawal in North Lanarkshire
First Bus announced that it will suspend the 240 bus route that runs between Glasgow city centre and Overtown near Wishaw after a series of attacks on its vehicles. The company removed the service from Viewpark, an area near Bellshill, following four separate incidents in which buses were struck by missiles within a two-hour span. In a letter to local officials, First Bus said it can no longer safely operate the route through Viewpark and must protect the safety of drivers and passengers.
Background of the 240 Route
The 240 service has long provided a key link for commuters traveling between Glasgow and the eastern suburbs of North Lanarkshire. Viewpark lies along the route, and the recent attacks represent a sharp escalation in anti-bus activity that had not been reported at this intensity before.
Company and Council Response
Councillor Helen Loughran described the situation as the service being “under siege” and suggested that local young people were responsible for the attacks, although First Bus stated it could not verify the identity of the perpetrators. The bus operator emphasized that the decision to withdraw the service was driven by concerns for staff safety and the inability to guarantee reliable transport for passengers under the current conditions.
Potential Impact on Commuters
The suspension of the 240 route is expected to inconvenience regular riders who rely on the service for work, education, and other daily activities. Residents of Viewpark and surrounding neighborhoods may need to seek alternative transport options, potentially increasing travel times and costs. Local authorities have not yet announced replacement services or a timeline for restoring the route, leaving the community uncertain about future public-transport provisions.