Starting this weekend, First Glasgow's new Hospital Connect service 77 will provide fast and frequent links from the city centre and the west end to the new South Glasgow University Hospital and onwards to Braehead shopping centre. 

Serving Arrival Square, the bus arrivals point at the hospital, service 77 will run seven days a week up to every 10 minutes ensuring that customers across Glasgow can change with other First Glasgow services at Thornwood and Partick and Glasgow city centre, including Buchanan Bus Station. 

First Glasgow has invested in a fleet of 12 dedicated service 77 state-of-the-art buses which are fitted with leather seats, free on-board WiFi and extra room for buggies and wheelchairs. Each of the dedicated vehicles is specifically branded ‘Hospital Connect’.   

Now open, the new South Glasgow University Hospital has 14 floors, 1109 beds and integrates both the Adult and Children’s Hospitals. It is the largest critical care complex in the UK. 

Fiona Kerr, First Glasgow’s Managing Director, said: 'We’re delighted to introduce our Hospital Connect services to transport staff, patients and visitors to and from the South Glasgow University Hospital. 

'Service 77 will provide a vital link to the new hospital as well as onto Braehead Shopping Centre. 

'We’re expecting service 77 to be well used by communities in the north and west of Glasgow, as well as those connecting through the city centre. Roadshows have already been held at the new hospital and timetables have been distributed to encourage travel by public transport.' 

Service 77 will serve a number of communities including Charing Cross, Kelvingrove, Partick, Thornwood, Braehead shopping centre and on some journeys Renfrew and Glasgow Airport. 

Katharine Brough, NHSGGC, said: 'We welcome the new First Glasgow 77 and 34A services which are excellent news for visitors and staff travelling on public transport to and from the South Glasgow University Hospitals.' 

Also from 10 May, to improve access to the South Glasgow Hospitals from the south side of the city and key interchange points, new service 34A will be introduced between Castlemilk and Arrivals Square at South Glasgow University Hospital. 

Service 34A will link Castlemilk, Croftfoot, Battlefield, Shawlands and Cardonald directly with South Glasgow University Hospital.  At interchange points passengers can connect to service 34A from other First Glasgow services to travel to the hospital. 

Service 34A is being introduced in partnership with SPT and the NHS and will operate up to every 15 minutes between Castlemilk and the hospital. 

Services 34A and 77 operate seven days a week, from early morning until late evening. 

Service 77 will begin on May 10 and replaces First Glasgow’s 30-minute 747 service. Links to Glasgow Airport on service 747 are retained within this new service. 

First Glasgow’s value for money fares, starting at £1.40 a day, will be valid on service 77. And with the 77 will serving Braehead shopping Centre it will also offer customers vastly improved shopping and leisure links. Customers also have the option of buying FirstWeek and Flexi10 tickets from more than 800 PayPoint stores across Greater Glasgow and from First’s mTickets app (where customers use their mobile phone as their bus ticket). 

For timetable and fares information visit: www.firstglasgow.com