Hello! I’m currently sat on an MCV Evora operated by JMB Travel having just left Buchanan Street Bus Station heading for Hamilton. A service that was Axed by First Bus in July 2020 during the COVID 19 Pandemic. I believe they had wanted to cut the service back in 2019! But with much anger and campaigning eventually JMB Travel re introduced the service from 13th January 2025!

Whist on route to Hamilton, one thing I’d like to point out that where currently riding on the M8, it’s always baffling to be on a Bus and travel along a Motorway as the majority of bus routes where I am from in Merseyside operate on standard A & B Roads not M Roads or Motorways! So far the Bus is running on time, once it arrives into Hamilton it’ll then stop at various before reaching its final destination in Hillhouse.

The route starts at Buchanan Bus Station near Glasgow Queen Street, it cost £8 for a single to Hillhouse or £2 for short hopper fares around Hamilton its self. The journey takes about 55 Minutes from Glasgow to Hillhouse, I’m rather enjoying the journey and it was strange being on a Bus whilst on the Motorway which isn’t unique to this service in Scotland!

Now in the suburbs of Hamilton, it’s a stop start service serving the towns around Hamilton like Westcraigs, Chantinghall & Udstone, the service has been operating now since 13th January and it is quite popular with most people getting on at the start of the Journey and continuing all the way to Hamilton & Hillhouse!

The vehicles it uses are known as MCV eVoRas with a Volvo Chassis, I do rather like these buses, they’re modern, clean and they weirdly have Seatbelts like you would get on a Coach! One thing I have noticed whilst on route to Hillhouse are the stunning views you get of Glasgow down in the valley!

The MCV eVoRa is a rather nice Bus, the seats I felt were a tad on the Firm side, the vehicle had USB A & Seatbelts which I thought was a bit strange but I assume that these buses maybe used for School services and coach days so they’re for safety! Here’s a message from the Managing Director of JMB Travel!

Martin Bell, JMB Travel Managing Director, says: “We have served Hamilton with our popular Service 41 for many years, and after hearing of the campaign by residents to have a fast bus link reinstated to Glasgow, we reviewed existing transport options and concluded that there was an opportunity to develop just such a link. 

“Our new X1 will connect the major residential areas of Hamilton to the Town Centre before running along the M74 & M8, providing easy access to Glasgow Royal Infirmary, the University quarter and Buchanan Galleries”

And finally, I want to say that I really enjoyed my time riding on the X1, I am planning to do more blog posts like this, reviewing various bus routes as well as covering new services that are being introduced and the ever changing bus network with Bee Network, Metro in Liverpool & much more!