MCGILL’S Group has unveiled plans for a new £25 million depot on a site close to Glasgow city centre in a move that it said could deliver up to 850 jobs.
The planned investment by the independent bus company comes following its acquisition of a 6.55-acre brownfield site on Kilbirnie Street in the city’s Tradeston area.
The location benefits from excellent transport connectivity, with direct access to the M74, M8 and M77 motorway networks, a nearby subway station, pedestrian links to Eglinton Street and Albert Drive, and extensive staff parking already in place.
Owned by Scottish entrepreneurs Sandy and James Easdale, McGill’s Group has experienced rapid growth in recent years – strengthening its core bus networks across Glasgow, Renfrewshire, and Inverclyde while building a major presence in the coach market and wider geographical bases across the whole of Scotland. This includes its own tour operator, Loch Lomond Travel, a private hire division, and a partnership with international long-haul operator FlixBus.
The firm said that the new depot will provide a modern, strategically located hub to drive McGill’s continued expansion and will support further growth of its coach fleet to 300 vehicles. It will also be strategically important in the event that bus franchising is introduced in Strathclyde. The new base will not affect operations at any of McGill’s existing depot sites, it added.
Ralph Roberts, chairman of McGill’s Group, said, “This is a strategic purchase that fits squarely within McGill’s three-year plan. In little over five years, we have added operations in Dundee, Stirling, Falkirk, Edinburgh, Livingston, Aberdeen, Inverness and now Glasgow. With a modern, low-carbon fleet and the backing of owners Sandy and James Easdale, McGill’s Group is in excellent health and firmly focused on revolutionising public transport in Scotland.”
Sandy Easdale, co-owner of McGill’s Group, added, “This project is not only about our own growth – it’s about creating up to 850 jobs and driving further regeneration in this part of the city. Tradeston is the ideal location, offering superb motorway and public transport links, staff facilities already in place, and the space we need to support both our bus and our fast-growing coach fleets. And this is just the start – further strategic deals are already in the pipeline, both in company property and for the expansion of McGill’s operations.”
James Easdale, co-owner of McGill’s Group, commented, “Our ambition for McGill’s is clear: to deliver sustainable, high-quality transport while building a business that supports communities and creates long-term employment. With strategic property deals like this, backed by significant investment, we are ensuring McGill’s remains at the forefront of the sector. This Glasgow depot is another major step forward in our mission to transform transport across Scotland – and with further acquisitions and expansion opportunities in the pipeline, there is much more to come.”
