GREENOCK-BASED bus operator McGill’s has appointed a new managing director following an expansion of its services.

Alex Hornby has joined the company after eight years at the helm of the French-owned Transdev Blazefield – an operator which runs services in Greater Manchester, Lancashire, North Yorkshire, and West Yorkshire.

The 41-year-old will report to the group board, including owners Sandy and James Easdale, and chief executive Ralph Roberts.

Mr Hornby said: “I am hugely excited at the opportunity to manage a class-leading, successful, and ambitious organisation, now the biggest independently owned bus company in the UK, Scotland’s Public Transport Operator of the Year, and one of the largest operators of zero-emission electric fleets in the country.

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“The future for our industry is bright if - across both the operator sector and in government - we all grasp the right opportunities and align ourselves to zero carbon, economic growth, and congestion-busting agendas that the bus can help to realise.”

McGill’s says the appointment follows ‘substantial’ expansion, after its purchase of Xplore Dundee from National Express in 2021.

Last year, the firm also acquired First Scotland East – including the Bright Bus open-top tour operation in Edinburgh.

Mr Roberts added: “Alex’s drive and passion will significantly strengthen the McGill’s Group leadership team and ensure that we continue to develop the current business as I focus on our exciting growth plans.

"We continue to hire quality people and we look forward to working with Alex.”

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James Easdale added: “We have emerged as a front-runner in zero-emission transport, with investment totalling £55m since the end of 2021, placing us in the UK’s top three companies for fleet decarbonisation.

“Earlier this year, we introduced a further £20m investment in 41 new electric buses.”

Sandy Easdale hopes his company’s investment in sustainable infrastructure can help get people ‘back on the buses’.

He said: “We are doing our part to get people out of their cars and back on the buses but we need the government to play their part and get a realistic perspective regarding subsidies. The obsession with trains is madness.

“We are pouring serious investment into substantial infrastructure upgrades at four of our depots to support charging and maintenance of our electric fleet, while a training programme is under way to support vehicle technicians as they maintain the next generation buses.”