The Clockwork Orange (Glasgow Underground)

Member Name: GuruOnAMountain

Product:	Glasgow Underground
Date:	31/01/05 (436 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Relatively Cheap, Quick, Covers most important areas.

Disadvantages: Dirty, Uncomfortable

When I first started at Glasgow Uni, the easiest, quickest and probably cheapest way for me to get from Buchanan Street to Hillhead was by taking the Underground. I've now been using it for the best part of two years and I reckon it's about time I share my experiences of it.

Unlike London, the Glasgow Underground doesn't have a confusing mass of lines. Instead it just has the Inner and the Outer Circle. They both travel to the same stops but the Inner circle moves in a clock-wise direction and the Outer in an anti-clockwise direction. Both trains stop at:

Partick
Kelvinhall
Hillhead
Kelvinbridge
St. George's Cross
Cowcaddens
Buchanan Street
St. Enoch
Bridge Street
West Street
Shields Road
Kinning Park
Cessnock
Ibrox
Govan

Park and Ride facilities are available at Kelvinbridge, Bridge Street, West Street and Shields Road. Services begin around 6.30am Monday-Saturday and around 11am on a Sunday and terminate between 11-11.30pm on weekdays and 5.30-6pm on Sundays.

An adult return ticket costs £2 and a single costs £1, but there are other ticket options available such as a 20 journey ticket for £13 and a discovery ticket which can be bought after 9.30am and used as many times as you like throughout the day for £1.70. More fare information can be found at: http://www.spt.co.uk/Travel/subway.html#route

So what is a journey on the Glasgow Underground actually like? Well, if I'm going to be entirely honest, it's not particularly pleasant. The stations themselves tend to be rather dingy, dirty and smelly and most days when I arrive at Hillhead the 'up' escalator is out of service. The trains themselves are generally quite old and are also dirty. The seats tend to be filthy and grimy and the journey is far more bumpy and uncomfortable than a journey on the London underground. At peak times it is packed, too, although I suppose that is only to be expected.

Also, the train doors don't have sensors like lift doors, and keep closing regardless. There is a continous beeping signal before they shut to warn people not to run on or off, but if you do chance it, there is a chance you'll end up getting stuck between the 2 doors which could be both rather painful and embarrassing!

I find that the platforms get extremely slippy if it is wet weather outside, too, as they are tiled and I find it difficult enough to stay upright on them sometimes, never mind the trouble it could cause an elderly person.

However, the journey does tend to be quite quick and relatively hassle free compared to getting a bus.

All in all, the Underground is quite handy for getting around Glasgow, but it doesn't cover a large area and isn't a very nice mode of transport, but fares are reasonable and trains are frequent, and it is probably the best choice for most people who want to travel within Glasgow.

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