Pope visitors urged to use public transport

Pilgrims heading from Glasgow to the Pope’s mass at Bellahouston Park have been advised by organisers to take public transport. Originally it was thought that parishioners would be supplied with private buses, but now they have been asked to use public buses, the underground and trains.

The Pope’s mass, which will be held on September 16, is expected to draw a crowd of more than 70,000 people. A spokesman for the Catholic Church has urged worshippers to use public transport as he says it is the most efficient way to get there.

However, parishioners in Glasgow have already paid a donation of £20 which they thought would cover the cost of the private coaches to the event. The Catholic Church has claimed that those who gave donations will receive free passes for public transport.

Organiser Monsignor Peter Smith admitted that some people may be put out by the changes, but insisted that public transport is the best way to avoid large crowds. He added that some people would have faced a very long walk to Bellahouston Park if they had stuck with the original idea of private buses.

Traffic management plans, aimed at reducing congestion, are still being finalised across Scotland. Transport for Scotland is urging worshippers to plan their journeys in advance and be mindful of road closures. There will be partial closures on the M8 and A8 slip roads as well as the M8 at junction 22 and the M77 at junction 2.