First Group: General Discussion

[david16]

Try travelling on the X95 then as it takes just over three-and-a-half hours to get from Edinburgh to Carlisle.

Edinburgh to Carlisle is much further than Edinburgh to Stirling.

But it's much longer per mile for the Edinburgh to Stirling bus.

 

[overthewater]

Does anyone else believe First really has got no idea how to solve the current troubles at First Scotland East? Why they seem to refuse point blank to either sell of run away, but instead waste good money year after year plugging FSE loses?

There is talk that First Glasgow are planning to refurbish up to 200 of its own buses?

 

[Surreyman]

Does anyone else believe First really has got no idea how to solve the current troubles at First Scotland East? Why there seem to refuse point blank to either sell of run away, but instead waste year after year good profits plugging FSE loses?

There is talk that First Glasgow are planning to refurbish up to 200 of its own buses?

I think FSE will be the test for the new board, the new chairman is making some aggressive hardline noises.
First will know exactly what the problems are with FSE and will have a range of options to deal with them, unfortunately most of them won't be very PR/Staff/Public friendly.
I was in Stirling a few days ago and the newest bus I saw was an 05 reg, most vehicles were R/S & T reg Scania/Wrights, even the newly repainted vehicles seem to have been resprayed over the dents and rust.

 

[GaryMcEwan]

Stirling has recently got a lot of W reg Volvo B10 Alx300's from Aberdeen which are in a bit of a state as well. There's also the 55 reg coach which only seems to do the 101 out to the Stirling campus of the Forth Valley College.

 

[fgwrich]

Stirling has recently got a lot of W reg Volvo B10 Alx300's from Aberdeen which are in a bit of a state as well. There's also the 55 reg coach which only seems to do the 101 out to the Stirling campus of the Forth Valley College.

Livingston depot - which I know seems to have a lot dumped into it, was running around with a repainted ex RV1 Duel Door Mercedes Citaro where it just looked like they had painted over the London Red paint, even leaving if I remember the radiator cover in London Red.

 

[Blindtraveler]

FSE will take a hell of a lot more than paint to sort it but in doing so the only foalk I feel for are the workers. In PR Terms they cant get any worse and admitting there throwing in the towl would potentially help them. Same goes for Passengers. Theres no no such thing as a happy FSE Passenger and many would be glad to have shot of them. Theres much better out there.↲

 

[Surreyman]

FSE will take a hell of a lot more than paint to sort it but in doing so the only foalk I feel for are the workers. In PR Terms they cant get any worse and admitting there throwing in the towl would potentially help them. Same goes for Passengers. Theres no no such thing as a happy FSE Passenger and many would be glad to have shot of them. Theres much better out there.↲

As things stand, FSE limps along, First will transfer older DDA compliant vehicles from other First companies i.e 2001 - 2006 built.
Galashiels appears to be profitable based on Firsts vehicle investment programme, Livingstone & Musselburgh would appear to be heavy loss makers based on info from 2012-2013 financial year (posted in this column).
Maybe, just maybe they will attempt some low key 'restructuring' i.e revised (reduced) networks, a few de-registered services etc, there will be the inevitable outcry, local media, politicians making lots of noises, councils talking about reduced transport budgets.
Scotland is a very political arena at the moment and the SNP & Labour are very keen to make political capital wherever they can, any announcement by First of service cuts/redundancies/depot closures is likely to see First 'crucified' by the public/media/local politicians.
First runs Scotrail and would like to win/retain the franchise, it is based in and has the majority operation in Aberdeen, so is perceived as a 'Scottish Company' and of course has the largest bus operation in Scotland in greater Glasgow/Strathclyde.
I don't know the % split of Commercial/Council tendered services but even if they overbid in order to lose tenders, they suffer the consequences of reduced 'critical mass' in their depots and overall costs rise.

 

[Blindtraveler]

Not familier with Livingston opperations but Musselburgh is already a pail shaddow of what it once was and in terms of cuts theres not a great deal more they can do really. There not liked in the county and many would gladly say buybuys!↲

 

[GaryMcEwan]

Livingston depot - which I know seems to have a lot dumped into it, was running around with a repainted ex RV1 Duel Door Mercedes Citaro where it just looked like they had painted over the London Red paint, even leaving if I remember the radiator cover in London Red.

I was in Livingston a few weeks ago, and it felt as though I had never left home with the amount of ex Glasgow Preseidents that I saw.

I seen a few Citaro's in the new livery and they don't look nice at all....

 

[Strathclyder]

I seen a few Citaro's in the new livery and they don't look nice at all....

I personally think the new livery works best on the E500s:

 

[GaryMcEwan]

One thing I've noticed with Glasgow's new Streetlites. Blantyre's lot have got the leather seats, but yet Parkhead's don't. Why would First order 2 batches but yet have different specs for each lot respectively?

 

[winston270twm]

One thing I've noticed with Glasgow's new Streetlites. Blantyre's lot have got the leather seats, but yet Parkhead's don't. Why would First order 2 batches but yet have different specs for each lot respectively?

Leather seats is meant to be part of the new standard First interior spec

 

[GaryMcEwan]

Leather seats is meant to be part of the new standard First interior spec

Glasgow must have not got that memo...

 

[winston270twm]

Glasgow must have not got that memo...

Group will have placed the order with Wrightbus anyway

 

[Volvodart]

http://www.busandcoachbuyer.com/freeman-leaves-reading-first/

Freeman leaves Reading for First

CEO of Reading Transport Ltd, James Freeman, is to leave Reading Buses at the end of September. After almost seven years with the municipal concern, he is to take up the post of MD of First Bristol & West of England. He described the new role as ‘a significant career progression’ and a ‘great personal challenge’. He will take over from Paul Matthews, who has been appointed to the newly created MD position in West Yorkshire.

James said, ‘I have had a wonderful time at Reading Buses. We have created a top quality team here whose success has been measured in awards won, passenger satisfaction at record breaking levels and best of all in the high regard that local people have for the buses here and the people who operate them. My time at Reading Buses is the longest stint in one job of my bus industry career of almost 40 years. In the past seven years I have made many good friends here and learned that Reading is a very good place to be.’

‘While I feel no pressure to leave Reading, I feel that the time has come for a new challenge. For family reasons I need to go back to the West Country – so now I have the chance to return to Bristol where I started my first desk based job in the bus industry as a grade 1b clerk way back in April 1975. As a matter of fact I will be moving back to live in the very same road in Bath where I was born!’

Chair of Reading Buses, David Sutton, said, ‘We are very sorry to be losing James, of course, but we recognise that this is a unique opportunity for him, in both personal and professional terms, and we wish him all the best for the future. He has done a marvellous job for Reading Buses in his seven years with us, and the awards recently won by the company testify to this. We will now be seeking to appoint a successor who can build on all James’s excellent work and maintain the company’s position as an award-winning and innovative national leader.’

 

[overthewater]

It's been mentioned FSE are to get 18 streetlites after the Glasgow games. Place your bet now as to which routes or depots might get them. But still pretty poor showing.

 

[Colly405]

http://www.busandcoachbuyer.com/freeman-leaves-reading-first/

I'm sure the irony won't be lost on him that in 1990 (?) he joined Badgerline Rapid Transit, or whatever it was called, and Bristol is *still* talking about trams/BRT. Or is MetroBus another reason that he has come back?

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

I'm sure the irony won't be lost on him that in 1990 (?) he joined Badgerline Rapid Transit, or whatever it was called, and Bristol is *still* talking about trams/BRT. Or is MetroBus another reason that he has come back?

Perhaps but you can't argue that First have attracted another vastly experienced and respected busman. Having haemorrhaged good people in the years of Moir led diktats, it's good to see.

FB/FSA has already seen quite a bit of change for the good; let's see what else may happen

 

[Robertj21a]

Perhaps but you can't argue that First have attracted another vastly experienced and respected busman. Having haemorrhaged good people in the years of Moir led diktats, it's good to see.

FB/FSA has already seen quite a bit of change for the good; let's see what else may happen

Amazed that James has gone to First - his 'family reasons' must be very important indeed.

Robert

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Amazed that James has gone to First - his 'family reasons' must be very important indeed.

Robert

Yes though the idea of moving to a progressive firm with more scope to develop things may also prove attractive

 

[GaryMcEwan]

Just had a very rare but pleasurable journey on the 38A heading home on one of Glasgow's E500's, but I had no idea how big they are...

It just managed to get round the Nelson Mandela Place bus gate by a whisker, and there was a few tight spots heading up to the Royal Infirmary.

Good buses, but just keep them on the 4 and 75...

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Just had a very rare but pleasurable journey on the 38A heading home on one of Glasgow's E500's, but I had no idea how big they are...

It just managed to get round the Nelson Mandela Place bus gate by a whisker, and there was a few tight spots heading up to the Royal Infirmary.

Good buses, but just keep them on the 4 and 75...

They are huge machines and, so I'm led to believe, quite thirsty so may end up a rarities!

 

[Blindtraveler]

It's been mentioned FSE are to get 18 streetlites after the Glasgow games. Place your bet now as to which routes or depots might get them. But still pretty poor showing.

Whats PVR on X38? Would say if there Max's then thats where theyl end up.

 

[GaryMcEwan]

They are huge machines and, so I'm led to believe, quite thirsty so may end up a rarities!

Well they've got 24 of the big beasts, so I don't think they will be going anywhere any time soon...

 

[smtglasgow]

The E500s (25 of them?) are very effective in swallowing up the crowds heading up to the University in the mornings in term-time. The 4 is frequently very heavily loaded in the peaks as well coming in from Cathcart, and the 75 can carry capacity loads at practically any time of day – they earn their keep. They do seem to be thirsty though – for the last few summers they have been laid up in Larkfield for the duration of the reduced holiday services, so if fuel costs continue to be an issue, they may not have a long-term future. Great buses though, and they seem powerful. Incidentally, does anyone know if the E500s are owned or leased – the Nordics disappeared after about 10 years and are now owned by a variety of school contractors down south.

 

[Volvodart]

The E500s (25 of them?) are very effective in swallowing up the crowds heading up to the University in the mornings in term-time. The 4 is frequently very heavily loaded in the peaks as well coming in from Cathcart, and the 75 can carry capacity loads at practically any time of day – they earn their keep. They do seem to be thirsty though – for the last few summers they have been laid up in Larkfield for the duration of the reduced holiday services, so if fuel costs continue to be an issue, they may not have a long-term future. Great buses though, and they seem powerful. Incidentally, does anyone know if the E500s are owned or leased – the Nordics disappeared after about 10 years and are now owned by a variety of school contractors down south.

It has been mentioned in the past that some might be coming to Aberdeen for artic replacement, which will be needed soon.

 

[GaryMcEwan]

The E500s (25 of them?) are very effective in swallowing up the crowds heading up to the University in the mornings in term-time. The 4 is frequently very heavily loaded in the peaks as well coming in from Cathcart, and the 75 can carry capacity loads at practically any time of day – they earn their keep. They do seem to be thirsty though – for the last few summers they have been laid up in Larkfield for the duration of the reduced holiday services, so if fuel costs continue to be an issue, they may not have a long-term future. Great buses though, and they seem powerful. Incidentally, does anyone know if the E500s are owned or leased – the Nordics disappeared after about 10 years and are now owned by a variety of school contractors down south.

I'm certainly not doubting for a minute that they don't earn their keep, as every time I've seen one go by, it's usually full. I was just saying that it was a rarity to see it on a 38/A as they are never usually on it.

I think there is 24 of them (38201 - 38224) although I could be out by one or two. But remember though, First are now running dead run services to get back some of the fuel subsidy from the Government, so any money that they lost before these were introduced could make up for it...
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Uh oh....

UNITE will be balloting members regarding strike action in Glasgow during the run up to the Commonwealth Games....

Not only First but the Subway are getting balloted on the matter as well...

Full Article Here...

 

[Strathclyder]

I'm certainly not doubting for a minute that they don't earn their keep, as every time I've seen one go by, it's usually full. I was just saying that it was a rarity to see it on a 38/A as they are never usually on it.

I think there is 24 of them (38201 - 38224) although I could be out by one or two.

There are 25 of them (38201 - 38225). Never heard of one ending up on the 38 before. Next thing you know, they'll be appearing on the 2 (I wish!).

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Well they've got 24 of the big beasts, so I don't think they will be going anywhere any time soon...

More a case that you'll not see their like again. Heavy fuel consumption and non standard spec usually means a shorter life though you'd hope not as they're very imposing

 

[GaryMcEwan]

There are 25 of them (38201 - 38225). Never heard of one ending up on the 38 before. Next thing you know, they'll be appearing on the 2 (I wish!).

It was at 22.15, so I'm just wondering if it was heading to Easterhouse then back to Eastwood Toll before heading back to Larkfield.

We even get the odd E400 on the 38 but even they are a rarity...