McGill's Buses - Renfrewshire & Inverclyde

[overthewater]

Alas its PR management has been dreadful in this, Its pretty clear its NOT the peak journeys on the X23 which are causing them problems. The hints the company are given is the 23 from the Hospital to City will be cut from 10 - 15mins. The new buses that have been brought are not adequate for the route.

Lets not forget Mcgills want to shut Barrhead depot so need to make enough room in Inchinnan, Of course that has nothing to do with this aswell does it. Plus It has also not helped its off peak has been damaged by the new Stagecoach X19, taking passengers.

Im very Cynical at what being highlighted by Mcgills.

 

[Arriva Fan]

Isn't the obvious problem that they're competing with themselves?

Arriva only operated Service X23 at peak times, so what did they do with the buses off peak? They didn't operate a competing Express against themselves, which is pure stupidity. You either cancel the 23 to Erskine, excl peak journeys, and operate it between Braehead and Glasgow via Govan only. Or stop operating off peak X23 Journeys.

Personally, I would cancel the X23 off peak. There is no competing rail service, so you don't actually need an express. If anything express journeys should be operated on corridors competing with rail.

If Stagecoach are taking Govan with the X19, simply operate a 23F on the FastLink. Two 23 Per Hour and two 23F Per Hour.

 

[overthewater]

Because you have no rail service you shouldn't get a fast bus? Thank goodness your not in control.

 

[Gingerbus1991]

Which brings me all to say(for glasgow), a high degree of regulation is needed in glasgow with one operator running all routes around the area, Kilsyth to as far as Kilbarchan, having so many private firms in this area is causing each of them to strangle each other of revenue, this is only one issue, Stagecoach have done some damage to first on the Easterhouse to City Centre lines and any body else operating from Govan as well.

Uselessly competing to a combined frequency of litterally every 2 n half mins on Paisley Rd West between the 9, 9a and 38 from the Inverclyde cronies and worstbus.

These are but a few reasons that bus travel particularly in glasgow is falling, revenues dropping when all bus operators are not being reimbursed for full fares when a concession card is being used.

I see where ralf is coming from but I can't believe it when MPs and councilors place blame directly on bus operators.

 

[GaryMcEwan]

Which brings me all to say(for glasgow), a high degree of regulation is needed in glasgow with one operator running all routes around the area, Kilsyth to as far as Kilbarchan, having so many private firms in this area is causing each of them to strangle each other of revenue, this is only one issue, Stagecoach have done some damage to first on the Easterhouse to City Centre lines and any body else operating from Govan as well.

Uselessly competing to a combined frequency of litterally every 2 n half mins on Paisley Rd West between the 9, 9a and 38 from the Inverclyde cronies and worstbus.

These are but a few reasons that bus travel particularly in glasgow is falling, revenues dropping when all bus operators are not being reimbursed for full fares when a concession card is being used.

I see where ralf is coming from but I can't believe it when MPs and councilors place blame directly on bus operators.

SPTE back in the day did exactly that pre deregulation. You had Strathclyde and Kelvin and to a latter extent GCT. Not only that but there was also a lot more routes and places that were served.

 

[Sadsmileyface]

Because you have no rail service you shouldn't get a fast bus? Thank goodness your not in control.

And not even that fast- the x23 is still over an hour for a 15 mile journey.

 

[smtglasgow]

You’re never going to get a fast bus in the peaks – the M8 is too congested and prone to seizing up completely if it rains/snows/gets a bit windy etc. But can’t help feeling the solution should involve double-deckers – moving to E200mmc’s is going to be nice if you can get on, but it’s going to lead to capacity issues.

 

[Gingerbus1991]

You’re never going to get a fast bus in the peaks – the M8 is too congested and prone to seizing up completely if it rains/snows/gets a bit windy etc. But can’t help feeling the solution should involve double-deckers – moving to E200mmc’s is going to be nice if you can get on, but it’s going to lead to capacity issues.

Unless a bus lane type affair could be saught

 

[Gingerbus1991]

Could the 23 not be terminated at Govan Interchange and the x23 continues onto the City Centre via the M8 after Braehead, this would allow more time to be removed from the 23 yet service QUEH and savings to be had after doing so as well as more people using the x23 to get the faster journey off peak as well, I do think the x23 would have a reasonable time to travel to the city centre during peak if bus lanes were on the M8, after all surely passenger levels between Braehead, QUEH and Govan are all pretty low for McGills since First’s 77 runs every 10 minutes not to mention Stageys x19 going roughly the same route as the 23 anyways.

If only First had operated the x19 instead of stagey and competed on the x23 Erskine route it could’ve potentially stole the show from both operators.

 

[Jordan Adam]

Must say i heavily dislike the way the livery sits on that E200MMC, doesn't suit it at all!

 

[Gingerbus1991]

Must say i heavily dislike the way the livery sits on that E200MMC, doesn't suit it at all!

If those are indeed Alcoa wheels though I do like those, makes them look far nicer and they dont corrode like steel wheel!

 

[overthewater]

So what has happened to all the spare stock Mcgills has now stockpiled, esepical all those mini pointer darts from Coatbridge.

 

[AlexanderPS]

So what has happened to all the spare stock Mcgills has now stockpiled, esepical all those mini pointer darts from Coatbridge.

I know that some of the enviros transferred to Barrhead. Unsure which ones.

 

[Observer]

Obviously being cancelled due to United Coaches starting their own services on a commercial basis.

• PM0000015/286 Cancelled (Short notice)
  MCGILL'S BUS SERVICE LTD
  
  Route: Coatbridge, South Circular Road to Kirkshaws, Ellismuir Drive via Faraday Retail Park, Whifflet, Shawhead
  
  Service number: 106 (106A)
  
  Service type: Hail & Ride, Normal Stopping
  
  Effective date: 09 Feb 2019
• PM0000015/283 Cancelled (Short notice)
  MCGILL'S BUS SERVICE LTD
  
  Route: Coatbridge, South Circular Road to Bergeddie, Rosebank Drive via Langloan
  
  Service number: 213 ()
  
  Service type: Normal Stopping
  
  Effective date: 09 Feb 2019
  

 

[AlexanderPS]

PM0000015/286 Cancelled (Short notice)
MCGILL'S BUS SERVICE LTD

Route: Coatbridge, South Circular Road to Kirkshaws, Ellismuir Drive via Faraday Retail Park, Whifflet, Shawhead

Service number: 106 (106A)

Service type: Hail & Ride, Normal Stopping

Effective date: 09 Feb 2019

Are United covering Shawhead? If not will Shawhead still be covered by the SPT?

 

[overthewater]

It will have to be a new contract for Shawhead.

 

[KGGXXXY]

I had high hopes for McGills expansion (excluding Malta). But its now looking like a retreat with depot closures and service axes. Wonder if the Easdales are looking for an out now or do we think a slimmer more focused operation will flourish? Atleast fleet investment is still on the cards so not complete failure.

 

[overthewater]

The bigger problem is who would want to buy and and who could be allowed to buy it. Everyone had high hopes, but the truth is Mcgills went to Monklands far too late..

 

[Gingerbus1991]

Renfrewshire/inverclyde councils?

 

[tbtc]

The bigger problem is who would want to buy and and who could be allowed to buy it

In one way, it looks an attractive operation to pick up - especially if you give First the "carrot" of scrapping the 17 (to give them a monopoly through the Clyde Tunnel) on the unwritten understanding that First coincidently pull their 9 from west of Crookston on the same weekend (i.e. giving McGills a monopoly from Paisley Road West into Paisley)... that'd leave you with a fairly juicy corridor.

But a chunk of the McGills business model seems to rely on the "twirlie" market (getting a free day out to Largs etc) which might not be so sustainable longer term.

Plus Renfrewshire/Inverclyde was traditionally "bandit" territory which might be hard for a big operator to stamp their authority on (looking at how McGills haven't managed to tame Monklands). I'm not saying that things are as bad as twenty years ago, but (whilst you might coincidently come to a peace deal with First to the east) the number of small operators nipping at your heels in Paisley/Greenock might put some people off?

If they didn't already have Western then I'd suggest it'd be a good fit for Stagecoach - fast coaches along the motorway into the big city seems like their kind of market - but I can't see that happening (or being allowed to happen).

 

[KGGXXXY]

I always thought West Coast Motors would be a good fit for part of the operations. Fill the gap between Glasgow Citybus and the mother operation. But with two major purchases (Perryman and First Borders) doubt they are in a position/need for further expansion or be allowed.

 

[overthewater]

There would be allowed as it would be a prefect fit to Glasgow citybus.

 

[Gingerbus1991]

I really have a hard time understand the CMA, if the likes of First were able to buy them out under a suitable agreement with the CMA as to not put the public out of pocket and operate a like for like service, of course also coming to an agreement what would happen with the 38 and 9 on paisley Rd West so that passengers still get a good service.

 

[route101]

I really have a hard time understand the CMA, if the likes of First were able to buy them out under a suitable agreement with the CMA as to not put the public out of pocket and operate a like for like service, of course also coming to an agreement what would happen with the 38 and 9 on paisley Rd West so that passengers still get a good service.

Wouldnt be a first 38 though? All 9s perhaps?

 

[Sadsmileyface]

McGill’s putting the prices up by over 60%. 4 week tickets up to £100.

 

[Gingerbus1991]

McGills are killing themselfs

 

[GaryMcEwan]

McGill’s putting the prices up by over 60%. 4 week tickets up to £100.

That's an absolute scandal. Do we know what Go Zone area it's for? Can see this ending up in the press.

I've never heard of operators having peak prices for weekly or monthly tickets.

 

[overthewater]

Thats Zone 1 alright....................

 

[Sadsmileyface]

To be clear, they’re only targeting users of the peak X23. If you use a 22 or whatever, you pay the normal price- for now.

This was their solution to unreliable buses with standing room only. Put the prices up. They’re trying to kill demand for the service to justify the inevitable axing.

 

[Gingerbus1991]

I've never been on a 23/x23, can anyone actually confirm whether they are that busy?