First Greater Glasgow

[JumpinTrainz]

I often wonder whether, like First did with Wright, they’ll come away from ADL eventually and move on to another manufacturer.

Gemini’s at one stage were the big thing and First Glasgow received quite a huge order of B7TLs and B9TLs. Now the E400MMCs are the in thing. It’ll be interesting to see if they’ll go back to Wright again in the future.

Glasgow has to meet the LEZ target fully by 2022 so I would assume there will be many huge orders on the lead up to that and who knows new designs will come out by then which may be in the form of artics.

 

[Gingerbus1991]

I often wonder whether, like First did with Wright, they’ll come away from ADL eventually and move on to another manufacturer.

Gemini’s at one stage were the big thing and First Glasgow received quite a huge order of B7TLs and B9TLs. Now the E400MMCs are the in thing. It’ll be interesting to see if they’ll go back to Wright again in the future.

Glasgow has to meet the LEZ target fully by 2022 so I would assume there will be many huge orders on the lead up to that and who knows new designs will come out by then which may be in the form of artics.

It can't be all that difficult to mix & match different chassis and bodywork options, Volvo B5LH chassis with 400MMC/Gemini/Evoseti, its most likely many of these bodies could be fitted to other bodies as well, the 400 MMC/CITY bodies have already been fitted to Scania diesel/gas chassis as well, not to mention LBs 400XLB bodywork extension.

 

[Stan Drews]

I'm not saying you're wrong, however there's no source stating it's offered in the UK other than your own word of mouth. As i say i'm not doubting that Irizar have said that to you, however there's no concrete evidence.

Ok, so I’m not wrong, ...thank you for acknowledging that!
Please accept my humble apologies for not recording the meeting I had with the guys paid by Irizar to sell their products in the UK, and forwarding a copy of the ‘tape’ to you for verification.

...or alternatively, you could just say “oh that’s interesting, I hadn’t realise that”.

 

[Jordan Adam]

Ok, so I’m not wrong, ...thank you for acknowledging that!
Please accept my humble apologies for not recording the meeting I had with the guys paid by Irizar to sell their products in the UK, and forwarding a copy of the ‘tape’ to you for verification.

...or alternatively, you could just say “oh that’s interesting, I hadn’t realise that”.

You're missing the point, people say that sort of thing all the time and half the time it's correct and half the time it isn't, I'm merely stating that i will wait until Irizar officially state it's being offered in the UK rather than taking word of mouth that it is.

Lets end this here as clearly we're getting nowhere...

 

[Bristol LH]

37149 is also a transfer to First Cymru

37147 and 37148, despite the latter being in the new generic livery, are further transfers to First Cymru.

 

[Stan Drews]

You're missing the point, people say that sort of thing all the time and half the time it's correct and half the time it isn't, I'm merely stating that i will wait until Irizar officially state it's being offered in the UK rather than taking word of mouth that it is.

Lets end this here as clearly we're getting nowhere...

I had a feeling you wouldn’t be able to take the alternative option, so yes we’ve probably digressed from First Greater Glasgow for long enough!

 

[laststop@96]

Not all of ADL is built in Scotland. A lot have came from Scarborough. If I'm on a bus for 30-40 minutes, I want to be at least in some sort of comfort and not needing the use of a chiropractor or taking painkillers for a bus journey.

Well first could always buy these for express services and the one service to cut back on customer back pain and with back seat tv and canopy for when sleeping would make the public very happy also they are right hand drive.

 

[GusB]

I'll await an official source then...

Source: https://irizar.co.uk/ie-electric-buses/

The Irizar ie bus offers a sustainable and eco-efficient urban mobility solution and responds to the current and future needs of city transport. From the design and planning phase, the emphasis has been on achieving the greatest possible energy efficiency, increasing the vehicle’s range and optimising its end of life management.

The arguments in favour of this bus model are that is a totally safe, reliable, profitable product, with tried and tested battery life, efficiency and reliability and also offering operators significant customization options, with the guarantee of comprehensive service and maintenance for the entire life of the vehicle.

Today, this 12m-bus model is used at full capacity in a range of European cities.

Now the 10.8 m versions and the articulated 18-metre in two variants, are being added, all with 100% electric motorization and zero emissions.*

* My emphasis

 

[Jordan Adam]

Source: https://irizar.co.uk/ie-electric-buses/



* My emphasis

Well that wasn't hard, cheers!

 

[Stan Drews]

Well that wasn't hard, cheers!

 

[AndrewTaylor95]

Anybody know what these changes are?

 

[JumpinTrainz]

I think some of the Simplicity changes were rather drastic. I think after 6 years First could be doing with going back over some of the routes and services they provide and doing a bit of an overhaul. Many services don’t have the same clientele they once had. Some routes could merged together or starting and finishing points altered. Routes which come to mind off the top of my head would be the 4, 10, 31, 41, 57/57A.

 

[Jordan Adam]

I'm not 100% if it's been mentioned already, however changes for the 500 have been accepted from the 13th of May.

 

[GaryMcEwan]

I'm not 100% if it's been mentioned already, however changes for the 500 have been accepted from the 12th of May.

VOSA shows it as the 13th of May...

 

[Jordan Adam]

VOSA shows it as the 13th of May...

Typo, thanks for the correction.

 

[d9009alycidon]

I think some of the Simplicity changes were rather drastic. I think after 6 years First could be doing with going back over some of the routes and services they provide and doing a bit of an overhaul. Many services don’t have the same clientele they once had. Some routes could merged together or starting and finishing points altered. Routes which come to mind off the top of my head would be the 4, 10, 31, 41, 57/57A.

Add the 4A to that list, I don't understand why this bus is routed round the houses via Spean Street/Cartside/Sinclair Drive, I can only assume it would have been at one time to serve the SSB HQ at Cathcart, it takes ages along roads that are too narrow for modern buses and rarely picks up or sets down, would be much better going straight down Holmlea Road and Battlefield Road

 

[Gingerbus1991]

Add the 4A to that list, I don't understand why this bus is routed round the houses via Spean Street/Cartside/Sinclair Drive, I can only assume it would have been at one time to serve the SSB HQ at Cathcart, it takes ages along roads that are too narrow for modern buses and rarely picks up or sets down, would be much better going straight down Holmlea Road and Battlefield Road

I would have thought that the 4/4A going via Muirend Rd/Millbrae Rd would be more beneficial given that those are residential streets without a bus service. This would also mean far less walkin for those who would need a bus to the city centre from Langside, there is already the 6 operating directly into the city centre from clarkston road of course, if the 5 moved over to operate via Spean Street instead of going directly along battlefield Rd as well it would collectively be offering more service to more streets of glasgow.

 

[Milkboy]

Trident 33120 still going strong, operating on the 31 tonight (1825 St Enoch-EK). Are there many other 51/02 plate Tridents left in service in Glasgow?

 

[Jordan Adam]

Trident 33120 still going strong, operating on the 31 tonight (1825 St Enoch-EK). Are there many other 51/02 plate Tridents left in service in Glasgow?

33120 is the last Plaxton President bodied Trident in service with First Glasgow.

 

[Whiteway215]

33120 is the last Plaxton President bodied Trident in service with First Glasgow.

So are 33008/9/15/18 33092/6 33117/8 all withdrawn now?

 

[Jordan Adam]

So are 33008/9/15/18 33092/6 33117/8 all withdrawn now?

Believe so.... End of an era!

 

[83G/84D]

There's not one place where all the new deliveries converge.
If you settled in the city centre on Union Street, at the side of Central station you would get the 18, 38 and 75. As well as some of the Lanarkshire services on the 200 range. However this week has added the 77 to the latest deliveries and these start ftpm Buchanan Bus Ststion, then round the one way system to head West. Probably as good a place as any for these is the bridge which goes a cross the top of Queen Street Station. The added plan to that is where the 38 crosses before heading to Union Street.

The out of city service that you probably are thinking of is the 34/A. Probably the best place for these would be to head to Shawkands Cross on a 38 and the 34 crosses in the opposite direction there.

You may need to head out of town for some of the Lanarkshire services. Probably somewhere like Motherwell at the Cross is as good a place for these as any.

Bit of a tall order for a two day trip though.
The other place would be any that are out of service between the peaks, like Caledonia Depot, which you could take a 75 from the city. Not the best place to see things it can be quite busy even during the day.

I took up some of your suggestions today, spending some time at Shawlands, Motherwell and a quick look at Caledonia depot.

At Shawlands Volvo B7L 61661 was on the 34A and Volvo B10BLE 61705 on the 57A. At Caledonia Volvo B9TL 37544 was towed away by M8 recovery and onto the M74. Also here were Airport deckers 33107 & 33101 and two unidentifiable white coaches with roof pods.

Any help with identities appreciated.

 

[Jordan Adam]

I took up some of your suggestions today, spending some time at Shawlands, Motherwell and a quick look at Caledonia depot.

At Shawlands Volvo B7L 61661 was on the 34A and Volvo B10BLE 61705 on the 57A. At Caledonia Volvo B9TL 37544 was towed away by M8 recovery and onto the M74. Also here were Airport deckers 33107 & 33101 and two unidentifiable white coaches with roof pods.

Any help with identities appreciated.

The Coaches will be Panthers 20806/7 which are being refurbished for First Aberdeen Coach Hire.

 

[83G/84D]

Thanks, despite my best efforts I was unable to identify them.

 

[Jordan Adam]

Thanks, despite my best efforts I was unable to identify them.

I don't think they carry any fleet numbers yet with the exception of on the front, and even those are tiny!

 

[JumpinTrainz]

33120 is the last Plaxton President bodied Trident in service with First Glasgow.

I must say living in the east end of Glasgow it is rather odd not to have the Plaxtin Presidents so dominant like they once were. At one stage during their initial introduction they were regulars on the 61, 62, 40, 46. Then latterly they were regulars on the 60 and 46. Even until very recently I’d saw a few on the 60. Can’t say I’ll miss them very much but they have been part of Glasgow’s fleet for what feels like forever! Hopefully we’ll see some new deckers round the side of the woods very shortly!

 

[route101]

Trident 33120 still going strong, operating on the 31 tonight (1825 St Enoch-EK). Are there many other 51/02 plate Tridents left in service in Glasgow?

Yeah was on 31 a few days this week , the last one . Was on 19//46 too .ALX 400S on 31 , often have gearbox issues them

 

[route101]

I must say living in the east end of Glasgow it is rather odd not to have the Plaxtin Presidents so dominant like they once were. At one stage during their initial introduction they were regulars on the 61, 62, 40, 46. Then latterly they were regulars on the 60 and 46. Even until very recently I’d saw a few on the 60. Can’t say I’ll miss them very much but they have been part of Glasgow’s fleet for what feels like forever! Hopefully we’ll see some new deckers round the side of the woods very shortly!

While not orignal to Glasgow they were pretty common until recently . The first ones had middle staircases . The w reg ones were the best with more comfortable seating .

 

[route101]

33120 is the last Plaxton President bodied Trident in service with First Glasgow.

Good knowledge , you stay in Aberdeen>? Ha

 

[route101]

I think some of the Simplicity changes were rather drastic. I think after 6 years First could be doing with going back over some of the routes and services they provide and doing a bit of an overhaul. Many services don’t have the same clientele they once had. Some routes could merged together or starting and finishing points altered. Routes which come to mind off the top of my head would be the 4, 10, 31, 41, 57/57A.

The newton Mearns section of 4 must be under threat . The 4a will survive because is Eagleshams link to city