Ways to improve the First Glasgow Network

[PaulMc7]

I’m not sure if that is the intention. The unbranded E400MMCs have started turning up on the 41, 60/60A, 61 services. Not to mention the 57 and the 10. I think they were just to be used on services out of Caledonia which can be just about anything.

Seen one on the 38 at the fort yesterday. Seen them on the X85/X87 before too. Also seen the E400s from the 6s on the 41/60/60A a lot too recently

 

[AndrewTaylor95]

I've noticed recently the X1 has been getting all the refurbed Gemini's with the 08 plate ones being used on the U1 for the Uni instead, would imagine that's to attract passengers for the X1 because it's on a use it or lose it basis

 

[JumpinTrainz]

I've noticed recently the X1 has been getting all the refurbed Gemini's with the 08 plate ones being used on the U1 for the Uni instead, would imagine that's to attract passengers for the X1 because it's on a use it or lose it basis

Noticed this also. Saw a few 18 branded E400s on the X1 also. I guess it’ll look good on First’s part when they inevitably try and scrap the route again in a few months time - they can say they tried.

 

[PaulMc7]

Noticed this also. Saw a few 18 branded E400s on the X1 also. I guess it’ll look good on First’s part when they inevitably try and scrap the route again in a few months time - they can say they tried.

Yeah it'll be a cover up with the route. I still think it's a case of its coming off anyway but we will actually look like we tried this time seeing as we've done nothing with the X1 for a long time

 

[lastbus]

Yeah it'll be a cover up with the route. I still think it's a case of its coming off anyway but we will actually look like we tried this time seeing as we've done nothing with the X1 for a long time

Some peak X1s run off 18 boards nothing new here they have done for years. The 18 branded E400s have done runs on the X1 since they went into service. They also do some peak runs on the X11.

 

[PaulMc7]

Some peak X1s run off 18 boards nothing new here they have done for years. The 18 branded E400s have done runs on the X1 since they went into service. They also do some peak runs on the X11.

Seems weird that considering there's been a few 18s at peaks I've seen that aren't 18 branded deckers. Seems to be a thing more now especially with Blantyre and Caley services that just about anything can pop up on them. Seen Streetlites on the 255, deckers on the 263 and the X11 branded deckers on 21s. Seen a 64 that was a 65 plate single decker too

 

[69036]

Seems weird that considering there's been a few 18s at peaks I've seen that aren't 18 branded deckers. Seems to be a thing more now especially with Blantyre and Caley services that just about anything can pop up on them. Seen Streetlites on the 255, deckers on the 263 and the X11 branded deckers on 21s. Seen a 64 that was a 65 plate single decker too

The 18 has several Caley operated boards

 

[PaulMc7]

The 18 has several Caley operated boards

Yeah I've seen a few going over with 18 already showing at the back of them before

 

[Albaman]

Some peak X1s run off 18 boards nothing new here they have done for years. The 18 branded E400s have done runs on the X1 since they went into service. They also do some peak runs on the X11.

Very interested to read that some 18 boards have some work on the X1 - does that expain why the 1713 and 1731 departures from Holland Street are apparently operated by 38 boards ? ( Unless it changed with the timetable alterations effective from 27 October ).

Also , Monday to Friday , running number 47 for the 21 starts the day on the X11 and then commences on the 21 with the 0920 departure from Cruachan Road to Cochrane Street.

 

[PaulMc7]

Very interested to read that some 18 boards have some work on the X1 - does that expain why the 1713 and 1731 departures from Holland Street are apparently operated by 38 boards ? ( Unless it changed with the timetable alterations effective from 27 October ).

Also , Monday to Friday , running number 47 for the 21 starts the day on the X11 and then commences on the 21 with the 0920 departure from Cruachan Road to Cochrane Street.

That would make a lot of sense plus the fact Holland St is next to the starting point for the Charing cross X1s it's an easy switchover. That explains the X11 branded 21 I seen today then. Hadn't seen it before today

 

[lastbus]

Very interested to read that some 18 boards have some work on the X1 - does that expain why the 1713 and 1731 departures from Holland Street are apparently operated by 38 boards ? ( Unless it changed with the timetable alterations effective from 27 October ).

Also , Monday to Friday , running number 47 for the 21 starts the day on the X11 and then commences on the 21 with the 0920 departure from Cruachan Road to Cochrane Street.

Yes an am peak journey on the X11 runs off a 21 board.

 

[Albaman]

Yes an am peak journey on the X11 runs off a 21 board.

Thanks to " lastbus" for the prompt reply - the use of the 18 branded vehicle on the X1 will explain why, one afternoon, I saw such a vehicle in Sauchiehall Street west of Charing Cross.

Regarding 21/47, it is usually a B7TL or B9TL. I should be on that service tomorrow and I'll keep my fingers crossed for an E400 !

 

[38A-Z]

I saw that 21 on Mill Street, Rutherglen, today on the X11 branded E400, city bound. Last part of the reg was OGK. (I was driving the other way so only caught part of the reg). It was about 12.45pm.

 

[lastbus]

Thanks to " lastbus" for the prompt reply - the use of the 18 branded vehicle on the X1 will explain why, one afternoon, I saw such a vehicle in Sauchiehall Street west of Charing Cross.

Regarding 21/47, it is usually a B7TL or B9TL. I should be on that service tomorrow and I'll keep my fingers crossed for an E400 !

It’s unlikely to be an E400 on the 21 board although an X11 branded bus appeared on the 21 today. It’s the workings off the 18 boards on X1/X11 that you’ll normally find the E400s on.

 

[route101]

Noticed the caley 18s have been the e400mmcs 38 branded . Are these City to EK then return to caley? What about drivers , do many caley drivers know the18?

The first 31 from ek to town is a 38 branded e400mmc , not sure if this comes off a 18 or 21.

 

[route101]

Seems weird that considering there's been a few 18s at peaks I've seen that aren't 18 branded deckers. Seems to be a thing more now especially with Blantyre and Caley services that just about anything can pop up on them. Seen Streetlites on the 255, deckers on the 263 and the X11 branded deckers on 21s. Seen a 64 that was a 65 plate single decker too

255 , 263 and 240 on sunday is mixture of streetlites and e300s.
Do caley do any 21 runs , suprised they dont all of teh 21 as it passes by fortress caley?

 

[69036]

255 , 263 and 240 on sunday is mixture of streetlites and e300s.
Do caley do any 21 runs , suprised they dont all of teh 21 as it passes by fortress caley?

A Caley operate at least two boards in the morning peak on the 21, think they also cover the late night workings off the 38

 

[PaulMc7]

Had a thought based off of a lot of problems with longer routes and reliability lately. Would First benefit from splitting more routes in 2? The likes of the 3,6,8,60/60A,90,201 etc are still extremely long and all suffer from horrific reliability issues at times. Would First benefit if their routes overall were shorter as this may help reliability? Obviously some other services aren't reliable either but this would be a step towards fixing the problem on some routes. A general 90 min max route length could be implemented for example

 

[Jordan Adam]

Had a thought based off of a lot of problems with longer routes and reliability lately. Would First benefit from splitting more routes in 2? The likes of the 3,6,8,60/60A,90,201 etc are still extremely long and all suffer from horrific reliability issues at times. Would First benefit if their routes overall were shorter as this may help reliability? Obviously some other services aren't reliable either but this would be a step towards fixing the problem on some routes. A general 90 min max route length could be implemented for example

The issue with splitting cross city services is that it increases the PVR and the volume of buses going through the city centre.

 

[PaulMc7]

The issue with splitting cross city services is that it increases the PVR and the volume of buses going through the city centre.

Yeah that's true. It's a tough one. Certainly with the 6 between City Centre and Clydebank it could easily get away with a drop to every 12 mins. Not seen many busy ones near me except at peaks

 

[route101]

Didnt Nottingham split a lot of routes in half ?

Issue is where do you terminate the buses.

 

[route101]

Yes an am peak journey on the X11 runs off a 21 board.

Caley does first 21 up to EK then it forms a 31 , E400 low height , was a 38 branded bus before.

 

[PaulMc7]

Didnt Nottingham split a lot of routes in half ?

Issue is where do you terminate the buses.

Sounds familiar tbh. With most of them it wouldn't even really need to be the city centre.

3-Split at Silverburn
6-Split at Battlefield
8-Split at Robroyston
60-Split at Maryhill or Cowcaddens
90-Split at Parkhead
201-Split at Bellshill

Few others that could maybe split but there would be places that aren't city centre based

 

[CM]

Sounds familiar tbh. With most of them it wouldn't even really need to be the city centre.

3-Split at Silverburn
6-Split at Battlefield
8-Split at Robroyston
60-Split at Maryhill or Cowcaddens
90-Split at Parkhead
201-Split at Bellshill

Few others that could maybe split but there would be places that aren't city centre based

I'm sure the people who use the 3, 6 and 60 would appreciate losing their connections to the City Centre if you split the routes where you suggest.

 

[PaulMc7]

I'm sure the people who use the 3, 6 and 60 would appreciate losing their connections to the City Centre if you split the routes where you suggest.

None of them would lose any connections? There's also enough buses in each of those areas to switch over to as well on top of being able to switch over at the split points to the other section of the route

 

[CM]

None of them would lose any connections? There's also enough buses in each of those areas to switch over to as well on top of being able to switch over at the split points to the other section of the route

You said for example, splitting the 60 in Maryhill, so that would mean the people who use the 60/60A to get to the City from Drumchapel or Milngavie etc would only have a bus as far as Maryhill thus they would lose their connections to the City Centre. I also very much doubt people would appreciate having to change buses all the time just to get to the City.

 

[PaulMc7]

You said for example, splitting the 60 in Maryhill, so that would mean the people who use the 60/60A to get to the City from Drumchapel or Milngavie etc would only have a bus as far as Maryhill thus they would lose their connections to the City Centre. I also very much doubt people would appreciate having to change buses all the time just to get to the City.

If both sections terminate in the same place it's such a simple switch plus there's also the 61 through Maryhill anyway so would still be 12 buses into the city centre. The 60 passenger wise has dropped wildly compared to what it used to be like when it was the 40 due to the reliability problems. Routes that length just don't work in Glasgow with congestion is

 

[CM]

If both sections terminate in the same place it's such a simple switch plus there's also the 61 through Maryhill anyway so would still be 12 buses into the city centre. The 60 passenger wise has dropped wildly compared to what it used to be like when it was the 40 due to the reliability problems. Routes that length just don't work in Glasgow with congestion is

It's still changing buses though and if you're going to split the 60 in Maryhill then you might as well just keep it a single route as the problems on the 60 is, as with every other route, in the City Centre itself. It's also not helped by First sending just about every single route down Renfield/Union Street and up Hope Street. They could quite easily alter the route of the 60 to direct via Duke Street and George Square in both directions but insist on sending everything by Central Station.

 

[PaulMc7]

It's still changing buses though and if you're going to split the 60 in Maryhill then you might as well just keep it a single route as the problems on the 60 is, as with every other route, in the City Centre itself. It's also not helped by First sending just about every single route down Renfield/Union Street and up Hope Street. They could quite easily alter the route of the 60 to direct via Duke Street and George Square in both directions but insist on sending everything by Central Station.

The 60 can end up late just getting out of Clydebank and through Drumchapel even off peak tbh and the 60A just getting down to Bearsden used to always be late when I got it. I do agree though that First's routing through the City Centre has always been a major problem. Even the setup of bus stops now don't help because buses just trip over each other and get stuck at every light going

 

[lastbus]

I'm sure the people who use the 3, 6 and 60 would appreciate losing their connections to the City Centre if you split the routes where you suggest.

You cannot split any of these routes here. There is numerous things you haven’t taken into consideration.