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First Greater Glasgow

route101

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The Renfrew Ferry has now cancelled with immediate effect due to the loss of passengers to the bridge: https://news.stv.tv/west-central/renfrew-ferry-stops-permanently-due-to-new-bridge-opening

With still seemingly no interest from either First or McGill's in operating across the bridge, this has ended up being a net negative for public transport in the area.
With the bridge opening up for shipping, that makes going via the bridge unreliable. Glasgow as a whole has been a desert for new routes over the last decade.
 
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Buzby

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With the bridge opening up for shipping, that makes going via the bridge unreliable
That’s an interesting adjective. Since the ferry wouldn’t (or shouldn’t) cut in front of a vessel approaching, there would be a similar delay in the departure for the crossing, however since it was pedestrian only, there is still a fair walk for anyone looking for retail therapy whichever bank of the Clyde they’re starting from. With the bridge they can sit in their air-conditioned pod until it swings closed once more.

As can be seen from the earlier picture, the ferries were cosmetically in dire need of refurbishment and because they charged a fee, it comes as no surprise that it would lose custom.
 

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LT02 NVV

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Glasgow
That’s an interesting adjective. Since the ferry wouldn’t (or shouldn’t) cut in front of a vessel approaching, there would be a similar delay in the departure for the crossing, however since it was pedestrian only, there is still a fair walk for anyone looking for retail therapy whichever bank of the Clyde they’re starting from. With the bridge they can sit in their air-conditioned pod until it swings closed once more.

As can be seen from the earlier picture, the ferries were cosmetically in dire need of refurbishment and because they charged a fee, it comes as no surprise that it would lose custom.
They should really just have the 11 stop at the Yoker side of the bridge (not going over it, just going round the roundabout and stopping at the shelter). Just so there’s a link for people to go across the bridge from Clydebank without walking a bunch of minutes away from it to get there.
 

Buzby

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They should really just have the 11 stop at the Yoker side of the bridge
Yes, I wondered when I saw that shelter. To be fair, it is still a longer walk on the south side to reach any bus route irrespective of whether the destination is Renfrew, Paisley or even Braehead (the latter likely being the most popular.

Unless/until there is something to cover the other side or a cross-bridge alternative, any such deviation would be pointless until other changes.
 

Tom Gallacher

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19 Mar 2021
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Glasgow
That’s an interesting adjective. Since the ferry wouldn’t (or shouldn’t) cut in front of a vessel approaching, there would be a similar delay in the departure for the crossing, however since it was pedestrian only, there is still a fair walk for anyone looking for retail therapy whichever bank of the Clyde they’re starting from. With the bridge they can sit in their air-conditioned pod until it swings closed once more.

As can be seen from the earlier picture, the ferries were cosmetically in dire need of refurbishment and because they charged a fee, it comes as no surprise that it would lose custom.
The ferries used have been downsizing over the past few years. Regarding keeping out of the way of other river traffic they were on a hail and ride basis anyway so I can't imagine that anyone who was using it was in any hurry to get across. I used it frequently when I was out cycling but I was often the only customer on the thing so when you remove the cyclists (who will just use the bridge) you're left with very few foot passengers. Sad to see it go but most things have a shelf life. This one just came to it's natural end.
 

Volvodart

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The service change notice has returned with Glasgow changes too. A cursory look at the 2 from the Traveline Scotland timetable seems to indicate a frequency of every 11 minutes previously every 10 minutes for at least part of the day.


From Sunday 15th June, we are making minor service updates to the below services across Glasgow and Lanarkshire, operating revised timetables and routes to improve reliability for our customers.
The following services will see minor adjustments to timings:
2, 3, 6, 6A, 8, 11, 16, 18, 18A, 21, 77, 81, 90, 201, 226, 240, 241, 242, 255, 263, 266, 267, X4, X11, U1
Service 18A will replace Service 21 between EK Bus Station and Gardenhall.
Service 21 will terminate at EK Bus Station. No change to route from EK Bus Station to City Centre or vice versa.
There will be no route change for Service 18 to Greenhills. Service 18A will follow the same route as Service 18 from City Centre to EK Bus Station and vice versa, then 18 Greenhills, 18A Gardenhall.
Service 201 will be extended to serve the new Hairmyres Rail Station.
Later evening journeys will be added to Service X11 from Buchanan Bus Station Monday-Saturday.
 
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route101

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16 May 2010
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12,244
The service change notice has returned with Glasgow changes too. A cursory look at the 2 from the Traveline Scotland timetable seems to indicate a frequency of every 11 minutes previously every 10 minutes for at least part of the day.

Whats wrong with every ten minutes compared to every 11?
 

Resuwen

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28 Nov 2023
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East Lothian
Been in Glasgow today - surprised to see so many First vehicles in the new livery but with the old logos on them.

Shoddy stuff.
 

ScotRail158725

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27 Nov 2018
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Been in Glasgow today - surprised to see so many First vehicles in the new livery but with the old logos on them.

Shoddy stuff.
not really shoddy though when that was still the logo when the livery was applied, the livery was introduced over a year before the new logo
 

camro

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21 Dec 2024
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Glasgow
Still I believe most buses in the new livery were repainted under a year ago
The new logo wasn't integrated into First Glasgow until about January time. A lot of our buses had been painted before then, like the Scotstoun MMCs for example.
 

G42

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1 Aug 2011
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54
Meanwhile Sheffield has the old 61 branded Geminis kicking around with the glue residue from the vinyls showing ‘Summerston’ etc quite legibly
 

Noddy1

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10 Mar 2022
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Coatbridge
I hope First Group is delighted that by buying Chinese buses they have now put 400 Scottish jobs at risk as ADL has apparently decided to close both Falkirk and Grsngemouth factories and only manufacture from Scarborougb so as they can compete with Chinese manufacturers.
 
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I hope First Group is delighted that by buying Chinese buses they have now put 400 Scottish jobs at risk as ADL has apparently decided to close both Falkirk and Grsngemouth factories and only manufacture from Scarborougb so as they can compete with Chinese manufacturers.
Grangemouth? Larbert you mean, They've been making ****ey products lately, Yutong are miles ahead of the game
 

Buzby

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I thought they were at Camelon? I thought the writing was on the wall when they BYD chassis were brought in. It’s a great shame they couldn’t compete with Yutong, but they seemed to be innovating whereas ADL just seemed to move slowly forward.
 

lastbus

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9 Sep 2018
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I hope First Group is delighted that by buying Chinese buses they have now put 400 Scottish jobs at risk as ADL has apparently decided to close both Falkirk and Grsngemouth factories and only manufacture from Scarborougb so as they can compete with Chinese manufacturers.
Yes it’s all big bad First Buses fault. Maybe if the products they sell were reliable First would’ve bought more.
 

Supercus

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2 Feb 2024
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New Stevenston
Yes it’s all big bad First Buses fault. Maybe if the products they sell were reliable First would’ve bought more.
It’s not just First groups fault it’s also Stagecoach, Arriva and other bus companies fault and of course ADL themselves who like First are supposed to be Scottish companies but don’t care about Scotland or for matter the north of England
 

Blindtraveler

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28 Feb 2011
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I don't think it would matter where they were built. If quality issues, such as we've seen with the Glasgow electrics, in particular remain a constant through purchase of ADL products. Regardless of where it's built, nobody is going to buy a bus that's wetter than a wet weekend in Margate and falls to bits to the point where it has to go back to the factory for remedial work.
 

JumpinTrainz

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30 Jul 2018
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I don't think it would matter where they were built. If quality issues, such as we've seen with the Glasgow electrics, in particular remain a constant through purchase of ADL products. Regardless of where it's built, nobody is going to buy a bus that's wetter than a wet weekend in Margate and falls to bits to the point where it has to go back to the factory for remedial work.
I imagine the future for Glasgow is looking to be Wright bus again.
 

158715

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10 Sep 2022
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Scotland
I thought they were at Camelon? I thought the writing was on the wall when they BYD chassis were brought in. It’s a great shame they couldn’t compete with Yutong, but they seemed to be innovating whereas ADL just seemed to move slowly forward.
There are two sites - the older one in Camelon and a newer one in Larbert.
 

Volvodart

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12 Jun 2010
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the 65 is getting withdrawn from 13th July it’s not making money
See below.


From Sunday 13th July, we will no longer operate Service 65 between Glasgow city centre and Halfway in Cambuslang.

The difficult decision has been taken following a period of over 12 months where the route has consistently had insufficient passenger numbers, meaning it is no longer sustainable. We have already started to reinvest the resource into increasing the frequency of services and improving timetables across other areas of the city.

We are committed to improving bus services across Greater Glasgow and, as part of that commitment, we have invested over £3m since April in additional bus, driver and timetable resources across the city to increase the reliability of our services.

Some of these services are already experiencing reliability improvements of over 30% as a result of the changes, which will hugely benefit over 63 million passenger journeys in Glasgow each year
 

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