First Aberdeen

[scottishtrains]

3 of the hydrogen buses still have short MOTs left and are anticipated to be used this weekend during the Tall Ships Race visit. They have only just started looking at them, so there is a chance all may not be available. They appear to be using ready bottled hydrogen to fuel them.

It will be good to see them out on the road again

 

[Volvodart]

33267 and 33904/13/20 are further loans for use during the Tall Ships Race visit. The hydrogen buses they have been preparing for use are 39703/15.

 

[Jordan Adam]

There are some improvements to the 3/3A and 17/18 taking place from the 17th of August.

Service Changes from 17th August

Upcoming Service Changes from Sunday 17th August 2025 From Sunday 17th August, we will introduce a number of service changes across Aberdeen to improve reliability, increase frequency, and extend connections. The following services will be updated: 3, 3A, 3B, 3C, 3S, 17, 18A, 22A, and 22C...

www.firstbus.co.uk

• Effective
  04/08/2025 - 02/10/2025

Upcoming Service Changes from Sunday 17th August 2025​

From Sunday 17th August, we will introduce a number of service changes across Aberdeen to improve reliability, increase frequency, and extend connections.

The following services will be updated: 3, 3A, 3B, 3C, 3S, 17, 18A, 22A, and 22C.

---

Service​	Changes​
3 & 3A	Increased frequency during peak times: Every 10 minutes during morning peak (7:30am – 9am) and afternoon peak (3pm – 5:20pm) Every 12 minutes outside peak (previously every 15 minutes) Route changes in Cove for improved efficiency Extended to Charleston on Sundays and bank holidays
3C	Renamed from 3A for specific school journeys One morning and one afternoon journey (Mon–Fri) Serves Lochside Academy and Charleston Drive (not normally covered by 3A)
22A & 22C	Slightly revised timetables to ensure a more reliable service.
17	Two extended journeys (Mon–Fri) to and from Dyce Restores link between Newhills and Asda, Dyce Extended journeys: To Dyce: depart Faulds Gate at 9am and 12pm To Faulds Gate: depart Dyce at 11:12am and 2:12pm
18A	Revised route in Altens to include the Recycling Plant (Mon–Fri) Extended morning service: Departs Dyce at 5:40am, arrives city centre at 6:15am Extended afternoon service: Departs Altens Recycling Plant at 2:40pm

 

[kkong]

There are some improvements to the 3/3A and 17/18 taking place from the 17th of August.

Service Changes from 17th August

Upcoming Service Changes from Sunday 17th August 2025 From Sunday 17th August, we will introduce a number of service changes across Aberdeen to improve reliability, increase frequency, and extend connections. The following services will be updated: 3, 3A, 3B, 3C, 3S, 17, 18A, 22A, and 22C...

www.firstbus.co.uk

Routes 22A and 22C don't currently exist, so I'm not sure what the "slight revisions to the timetables" entail?

 

[Jordan Adam]

Routes 22A and 22C don't currently exist, so I'm not sure what the "slight revisions to the timetables" entail?

They do exist, they are Lochside Academy school services.

 

[kkong]

They do exist, they are Lochside Academy school services.

Oh, they aren't listed on the First Aberdeen timetables page.

But do come up if you happen to know the route number to search for...

While they're updating their website, perhaps First could reflect the ongoing southbound closure of Great Southern Road.

This is now expected to remain closed until 3rd October, but according to all First's information and the real-time info on the app, the diverted buses are running on their normal routes and serving the normal stops. They aren't.

All information about the diversion (which was wrong anyway, it said the start date of the works was delayed until further notice) simply disappeared from the website on the originally scheduled re-opening date of 20 July and the routeing reverted back to normal when in reality it has done no such thing.

 

[Jordan Adam]

Oh, they aren't listed on the First Aberdeen timetables page.

But do come up if you happen to know the route number to search for...

The schools are on holiday, so that is to be expected as the current timetables do not include the school variations, similarly the 1A which will resume in September is also not shown. The Lochside services 22A/22C are shown under the forthcoming timetables.

While they're updating their website, perhaps First could reflect the ongoing southbound closure of Great Southern Road.

This is now expected to remain closed until 3rd October, but according to all First's information and the real-time info on the app, the diverted buses are running on their normal routes and serving the normal stops. They aren't.

All information about the diversion (which was wrong anyway, it said the start date of the works was delayed until further notice) simply disappeared from the website on the originally scheduled re-opening date of 20 July and the routeing reverted back to normal when in reality it has done no such thing.

The diversion notices have been a mess lately. The 1 is currently on diversion in Danestone and Braehead, neither of which are mentioned anywhere, there are also diversions at the Garthdee end on the 2 which are missing.

 

[busspotter1]

Hello,
I have been doing some research into hydrogen-powered public transport and as per bustimes, First Aberdeen seems to have a couple dozen Wright StreetDeck Hydroliners in their fleet. However, they seem to not be tracking on bustimes? Does anybody know the current state of these buses?

Also, bonus points if anybody knows about this "Aberdeen hydrogen hub" that was supposed to be created?

 

[Volvodart]

Hello,
I have been doing some research into hydrogen-powered public transport and as per bustimes, First Aberdeen seems to have a couple dozen Wright StreetDeck Hydroliners in their fleet. However, they seem to not be tracking on bustimes? Does anybody know the current state of these buses?

Also, bonus points if anybody knows about this "Aberdeen hydrogen hub" that was supposed to be created?

All 25 are still out of service. Some are supposed to be returning to service later this year when some hydrogen is available, but not all until the green hydrogen production facility opens, which is supposed to be next year but could well be delayed. That is the Aberdeen Hydrogen Hub.

 

[Haribolover06]

Hello,
I have been doing some research into hydrogen-powered public transport and as per bustimes, First Aberdeen seems to have a couple dozen Wright StreetDeck Hydroliners in their fleet. However, they seem to not be tracking on bustimes? Does anybody know the current state of these buses?

Also, bonus points if anybody knows about this "Aberdeen hydrogen hub" that was supposed to be created?

Hydrogen hub will be located in Altens on Hareness Road - https://www.google.com/maps/place/5...try=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI1MDgxMy4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw==

works have started but not anything in place yet.

 

[busspotter1]

All 25 are still out of service. Some are supposed to be returning to service later this year when some hydrogen is available, but not all until the green hydrogen production facility opens, which is supposed to be next year but could well be delayed. That is the Aberdeen Hydrogen Hub.

Hydrogen hub will be located in Altens on Hareness Road - https://www.google.com/maps/place/57°06'49.6"N+2°04'03.0"W/@57.1137835,-2.0688152,327m/data=!3m2!1e3!4b1!4m4!3m3!8m2!3d57.113782!4d-2.067504?authuser=0&entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI1MDgxMy4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw==

works have started but not anything in place yet.

Thanks for the information!
Out of interest - why were the buses ordered in the first place if there is no fuel for them?

 

[Volvodart]

The original hydrogen

Thanks for the information!
Out of interest - why were the buses ordered in the first place if there is no fuel for them?

The original hydrogen fuelling station came to the end of its useful life. If the green hydrogen facility had been built at the time intended, there would not have been much of a gap.

 

[PG]

The original hydrogen fuelling station came to the end of its useful life.

Is that the one which is/was located at the City Council's Kittybrewster depot?

 

[Volvodart]

Is that the one which is/was located at the City Council's Kittybrewster depot?

Yes.

 

[Volvodart]

38406/7/9/11/2 have arrived presumably on loan for Offshore Europe event this week.

 

[scottishtrains]

Any news on the hydroliners yet?

 

[Volvodart]

Any news on the hydroliners yet?

No

 

[fife_circle]

Passed an E300 that had next stop equipment fitted and working, assume they’re starting to roll the system out on them now?

 

[scottishtrains]

Passed an E300 that had next stop equipment fitted and working, assume they’re starting to roll the system out on them now?

I seen that earlier on operating a 23, seems like it

Unsure if it’s just the screen or audio aswell though

 

[Jordan Adam]

Passed an E300 that had next stop equipment fitted and working, assume they’re starting to roll the system out on them now?

I seen that earlier on operating a 23, seems like it

Unsure if it’s just the screen or audio aswell though

All the E300s are to be done, both screens and audio with speakers being fitted in to the nearside cove panels. Although the audio on 67787 and 67790 yesterday was rather quiet. There also isn't any forward facing screen for the wheelchair space.

Levantes 26001-3 have also been fitted with next stop announcements, this was primarily for the Citylink contract that recently ended. Although rather amusingly the announcements were not set up for the Citylink routes, only for the Aberdeen city network!

 

[scottishtrains]

All the E300s are to be done, both screens and audio with speakers being fitted in to the nearside cove panels. Although the audio on 67787 and 67790 yesterday was rather quiet. There also isn't any forward facing screen for the wheelchair space.

Is it just them 2 that have currently have it or is there more if you know

 

[Volvodart]

Odd that they are doing them when some of the legally required repowers do not yet have the equipment.

 

[Jordan Adam]

Is it just them 2 that have currently have it or is there more if you know

There will be more, just happened to be those two that i caught.

Odd that they are doing them when some of the legally required repowers do not yet have the equipment.

Its likely just the case that they're doing whatever is in the depot on a given day, all the E300s and Repowers are to be done.

 

[Volvodart]

The hydrogen generating plant has arrived at the First depot and is currently being commissioned. It was on when I passed yesterday lunchtime and it is quite loud if that is the noise it makes when it is working maybe OK during the day but less so with light traffic at night. It seemed to be the correct "kettle boiling" sort of noise.

 

[JumpinTrainz]

The hydrogen generating plant has arrived at the First depot and is currently being commissioned. It was on when I passed yesterday lunchtime and it is quite loud if that is the noise it makes when it is working maybe OK during the day but less so with light traffic at night. It seemed to be the correct "kettle boiling" sort of noise.

Hopefully get some of these 5 year old, barely used buses moving! Beep beep

 

[scottishtrains]

All the E300s are to be done, both screens and audio with speakers being fitted in to the nearside cove panels. Although the audio on 67787 and 67790 yesterday was rather quiet. There also isn't any forward facing screen for the wheelchair space.

Onboard 63200 (streetlite) and has NSA aswell

 

[Volvodart]

Onboard 63200 (streetlite) and has NSA aswell

And 63212.

 

[fife_circle]

Seems the majority of the E300s are done as well, appears to be a surprisingly fast rollout on them.

 

[Volvodart]

Seems the majority of the E300s are done as well, appears to be a surprisingly fast rollout on them.

The 3 repowers still appear to be missing it.

 

[Jordan Adam]

Seems the majority of the E300s are done as well, appears to be a surprisingly fast rollout on them.

Noticed that too, they seem to have went from none to almost all in just over a week. Especially quick given how long it has taken to get the system fitted and working on the repowers.