McGill’s Midland Bluebird

[AndrewTaylor95]

I think that short working comes off a local service rather than being on the end of one of the three main X37 running boards, so may become a regular sighting now.

Used to always be a B7RLE so probably will be a Lecky bus all the time now

 

[NorthClyde320]

It's probably forum wibble. Never take anything on forums seriously unless evidence from an official source(with a link)is provided.

It's now official from 14 November rather then December

Pardon Our Interruption

 

[overthewater]

Following on from that Airport express to Aberdeen is finishing up for the season from the 26th October as mention on its Facebook page.

 

[Observer]

Have you spotted F16 of 72 yet?

There were separate paper timetables for the 72 and 178 when they started in July. Not sure if they still have them.

 

[Stan Drews]

I assume you’re talking about the FLY Aberdeen coach service that is run by Xplore Dundee.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 9 Oct 2025 ==

A few more ex First buses have recently headed to Clyde Metals for scrap.
Scania N94 - 1804
ADL E200s - 8051/3
ADL E300s - 8475/6

I think we’re now down to just 4 buses remaining in use in former First liveries - Streetlites 0431/3, which are both due for very early withdrawal, and the 2 B7TLs (2853/64) which are used on Stirling Council school runs.

 

[ScotRail158725]

A few more ex First buses have recently headed to Clyde Metals for scrap.
Scania N94 - 1804
ADL E200s - 8051/3
ADL E300s - 8475/6

so thats all of the First Omnidekkas, Solars and B7RLEs now scrapped or sold then, took them a while

I think we’re now down to just 4 buses remaining in use in former First liveries - Streetlites 0431/3, which are both due for very early withdrawal, and the 2 B7TLs (2853/64) which are used on Stirling Council school runs.

Are the geminis up for withdrawal soon too?

 

[Stan Drews]

so thats all of the First Omnidekkas, Solars and B7RLEs now scrapped or sold then, took them a while

Are the geminis up for withdrawal soon too?

Not at the moment. Indeed, one may be getting a wee bit of tlc soon!

 

[AndrewTaylor95]

Not at the moment. Indeed, one may be getting a wee bit of tlc soon!

2853 I'll take a punt at, that’s a good runner I'm told

 

[aswilliamsuk]

I assume you’re talking about the FLY Aberdeen coach service that is run by Xplore Dundee.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 9 Oct 2025 ==

A few more ex First buses have recently headed to Clyde Metals for scrap.
Scania N94 - 1804
ADL E200s - 8051/3
ADL E300s - 8475/6

I think we’re now down to just 4 buses remaining in use in former First liveries - Streetlites 0431/3, which are both due for very early withdrawal, and the 2 B7TLs (2853/64) which are used on Stirling Council school runs.

Thanks for the update as ever. Isn't 2903 still in ex-First colours too? I see 2900 has now gained MB colours, I wonder if 2903 is following...

 

[NorthClyde320]

so thats all of the First Omnidekkas, Solars and B7RLEs now scrapped or sold then, took them a while

Are the geminis up for withdrawal soon too?

I'm sure there may still be 1 or 2 Scania Solars and Omnidekkas to be disposed of along with the previously mentioned 4 B7RLEs along with a few B7TLs and Brightbus ALX400's.

Has the sole Caetano Dart 4486 been disposed of yet does anyone know?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 10 Oct 2025 ==

Surprised 2303 never had any further use or sold on

Possible conversion to a driver trainer like similar 2291/2?

 

[route101]

What routes do the geminis do?

 

[Stan Drews]

2853 I'll take a punt at, that’s a good runner I'm told

Try again…
In fact it may now be that 2853 may not return after the school half term!

What routes do the geminis do?

They generally work a wide variety of both Falkirk and Stirling Council school contracts. Details of those that are registered (which is the majority) can be found on the website.
The B9TLs are largely used to sub for the newer E400s when they aren’t available.

 

[AndrewTaylor95]

Try again…
In fact it may now be that 2853 may not return after the school half term!


They generally work a wide variety of both Falkirk and Stirling Council school contracts. Details of those that are registered (which is the majority) can be found on the website.
The B9TLs are largely used to sub for the newer E400s when they aren’t available.

06 plates in the new Midland Bluebird livery maybe?

 

[overthewater]

Details for the revised no2 is now on the website:

Service 2 - Revised Timetable & Roue in Bo'Ness - Midland Bluebird

www.mcgillsscotlandeast.co.uk

Mon 27th Oct onwards

Service 2 will have a revised frequency introduced and will follow the same route to/from the Drum Farm Terminus

 

[smsm1]

Does this mean that the 2A will no longer run? Simpler route, though hard to tell the changes.

 

[Metal Mickey]

Does this mean that the 2A will no longer run? Simpler route, though hard to tell the changes.

Yes, this is the 2nd occasion that this routing in Bo’ness has been reinstated therefore no requirement for route number 2A and hopefully this time it will stay that way.

The every 35 mins frequency is obviously very disappointing as they either don’t have enough drivers or can’t afford to retain the frequency at every 30 mins.

Also noticed that Carron Centre is no longer a timing point.

 

[overthewater]

Maybe once all the roadworks go away and never come back, we will see the service being able to operate every 30mins. On the plus side the 30min headway is keep for the AM peak.

 

[Highland050261]

I assume you’re talking about the FLY Aberdeen coach service that is run by Xplore Dundee.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 9 Oct 2025 ==

A few more ex First buses have recently headed to Clyde Metals for scrap.
Scania N94 - 1804
ADL E200s - 8051/3
ADL E300s - 8475/6

I think we’re now down to just 4 buses remaining in use in former First liveries - Streetlites 0431/3, which are both due for very early withdrawal, and the 2 B7TLs (2853/64) which are used on Stirling Council school runs.

Are the first branded ones, i.e. 423, 26–28, 30, 40, 42, and 43, now withdrawn?

 

[Stan Drews]

Are the first branded ones, i.e. 423, 26–28, 30, 40, 42, and 43, now withdrawn?

Yes, they are, …along with 2853.

I think the fleetlist on the website is up to date, including liveries.

Fleet list for Midland Bluebird - Midland Bluebird

www.mcgillsscotlandeast.co.uk

 

[AndrewTaylor95]

Yes, they are, …along with 2853.

I think the fleetlist on the website is up to date, including liveries.

Fleet list for Midland Bluebird - Midland Bluebird

www.mcgillsscotlandeast.co.uk

Just leaves SN55 HFC 2864 left of the Ex First B7TLs then, Probably more similar to the old Dundee 06 plates with it having the more updated dash

 

[scosutsut]

Just catching up on things here.

I take it with 8951 having been re-vinyled for airport express a while back and all references to the boat tour option now being removed from the Bright Bus website, that it wasn't renewed for another season and the brand overall will be retired when the AirX ends?

Or will the other city tours they were doing live on? If I remember it correctly it was Stirling, Dundee and Aberdeen?

 

[Baileygirl]

It appears that 0422 is tracking twice. According to Midland Bluebird website it is on the 13 and the 60.

 

[Metal Mickey]

Are the Streetlites which have been parked up following the arrival of the new Yutongs to be sold on the 2nd hand market or are they to be scrapped?

 

[overthewater]

So just to check All 32 Electric buses are now based at Larbert? I can only see 30, is two still to appear? or did the numbers change. Remember It was 20 at Larbert and 12 and Livingston?

Also Expect some of new timetables which includes the revise No2 to appear this week.

 

[AilsaBus]

So just to check All 32 Electric buses are now based at Larbert? I can only see 30, is two still to appear? or did the numbers change. Remember It was 20 at Larbert and 12 and Livingston?

Also Expect some of new timetables which includes the revise No2 to appear this week.

Pretty sure it was always only 30 new buses and all based at Larbert.

 

[overthewater]

Deffo 32 going by this:

* https://www.zenobe.com/news-and-events/zenobe-scotzeb-funding-john-swinney

However maybe the missing two ended up with Dundee as in total Mcgills got 42:

* https://www.gov.scot/publications/foi-202400436252

 

[Scott mac]

So just to check All 32 Electric buses are now based at Larbert? I can only see 30, is two still to appear? or did the numbers change. Remember It was 20 at Larbert and 12 and Livingston?

Also Expect some of new timetables which includes the revise No2 to appear this week.

There was never any plans for any new electric buses going to Livingston

 

[AilsaBus]

Deffo 32 going by this:

* https://www.zenobe.com/news-and-events/zenobe-scotzeb-funding-john-swinney

However maybe the missing two ended up with Dundee as in total Mcgills got 42:

* https://www.gov.scot/publications/foi-202400436252

Nowhere in the first link does it say "32".

Second link says 42, 30 of those went to Midland Bluebird and 12 to Dundee.

 

[overthewater]

Nowhere in the first link does it say "32".

There was never any plans for any new electric buses going to Livingston

YET in that link it does, https://www.zenobe.com/news-and-events/zenobe-scotzeb-funding-john-swinney

The link has details and a map of the locations, the map has the following for McGills

* 10 Dundee
* 20 Larbert
* 12 Livingston.

SO 32 comes from Livingston and Larbert.

So Where did they get that information from? They managed to get everyone else right- Fingers crossed.

 

[AilsaBus]

YET in that link it does, https://www.zenobe.com/news-and-events/zenobe-scotzeb-funding-john-swinney

The link has details and a map of the locations, the map has the following for McGills

* 10 Dundee
* 20 Larbert
* 12 Livingston.

SO 32 comes from Livingston and Larbert.

So Where did they get that information from? They managed to get everyone else right- Fingers crossed.

Then clearly it was altered when they stopped running local services out of Livingston and changed to 12 for Dundee and 30 for Larbert.