McGill’s Midland Bluebird

[gomango]

Your thinking off the old Forth Valley NHS trusts paid for buses: H1, H2, H3, H4, H5. Apart from H5 all started in 2010 and were contracted for 3 -4years.

H1/H2 are stilling running to this day thanks to Scottish government money and Clackmanahire council, It caused a right stink with plans to cut it.

H5 was very short lived Hospital - Airth - Kincardine.

Service H3/H4 were operated by Wave and E&M Horburgh, and replaced the old 2 hourly "233" service. Joint service provide 30min service from Denny - Hospital - Larbert - Skinflats - Grangemouth - Polmont - Maddiston. I believe you were in fact quicker and cheaper getting First bus from polmont into Falkirk and changing.

First had 10min head way between Falkirk and Stirling with 60 and X38 being every 20mins each, They also extended the 67, 76 to Hospital Via Bainford and Stenhouse Road.

H1 and H2 are actually also handy to get from Falkirk to Alloa fairly quickly

I remember these other hospital services however I thought First operated all of them, never even heard of Wave before. E & M still do School contracts and private hires but that's it these days.

Did the X38 not used to be direct from Polmont to FVRH at that time, I thought it wasn't split up until 2020?

In my view, the 38 running every 15 minutes during the day and every 30 minutes in the evening is sufficient with connections available from other services at Upper Newmarket Street

The 38 could extend to Maddiston to provide that section of the 1 a frequency increase, which on recent experiences on this route is probably needed

Now that Bannockburn Depot has shut, am I correct in saying the 38, 51 and 52 now all interwork?

Am I also correct in saying that the 5, 7, 8 have reverted back to diesel operation, with the 1,2,3,4 remaining Yuotong E12's

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

The X38 used to a mega marathon Edinburgh to Stirling every 20 minutes with the pretty hopeless StreetLites.

 

[matchmaker]

H1 and H2 are actually also handy to get from Falkirk to Alloa fairly quickly

I remember these other hospital services however I thought First operated all of them, never even heard of Wave before. E & M still do School contracts and private hires but that's it these days.

Did the X38 not used to be direct from Polmont to FVRH at that time, I thought it wasn't split up until 2020?


The 38 could extend to Maddiston to provide that section of the 1 a frequency increase, which on recent experiences on this route is probably needed

Now that Bannockburn Depot has shut, am I correct in saying the 38, 51 and 52 now all interwork?

Am I also correct in saying that the 5, 7, 8 have reverted back to diesel operation, with the 1,2,3,4 remaining Yuotong E12's

I noticed a Yuotong on the 51 today.

 

[Stan Drews]

Now that Bannockburn Depot has shut, am I correct in saying the 38, 51 and 52 now all interwork?

Am I also correct in saying that the 5, 7, 8 have reverted back to diesel operation, with the 1,2,3,4 remaining Yuotong E12's

Yes, you are correct on both counts.

 

[Observer]

Passed by Larbert a few days ago I see the other side (the office side) now seems to be getting used for buses coming in and getting shunted?

Of course that side was always going to get put to better use given that it was empty after the clearout. Training buses are being parked at the other entrance next to the offices.

 

[Simon75]

Any idea what they are doing to Bannockburn depot now its closed?

 

[overthewater]

Individual timetables are back in fashion again with the recent service changes. There is now leaflet for unilink, 38, 51/52, 56, and F16. X10 has also been reprinted.

Of course the rest haven't change so there have not been printed.

 

[Scotrail344Lad]

Hello - Does Anyone Know When The F49 Switched From Prentice Westwood To Midland Bluebird?
If so, why?

 

[AndrewTaylor95]

Hello - Does Anyone Know When The F49 Switched From Prentice Westwood To Midland Bluebird?
If so, why?

McGill's own Prentice Westwood

 

[Baileygirl]

Hello - Does Anyone Know When The F49 Switched From Prentice Westwood To Midland Bluebird?
If so, why?

Prentice Westwood cancelled it on 24th August 2026 and Midland Bluebird took over.. as said above, both owned by Mcgills.

 

[Scotrail344Lad]

Thank You

 

[route101]

Individual timetables are back in fashion again with the recent service changes. There is now leaflet for unilink, 38, 51/52, 56, and F16. X10 has also been reprinted.

Of course the rest haven't change so there have not been printed.

Surprised they are still printing them. Still not found any of McGills west paper timetables.

 

[danielhogg2005]

Surprised they are still printing them. Still not found any of McGills west paper timetables.

I found a 757 one in July when I used the service, its generally hit or miss with McGill's on what Buses have them.

 

[overthewater]

They do get printed with each service change, The depots do sometimes keep stock of stuff, but it has to be around within a few weeks of the service changes.

 

[CSB0241]

Surprised they are still printing them. Still not found any of McGills west paper timetables.

I found a 757 one in July when I used the service, its generally hit or miss with McGill's on what Buses have them.

The 24 to Clydebank had a handful when I got it back in July.

 

[route101]

The 24 to Clydebank had a handful when I got it back in July.

There is not really anywhere that has timetable racks or bus stations as such on the Western Network. McGills East has Stirling Bus Station.