First Aberdeen

[Jordan Adam]

Service changes from 29th June 2019 are confirmed as...

• Service 8: Extended from Aberdeen Royal Infirmary to Foresterhill Health Clinic
• Serivce 17B: Renumbered X27, extended from Four Mile Inn to Dyce Railway Station via TECA (The Events Complex Arena), city centre terminal moved from Holburn Junction to Guild Street.
• Service 18A: Renumbered 172

I'd assume First will have the press release with new timetables up in the next few days. I understand there will also be minor timetable changes to the 19 and 23.

 

[Deltic1961]

Was stuck behind a 17B today from George Street all the way to St. Machar drive doing 19mph. Massive queue of traffic built up behind it. Too much time on the route obviously!

 

[Jordan Adam]

Was stuck behind a 17B today from George Street all the way to St. Machar drive doing 19mph. Massive queue of traffic built up behind it. Too much time on the route obviously!

I assume you're meaning from the top of George Street on Powis Terrace as the 17B doesn't use George Street itself. But yes the route is overtimed with too much layover at Holburn. All to be sorted in these changes.

I had a run on it with a driver i know a few months back and he was showing me how between particular stops on Gt Northern Road they give you far too much time. I recall you get something like 8 minutes to go from the Haudagain to Dee Street, when in reality it could easily be done in 4.

Part of the issue is the fact the timings for the 17B were done prior to AWPR opening.

 

[Jordan Adam]

The new timetables are now online - https://www.firstgroup.com/aberdeen/plan-journey/timetables/?source_id=3&operator=19&service=&page=1

To summarise the changes in full.

• Service 8: Extended to serve Foresterhill Health Clinic (Bus runs Cornhill > Health Clinic > Bus Port > Cornhill)
• Service 17: Timetable changes, with improvements in the morning.
• Service 17B: Withdrawn (Replaced by new X27)
• Service 18A: Renumbered 172
• Service 19: Minor Timetable changes.
• Service 23: Reduced from Every 9 Minutes to Every 10 Minutes, this allows a consistent 5 minute frequency from Heathryfold.
• NEW Service X27: Replacing 17B this service runs Every 15 Minutes Monday - Saturday daytime from Guild Street to Bristow Heliport via Causewayend, Gt Northern Road, Four Mile Inn, TECA & Dyce Railway Station.

I must admit, these are some of the best changes we've had in a while, the new X27 offers so many possible journeys. Linking Dyce Railway Station and the Heliport with a 15 Minute frequency is going to be no doubt a winner!

 

[Deltic1961]

Hopefully X means express

 

[Jordan Adam]

Hopefully X means express

Yes as it goes down direct Causwayend rather than George Street.

 

[DMU180]

The new timetables are now online - https://www.firstgroup.com/aberdeen/plan-journey/timetables/?source_id=3&operator=19&service=&page=1

To summarise the changes in full.

• Service 8: Extended to serve Foresterhill Health Clinic (Bus runs Cornhill > Health Clinic > Bus Port > Cornhill)
• Service 17: Timetable changes, with improvements in the morning.
• Service 17B: Withdrawn (Replaced by new X27)
• Service 18A: Renumbered 172
• Service 19: Minor Timetable changes.
• Service 23: Reduced from Every 9 Minutes to Every 10 Minutes, this allows a consistent 5 minute frequency from Heathryfold.
• NEW Service X27: Replacing 17B this service runs Every 15 Minutes Monday - Saturday daytime from Guild Street to Bristow Heliport via Causewayend, Gt Northern Road, Four Mile Inn, TECA & Dyce Railway Station.

I must admit, these are some of the best changes we've had in a while, the new X27 offers so many possible journeys. Linking Dyce Railway Station and the Heliport with a 15 Minute frequency is going to be no doubt a winner!

It's a pity the X27 seems like a bit of a half hearted effort, first journeys are around 0730 and last journeys around 1830. Will be interesting to see how busy they are given the 727 will be serving TECA every 10 minutes with a faster journey time 24 hours a day!

 

[Jordan Adam]

It's a pity the X27 seems like a bit of a half hearted effort, first journeys are around 0730 and last journeys around 1830. Will be interesting to see how busy they are given the 727 will be serving TECA every 10 minutes with a faster journey time 24 hours a day!

I'd partially agree with you, the X27 needs to run earlier/later. In terms of routing it's pretty much faultless, but the lack of evening/Sunday service will be an issue.

Most of the time during the day TECA won't make a huge difference for either routes, it'll probably be 2 or 3 passengers at most per bus. The main market by far on the X27 will be between Bristows Helicopters and Dyce Railway Station and then again between Four Mile Inn and the City Centre. I can't see there being any "bus battle" so to speak, purely on the basis that there's room and demand for both services. Keep in mind between the City Centre and Four Mile Inn the frequency/volume of buses will remain the same (albeit improved slightly in the morning and early evening, the X27 is merely just an extension of the 17B using one extra bus. In terms of journey time the 727 will be slower taking about 28 minutes vs 23 minutes on the X27. (From Adelphi to TECA).

The X27 isn't really designed to take on the 727, but rather fill in the gaps around the Airport and maintain frequency along the "Bucksburn Corridor".

 

[Gingerbus1991]

Perhaps a little off topic with these other buses but they would look great running around Aberdeen in those colours, minus the green flecks at the front Hanover.

 

[Jordan Adam]

Perhaps a little off topic with these other buses but they would look great running around Aberdeen in those colours, minus the green flecks at the front Hanover.

I saw that the other day, not a fan at all. The gold just looks tacky to me, it'll fade really quickly and it takes too much away from the green.

I think if a new operator was to come in they should be more looking down the lines of something like the 1988 Grampian livery. For me this was by far the best livery to ever grace Aberdeen. It was also pretty flexible working on mini buses equally good as it did deckers.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/111014148@N06/14233412995/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/41987105@N06/5016788223/

The earlier "prototype" version of the livery looks fantastic on the Gemini3 body too! The green skirt would help preserve the look of the bus.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/km_edinburgh/39101989782/in/album-72157634539890871/

 

[Gingerbus1991]

It's coming one day I think!

 

[Jordan Adam]

It's coming one day I think!

Just so long as the council are not involved!

 

[Gingerbus1991]

Just so long as the council are not involved!

Of course ACC can't outright operate the company but as a shareholder with a board of directors it could exert its will against operational decisions made by the company, i.e Grampian Buses if it came to fruition.

It may well be likely in the future if a sale or break up of First was to ever happen, Glasgow, Falkirk and Stirling councils may well be interested about that as well.

I agree that it may not always be the answer but atm the public have even less of a say in what happens with commercially operated services being withdrawn, in the event a company was owned by a public body, i. e a local authority the public have even more right to expect a good service.

Of course ideally that's the way forward, but out local authorities can't even empty bins or public grass parks in timely fashion!

 

[Jordan Adam]

Of course ACC can't outright operate the company but as a shareholder with a board of directors it could exert its will against operational decisions made by the company, i.e Grampian Buses if it came to fruition.

It may well be likely in the future if a sale or break up of First was to ever happen, Glasgow, Falkirk and Stirling councils may well be interested about that as well.

I agree that it may not always be the answer but atm the public have even less of a say in what happens with commercially operated services being withdrawn, in the event a company was owned by a public body, i. e a local authority the public have even more right to expect a good service.

Of course ideally that's the way forward, but out local authorities can't even empty bins or public grass parks in timely fashion!

The fear i have with ACC is that the minute there was a budget cut they would take the profits from the bus side to fill the gaps and then cut bus services instead. Additionally how can they possibly promise improvements when there's no money to?

I'll just drop this here for good measure .
https://www.eveningexpress.co.uk/ne...cil-to-face-hearing-over-vehicle-maintenance/

 

[Jordan Adam]

https://www.firstgroup.com/aberdeen...tes/planned-changes/service-changes-30th-june

Service Changes - 30th June
The following changes will apply from Sunday 30 June, for full timetables click here and select the "forthcoming" tab

Service 8:
Now serves Gallowgate and Broad Street in both directions along with minor amendment to departure times.

Services 17/17A:
Minor amendment to departure and journey times

Service 17B will be withdrawn, however service X27 will be created (please see below).

Service X27 (new):
Starts in the city centre at Guild Street, then Bridge Street Union Street, Broad Street, Gallowgate, Causewayend, Powis Place, Powis Terrace, Great Northern Road, Auchmill Road, Inverurie Road, then will serve TECA, Dyce Railway Station and the Heliports.

Returns to Guild Street same route in reverse until Union Street then Market Street and Guild Street.

Service 172 (new):
Replaces service 18A and operates same route

Service 23:
Minor adjustment to departure times with quicker journeys at certain time of day.

For full timetable details please click here
To view the network maps for the routes, please click here

Note the network/route maps have not been uploaded yet. They'll probably go up in the next few days.

 

[Jordan Adam]

First Group Heritage Trust are hosting a vehicle showcase event today at Castle Gate in Aberdeen showing vehicles from 1930 to today. While i'll be going for a look later today i have been watching on the councils web camera as vehicles arrive. The event will last until 16:00.

In attendance are as follows:

• SN57 HZZ (69294)
• RG 1173 (62121)
• HSO 61N (62120)
• Unidentified Thistle Line Streetlite (Possibly 63218)
• JRS 22F (22)
• BRS 37 (155)
• CWG 273 (PA171)
• Unidentified Platinum 19 Gemini (Possibly 37635)
• K1 GRT (1 Ex-10046), Under it's own power!
• E131 DRS (131 Ex-31557)

 

[Volvodart]

63195, 37635 plus National 74.

 

[Jordan Adam]

Former First Aberdeen 10046 (K1GRT) & 31557 (E131DRS) on display at Castle Gate today.

Two of (if you ask me) the best liveries Aberdeen has seen, the old Northern Scottish "Citybus" livery from the late 80s is also up there!

Photo link - https://www.flickr.com/photos/jordanadam44/48109383407

 

[Strathclyder]

Former First Aberdeen 10046 (K1GRT) & 31557 (E131DRS) on display at Castle Gate today.

Two of (if you ask me) the best liveries Aberdeen has seen, the old Northern Scottish "Citybus" livery from the late 80s is also up there!

Photo link - https://www.flickr.com/photos/jordanadam44/48109383407

First time K1 has left Alford in quite some time? Either way, she looks right at home alongside 131 there!

 

[Jordan Adam]

First time K1 has left Alford in quite some time? Either way, she looks right at home alongside 131 there!

First time she's left Alford since 2011, her first official outing in preservation and the first time she's been in Aberdeen City Centre under her own power since 2008!

K1GRT on Union Street in May 2008 in her final few months before withdrawal. She lasted in service 16 years, so not too bad going!
https://www.flickr.com/photos/45726467@N02/13389368695

 

[Deltic1961]

Really hacked off we missed this on Saturday. We were literally 2 minutes away but never knew this was on.

Would have loved to see 131 in all it's full glory. Don't make em like that any more!

I seem to remember 131 had a digital screen originally that kept going haywire .... there was an episode of Family Fortunes from 1989 on the telly yesterday with the same dot matrix green screen and the same issues.

 

[Jordan Adam]

Really hacked off we missed this on Saturday. We were literally 2 minutes away but never knew this was on.

Would have loved to see 131 in all it's full glory. Don't make em like that any more!

I seem to remember 131 had a digital screen originally that kept going haywire .... there was an episode of Family Fortunes from 1989 on the telly yesterday with the same dot matrix green screen and the same issues.

There's an open day at Alford on Sunday the 7th of July. E131DRS and K1GRT will be on full display there, all going well Scotbus Preservation Groups B10BLE duo (V258DPS & X623NSS) should be in attendance too.

131 was delivered without any displays, as you say a short lived unreliable dot matrix display was fitted, but fairly swiftly replaced by the standard rollers. The early LED displays fitted in the 709D's were quite notorious for never working too!

 

[Jordan Adam]

https://www.eveningexpress.co.uk/fp...ove-forward-with-plans-to-buy-first-aberdeen/

Council looks to move forward with plans to buy First Aberdeen
Buses at First Aberdeen's HQ on King Street
Councillors are being asked to approve contacting those involved in the proposed sale of First Aberdeen, noting the council’s interest in making a bid.

Urgent motion brought forward to @AberdeenCC meeting today requesting that the council contact those involved in sale of @FirstAberdeen noting council’s interest in making a bid. @EveningExpress

An urgent motion was brought forward by Aberdeen City Council co-leader Jenny Laing at today’s full council meeting.

The move follows amendments to stage two of the Transport Bill, which would allow local authorities to run their own bus service.

The motion asks councillors to agree to instruct the council’s director of resources to contact those involved in the proposed sale of First Aberdeen, noting the council’s interest.

It also calls for a report to be brought back with details of how the local authority might make a bid.
​

​

Aberdeen's worst nightmare could be about to come true...

 

[overthewater]

Said Council buying Aberdeen. Come on national express buy it out quickly and tell the council to get stuffed.

 

[Jordan Adam]

Said Council buying Aberdeen. Come on national express buy it out quickly and tell the council to get stuffed.

I'm sure the tax payers would rather they spent the money on providing brown bins for free again and/or cutting grass!

 

[Deltic1961]

Just expect every bus to be 18 months late and £50 a journey

ACC couldn't run a bath.

 

[Jordan Adam]

Just expect every bus to be 18 months late and £50 a journey

ACC couldn't run a bath.

They'll revert routes back to the Pre-Scotmap review in 1982....

Enjoy getting a 23 that only goes as far as Scatterburn!

 

[Jordan Adam]

The new network map is now available.

https://www.firstgroup.com/uploads/maps/Aberdeen_Network_Map_WEB-June19.pdf

 

[Jordan Adam]

The new X27 started today. Passenger loads were nothing special, but this can mostly be put down to the fact TECA isn't open yet.
Vehicle allocation is on paper 4 Hydrogen's and 2 Enviro300's. Today however it was 3 Hydrogen's, 2 E300's and a B7RLE.

 

[Deltic1961]

Didn't they abandon a very similar service just a few months ago?

Can't really see this being a success either.