First Greater Glasgow

[PaulMc7]

The 254 is a very busy route and also has a competitor on it

True. Is there a way that they could extend it to get even more out of it and give Carfin and Newarthill a new link? Even to Hamilton?

 

[PaulMc7]

Those routes from Glasgow to Lanarkshire that aren’t the express ones drag in, I feel for people who do it daily who’s local bus stops aren’t served by the expresses.

Yeah I've done the 240 from Motherwell to Glasgow a few times and the Hamilton buses too. Not great at all especially the 240. Feel like that drags in more than the rest

 

[lastbus]

True. Is there a way that they could extend it to get even more out of it and give Carfin and Newarthill a new link? Even to Hamilton?

It used to go to Hamilton then it was stopped. No chance of it going back

 

[PaulMc7]

It used to go to Hamilton then it was stopped. No chance of it going back

Shame as well. Anytime I've ever got a bus between Hamilton and Motherwell especially it's been absolutely packed

 

[smtglasgow]

Surprised they've never tried to market services around the city centre colleges and universities. Missed opportunity tbh

When I worked at Glasgow Uni First used to come to the freshers fair to promote their student tickets. As far as I know they do it at all the city universities and colleges - students are a big deal for all bus operators. But the number of students travelling on the 4 out to Glasgow Uni has declined a lot since I was a student in the early 2000s - most use the underground or walk from halls/flats.

 

[Scotrail314209]

When I worked at Glasgow Uni First used to come to the freshers fair to promote their student tickets. As far as I know they do it at all the city universities and colleges - students are a big deal for all bus operators. But the number of students travelling on the 4 out to Glasgow Uni has declined a lot since I was a student in the early 2000s - most use the underground or walk from halls/flats.

They were at City of Glasgows' one a few weeks ago. Giving out 3 days of free bus travel.

 

[PaulMc7]

When I worked at Glasgow Uni First used to come to the freshers fair to promote their student tickets. As far as I know they do it at all the city universities and colleges - students are a big deal for all bus operators. But the number of students travelling on the 4 out to Glasgow Uni has declined a lot since I was a student in the early 2000s - most use the underground or walk from halls/flats.

Yeah there's a few freshers events with potential free travel deals this week. Yeah I remember the old 44 and it was absolutely packed constantly. Taking away the Knightswood to Broomhill section hasn't helped either. Was always busy with schoolkids going to Hyndland by the bottom of Jordanhill. Don't think the X4 off peak is busy at all

 

[lastbus]

Overtown’s 47628 now in new livery.

 

[PaulMc7]

How many branded services do you guys think will be around by the time LEZ fully kicks in? I think it'll be select core routes more than anything although I'd brand services that go to shopping centres/colleges and universities too and make sure it's mentioned on the branding. Silverburn/Braehead etc

 

[JumpinTrainz]

I thought the 60/60A would have been branded blue (similar to the 61) although because it shares buses with the 41 that makes it much more difficult. Similar situation during the Overground days when the 61 used to share buses with the 54 so they couldn’t be branded. Similar situation with the 2 and 3. I feel like the 2 should be branded but won’t be as it would be too difficult to separate from the 3.

I think the 5 could be branded along with the 1 for sure. The One could be rebranded in Orange similar to the 254 branding. It’s so bold and striking. I wonder if they’ll brand the 6?

 

[PaulMc7]

I thought the 60/60A would have been branded blue (similar to the 61) although because it shares buses with the 41 that makes it much more difficult. Similar situation during the Overground days when the 61 used to share buses with the 54 so they couldn’t be branded. Similar situation with the 2 and 3. I feel like the 2 should be branded but won’t be as it would be too difficult to separate from the 3.

I think the 5 could be branded along with the 1 for sure. The One could be rebranded in Orange similar to the 254 branding. It’s so bold and striking. I wonder if they’ll brand the 6?

Yeah I expect the 1s to get something fairly quickly when the new buses next come in. I think the 2 and 3 will to free their current buses over to other services that could do with them. The 6 is a strange one for me tbh. I was surprised it wasn't split into two services like the 20 was. The low bridge at Busby is also a factor unless they made it all new single deckers. Would only be peak times where issues could occur with an all single decker run though. Castlemilk already has the 34s and 75s branded but I'm surprised the 5 never got new buses before the 34 did. It's always been a fairly busy bus and one of the only services that hasn't really changed under First at all

I think we will see new branded buses on these services eventually:

2,3,5,9/9A,21,57/57A,88/89/89A/89B and then the 255/263/267

 

[Bus Lightyear]

True. Is there a way that they could extend it to get even more out of it and give Carfin and Newarthill a new link? Even to Hamilton?

The 255 used to go from Glasgow to Newarthill until around 10 years ago. I can only assume it was split into 2 routes for timekeeping reasons.

 

[PaulMc7]

The 255 used to go from Glasgow to Newarthill until around 10 years ago. I can only assume it was split into 2 routes for timekeeping reasons.

Yeah I was thinking that too. Think it would be an entirely different proposition if it done that route again now especially with how good the 254 is now. The 254 is now also way more frequent than the 255 was towards the end before the route cut.

The 3 and the 6 need cut as far timekeeping issues go. They pile up constantly even off peak. 75 too is very bad for it despite not having a massive route. The 1s are also really bad but capacity at Dumbarton probably wouldn't be big enough for a new service to allow a route cut to the 1s

 

[Bus Lightyear]

Yeah I was thinking that too. Think it would be an entirely different proposition if it done that route again now especially with how good the 254 is now. The 254 is now also way more frequent than the 255 was towards the end before the route cut.

The 3 and the 6 need cut as far timekeeping issues go. They pile up constantly even off peak. 75 too is very bad for it despite not having a massive route. The 1s are also really bad but capacity at Dumbarton probably wouldn't be big enough for a new service to allow a route cut to the 1s

Hamilton is terrible for congestion mainly caused by the road system and this could be the reason why the 255 and 267 were split many years ago.

Frequent bus routes can be bad for bunching in just about any city. Even in Edinburgh its not unusual to see convoys of Lothian Buses 22s or 26s.

 

[PaulMc7]

Hamilton is terrible for congestion mainly caused by the road system and this could be the reason why the 255 and 267 were split many years ago.

Frequent bus routes can be bad for bunching in just about any city. Even in Edinburgh its not unusual to see convoys of Lothian Buses 22s or 26s.

Yeah the one way system in Hamilton doesn't help either tbh. Yeah I've been to Edinburgh a few times and I'd argue that Glasgow has a better bus network. It does help that we don't have a tram system either though

 

[JumpinTrainz]

Yeah I expect the 1s to get something fairly quickly when the new buses next come in. I think the 2 and 3 will to free their current buses over to other services that could do with them. The 6 is a strange one for me tbh. I was surprised it wasn't split into two services like the 20 was. The low bridge at Busby is also a factor unless they made it all new single deckers. Would only be peak times where issues could occur with an all single decker run though. Castlemilk already has the 34s and 75s branded but I'm surprised the 5 never got new buses before the 34 did. It's always been a fairly busy bus and one of the only services that hasn't really changed under First at all

I think we will see new branded buses on these services eventually:

2,3,5,9/9A,21,57/57A,88/89/89A/89B and then the 255/263/267

The 5 is a busy route from start to finish and it’s a rather short route. It was robbed of new E400MMCs back in 2015 and I thought it would be a contender for new stock. The 4 was the same.

If it were up to me I would have the Kirky routes benefit from branded E300s and E200MMCs displaced from the 2 and 3 routes. E300s from Dumbarton could be moved to replace the remaining B7RLEs on the 255/263 at Blantyre

 

[PaulMc7]

The 5 is a busy route from start to finish and it’s a rather short route. It was robbed of new E400MMCs back in 2015 and I thought it would be a contender for new stock. The 4 was the same.

If it were up to me I would have the Kirky routes benefit from branded E300s and E200MMCs displaced from the 2 and 3 routes. E300s from Dumbarton could be moved to replace the remaining B7RLEs on the 255/263 at Blantyre

Yeah I'd definitely give the likes of the 88 and 89 some good new stock. I'd also give them a link to somewhere that isn't Buchanan Bus Station. Some people claim there's not a demand but how can you truly know if they've not had an option for years beyond the top of city centre? The 5 is a definite for me. Unsure with the 4 because I feel like the constant fall in passenger numbers will lead to more cuts. Doesn't help that the Subway is still very strong. I think if the 1s get upgrades then those current e300s will be sent to bring a lot of services quality up. We forget with how frequent it is just how many buses have to be used on it. Same with the 2 and 3 too

 

[route101]

The only one frequency wise out of the Glasgow to Lanarkshire buses that isn't frequent is the 263 but I think the rest could cope no bother

255 too , down to every half hourly these two now

 

[route101]

Yeah I'd definitely give the likes of the 88 and 89 some good new stock. I'd also give them a link to somewhere that isn't Buchanan Bus Station. Some people claim there's not a demand but how can you truly know if they've not had an option for years beyond the top of city centre? The 5 is a definite for me. Unsure with the 4 because I feel like the constant fall in passenger numbers will lead to more cuts. Doesn't help that the Subway is still very strong. I think if the 1s get upgrades then those current e300s will be sent to bring a lot of services quality up. We forget with how frequent it is just how many buses have to be used on it. Same with the 2 and 3 too

Would it not effect the realibility running through ?

 

[PaulMc7]

Would it not effect the realibility running through ?

The Bishopbriggs buses aren't always reliable as it is tbh and part of that is getting out of Buchanan Bus Station. Seen times especially with the 77 where the next one is due to leave by the time it gets around onto Bath St

 

[PaulMc7]

255 too , down to every half hourly these two now

Was only 13/14 years ago that people were complaining about them going from every 12 mins to 15mins

 

[PaulMc7]

Some new registrations on VOSA guys. Not had a chance to look more at them. Just timetable stuff for most of them I'm guessing?

 

[Scotrail314209]

Is the 9 scheduled to get new buses, or at least have them refurbished.

They've been using the same ones for as long as I remember...

And I remember back to the days when that would be a Gemini, a Renown, Fusion or an Eclipse Bendy Bus.

 

[PaulMc7]

Is the 9 scheduled to get new buses, or at least have them refurbished.

They've been using the same ones for as long as I remember...

And I remember back to the days when that would be a Gemini, a Renown, Fusion or an Eclipse Bendy Bus.

Those bendy buses were a nightmare haha the 9 and 62 were full of them and I used to use both for school purposes and we all used to stand in the bendy bit because it was so busy

 

[Scotrail314209]

Also, will the 1 be getting double deckers? I feel the service is busy enough to be justifiable for it.

 

[JumpinTrainz]

Also, will the 1 be getting double deckers? I feel the service is busy enough to be justifiable for it.

The 1 can’t have deckers past Clydebank due to a low bridge hence why it’s always been singles with peak deckers.

 

[JumpinTrainz]

Is the 9 scheduled to get new buses, or at least have them refurbished.

They've been using the same ones for as long as I remember...

And I remember back to the days when that would be a Gemini, a Renown, Fusion or an Eclipse Bendy Bus.

There’s been rumours about the 9 getting new buses which I think would work well given the state of some of the B7RLEs.

I like the B10LAs much better than the B7LAs. The 61 and 40 used to see them quite a bit too back in the day. I miss that kind of variety. Buses are all pretty standard now.

 

[Scotrail314209]

The 1 can’t have deckers past Clydebank due to a low bridge hence why it’s always been singles with peak deckers.

Ahh, that's not good. I could only imagine how bad the route is in peak.

 

[PaulMc7]

Ahh, that's not good. I could only imagine how bad the route is in peak.

A lot of people miss out on the specific 1 variation they actually need on Argyle st because of how busy they get at peaks. They're my main buses and even with them being so frequent at peak times they're all very full for a lot of the day. Even the last few end up with people standing

 

[Scotrail314209]

There’s been rumours about the 9 getting new buses which I think would work well given the state of some of the B7RLEs.

I like the B10LAs much better than the B7LAs. The 61 and 40 used to see them quite a bit too back in the day. I miss that kind of variety. Buses are all pretty standard now.

I think MMC's would work well on the 9. Then again it doesn't really need deckers as that route gets an extremely frequent 38 service.