First Greater Glasgow

[Volvodart]

First Glasgow are converting some Euro 5's with the Scottish Government's BEAR funding. No announcement has been made about funding for the main BEAR package yet, only funding for a total of around 50 buses for the whole of Scotland has been announced. The recently transferred Geminis from First Scotland East have a 6 at the back, so they have possibly been converted (but are not Euro 5's).

 

[Gingerbus1991]

The plan is to retro fit the Euro 5 buses, but money has yet to appear for this. It does not solve the huge problem older buses needing to be scaped with a few years.

I certainly understand, by my reckoning first glasgow have around the mid-300 individual vehicles which should be replaced because of there age alone and not just for the LEZ, the ALX400’s, presidents, marshals and solo’s, basically anything pre-2005, 54 plate B7TL’s included.

 

[Volvodart]

It is likely that the intention is only to convert Euro 4's onwards.

 

[Gingerbus1991]

It is likely that the intention is only to convert Euro 4's onwards.

Again, the biggest problem with that is even some of the euro4’s will be a (very)ripe old age when this zone is in full working completion, routes which only use the city centre briefly like the 89 or 88, will they have to be euro6 as well?

 

[smtglasgow]

Will the 43 E400 added to the existing Euro 6 buses meet the target for the first year of the LEZ? Are the airport buses Euro 6? Also, are the new E200 going to be the shorter variety? None of the routes being talked about really need the bigger model – and the 242 could do with something shorter for the schemes.

 

[Volvodart]

The 65 plates onwards are Euro 6.

 

[Gingerbus1991]

Will the 43 E400 added to the existing Euro 6 buses meet the target for the first year of the LEZ? Are the airport buses Euro 6? Also, are the new E200 going to be the shorter variety? None of the routes being talked about really need the bigger model – and the 242 could do with something shorter for the schemes.

I would think some euro4/5's may be upgraded

 

[route101]

Seen a SK57 eclipse on a 6 today , from FSE ?

The 31 had at least 2 maybe 3 B10bles , seems to be a saturday thing for whatever reason

 

[route101]

The green coloured bus at the back looks like it says 38. Wonder how they would manage putting the 38 back to singles. Nice to see the 18 get new buses as they were screaming out for them. Wonder if they’ll scrap the 53 plates prematurely. Blantyre have got a pretty nice fleet now.

Would not be a good idea , the 38 is a busy route . Look at the 2 .

 

[route101]

My thoughts exactly. Wasn’t there 25 E500s? They were split between the 75, 4 and 5 routes. Perhaps that’ll happen here.

Hopefully this releases more B9TLs to be refurbished for the 61 and 60 routes.

Seems all the new buses go on these 3 routes . The 65 plates did but then moved to ex cbnauld routes/express routes .

The 18 does derserve new buses .

 

[GaryMcEwan]

Seen a SK57 eclipse on a 6 today , from FSE ?

The 31 had at least 2 maybe 3 B10bles , seems to be a saturday thing for whatever reason

The SK57 plated Eclipses are here to stay I believe and have came from FSE. There is also 2 B9TL's on loan from FSE, 37270 is one of them.

 

[Gingerbus1991]

Seems all the new buses go on these 3 routes . The 65 plates did but then moved to ex cbnauld routes/express routes .

The 18 does derserve new buses .

I wouldnt say no to the 18 route getting new buses, but the 10.3m versions have little seating down stair, especially for a route that can get quite busy

 

[JumpinTrainz]

I’d have liked to see the Optate Metrodeckers on the 18. It’s literally all about E400s these days and while they’re nice buses I’m slightly bored of the overload of ADL stock that First have become obsessed with over the past few years.

 

[Gingerbus1991]

I’d have liked to see the Optate Metrodeckers on the 18. It’s literally all about E400s these days and while they’re nice buses I’m slightly bored of the overload of ADL stock that First have become obsessed with over the past few years.

Agree’d, currently having a discussion of hypotheticals on the aberdeen topic about buses and allocations etc

I’d go with refurbing the diesel 400’s and putting them on the 18 considering they have a few more seats downstairs and the cummins engines have abit more torque spread over a wider rev range(930nm@1200-1600 versus 1020nm@1100-1700rpm), albeit I sat on one a few weeks ago on the 6 and it had no power, likely a derate issue.

The metrodeckers only having small daimler OM934 engines will be lacking on power with the good few hill on the 18 route towards east Kilbride and greenhills, perhaps a change to 400 city bodies would be a nice little change for FiG.

If money wasnt a consideration, id have the 57’s, 60’s and 75’s operated by gemini B5LH’s(with consideration to hope st/renfield st emission levels), i’d merge the 87 and 9A together at a 15 minute interval with all going to braehead, i’d then operate that and the 6 route with B5TL Geminis.

The 7/7A would operate with Volvo 7900e electrics with charging pylons at summerston terminous.
The 2, 9 and 240 would get Eclipse B8RLE’s 13.2m specified like edinburgh east coast ones.

I’d make the 500 coach operation with a plaxton elite haha.

Kilsyth’s 89 would reduce to an hourly service and a new express from kilsyth to glasgow via croy and blackwood would be introduced to offer quicker journeys from kilsyth to glasgow as well as competeing with the train from croy at a cheaper cost.

I do have a vivid imagination btw...

 

[GaryMcEwan]

How many operators have gone for the E400 City variant? How do they compare to the current E400MMC size wise? Would like to see them in Glasgow in the future.

 

[Jordan Adam]

How many operators have gone for the E400 City variant? How do they compare to the current E400MMC size wise? Would like to see them in Glasgow in the future.

If i'm not mistaken they're the same as the normal E400 but with different front/rear fibreglass masks and a glazed staircase?...

 

[Gingerbus1991]

How many operators have gone for the E400 City variant? How do they compare to the current E400MMC size wise? Would like to see them in Glasgow in the future.

Sizes are very similar, mechanically the same but the CITY was designed to compete primarily in the london market where the boris masters operate, Nottingham city transport, Reading buses and blackpool transport all have them with smattering of others operators having them.

Reading and nottingham have scania chassis gas variants whilst all other still have the integral cummins diesel driveline

 

[JumpinTrainz]

Agree’d, currently having a discussion of hypotheticals on the aberdeen topic about buses and allocations etc

I’d go with refurbing the diesel 400’s and putting them on the 18 considering they have a few more seats downstairs and the cummins engines have abit more torque spread over a wider rev range(930nm@1200-1600 versus 1020nm@1100-1700rpm), albeit I sat on one a few weeks ago on the 6 and it had no power, likely a derate issue.

The metrodeckers only having small daimler OM934 engines will be lacking on power with the good few hill on the 18 route towards east Kilbride and greenhills, perhaps a change to 400 city bodies would be a nice little change for FiG.

If money wasnt a consideration, id have the 57’s, 60’s and 75’s operated by gemini B5LH’s(with consideration to hope st/renfield st emission levels), i’d merge the 87 and 9A together at a 15 minute interval with all going to braehead, i’d then operate that and the 6 route with B5TL Geminis.

The 7/7A would operate with Volvo 7900e electrics with charging pylons at summerston terminous.
The 2, 9 and 240 would get Eclipse B8RLE’s 13.2m specified like edinburgh east coast ones.

I’d make the 500 coach operation with a plaxton elite haha.

Kilsyth’s 89 would reduce to an hourly service and a new express from kilsyth to glasgow via croy and blackwood would be introduced to offer quicker journeys from kilsyth to glasgow as well as competeing with the train from croy at a cheaper cost.

I do have a vivid imagination btw...

I also have a vivid imagination!!

I would have liked to have seen a virtual electric bus (something like the E350) on the 77 routes between Glasgow and the airport via the QEUH.

I’d have B8RLEs running from Lanarkshire on the 240/255/263 services. I’d have the Optare Metrocity on the 201 and 267 routes.

I’d have the 3 renumbered to the 9 and run a variant as 9/9A with one going from Drumpchapel to Penilee and the other from Drumchapel to Govan. It would receive E300s and the low height E400s during peak.

The 41 would be renumbered the 62 and run from Carntyne tin Silverburn with new E400MMCs. All the ex-Parkhead routes would have either E200MMCs, E300s or E400MMCs with the smaller routes like the 46, 8 and 32 running with 14 plate E200s.

Caledonia would have B8RLEs and Streetlites running alongside the Streetdecks or B5HLs. Routes like the 38B and 38E would all be single deck operated while the 38A and 38C would run fully decker operated.

The One at Dumbarton would receive new Volvo 7900s and run alongside. There is a bendy bus option been made in Poland so I’d have a few running alongside during peak. The service frequency would be increased during peak services.

Wouldn’t that be an interesting fleet?!

 

[Scott mac]

Agree’d, currently having a discussion of hypotheticals on the aberdeen topic about buses and allocations etc

I’d go with refurbing the diesel 400’s and putting them on the 18 considering they have a few more seats downstairs and the cummins engines have abit more torque spread over a wider rev range(930nm@1200-1600 versus 1020nm@1100-1700rpm), albeit I sat on one a few weeks ago on the 6 and it had no power, likely a derate issue.

The metrodeckers only having small daimler OM934 engines will be lacking on power with the good few hill on the 18 route towards east Kilbride and greenhills, perhaps a change to 400 city bodies would be a nice little change for FiG.

If money wasnt a consideration, id have the 57’s, 60’s and 75’s operated by gemini B5LH’s(with consideration to hope st/renfield st emission levels), i’d merge the 87 and 9A together at a 15 minute interval with all going to braehead, i’d then operate that and the 6 route with B5TL Geminis.

The 7/7A would operate with Volvo 7900e electrics with charging pylons at summerston terminous.
The 2, 9 and 240 would get Eclipse B8RLE’s 13.2m specified like edinburgh east coast ones.

I’d make the 500 coach operation with a plaxton elite haha.

Kilsyth’s 89 would reduce to an hourly service and a new express from kilsyth to glasgow via croy and blackwood would be introduced to offer quicker journeys from kilsyth to glasgow as well as competeing with the train from croy at a cheaper cost.

I do have a vivid imagination btw...

What about the 6 then?That's what the e400 are for

 

[overthewater]

Unless the E400 low height the 6 can't use them? Also First has tried an express from Kilsyth to glasgow but its never worked out?

 

[Gingerbus1991]

What about the 6 then?That's what the e400 are for

In a perfect world...There would be enough 400 diesels for the 18’s, and enough 400H’s for the 61’s
I would try to keep the 400H’s away from hills.

The 6 would get B5TL’s with Gemini bodywork, whilst alot of people dont like them, driver wise especially I do like the features available like the glazed staircase, upper a-pillars, and roof glass options as well, it just creates a nice ambience inside the bus, the interior spot lighting inside lothians is also particularly nice as well in the evening.

I’d even like to get lucky and compete with mcgills more through govan with the 23 and 26 operated with new buses and out to nethercraigs, foxbar, royal Alexandra H, johnston and linwood(again) achieving great success lol.

 

[Gingerbus1991]

Unless the E400 low height the 6 can't use them? Also First has tried an express from Kilsyth to glasgow but its never worked out?

I beg to differ, I stay in kilsyth, First group humped themself with the services here, first scotland east had the 27 from falkirk and 24 from stirling to glasgow via kilsyth for more years than I can remember, both ran hourly but it created a half-hourly service at kilsyth to glasgow via bishopbriggs, they then introduced the 89 service as we know the route today running hourly from northfield/kilsyth on an hourly basis via the same route from the foot of kilsyth via kirky, bishopbriggs and springburn expressway.

The x86 was then introduced as an express from kilsyth to glasgow via Kirkintilloch then directly up to the M80, at which point the 27 from falkirk was removed and they extended the x86 out to falkirk, thus leaving the 89 and 24 as the half-hourly connection to glasgow via bishy etc, that didnt last long to say the least.

By this time patronage through banknock and dennyloanhead had apparently dropped to such a low point that they subsequintly removed the 24 as well, increased the 89 to a half-hourly service like we know it at the moment and removed the x86, truth be told those traveling to glasgow made it slightly quicker and were happier with the x86 but I never understood why the x86 went via kirkintilloch considering that kirky already had there own x85/x87’s as express buses!

Kilsyth doesnt get a bus to stirling anymore, the kilsyth to falkirk only route is now covered by the 4B from Croy train station to falkirk via kilsyth.

If the option was there, the 89 should operate hourly again, the x86 should be re-introduced from falkirk to Glasgow via Kilsyth, Croy, Blackwood and then directly onto the M80, Hourly!.. Essentially the 4B seeing an extention and route renumbering as the x86 like it once was.

Oh Wait...

Id then “TAKE” Canavan’s 43 service as my own which operates every 15 minutes kilsyth to cumbernauld via croy and extend an hourly 43 out to kirkintilloch.
The 27 would be reinstated as it was.
kilsyth to the retail park/glasgow city centre via bishy would still have at least a half-hourly connection juggled between the 89/27.

The 43 extension would also create a new connection between Kirkintilloch <> Croy and Queenzieburn <> Croy Rail Station/Cumbernauld Town Centre.

Of course being a relatively rural area has lead car use through the roof to say the least!

 

[overthewater]

Im sure someone else can highlight this, First Glasgow and Edinburgh never really talked to each other about certain aspect of this route. Im sure I was told Glasgow did something that undermined its operations that where some of its cuts come from. Main reason for the X86 going to kirky was to maintain the 30mins head away to Kilsyth.

 

[Gingerbus1991]

Im sure someone else can highlight this, First Glasgow and Edinburgh never really talked to each other about certain aspect of this route. Im sure I was told Glasgow did something that undermined its operations that where some of its cuts come from. Main reason for the X86 going to kirky was to maintain the 30mins head away to Kilsyth.

Bottom line, more people actually drive there cars to croy train station and take the train because it takes an hour on the 89, the x86 shouldve never been removed and wouldve shaved time off the 89s time.
These are the issues that dont seem to be addressed at first, to me this reveals the companys quite frankly, uselessness, how does divisional competition make any sense?

 

[route101]

Unless the E400 low height the 6 can't use them? Also First has tried an express from Kilsyth to glasgow but its never worked out?

Looking at the 6 , half of the low height 6s seem to be other routes . 4 in particular

 

[KGGXXXY]

Seen 2 of the new yellow 75 route branded e400s coming down High Street today factory fresh from the Falkirk factory maybe

 

[christopherrfc]

launch for the new buses in George Square on the the 9th of October

https://www.firstgroup.com/greater-glasgow/plan-journey/new-buses

 

[Gingerbus1991]

launch for the new buses in George Square on the the 9th of October

https://www.firstgroup.com/greater-glasgow/plan-journey/new-buses

At least there putting in the effort, why not a caledonia doorsopen day as well

 

[JumpinTrainz]

launch for the new buses in George Square on the the 9th of October

https://www.firstgroup.com/greater-glasgow/plan-journey/new-buses

When they say “new buses” do they mean the E400MMCs for the 75 or are more coming too? The pictures suggest E400MMCs for the 18 and E200s LOL sorry just thought I’d clarify.

 

[GaryMcEwan]

When they say “new buses” do they mean the E400MMCs for the 75 or are more coming too? The pictures suggest E400MMCs for the 18 and E200s LOL sorry just thought I’d clarify.

It says that '75 brand new buses are rolling out across Glasgow'. So that suggests and confirms that Glasgow is indeed getting 75 new buses. Albeit it doesn't specify what type.