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First Greater Glasgow

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route101

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KGGXXXY said:
Went to the bus Launch this morning (about 8ish), advertised as 7am-7pm, not much going on this morning, couldn't even get in to see the new bus yet (Just one 75).
With the weather as horrible as it is wonder if the turnout during the day will be much.

Anyway clever promotional work with the bus still in it's box > https://flic.kr/p/PHWTcY

On another note the barcode on the box shows: 75 18 65 242 34 (I think that may confirm the routes) > https://flic.kr/p/2atpc1D
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No 64 on that barcode and that interworks with the 65 . 34 like the 7 gets the odd ball singles like the darts and ex hutchi scanias .

I walked past just after 8 . Weather was awful .
 
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route101

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JumpinTrainz said:
I see an ex-Yorkshire 53 plate B7TL has received the new livery. It looks great! Wonder what their plans are for them now that the 18 is getting new E400MMCs? They are extremely tired ok the inside they could have did with a refurb but doubt there’s much point now that they’re almost 15 years old! I much prefer it on the these buses than the E300s which I don’t think suit it at all.

This really does seem odd that First have only just finished painting their buses into the Olympia livery and now they’re changing them all to this new one... Wonder if the new E200s will be delivered in this livery?
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I wonder too , the older geminis need new seat covers , sunken and stained .

Theres still quite a few buses in the pre 2012 colours /

I was hoping for more local branding and not lilaacs and purples
 
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Gingerbus1991

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route101 said:
I wonder too , the older geminis need new seat covers , sunken and stained .

Theres still quite a few buses in the pre 2012 colours /

I was hoping for more local branding and not lilaacs and purples
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Yeahhh, like a nice Modern and Contemporary Grey and Orange livery and a renaming to Strathclyde Buses.
 
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alangla

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Surely in the parallel universe where Strathclyde Council never sold their buses, they'd now be transitioning from Carmine & Cream to the mainly silver new subway livery?
 
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route101

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New buses are in service on the 75 . Lets see if any allocations have changed .
 
Jordan Adam

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AndrewTaylor95 said:
Noticed aswell the new E400MMCs are the lower height ones 13ft 10in, the older ones are 14ft 2in
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I hate to be a snob but they're technically 13"8 (4.2M) & 14"1 (4.3M). Exactly 10CM difference between the 2, :p.

Although the notices in the cab probably do say they're 13"10 and 14"2...
 
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JumpinTrainz

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Anyone know anything about the pink liveried E400MMC sitting outside the sheds at Caledonia?

Also it’s nice to see the new E400MMCs in service on the 75. Are they all being delivered with the white LED destination boards like on the airport buses?

I didn’t realise 08 B9TLs were also being refurbished for the 61. Thought it was only 07 and 57 plates. Wonder if the plan is do to more up and get them on the 60 too.
 
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Volvodart

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Apparently the Airport Express 500 is to be operated by double deckers from next year.

https://www.scotsman.com/news/opini...-cars-in-cities-is-throttling-buses-1-4813886

Alastair Dalton: Failure to curb cars in cities is throttling buses

Tucked away in a side room at the SNP conference this week, a fringe meeting discussed perhaps the biggest challenge in Scottish transport.

While Transport Secretary Michael Matheson was elsewhere addressing a conference event on the railways, experts gathered to debate the parlous state of the country’s bus services.

Less glamorous than planes, trains and cars, buses are still by far Scotland’s most popular form of public transport, but they are facing major problems in some areas.

Although not a universally bleak picture, passenger numbers overall are in significant decline, down by 10 per cent over the last five years to 393 million in 2016-17.

One of the areas of greatest concern, which the meeting focused on, was Scotland’s largest city.

Professor David Begg, chief executive of trade magazine and events firm Transport Times, and a former Edinburgh City Council transport convener, put it down to one simple factor.

He talked of the Glasgow’s “complete lack of car restraint” – the ease with which you can drive into the city centre, aided by its motorway network, to the many multi-storey car parks as well as parking on streets.

Professor Begg said friends of his who lived equidistant between Scotland’s two biggest cities would never dream of driving into Edinburgh but always took their car into Glasgow.

That attitude has clogged roads with traffic and reduced bus speeds to a walking pace, with passengers deserting to other forms of transport, and some even cycling instead. Without action, Professor Begg said, you are never going to grow bus passenger numbers.

He observed that it was crazy that Glasgow was suffering one of the fastest rates of bus decline at the same time as having the lowest car ownership rate after London.

Ironically, the city’s buses are currently further under the cosh due to an impending pollution crackdown because they are among the most polluting vehicles, despite their high carrying capacity. But the need for operators like First Bus to bring in cleaner vehicles to comply with Glasgow’s new low-emission zone, which will cover the city centre from January, could be to their advantage.

Brand new vehicles, with comfortable seats and attractive interiors, free wi-fi and USB charging sockets, could help stem the decline.

Collaboration and alliance is all about seizing the best opportunities with scale and speed, says McCaig.
But until they get far greater priority over other traffic so journey times are faster and more reliable, more commuters are unlikely to make a beeline for the bus.

As mentioned, the Scottish picture is not all gloomy, with areas like Edinburgh and the Highlands in better shape.

Even in Glasgow, there is some expansion, with First’s airport shuttle from the city centre due to be operated by double deckers from next year because demand has been “growing exponentially”, the company’s bus chief Giles Fearnley told the meeting.

But the industry must make sure it doesn’t dazzle itself with shiny new vehicles, and get right the basics which passengers want. The occasional, reluctant or sceptical bus traveller must be at the centre of their thinking.

Mobile phone apps have improved the availability of information like timetables, and contactless payment has removed the hell of having to have the right coins.

But bus times, route maps and fares must also be visible at every bus stop – and there’s still some way to go to achieve that for starters.
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TheGrandWazoo

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Volvodart said:
Apparently the Airport Express 500 is to be operated by double deckers from next year.

https://www.scotsman.com/news/opini...-cars-in-cities-is-throttling-buses-1-4813886
Click to expand...

Thanks for drawing attention to the article. Whilst an interesting titbit about the airport service, you have to agree about the rest of the article.

When in Copenhagen recently (not wishing to go all Radamfi) but I went into the Architecture Museum where they talk about improving neighbourhoods and reducing traffic. The argument being that you could remove 3% of car parking spaces each year and would anyone notice? Perhaps they should do that in Glasgow - instead of rows of roadside parking, use the space for improved bus priority. Just don't tell anyone you're doing it :lol:
 
Jordan Adam

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TheGrandWazoo said:
Thanks for drawing attention to the article. Whilst an interesting titbit about the airport service, you have to agree about the rest of the article.

When in Copenhagen recently (not wishing to go all Radamfi) but I went into the Architecture Museum where they talk about improving neighbourhoods and reducing traffic. The argument being that you could remove 3% of car parking spaces each year and would anyone notice? Perhaps they should do that in Glasgow - instead of rows of roadside parking, use the space for improved bus priority. Just don't tell anyone you're doing it :lol:
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Meanwhile Aberdeen's utterly useless City 'Clown'cil have just introduced free city centre parking in the evening... I'm sure the same councillors will be the first to moan once bus services are cut as a result!

Bus priority up here in Aberdeen is generally just appalling.
 
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overthewater

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JumpinTrainz said:
Interesting expansion there. Always thought single deckers coped well on the 500 in terms of capacity. Hopefully Glasgow won’t lose the current fleet like they did with the old airport E300s.
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So straight away that 12 decker from next years order out the window. I wonder if Glasgow will be able to keep the current E300 stock and refurbish them or will there be sent away?
 
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JumpinTrainz

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route101

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overthewater said:
So straight away that 12 decker from next years order out the window. I wonder if Glasgow will be able to keep the current E300 stock and refurbish them or will there be sent away?
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Im sure they are E200MMCS , well they older ones went down south E300S 60 plates .
 
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route101

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JumpinTrainz said:
Interesting expansion there. Always thought single deckers coped well on the 500 in terms of capacity. Hopefully Glasgow won’t lose the current fleet like they did with the old airport E300s.

Also think I saw a new E400MMC with red branding for the 18 at Caledonia.
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At certain times its full and standing. At evenings when a few flights come out and frequency drops .
Must be one of the most expensive bus tickets vs journey time in the UK .
 
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route101

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Took a ride on one of the 68 plates , different seats to 65 plates . Felt as of the bottom half of seat was too short , felt similar to seats lothian have on streetdecks
 
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route101

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smtglasgow said:
What services are the old 75 buses on now? Any idea what is being withdrawn (plenty to choose from...)
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Did see an 09 plate Gemini on a 75 yesterday!

Not noticed any changes to allocations , maybe theres a surplus . When the new E400S go on the 18 , the 53 plates have to go somewhere .
 
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