First Greater Glasgow

[Gingerbus1991]

Totally agree, most passengers, treat bus like dustbins on wheels!, then complain about them being dirty.

Laziness on the passengers part, uselessness on the companys side...like a snowball down a snowy hill, the issue just grows.

It says alot about the perception of glasgows bus services and its biggest operator, when even the punters dont care for its tidiness or FiG’s ability to clean, all these attributes are assisting “most” bus services to fail.

 

[Jordan Adam]

Yet a wood flooring is still perceived to be more premium at least by those passenger you say wouldnt care or bother how the bus was perceived.

And those tick-tack boxes are a thing of the past for me, walked out a few weeks back..I still argue being there made me personally better at my job than first or stagey ever managed, I still hold LB in high regards for making Firsts overall attempts look abit of a dogs after-dinner at most.

Worked my way from First, Stagey and Lothian looking for something that doesnt exist within the PT sector.

I feel stagey is doin better than first here on out, but the FiG “new vehicles” introduction was simply pathetic lookin, just pathetic.

First section... Has no real relation to my reply. My point was that passengers will NOT notice the difference between a brand new Streetdeck and a brand new E400...

Tic-tac boxes... Cough those 18 plate Geminis Lothian got earlier this year which are possibly some of the worst built buses i've ever seen. Shame as those 64 plate Geminis are fairly solid.

Of course it was pathetic that they tried something new for the launch and it got a good reaction for most of the general public. But yes this is FirstGroup so it can be pathetic.

 

[92002]

Regarding the floors, these new 68 plates don't have the same lilac floors, it's Purple (similar to that used in the 00s).

Gingerbus1991's comparison of a B9TL to a B5TL is rather stupid, yes passengers will notice a different between them, one is brand new, the other isn't! But my point was in terms of comparing a Streetdeck to a E400, 90% of people won't notice. It's just a new bus to them.

As for sounding more "manager based", not sure how such a theory exists. If just trying to evaluate situations with some basic logic makes my thoughts more "manager based" then i guess i must be...

As for the rest of your comment, there's nothing really to say. I'm sure you can go on about those Maroon tic-tac boxes.

Maybe the launch on the 75 which serves Hampden was not the best of routes to get new vehicles.

 

[smtglasgow]

I think the fact that the 75 and 18 are getting new buses says a lot about the profitability of these routes. Probably First Glasgow’s best performing double-decker routes? So, yes, it makes sense to launch them on the 75.

The 38 could do with something better, but I’d like to see them try and simplify the route too. How First could launch something called Simplicity with a 38, 38a, 38b, 38c and 38e without blushing is beyond me.

 

[Jordan Adam]

The 38 could do with something better, but I’d like to see them try and simplify the route too. How First could launch something called Simplicity with a 38, 38a, 38b, 38c and 38e without blushing is beyond me.

The same with The One, far too many variations.

 

[goldisgood]

The same with The One, far too many variations.

I disagree - The One is a corridor of services which share a large section of route into the city from outside towns and suburbs, whilst the 38 is routes that have been taken from one side of the city to the other on a combined timetable to, I assume, replace another service. It could be much simpler if something like this happened:

38 replaces 38A, and the 38B/38C/38E services to Newton Mearns, runs Easterhouse to Eastwood Toll every 10 minutes extended to Newton Mearns every 20 minutes.
38B/38C/38E from Thornliebank to Glasgow become the 39, running every 10 minutes.
38B, 38C and 38E become separate routes (like 42, 36, 40) each running every 30 minutes.
This would mean that the 'core' combined city section along the A77 would be reduced from 5 variations to 2, the separate parts of the northern routes which only really have Alexandra Parade in common would be separated (but they could have a combined timetable) and the main parts of the route have just one number instead of up to 3 of 4.

 

[sannox]

Maybe the launch on the 75 which serves Hampden was not the best of routes to get new vehicles.

I would think Hampden less of an issue than teenagers of some of the areas it passes through. That said I find the pink poles, brown leather seats from the 70s and purple flooring horrible. I know it is First's colour palette but First Kernow have a much classier looking interior on the Tinner buses. Shame they didn't do what other First areas are doing and try a local livery with the branding.

The 38 could do with something better, but I’d like to see them try and simplify the route too. How First could launch something called Simplicity with a 38, 38a, 38b, 38c and 38e without blushing is beyond me.

Fully agreed, the 38 is confusing as heck to anyone with different routes in the east end, but also around Giffnock. Cannot be easy to regulate with so many different routes. Also annoys me there is no 38D! The One suffers too, but at least it's the same core route from Glasgow out to Clydebank. I think London got it partly right when it ditched suffixes. I don't mind them if it is largely the same route with only a small section that is different but same start or end points.

I don't think the Simplicity renumbering has been as simple or as useful as thought!

 

[Gingerbus1991]

I think the fact that the 75 and 18 are getting new buses says a lot about the profitability of these routes. Probably First Glasgow’s best performing double-decker routes? So, yes, it makes sense to launch them on the 75.

The 38 could do with something better, but I’d like to see them try and simplify the route too. How First could launch something called Simplicity with a 38, 38a, 38b, 38c and 38e without blushing is beyond me.

The 38/38A should be left as is considering they start/finish in the same place, the 38C could work as the 36, a 36 used to be the number that went to chryston a few years back, this would make sense.
The 38E > 35 and 38B > 37.
The 35, 36 and 37 are numbers that dont exist atm at FiG as I’m aware.

Consider the 1B, the 1B could have its “B” removed and be the dedicated 1 service to Helensburgh bus.

Move the Balloch buses, 1/1A/1E > 2/2A/2B.

The 1D and 1C change there numbers as well, theres plenty of numbers to choose from, the 1C goes up through drumchapel, no where near balloch anyways.

And yes! I understand the existing 2 route numbering, faifley to Baillieston prevents that, but simply rename the 2 as say the 200 or Something and you’d be “cooking with buses”

 

[tbtc]

Re busy corridors like "The One" (which sounds like a ride at Alton Towers) and the various 38s (there's no 38D? how come?), one way of improving things would be to minimise the number of service numbers in one direction.

For example, Tayside used to have westbound Douglas - Lochee services numbered "28" or "29" (since there were two termini at Lochee) - eastbound Lochee - Douglas services were all numbered 26 (since there was only one terminus at Douglas - it didn't matter where the bus had come *from*, only where it was going to).

In Lancashire, Burnley & Pendle's "Mainline" had a similar arrangement with lots of east/west termini but all the services to one particular terminus had the same number (regardless of where they'd come from - so all Keighley bound services had the same number regardless of whether they'd started at Accrington/ Blackburn etc).

It doesn't matter if a southbound service for Rouken Glen has come from Ballieston/ Balanark/ Chryston, so they could all carry the same service number in that direction (rather than 38B/ 38C/ 38E).

Same with the inbound "1"s west of Dumbarton (and X4) - why not simplify the numbers? Passengers waiting for a Glasgow-bound bus at Clydebank won't care where the service started.

 

[Gingerbus1991]

Re busy corridors like "The One" (which sounds like a ride at Alton Towers) and the various 38s (there's no 38D? how come?), one way of improving things would be to minimise the number of service numbers in one direction.

For example, Tayside used to have westbound Douglas - Lochee services numbered "28" or "29" (since there were two termini at Lochee) - eastbound Lochee - Douglas services were all numbered 26 (since there was only one terminus at Douglas - it didn't matter where the bus had come *from*, only where it was going to).

In Lancashire, Burnley & Pendle's "Mainline" had a similar arrangement with lots of east/west termini but all the services to one particular terminus had the same number (regardless of where they'd come from - so all Keighley bound services had the same number regardless of whether they'd started at Accrington/ Blackburn etc).

It doesn't matter if a southbound service for Rouken Glen has come from Ballieston/ Balanark/ Chryston, so they could all carry the same service number in that direction (rather than 38B/ 38C/ 38E).

Same with the inbound "1"s west of Dumbarton (and X4) - why not simplify the numbers? Passengers waiting for a Glasgow-bound bus at Clydebank won't care where the service started.

I like this idea! But should you rely on people reading the actual destination wording on the hanover when many usually dont and look for the service number instead?

 

[GaryMcEwan]

What has slightly baffled me is why First decide to choose options to have as few seats as possible on the lower deck?

 

[Jordan Adam]

I like this idea! But should you rely on people reading the actual destination wording on the hanover when many usually dont and look for the service number instead?

It's a tricky situation, but quite frankly, if those people go on the wrong bus it's their own fault! It would teach them a lesson anyway!

What has slightly baffled me is why First decide to choose options to have as few seats as possible on the lower deck?

It's to allow additional buggy space, overall capacity is also increased. If i'm not mistake the additional space only sees a loss of 1 seat though. (4 seats replaced with 3 tip ups)

 

[GaryMcEwan]

It's a tricky situation, but quite frankly, if those people go on the wrong bus it's their own fault! It would teach them a lesson anyway!



It's to allow additional buggy space, overall capacity is also increased. If i'm not mistake the additional space only sees a loss of 1 seat though. (4 seats replaced with 3 tip ups)

Strange though because can manage at least 2 buggies on their MMCs with 4 rows of seats. Are the First ones the same length as the Stagecoach ones?

 

[Gingerbus1991]

Strange though because can manage at least 2 buggies on their MMCs with 4 rows of seats. Are the First ones the same length as the Stagecoach ones?

No, stageys are 10.9m, the first have the shorter 10.3m variant(minus a few forward facing seats), they couldve got round the issue and bought the longer version...but extra purchase money, extra weight = extra fuel consumed etc etc..

You do gain a few seats more on the 10.9m overall, perhaps not enough to warrant the extra outlay on firsts recommendations..

 

[Jordan Adam]

Strange though because can manage at least 2 buggies on their MMCs with 4 rows of seats. Are the First ones the same length as the Stagecoach ones?

You could easily get 4 buggies on them, but ideally the spaces were only designed to facility 1 buggy each. With the nearside space fitted with a backrest to house a wheelchair.

 

[alangla]

The busy corridors like "The One" (which sounds like a ride at Alton Towers) and the various 38s (there's no 38D? how come?), one way of improving things would be to minimise the number of service numbers in one direction

I always understood it to be a relationship between the suffix and the destination, 38B Barlanark, 38C Chryston, 38E Edinburgh Road. Some of the westbound ones do carry other numbers, e.g. I’m sure there’s 38s & 38As that start at Baillieston

 

[JumpinTrainz]

I always understood it to be a relationship between the suffix and the destination, 38B Barlanark, 38C Chryston, 38E Edinburgh Road. Some of the westbound ones do carry other numbers, e.g. I’m sure there’s 38s & 38As that start at Baillieston

There isn’t. Only 38E starts at Baillieston.

 

[alangla]

There isn’t. Only 38E starts at Baillieston.

Not so - https://www.firstgroup.com/greater-...8C/38E&routeid=21280301&operator=10&print=pdf 0642, 0713, 0743 38s start at Baillieston. There are almost certainly more

EDIT - 2 more in the afternoon, not checked weekends

 

[lastbus]

Service changes for 26th November now online.

 

[overthewater]

Link??

 

[Jordan Adam]

If you go to Forthcoming timetables, it shows new timetables from around that date, but i'm unsure / unaware of any changes?


https://www.firstgroup.com/greater-glasgow/plan-journey/timetables/?source_id=3

Edit: Ignore me

 

[overthewater]

There all dated for next monday when the "School Day improved" timetables come back in to force

 

[lastbus]

Link??

https://www.vehicle-operator-licens...0851aa5fd162b5a69bfdbd6&form-actions[submit]=

 

[Jordan Adam]

There all dated for next monday when the "School Day improved" timetables come back in to force

Whoops.... I just noticed my mistake, I feel stupid now

 

[Gla1]

I’m quite shocked first even have the capital to buy these 125 new buses! I think there are going to be huge changes coming in terms of first group overall.
I noted that national express have said they would be interested in taking on certain uk bus ops of first bus if they went up for sale, I would be Glasgow would be a part of that interest.

Unless the American ops are sold which could allow for massive investment in U.K. bus.

 

[Jordan Adam]

I’m quite shocked first even have the capital to buy these 125 new buses! I think there are going to be huge changes coming in terms of first group overall.
I noted that national express have said they would be interested in taking on certain uk bus ops of first bus if they went up for sale, I would be Glasgow would be a part of that interest.

Unless the American ops are sold which could allow for massive investment in U.K. bus.

Glasgow is quite a stable area within FirstGroup, so they'd be highly unlikely to sell it off.

Realistically i can't see First going, and if it does we'd be talking about a decade ahead.

 

[Robertj21a]

Glasgow is quite a stable area within FirstGroup, so they'd be highly unlikely to sell it off.

Realistically i can't see First going, and if it does we'd be talking about a decade ahead.

But it may well not be down to First Group to decide. If they don't come up with something to calm their investors then it's quite possible that the group will be taken over by another organisation.

 

[Robertj21a]

I’m quite shocked first even have the capital to buy these 125 new buses! I think there are going to be huge changes coming in terms of first group overall.
I noted that national express have said they would be interested in taking on certain uk bus ops of first bus if they went up for sale, I would be Glasgow would be a part of that interest.

Unless the American ops are sold which could allow for massive investment in U.K. bus.

Couldn't those new buses be leased ?

 

[Gingerbus1991]

Its been proven that the 75 and 18 are particularly busy services given there getting new buses, what other services in glasgow are decent cash makers? I honestly see many buses running empty!

 

[Volvodart]

The designers mock up of the bus in the box was a 41. I do not know if that means it is high up for next year though.