First Greater Glasgow

[JumpinTrainz]

Yeah , theres been more deckers at Scotstoun on 77 and 3 of late . The depot used to be thinner on the ground for them .

If I remember rightly just before Simplicity was implemented, Scotstoun lost a lot of its deckers with the influx of E300s for the 2 and 3. Then the 77 went E300 operated also from the B7TLs which had been on the 747.

I wonder if the X8 will be up for any new stock at any point. It’s always heaving whenever I see it especially at peak times. It’s not a long distance route but it certainly gets the customers. The current tridents on the route are by far the nicest and really good buses but as it was an Xpress route it would have been nice if they could have spared a few E400MMCs for the route like all the other express services. Maybe by making it a Caledonia route they could avoid having to move a small batch of buses to Scotstoun. The X78 is another busy one in the mornings!

 

[69036]

X8 seems to be usually Gemini operated now, saw a President on the 3 recently but other than that I haven't seen them out much at all... Any reason why or am I just missing them these days??

 

[Aidan1]

Was not very long after that’s for sure they are McKindless in all but name and they have a cheek to talk about “tactics” This escapade stinks of desperation. Their 240s are running about empty and empty buses don’t make money. The fact they changed the route to go through craigneuk is a sign of desperation in itself. They have basically shown first how weak a position they are in and I wouldn’t be surprised if first now up the ante on them. Well done mad max.

Usual tactic, stick a bus right in front of first. Then when first do it back they go crying to the local papers. I think first and JMB should come to a mutual descion of jmb pulling their 240 and first will give them shotts

 

[route101]

X8 seems to be usually Gemini operated now, saw a President on the 3 recently but other than that I haven't seen them out much at all... Any reason why or am I just missing them these days??

See them on 6a and x8 mostly . I dont think theres many of them .

 

[route101]

If I remember rightly just before Simplicity was implemented, Scotstoun lost a lot of its deckers with the influx of E300s for the 2 and 3. Then the 77 went E300 operated also from the B7TLs which had been on the 747.

I wonder if the X8 will be up for any new stock at any point. It’s always heaving whenever I see it especially at peak times. It’s not a long distance route but it certainly gets the customers. The current tridents on the route are by far the nicest and really good buses but as it was an Xpress route it would have been nice if they could have spared a few E400MMCs for the route like all the other express services. Maybe by making it a Caledonia route they could avoid having to move a small batch of buses to Scotstoun. The X78 is another busy one in the mornings!

I think that order should of included deckers , too many singles came in

Maybe the x8 is at Scotstoun because of driver chageover with the 9 at the bus station.
x78 is only one journey each way now

 

[lastbus]

Usual tactic, stick a bus right in front of first. Then when first do it back they go crying to the local papers. I think first and JMB should come to a mutual descion of jmb pulling their 240 and first will give them shotts

If first come out of shotts they will go back to Lanark. IMO they shouldn’t be doing any deals with JMB as they are clearly hurting them atm so should continue doing so.

 

[smtglasgow]

First are used to competition in Lanarkshire and have seen off McKindless and various incarnations of Coakley. Each time they wore the competition down over time rather than by a knock-out blow. Suspect it’ll be the same this time. Putting extra buses on the 240, 241 and 266 will be hitting First’s bottom line – can’t see any benefit in adding more.

It’s a weird article. Are First supposed to just roll over when a small indie starts to undermine one of their key routes (which got multimillion investment in 2015)? It happens again and again – the challenger always seems surprised when the big operator defends their operation.

 

[SarahDFIG]

Can't remember First going to the papers when JMB denied them of Lanark/Carluke.

 

[lastbus]

Can't remember First going to the papers when JMB denied them of Lanark/Carluke.

They are just raging that First put the short working buses on which they were not expecting. This just seems to be a desperate attempt to get passengers before the inevitable.

 

[Jordan Adam]

They are just raging that First put the short working buses on which they were not expecting. This just seems to be a desperate attempt to get passengers before the inevitable.

Honestly the whole situation is just laughable. I'd love to see the press story's if JMB were based in that other big Scottish city!

 

[SarahDFIG]

They are just raging that First put the short working buses on which they were not expecting. This just seems to be a desperate attempt to get passengers before the inevitable.

Yep definitely, they should just take on the old coakley run 107/109 if they want more vehicles in Lanarkshire.

 

[lastbus]

Honestly the whole situation is just laughable. I'd love to see the press story's if JMB were based in that other big Scottish city!

That’s what happens when you employ a service delivery manager with mr cairns track record.

 

[route101]

2 Alx 400s on the 31 today , trident replacement ?

 

[JumpinTrainz]

2 Alx 400s on the 31 today , trident replacement ?

Saw one this morning also! The ALX400s are far nicer than the usual tridents and comfier too. Not seeing as many on the 60 anymore so perhaps.

 

[route101]

Saw one this morning also! The ALX400s are far nicer than the usual tridents and comfier too. Not seeing as many on the 60 anymore so perhaps.

Well they feel more solid and seats more comfortable. Wonder if its just a short term thing . The tridents parked at the SE corner off caley next to Cathcart are not there anymore .

 

[Whiteway215]

Well they feel more solid and seats more comfortable. Wonder if its just a short term thing . The tridents parked at the SE corner off caley next to Cathcart are not there anymore .

Are these Tridents the ones due to be collected by M8 for scrap?

 

[SarahDFIG]

Are these Tridents the ones due to be collected by M8 for scrap?

A few went to Livingston during the week. Not sure of the fleet numbers that went but possibly was these ones. 2 ALXs also went 33343/46 which I reported previously as being on the scrapped line. Not sure if they are going on duty with Livingston or being stored there before scrapped.

President 33025 next to be withdrawn.

Overtown seem to have got a few Caetano Darts on fleet now which have been spotted on the 266.

77 deckers due to arrive very soon, possibly by the end of the week. Airport deckers will follow soon after. No info on branding etc.

 

[lastbus]

A few went to Livingston during the week. Not sure of the fleet numbers that went but possibly was these ones. 2 ALXs also went 33343/46 which I reported previously as being on the scrapped line. Not sure if they are going on duty with Livingston or being stored there before scrapped.

President 33025 next to be withdrawn.

Overtown seem to have got a few Caetano Darts on fleet now which have been spotted on the 266.

77 deckers due to arrive very soon, possibly by the end of the week. Airport deckers will follow soon after. No info on branding etc.

Some are at Livingston and the others are at Dumbarton being stored awaiting disposal. Overtown have two Caetano darts but only one has been in service. Blantyre have had a few of their caetanos on the 266 it’s possibly those you have seen.

 

[SarahDFIG]

Some are at Livingston and the others are at Dumbarton being stored awaiting disposal. Overtown have two Caetano darts but only one has been in service. Blantyre have had a few of their caetanos on the 266 it’s possibly those you have seen.

now you mention it they did have private regs which Overtown's don't seem to have.

few more e300s been painted purple but still no branding stickers. another was sitting in caley yesterday.

 

[lastbus]

now you mention it they did have private regs which Overtown's don't seem to have.

few more e300s been painted purple but still no branding stickers. another was sitting in caley yesterday.

Correct Overtowns don’t have private regs.

 

[JumpinTrainz]

A few went to Livingston during the week. Not sure of the fleet numbers that went but possibly was these ones. 2 ALXs also went 33343/46 which I reported previously as being on the scrapped line. Not sure if they are going on duty with Livingston or being stored there before scrapped.

President 33025 next to be withdrawn.

Overtown seem to have got a few Caetano Darts on fleet now which have been spotted on the 266.

77 deckers due to arrive very soon, possibly by the end of the week. Airport deckers will follow soon after. No info on branding etc.

I thought the Streetlites were for the 266?

I really like the branding for the 254. The E200s really suit that colour. I hope they use the same colour for a bigger mainstream route in Glasgow it’s a very striking colour at the stock really suit it.

Wonder if they’ll stick with the same purple colour schemes as they currently have on airport buses or whether they’ll rebrand to a different colour. I’d imagine the 77 would be branded for the 77 I see navy for some reason... glad now it’ll say the QEUH and not South Glasgow Hospital which was the original name before the Queen opened the hospital back in 2015 but First never changed it!!

 

[route101]

I thought the Streetlites were for the 266?

I really like the branding for the 254. The E200s really suit that colour. I hope they use the same colour for a bigger mainstream route in Glasgow it’s a very striking colour at the stock really suit it.

Wonder if they’ll stick with the same purple colour schemes as they currently have on airport buses or whether they’ll rebrand to a different colour. I’d imagine the 77 would be branded for the 77 I see navy for some reason... glad now it’ll say the QEUH and not South Glasgow Hospital which was the original name before the Queen opened the hospital back in 2015 but First never changed it!!

The wee caetano darts seem to be some sort of interim bus . Always thought of the 77 being green .

 

[route101]

A few went to Livingston during the week. Not sure of the fleet numbers that went but possibly was these ones. 2 ALXs also went 33343/46 which I reported previously as being on the scrapped line. Not sure if they are going on duty with Livingston or being stored there before scrapped.

President 33025 next to be withdrawn.

Overtown seem to have got a few Caetano Darts on fleet now which have been spotted on the 266.

77 deckers due to arrive very soon, possibly by the end of the week. Airport deckers will follow soon after. No info on branding etc.

Wonder if the new deckers for 77 are going to caley first?

 

[SarahDFIG]

I thought the Streetlites were for the 266?

I really like the branding for the 254. The E200s really suit that colour. I hope they use the same colour for a bigger mainstream route in Glasgow it’s a very striking colour at the stock really suit it.

Wonder if they’ll stick with the same purple colour schemes as they currently have on airport buses or whether they’ll rebrand to a different colour. I’d imagine the 77 would be branded for the 77 I see navy for some reason... glad now it’ll say the QEUH and not South Glasgow Hospital which was the original name before the Queen opened the hospital back in 2015 but First never changed it!!

the streetlites are on the 266 mostly but there isn't enough for the full PVR. Caetano Darts and the 05/06 plate darts are used also. Blantyre also got the odd B10BLE on it.

 

[SarahDFIG]

Wonder if the new deckers for 77 are going to caley first?

Should be delivered to caley first.

going to guess with 1 of these 3 colours for the branding ....

This
This
This

500 I guess will stay the same purple due to some of the new vehicles having the 500 adverts on the rear which is purple.

 

[JumpinTrainz]

Should be delivered to caley first.

going to guess with 1 of these 3 colours for the branding ....

This
This
This

500 I guess will stay the same purple due to some of the new vehicles having the 500 adverts on the rear which is purple.

I’m thinking navy because the hospital connect is sort of navy coloured with green in it but the 34/34A is already an aqua green colour.

Looking forward to seeing new stock on the 77.

 

[lastbus]

the streetlites are on the 266 mostly but there isn't enough for the full PVR. Caetano Darts and the 05/06 plate darts are used also. Blantyre also got the odd B10BLE on it.

Blantyre have pretty much anything on the 266 even a decker appeared on it the other week.

 

[SarahDFIG]

Blantyre have pretty much anything on the 266 even a decker appeared on it the other week.

was that not because the x11 runs back as a 266 around 5-6pm?

also why does Blantyre & Overtown share the 266 when Overtown should have the capacity to run this full since it's PVR is around 20ish?

 

[lastbus]

was that not because the x11 runs back as a 266 around 5-6pm?

also why does Blantyre & Overtown share the 266 when Overtown should have the capacity to run this full since it's PVR is around 20ish?

No it was a daytime schedule not the x11 one. They share it for cost reasons. Same with the 240 it’s cheaper to run buses dead from Blantyre to Birkenshaw/Hamilton. Overtown is pretty much at capacity.

 

[SarahDFIG]

No it was a daytime schedule not the x11 one. They share it for cost reasons. Same with the 240 it’s cheaper to run buses dead from Blantyre to Birkenshaw/Hamilton. Overtown is pretty much at capacity.

suppose that makes sense