First Greater Glasgow

[lastbus]

Given the changes to midland bluebird and Aberdeen routes are getting a consultation then why not Glasgow? Think the last time Glasgow consulted on a service change was simplicity.

 

[NorthClyde320]

I recently compared the old 2 timetable to the new 2 timetable between peaks and found on the old timetable the layover at Faifley was between 13-15 mins, Baillieston was 14-16 mins, Airdrie was 28-30 mins & Maxim was 20-22 mins, on the new timetable the layover at both terminals is now either 10 or 18 mins and after reading previous threads I suspect ir is 10 mins which is prob why this union action has been mooted considering the delays many bus routes face with little or no time to recover. Anyway the saving of buses I worked out was 8 (38 old t/table against 30 new t/table).

 

[PaulMc7]

Given the changes to midland bluebird and Aberdeen routes are getting a consultation then why not Glasgow? Think the last time Glasgow consulted on a service change was simplicity.

They seem to avoid doing them here tbh. No idea why though. Could find out what people really need and want although that would end up with thousands of different opinions

 

[smtglasgow]

I recently compared the old 2 timetable to the new 2 timetable between peaks and found on the old timetable the layover at Faifley was between 13-15 mins, Baillieston was 14-16 mins, Airdrie was 28-30 mins & Maxim was 20-22 mins, on the new timetable the layover at both terminals is now either 10 or 18 mins and after reading previous threads I suspect ir is 10 mins which is prob why this union action has been mooted considering the delays many bus routes face with little or no time to recover. Anyway the saving of buses I worked out was 8 (38 old t/table against 30 new t/table).

If they have cut the layovers on the 2 then that maybe explains why there were 4 2’s one behind the other at the lights at Parkhead heading west about 4 today.

Got me thinking. Now that it’s easy to track where all the buses are, does anyone at First actually look to see if buses are bunching and do anything about it. Obvious thing would have been to send at least one of these 2’s out of service to the city centre or Finnieston to fill the gap, but instead they were just going to chase each other all the way to Faifley.

First Glasgow feels like its being run on a shoestring at the moment. It’s not a good situation. A lot of people have defected to the trains in the last few years and if the service just keeps getting worse – either cuts or just unreliable – they’ll lose even more.

 

[PaulMc7]

If they have cut the layovers on the 2 then that maybe explains why there were 4 2’s one behind the other at the lights at Parkhead heading west about 4 today.

Got me thinking. Now that it’s easy to track where all the buses are, does anyone at First actually look to see if buses are bunching and do anything about it. Obvious thing would have been to send at least one of these 2’s out of service to the city centre or Finnieston to fill the gap, but instead they were just going to chase each other all the way to Faifley.

First Glasgow feels like its being run on a shoestring at the moment. It’s not a good situation. A lot of people have defected to the trains in the last few years and if the service just keeps getting worse – either cuts or just unreliable – they’ll lose even more.

First come across really complacent because Glasgow does well for them. It's like they just think we will just use them because we have to. A lot of people don't have many options but if the train was a bit cheaper and constantly reliable First would have major problems. The bunching up of buses near me is getting worse. The 1s,2,3, X4 and 6 are the closest buses to me and Dumbarton Road and the Expressway are both horrendous for traffic. There was 5 1s towards Clydebank due within a minute earlier according to the app

 

[lastbus]

The X1 will be coming off in the proposed October changes but nothing confirmed yet due to the ongoing threat of industrial action.

 

[overthewater]

The X1 will be coming off in the proposed October changes but nothing confirmed yet due to the ongoing threat of industrial action.

Madness! Stagecoach will get right in with its X74!! two spare B7 off peak and extra two at peak bingo..

 

[CM]

Madness! Stagecoach will get right in with its X74!! two spare B7 off peak and extra two at peak bingo..

Not really madness, I'd imagine these days most people from Hamilton use the train to get to/from Glasgow as it's quicker and more frequent. I'm surprised the X1 has lasted as long as it has.

 

[PaulMc7]

The X1 will be coming off in the proposed October changes but nothing confirmed yet due to the ongoing threat of industrial action.

Surprising considering how big the Hamilton section of the route is and how busy it can be. Got it about 30 times from Hamilton into Glasgow and it's been fairly busy each time. Think this will cause a bit of backlash too. Anytime I've seen it at peaks the number of seats remaining has been minimal at best

 

[Bus Lightyear]

Madness! Stagecoach will get right in with its X74!! two spare B7 off peak and extra two at peak bingo..

How do you work that out? X74 only stops at Hamilton Town Centre whereas the X1 goes round the houses. They are two totally different markets.

 

[overthewater]

Stagecoach can still pick up a decent load at Hamilton bus station.

 

[Bus Lightyear]

Surprising considering how big the Hamilton section of the route is and how busy it can be. Got it about 30 times from Hamilton into Glasgow and it's been fairly busy each time. Think this will cause a bit of backlash too. Anytime I've seen it at peaks the number of seats remaining has been minimal at best

For a bus route to be viable it also needs off-peak numbers. Ralph Roberts bemoaned the performance of the McGill's X23 a few months back for a similar reason.

 

[Bus Lightyear]

Stagecoach can still pick up a decent load at Hamilton bus station.

Most likely to be concession card holders as most people will go for the train.

 

[lastbus]

Just to add they are also looking to reduce PVRs on core routes but maintain the frequency which is why Unite are not impressed.

 

[lastbus]

Stagecoach can still pick up a decent load at Hamilton bus station.

The X1 doesn’t service the bus station anyway.

To add to what has been said above the X1 is busy at peak but then it’s practically empty to Glasgow and most of its off peak passengers are only doing local journeys in the Hamilton area.

 

[PaulMc7]

For a bus route to be viable it also needs off-peak numbers. Ralph Roberts bemoaned the performance of the McGill's X23 a few months back for a similar reason.

Even make it go 1 an hour off peak then. Erskine seems to be a big problem for Mcgills tbh. More cuts to there than anywhere else I can think of. It's definitely not a decision that will go down anyway

 

[PaulMc7]

What other services do we think will be under threat tbh?

X4 surely has to be up there for cuts. 64 maybe too

 

[overthewater]

So these cuts can't be about LEZ can there? What the real story behide this? First Glasgow has been pretty decent of late. Is sale behide to make it look even better?

 

[lastbus]

Changes may be delayed due to ongoing threat of strike action

 

[PaulMc7]

So these cuts can't be about LEZ can there? What the real story behide this? First Glasgow has been pretty decent of late. Is sale behide to make it look even better?

Seem to be self destructing one of their main strongholds tbh. Between the cuts and price increases they're only gonna worsen their own performance from now making it less attractive to buy

 

[lastbus]

So these cuts can't be about LEZ can there? What the real story behide this? First Glasgow has been pretty decent of late. Is sale behide to make it look even better?

It’s not about LEZ no.

They are trying to cut costs and they plan to cut PVRs but maintain the same frequency on the core routes by cutting drivers layover time.

This idea is crazy IMO

 

[CM]

So these cuts can't be about LEZ can there? What the real story behide this? First Glasgow has been pretty decent of late. Is sale behide to make it look even better?

It'll be cuts for the sake of cuts like it usually is or they'll blame increasing car ownership again even though they're too up their own arses to realise that cutting services back is just going to force even more people to switch to cars. You'd think with the state that First are in justnow that they'd finally realise that this way of working isn't going to help but they clearly haven't realised.

 

[lastbus]

Each OPCO has a profit margin to achieve and although Glasgow is making decent profit it is not hitting its target.

 

[PaulMc7]

It’s not about LEZ no.

They are trying to cut costs and they plan to cut PVRs but maintain the same frequency on the core routes by cutting drivers layover time.

This idea is crazy IMO

At the rate they're going the only time a bus is going to turn up is late. There's a lot of core routes which are bad enough as it for reliability. The only way to keep people using them and bring some more back is by cutting prices and increasing services in areas with little service as it stands

 

[Bus Lightyear]

Each OPCO has a profit margin to achieve and although Glasgow is making decent profit it is not hitting its target.

They must be the closest to hitting the target as I read an article not long ago which said FG were the best in the group. That doesn't say much for the rest of the bus group.

I'll hazard a guess that these alleged changes (as nothing has yet been advertised) and the ones for First Midland Bluebird/Eastern Scotland are being forced upon from group HQ (don't know if its still in Aberdeen) and not the local management and admin staff which is typical of Firstgroup.

 

[overthewater]

Everything comes from Glasgow now.... the faster the operations are sold the better.

 

[PaulMc7]

Everything comes from Glasgow now.... the faster the operations are sold the better.

Definitely. Wonder who would buy Glasgow tbh. Everyone on Twitter and Facebook wants the council all over it but surely not as we usually complain about everything the council does

 

[overthewater]

That talk has been National express,

 

[PaulMc7]

That talk has been National express,

Interesting. Any idea how good they are? Never used them tbh but seen their buses that run to town south around

 

[Bus Lightyear]

Everything comes from Glasgow now.... the faster the operations are sold the better.

FirstGroup's HQ is now in Glasgow? That's news to me.