First Greater Glasgow

[Stef434]

The X1 is 100% not making money. To say they are taking it off so they don’t need to make 4 buses Euro 6 is laughable. If it was about euro 6 they could have just re routed it via Dobbies Loan. If no one goes on SPT will surely need to subsidise it.

I agree 100%; If the bus was packed to capacity and raking it in FIG wouldn't have pulled it ,the fact that the commercial decision was to remove it suggests that onboard revenue was not viable to sustain profitability ,seems to me that passengers were either using tickets purchased on another service or pre paid.Once its pulled out come the petitions tand lets plead with SPT ...
Everyone knew theses cuts were coming to less profitable services there will be more surprises (or maybe not) to come in Phase two Use it or loose it is the First motto
LEZ wouldn't be on the table to remove a profitable service as First are the masters at permutations

 

[PaulMc7]

Also posted this list of services that do not serve the City Centre or only certain journeys do on another forum but for different reasons as to why I'm doing it here. It's part of the reason I think First is going to be fairly okay for the LEZ needs. There are so many services outside of the city centre that investment can be held off for granted the 34/34A/241/242 and 254 have had newly branded buses already. Actually, a lot more services than I first realised.

M1- East Kilbride Circular
U1- Hamilton bus station to Hamilton Uni
M2-Toryglen Asda to Croftfoot Roundabout
M4- Anniesland to Partick
8/8A-Qeuh to Parkhead/Partick and Maryhill to Riddrie
M11- Clydebank to Gartnavel Hospital
14- Fernhill to Rutherglen
16- Blardardie to Qeuh
29/29A/129- Shawlands to Newton Mearns/Mansewood/Hillpark also Mansewood to City Centre with 129
32- Parkhead to Craigend
34/34A- Govan/QEUH to Castlemilk
43- Parkhead to Easterhouse
46- Easterhouse to Castlemilk
49- Govan to Southpark
M60- Drumchapel to Clydebank
74/74A- Castlemilk to Toryglen Asda
81- Duntocher to Clydebank
90- Braehead to Partick
93/193- Coltness to Carbarns/Cleland to Pather
94- Knightswood to Maryhill
120-EK Bus station to South Lanarkshire College
201- Hairmyres to Airdrie, Petersburn
202-Airdrie to Maxim Park
205-Torr Farm, Hamilton to Hairmyres Hospital
206- Westcliff to Haldane
208- Silverton to Brucehill
209- North Motherwell to Bellshill
210 is one journey each way, Law to Wishaw
226- Fairhill/Little Earnock to Hillhouse
227- Whitehill to Little Earnock
229-Hamilton to Eddlewood
230- Coatshill to Silvertonhill
241-North Motherwell to Cleland
242-Pather/Overtown to Holytown/Maxim Park
244/355-Forgewood to North Lodge/Newhouse Roundabout to North Lodge
251- Wishaw General to Larkhall
254-Newarthill to Motherwell
266-Newmains/Shotts to Hamilton
299-Strathclyde Business Park to Bellshill

 

[Stef434]

Yeah definitely and that's why I think we will be stuck with the same car favouring city for quite some time yet

Must admit Union street is a start

 

[PaulMc7]

I agree 100%; If the bus was packed to capacity and raking it in FIG wouldn't have pulled it ,the fact that the commercial decision was to remove it suggests that onboard revenue was not viable to sustain profitability ,seems to me that passengers were either using tickets purchased on another service or pre paid.Once its pulled out come the petitions tand lets plead with SPT ...
Everyone knew theses cuts were coming to less profitable services there will be more surprises (or maybe not) to come in Phase two Use it or loose it is the First motto
LEZ wouldn't be on the table to remove a profitable service as First are the masters at permutations

I think First have backed themselves into a corner with the prices for singles as well pulling returns off. The main reasons buses are used for peak time are college/uni and work so people will obviously dive headfirst into monthly/10 weekly and yearly tickets. They're just so much better in terms of value for money so it's going to be harder for any service to rake it in even if it is very busy constantly especially when it comes to Network services and not just city zone. For a 10 week network ticket you only need to use it 3 days out of 7 to get value for money. That's too hard for a lot of people to turn down especially in times where money is very tight for most people.

 

[Stef434]

Also posted this list of services that do not serve the City Centre or only certain journeys do on another forum but for different reasons as to why I'm doing it here. It's part of the reason I think First is going to be fairly okay for the LEZ needs. There are so many services outside of the city centre that investment can be held off for granted the 34/34A/241/242 and 254 have had newly branded buses already. Actually, a lot more services than I first realised.

M1- East Kilbride Circular
U1- Hamilton bus station to Hamilton Uni
M2-Toryglen Asda to Croftfoot Roundabout
M4- Anniesland to Partick
8/8A-Qeuh to Parkhead/Partick and Maryhill to Riddrie
M11- Clydebank to Gartnavel Hospital
14- Fernhill to Rutherglen
16- Blardardie to Qeuh
29/29A/129- Shawlands to Newton Mearns/Mansewood/Hillpark also Mansewood to City Centre with 129
32- Parkhead to Craigend
34/34A- Govan/QEUH to Castlemilk
43- Parkhead to Easterhouse
46- Easterhouse to Castlemilk
49- Govan to Southpark
M60- Drumchapel to Clydebank
74/74A- Castlemilk to Toryglen Asda
81- Duntocher to Clydebank
90- Braehead to Partick
93/193- Coltness to Carbarns/Cleland to Pather
94- Knightswood to Maryhill
120-EK Bus station to South Lanarkshire College
201- Hairmyres to Airdrie, Petersburn
202-Airdrie to Maxim Park
205-Torr Farm, Hamilton to Hairmyres Hospital
206- Westcliff to Haldane
208- Silverton to Brucehill
209- North Motherwell to Bellshill
210 is one journey each way, Law to Wishaw
226- Fairhill/Little Earnock to Hillhouse
227- Whitehill to Little Earnock
229-Hamilton to Eddlewood
230- Coatshill to Silvertonhill
241-North Motherwell to Cleland
242-Pather/Overtown to Holytown/Maxim Park
244/355-Forgewood to North Lodge/Newhouse Roundabout to North Lodge
251- Wishaw General to Larkhall
254-Newarthill to Motherwell
266-Newmains/Shotts to Hamilton
299-Strathclyde Business Park to Bellshill

A lot more than I realised as well fair chunk well done for the info

 

[PaulMc7]

Must admit Union street is a start

Yes definitely. Glad it happened there because it's one of the worst streets around for people just sitting idle in cars

 

[PaulMc7]

A lot more than I realised as well fair chunk well done for the info

Thank you. I've used most of them at one point or another and I didn't realise it was that many either. Went through First's site for quite a while checking them off

 

[Stef434]

I think First have backed themselves into a corner with the prices for singles as well pulling returns off. The main reasons buses are used for peak time are college/uni and work so people will obviously dive headfirst into monthly/10 weekly and yearly tickets. They're just so much better in terms of value for money so it's going to be harder for any service to rake it in even if it is very busy constantly especially when it comes to Network services and not just city zone. For a 10 week network ticket you only need to use it 3 days out of 7 to get value for money. That's too hard for a lot of people to turn down especially in times where money is very tight for most people.

Thank you. I've used most of them at one point or another and I didn't realise it was that many either. Went through First's site for quite a while checking them off

appreciated from me

 

[lastbus]

I think First have backed themselves into a corner with the prices for singles as well pulling returns off. The main reasons buses are used for peak time are college/uni and work so people will obviously dive headfirst into monthly/10 weekly and yearly tickets. They're just so much better in terms of value for money so it's going to be harder for any service to rake it in even if it is very busy constantly especially when it comes to Network services and not just city zone. For a 10 week network ticket you only need to use it 3 days out of 7 to get value for money. That's too hard for a lot of people to turn down especially in times where money is very tight for most people.

Blame the government single prices are as high because the concession percentages keep going down. A lot of bus passengers are free pass holders these days.

 

[lastbus]

I agree 100%; If the bus was packed to capacity and raking it in FIG wouldn't have pulled it ,the fact that the commercial decision was to remove it suggests that onboard revenue was not viable to sustain profitability ,seems to me that passengers were either using tickets purchased on another service or pre paid.Once its pulled out come the petitions tand lets plead with SPT ...
Everyone knew theses cuts were coming to less profitable services there will be more surprises (or maybe not) to come in Phase two Use it or loose it is the First motto
LEZ wouldn't be on the table to remove a profitable service as First are the masters at permutations

People think First take these decisions willy nilly. There is a lot of thought and research goes into this. I know for a fact the X1 has being under review for the past 18 months. They have tried to make it work.

Your also 100% right regarding every service not hitting targets being under review.

Also heard First may look to keep the profitable operations I.e Glasgow, Leeds and Bristol

 

[PaulMc7]

Blame the government single prices are as high because the concession percentages keep going down. A lot of bus passengers are free pass holders these days.

Definitely. It's far too easy to get one too. I see so many people near me who probably don't need them yet I've seen elderly people with limited mobility who don't have one

 

[PaulMc7]

People think First take these decisions willy nilly. There is a lot of thought and research goes into this. I know for a fact the X1 has been under review for the past 18 months. They have tried to make it work.

Your also 100% right regarding every service not hitting targets been under review.

Also heard First may look to keep the profitable operations I.e Glasgow, Leeds and Bristol

Would be interesting if they done that and kept the likes of Glasgow. Would hopefully see a solid level of attention kept too as Glasgow has such great potential for an even more successful bus service. Granted the government and council really don't help but it's there as an opportunity if things change. I think that's the annoyance we all have as customers and people who just want the best service available to people in this city. We know it's constantly up there in their most profitable operations but there's levels above that if they gave it everything to achieve them

 

[lastbus]

It will be removed from service if it causes any risk to anyone. Failure to do so can result in an visit to the TC if reported. As mentioned above with vehicles leaking etc, I have seen it once or twice with an vehicle taken off due to leaking water but 9/10 they will remain in service. Unfortunately customer service at First doesn't exist especially with FG. I have been around the company long enough to witness it plenty of times.

Deleted double post

 

[Aidan1]

To be fair the X1 was meant to be pulled a few months ago and first decided to keep it going, they must be losing money for them to pull it. Would still make sense to run it in the morning and afternoons. Even if say a bus started an X1 then turned into an 18/21/ when it gets to Glasgow or something of that nature to keep the bus on the road for the remainder of the day. Two X11’s in the morning run off an 18 and 21.

 

[lastbus]

Out of the motorways through Glasgow I'd argue that the M74 is the best one for handling congestion. Can be a bit busy from the Rutherglen junction to Polmadie but it's mainly okay. It's the roads going onto it that can be problematic but that applies to any motorway. I think the problem with the X1 is how much of the journey is in Hamilton. Could it not even just run to the bus station and link with the 225 that way? Another idea for it I thought of was through the fort too but the other one I had was to stay on the M74, come off at Polmadie then run alongside the 267 up to Buchanan Bus Station. Yes it would need new buses but if it remained that would happen anyway. They've really messed up this one. I'm surprised the backlash to the 19A being only part replaced too hasn't been as bad. Seen a few grumbles on Twitter but nothing as bad as I thought would happen.

Whitelaws could maybe be a shout for a new bus into Glasgow city centre if they have the buses for it. Even just for peaks. First have really only left 2 options as far as buses go.

1 of which absolutely nobody will do and that's the 255/263/267 or the other would be 225 onto a 201/266 then an X11 into Glasgow

If the demand is there first could make a few x11s divert to palace grounds to link up to the 225 it would be a 7 minute detour. Only issue is capacity.

 

[SarahDFIG]

Weekly Update

Caley to Scrap: 33353/60/62/67/71/75
Livingston/Caley to Blantyre: 33441/33442, 37184
Livingston to Caley: 33431/32/33/34/35/39/40
**few still to leave** Caley/Blantyre to Bristol: 32619/21/24/25/70/77/83, 37181/37182

Blantyre/Overtown/Dumbarton & Scotstoun have upcoming fleet movements but no information just yet.

Most of the movements I believe is vehicles to Caley for repaint and return which is currently already started.

 

[PaulMc7]

If the demand is there first could make a few x11s divert to palace grounds to link up to the 225 it would be a 7 minute detour. Only issue is capacity.

Yeah if anything there would need to be extra X11s from Motherwell to Glasgow for that to work

 

[lastbus]

Weekly Update

Caley to Scrap: 33353/60/62/67/71/75
Livingston/Caley to Blantyre: 33441/33442, 37184
Livingston to Caley: 33431/32/33/34/35/39/40
**few still to leave** Caley/Blantyre to Bristol: 32619/21/24/25/70/77/83, 37181/37182

Blantyre/Overtown/Dumbarton & Scotstoun have upcoming fleet movements but no information just yet.

Most of the movements I believe is vehicles to Caley for repaint and return which is currently already started.

The owner of this information told you it wasn’t to be posted on here yet you post it?

 

[SarahDFIG]

The owner of this information told you it wasn’t to be posted on here yet you post it?

What are you talking about now. Your past few posts you have been talking utter rubbish and I probably ain't the only forum member fed up with you disagreeing with everything anyone says.

The above information I got yesterday from the office ..... the same information has no doubt been posted already in groups I am no part as most of the movements happened earlier in the week but I am not in the office 7 days a week ... I will be asking questions when I am back in on Tuesday regarding this so called ban on public forums. The only information I have been asked not to post is future movements as they are subject to change such vehicles from Leeds

Sorry to those who find my information helpful who like myself don't use other groups etc but going forward I may not post anything as people just try and start arguments for the sake of it

 

[PaulMc7]

What are you talking about now. Your past few posts you have been talking utter rubbish and I probably ain't the only forum member fed up with you disagreeing with everything anyone says.

The above information I got yesterday from the office ..... the same information has no doubt been posted already in groups I am no part as most of the movements happened earlier in the week but I am not in the office 7 days a week ... I will be asking questions when I am back in on Tuesday regarding this so called ban on public forums. The only information I have been asked not to post is future movements as they are subject to change such vehicles from Leeds

Sorry to those who find my information helpful who like myself don't use other groups etc but going forward I may not post anything as people just try and start arguments for the sake of it

Would just ignore him tbh and still post it anyway. The rest of us are thankful for the info

 

[Jordan Adam]

What are you talking about now. Your past few posts you have been talking utter rubbish and I probably ain't the only forum member fed up with you disagreeing with everything anyone says.

The above information I got yesterday from the office ..... the same information has no doubt been posted already in groups I am no part as most of the movements happened earlier in the week but I am not in the office 7 days a week ... I will be asking questions when I am back in on Tuesday regarding this so called ban on public forums. The only information I have been asked not to post is future movements as they are subject to change such vehicles from Leeds

Sorry to those who find my information helpful who like myself don't use other groups etc but going forward I may not post anything as people just try and start arguments for the sake of it

The same information was posted on a Facebook enthusiast group a few days ago and it was stated that it's not to be posted on Rail Forums, the reasoning why i don't know as it does seem odd. However that's probably what @lastbus is referring to.

 

[JumpinTrainz]

Weekly Update

Caley to Scrap: 33353/60/62/67/71/75
Livingston/Caley to Blantyre: 33441/33442, 37184
Livingston to Caley: 33431/32/33/34/35/39/40
**few still to leave** Caley/Blantyre to Bristol: 32619/21/24/25/70/77/83, 37181/37182

Blantyre/Overtown/Dumbarton & Scotstoun have upcoming fleet movements but no information just yet.

Most of the movements I believe is vehicles to Caley for repaint and return which is currently already started.

Thanks for this info.

Bristol are getting a fair number of Glasgow’s B7TLs. I always remember 37181 getting a seat retrim a few years back and it always looking the part.

I wonder if the Gemini’s from Leeds will make their way up here.

 

[lastbus]

The same information was posted on a Facebook enthusiast group a few days ago and it was stated that it's not to be posted on Rail Forums, the reasoning why i don't know as it does seem odd. However that's probably what @lastbus is referring to.

Correct I don’t know why either but the person who posts the info is going to stop posting it if it keeps getting posted in here and as someone who uses the other group I don’t want the info to stop being posted because someone is going against their wishes.

 

[Jordan Adam]

Correct I don’t know why either but the person who posts the info is going to stop posting it if it keeps getting posted in here and as someone who uses the other group I don’t want the info to stop being posted because someone is going against their wishes.

I don't really want to get involved as it's not my place, but i don't see anything wrong if Sarah got the info from the same source. Surely if it wasn't to be publicly posted then it wouldn't be posted on a Facebook group in the first place?

 

[SarahDFIG]

Correct I don’t know why either but the person who posts the info is going to stop posting it if it keeps getting posted in here and as someone who uses the other group I don’t want the info to stop being posted because someone is going against their wishes.

I am not even an member of any other group's whatever. see who ever is posting it on the groups tell them they can post it on here in future then as I am no posting nothing else. Sorry to those who found the info helpful but if its already being posted in groups then join that group and get the info

 

[PaulMc7]

The way I see it with wanting to keep info quiet in certain places is that like it or not it'll get out somewhere. Goes for almost every company in the world. It's 2019 where the majority of people are online at some point or another. If you share it once it's getting out in other places. Just how it is

 

[Whiteway215]

I am not even an member of any other group's whatever. see who ever is posting it on the groups tell them they can post it on here in future then as I am no posting nothing else. Sorry to those who found the info helpful but if its already being posted in groups then join that group and get the info

Sarah that is a real shame if you feel you are unable to post any more information. I'm sure I speak for many in thanking you for your contributions. It would be great if you would reconsider but of course appreciate that is your decision. Thanks again.

 

[PaulMc7]

Key word being "withdrawn" here

Not sure if it means anything as the X1 registration is still cancelled but I thought I'd share anyway incase anyone knows anything I don't

Bus registration details

• Registration number
  PM0000001/639
• Licence Number
  PM0000001

• Variation number
  0

• Status
  Withdrawn

• Service number.
  225,

• Service type
  Normal Stopping

• Start point
  Hamilton, Davington Drive
• Finish point
  Palace Retail Park
• Via

• Date received
  13 Sep 2019
• Effective date
  27 Oct 2019
• End date

• Supported by subsidies?
  No

• Local authorities covered by route
  Strathclyde Partnership for Transport

• TAOs covered by route
  Scotland

 

[Stef434]

I don't really want to get involved as it's not my place, but i don't see anything wrong if Sarah got the info from the same source. Surely if it wasn't to be publicly posted then it wouldn't be posted on a Facebook group in the first place?

Hear Hear AGREED

 

[Stef434]

People think First take these decisions willy nilly. There is a lot of thought and research goes into this. I know for a fact the X1 has being under review for the past 18 months. They have tried to make it work.

Your also 100% right regarding every service not hitting targets being under review.

Also heard First may look to keep the profitable operations I.e Glasgow, Leeds and Bristol

What thought and research is used ….just asking