First Greater Glasgow

[DC21]

18 branded decker has struck a low bridge in Wishawhill. Hope all involved are fine. Bridge it's struck is on the 242 route which isn't served with deckers, so possibly a wrong turn.

 

[ScotRail158725]

18 branded decker has struck a low bridge in Wishawhill. Hope all involved are fine. Bridge it's struck is on the 242 route which isn't served with deckers, so possibly a wrong turn.

heard was the 240 not 242. either way its a wrong turn

 

[DC21]

Yeah, sorry could have worded it better. Was a 240.

 

[PaulMc7]

Passengers lucky escape after roof sliced off bus after colliding with bridge

The vehicle had been travelling north in the direction of Wishawhill

www.dailyrecord.co.uk

Luckily no injuries it seems according to this article

 

[Jordan Adam]

Passengers lucky escape after roof sliced off bus after colliding with bridge

The vehicle had been travelling north in the direction of Wishawhill

www.dailyrecord.co.uk

Luckily no injuries it seems according to this article

Just to quote the full article before the mods go after you.

Passengers lucky escape as roof is sliced from double decker bus when it collides with railway bridge in Wishaw
The vehicle had been travelling north in the direction of Wishawhill

The roof of a double-decker bus was torn off after it collided with a bridge in Wishaw today.

Three passengers onboard the First Bus vehicle were all uninjured, the driver was also unharmed.

The bus was travelling on Heathery Road in the town when it collided with the rail bridge around 11.30am today.

The roof of the bus was completely removed from the rest of the vehicle.

The vehicle travelled under the bridge before coming to a halt while the roof could be seen lying on the road on the other side.

It had been travelling north into Wishawhill from the roundabout on Glasgow Road when the accident took place.

Emergency services were quickly on the scene.

The rail bridge was checked for structural damage and the road closed off in both directions.

There was some minor disruption to passenger services on the Glasgow to Lanark route between noon and 1pm with trains unable to call at Wishaw station while Network Rail engineers carried out a safety inspection of the bridge.

A ScotRail spokesperson said: “We’re sorry to customers who experienced disruption to their journey following a road vehicle striking a bridge in the Wishaw area.

“Anyone delayed by 30 minutes or more is entitled to claim money back through our Delay Repay Guarantee on our website or mobile app.”

Passengers lucky escape after roof sliced off bus after colliding with bridge

The vehicle had been travelling north in the direction of Wishawhill

www.dailyrecord.co.uk

 

[PaulMc7]

Just to quote the full article before the mods go after you.

It's easier when I'm on my PC not my phone haha

 

[lastbus]

It’s a 240 taken a wrong turn and it’s got to have been a new driver as they are not shown the 242 to begin with and any driver who knows the 242 knows that even some single deckers can’t go through here never mind a double! How they never noticed on approach that the bus wouldn’t go under I don’t know.

 

[Jordan Adam]

Got to have been a new driver as they are not shown the 242 to begin with and any driver who knows the 242 knows that even some single deckers can’t go through here never mind a double! How they never noticed on approach that the bus wouldn’t go under I don’t know.

I'm surprised First's new deckers don't have low bridge warning systems. That's two E400MMCs deroofed in the last few months.

 

[lastbus]

I'm surprised First's new deckers don't have low bridge warning systems. That's two E400MMCs deroofed in the last few months.

Yeah there must be something they can do to prevent these accidents from happening.

 

[JumpinTrainz]

Glasgow’s newer fleet seem to be cursed right now. We’ve had a few which have burnt out and the rest de roofed.

Not that it’s good to happen to any stock but would rather it happened to older stock which is on its way out. Glasgow needs all the E400MMC it can get right now. Those 68/19 plate E400MMCs are worked hard

 

[PaulMc7]

It's the timing of these issues that hurts First more than anything. LEZ 2 years away and during a pandemic. Not like First arent tight for cash either just now

 

[route101]

Still some of these 18 buses on the 240 , things must be tight as the timetable is not far off normal.

Has the 201 and 240 had its route changed to allow deckers?

Noticed today a 6 was missing , didnt show , like the pre covid 6 wait a good 20 mins for one.

 

[DC21]

I believe there's still a few 240 branded enviro 200s covering Clydebank locals. 240 route still the same with deckers as well.

 

[JumpinTrainz]

Still a few deckers on the 201 but noticed more branded E300s starting to return to the route

 

[PaulMc7]

I'd imagine that we will see buses on routes that they're not normally on for a while tbh unless there's a drastic need for an increase in service. From what I've seen though when I've been out I doubt it just yet

 

[lastbus]

After today’s incident the 240 will be returning to full single deck operation tomorrow.

 

[Bus Lightyear]

Has the 201 and 240 had its route changed to allow deckers?

No, the E400s are ok on these routes. There's a bridge in Bellshill that the Geminis won't fit under.

 

[PaulMc7]

Tory politician Graham Simpson posted this on Facebook earlier today:

I took part in a meeting on Friday about the 31 bus, as well as the X1 service in Hamilton.
There were councillors, MSPs, MPs, officials and representatives from First Bus and SPT.
According to First the 31 was losing £140,000 a year and had an average of five or six people on it at any time on the East Kilbride section of the route.
Obviously, this is commercially unsustainable.
I asked if they had looked at alternative routes so that Stewartfield can have a bus service. It was clear to me that they have not done any serious work on that.
My view is that Stewartfield and West Mains can be served by being more imaginative.
There is no emotional attachment to the route of the 31. People just want to be able to get into the town centre and into Glasgow and it does not require a direct service to do that.
We agreed to hold separate meetings on the 31 and the X1.
First have agreed to look at other options, including providing something for the new houses at the former Rolls Royce site.
We will keep pushing for a solution but it is going to take some time.
I would like to thank South Lanarkshire Council chief executive Cleland Sneddon for organising the meeting.

I'm surprised the loss is as low as that tbh

 

[lastbus]

Tory politician Graham Simpson posted this on Facebook earlier today:

I took part in a meeting on Friday about the 31 bus, as well as the X1 service in Hamilton.
There were councillors, MSPs, MPs, officials and representatives from First Bus and SPT.
According to First the 31 was losing £140,000 a year and had an average of five or six people on it at any time on the East Kilbride section of the route.
Obviously, this is commercially unsustainable.
I asked if they had looked at alternative routes so that Stewartfield can have a bus service. It was clear to me that they have not done any serious work on that.
My view is that Stewartfield and West Mains can be served by being more imaginative.
There is no emotional attachment to the route of the 31. People just want to be able to get into the town centre and into Glasgow and it does not require a direct service to do that.
We agreed to hold separate meetings on the 31 and the X1.
First have agreed to look at other options, including providing something for the new houses at the former Rolls Royce site.
We will keep pushing for a solution but it is going to take some time.
I would like to thank South Lanarkshire Council chief executive Cleland Sneddon for organising the meeting.

I'm surprised the loss is as low as that tbh

£140,000 a year soon adds up. How many years has it been losing this amount for? As the councillor himself says it’s unsustainable.

 

[PaulMc7]

£140,000 a year soon adds up. How many years has it been losing this amount for? As the councillor himself says it’s unsustainable.

Would probably say it's been losing that level of money most of the time it's operated tbh. Would imagine it's either close to or above the million mark over the last 8-10 years at least

 

[overthewater]

If all the routes that make losses add up to 1 million per year its a no brainer to get rid of the deadwood, thus it would improve the overall operating costs big time. First like any company don't mind looking at other options, however unless new funding is forthcoming there will be no new routes.

 

[PaulMc7]

If all the routes that make losses add up to 1 million per year its a no brainer to get rid of the deadwood, thus it would improve the overall operating costs big time. First like any company don't mind looking at other options, however unless new funding is forthcoming there will be no new routes.

Only things I see being possible are a local service to cover Stewartfield etc or SPT fund it full time but given the current climate both of these are probably slim chances

Seen from one of the Hamilton councillors Mark McGeever that they're looking at options for the 226 to go through High Earnock to cover the X1 but it does seem incredibly unlikely that anything else will happen on that front too. The next meetings will tell it all I suppose

 

[overthewater]

Why are they not trying to get someone else to operate the route? if the councillor had any concept about public transportation, which is clearly not the case.. They should be looking at Stagecoach X74. I'm sure an extra bus paid for by SPT could be enought to keep 30mins headway.

 

[PaulMc7]

Why are they not trying to get someone else to operate the route? if the councillor had any concept about public transportation, which is clearly not the case.. They should be looking at Stagecoach X74. I'm sure an extra bus paid for by SPT could be enought to keep 30mins headway.

I do think SPT have been present at the meetings so far but god knows what will happen. First were going to cover the Hamilton section of the X1 with a 225 back in October so wonder if that type of thing could happen again. SPT do fund evening services at that end of Hamilton so I'm sure one of the smaller operators would be up for doing it daytime

Makes me wonder too what First's profit figure could have been for Glasgow if they had got rid of the loss makers earlier. Probably quite a few services that were hovering above troubled water before Covid

 

[156478]

Tory politician Graham Simpson posted this on Facebook earlier today:

I took part in a meeting on Friday about the 31 bus, as well as the X1 service in Hamilton.
There were councillors, MSPs, MPs, officials and representatives from First Bus and SPT.
According to First the 31 was losing £140,000 a year and had an average of five or six people on it at any time on the East Kilbride section of the route.
Obviously, this is commercially unsustainable.
I asked if they had looked at alternative routes so that Stewartfield can have a bus service. It was clear to me that they have not done any serious work on that.
My view is that Stewartfield and West Mains can be served by being more imaginative.
There is no emotional attachment to the route of the 31. People just want to be able to get into the town centre and into Glasgow and it does not require a direct service to do that.
We agreed to hold separate meetings on the 31 and the X1.
First have agreed to look at other options, including providing something for the new houses at the former Rolls Royce site.
We will keep pushing for a solution but it is going to take some time.
I would like to thank South Lanarkshire Council chief executive Cleland Sneddon for organising the meeting.

I'm surprised the loss is as low as that tbh

Small teeny tiny victory, one politician will probably no longer spout the tired old war cry of bus operators are profiteering greedy barons sending money to the shareholders AND admitting a route is commercially unsustainable. Jeezo- times are changing.

 

[PaulMc7]

Small teeny tiny victory, one politician will probably no longer spout the tired old war cry of bus operators are profiteering greedy barons sending money to the shareholders AND admitting a route is commercially unsustainable. Jeezo- times are changing.

Yeah I was quite surprised by that. Until the higher ups of the SNP etc start saying it though I will hold fire on change coming. Won't make a difference as far as funding etc goes til the ones in complete control change their viewpoints. Think Glasgow will still be pretty car centric for a fair while yet too unless the low emission zone makes a difference which I doubt

 

[156478]

Why are they not trying to get someone else to operate the route? if the councillor had any concept about public transportation, which is clearly not the case.. They should be looking at Stagecoach X74. I'm sure an extra bus paid for by SPT could be enought to keep 30mins headway.

If SPT pay for Stagecoach to run an extra X74 its sets precedents that it may not want to set, subsidising a journey that can be operated commercially is not a good use of public funds, especially when theres 4 trains an hour from Hamilton to Glasgow, and being numerous other stopping services to Glasgow.

Essentially they would be using public money to be paying for convenience - to save customers half an hours out of their day- despite the presence of the train and the 255, 263, 267. Especially at a time when SPT is already in severe financial straits.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 18 Aug 2020 ==

Yeah I was quite surprised by that. Until the higher ups of the SNP etc start saying it though I will hold fire on change coming. Won't make a difference as far as funding etc goes til the ones in complete control change their viewpoints. Think Glasgow will still be pretty car centric for a fair while yet too unless the low emission zone makes a difference which I doubt

I recon if bus companies were able to be a bit more open about profitability and expenses it would shut up the seemingly endless war cries of putting buses back into public ownership.

For far too long now, the general public believe the war cries of public ownership from politicians and self appointed experts in pressure groups who have probably never seen a Balance Sheet or a Profit and Loss sheet in their lives.

 

[PaulMc7]

I recon if bus companies were able to be a bit more open about profitability and expenses it would shut up the seemingly endless war cries of putting buses back into public ownership.

For far too long now, the general public believe the war cries of public ownership from politicians and self appointed experts in pressure groups who have probably never seen a Balance Sheet or a Profit and Loss sheet in their lives.
[/QUOTE]

I fully agree with you on this. If First communicated this type of thing more often and gave a clear warning when services aren't profitable to the public then it might make people wake up to the reality of the situation. They need to build a customer relationship pretty quickly because it doesn't seem like there's one at all anymore. Could do more to find out what people need from a service too

 

[Bus Lightyear]

Why are they not trying to get someone else to operate the route? if the councillor had any concept about public transportation, which is clearly not the case.. They should be looking at Stagecoach X74. I'm sure an extra bus paid for by SPT could be enought to keep 30mins headway.

That's hardly a viable alternative as it doesn't cover the town other than the town centre. It would cost 2 or possibly 3 buses to make Hamilton to Glasgow every half hour so it's not a good use of public funds.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 18 Aug 2020 ==

Another possible reason the backside has fallen out of X1 in recent years is the UWS (University of West of Scotland). Previously students had to travel to Glasgow but now with a University closer to home we can only assume that this will have had an impact on the X1's earnings when it already wasn't performing well in the first place.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Why are they not trying to get someone else to operate the route? if the councillor had any concept about public transportation, which is clearly not the case.. They should be looking at Stagecoach X74. I'm sure an extra bus paid for by SPT could be enought to keep 30mins headway.

Why would getting another operator make any difference?

When First withdrew their Bristol to Newport Express, it was picked up by Stagecoach who operated it for a bit, changed the times to make them more sustainable, and eventually withdrew it anyway. The issue was that despite being a longstanding service with demand in the peaks, ridership had fundamentally changed (product life cycle) and especially in the off peak, it was only a few poorly remunerated passes being taken...... Sound familiar?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 18 Aug 2020 ==

If SPT pay for Stagecoach to run an extra X74 its sets precedents that it may not want to set, subsidising a journey that can be operated commercially is not a good use of public funds, especially when theres 4 trains an hour from Hamilton to Glasgow, and being numerous other stopping services to Glasgow.

Essentially they would be using public money to be paying for convenience - to save customers half an hours out of their day- despite the presence of the train and the 255, 263, 267. Especially at a time when SPT is already in severe financial straits.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 18 Aug 2020 ==



I recon if bus companies were able to be a bit more open about profitability and expenses it would shut up the seemingly endless war cries of putting buses back into public ownership.

For far too long now, the general public believe the war cries of public ownership from politicians and self appointed experts in pressure groups who have probably never seen a Balance Sheet or a Profit and Loss sheet in their lives.

I recon if bus companies were able to be a bit more open about profitability and expenses it would shut up the seemingly endless war cries of putting buses back into public ownership.

For far too long now, the general public believe the war cries of public ownership from politicians and self appointed experts in pressure groups who have probably never seen a Balance Sheet or a Profit and Loss sheet in their lives.

I fully agree with you on this. If First communicated this type of thing more often and gave a clear warning when services aren't profitable to the public then it might make people wake up to the reality of the situation. They need to build a customer relationship pretty quickly because it doesn't seem like there's one at all anymore. Could do more to find out what people need from a service too
[/QUOTE]

Really?

Most of the people on this forum are unable to comprehend such information and they are supposed to have some insight. You get the usual contrary line (usually trotted out by the press or the union) that "they can afford to run it as they make £100m per year profit". Of course, it's not mentioned that it's some group figure drawn from across the country/Europe/world and that there are probably dozens of other places where they can lose money elsewhere on the same basis.

Also, the number of times that people have been told to "use it or lose it" and you know what..... it has no difference!