First Greater Glasgow

[tbtc]

Possibly one reason for the 9 still running to Paisley is that there's nowhere "obvious" to terminate it before there (given that there are existing services along Paisley Road for Braehead/ Silverburn). I suppose they could put it into Pennilee instead but once you get to Crookston I guess you might as well run into Paisley?

Did Arriva/McGills pull out of any parts of Glasgow at the same time First left Linwood? (e.g. one of those "coincidences" where peace breaks out, but of course there was no shady agreements drawn up, honest guv!)

Not the worst idea in the world but there's probably a reluctance to meddle too much with the 90 as it offers a number of links to Glasgow Royal Infirmary and other hospitals of course.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 6 Sep 2020 ==

Good point - one of the problems with orbital service that serve hospitals - they can be unreliable (due to the long nature of the journey and the lack of dwell times) or can be tediously slow because the schedulers have given them long dwells at several intermediate places (to try to stop them from running late)...

...but people/councillors will be up in arms at somewhere losing its direct hospital link, even if precious few people did such a journey each week and even if it takes significantly longer to get from a suburb to the hospital going round the houses than it would to go into the city centre and change).

We've seen the outer circles chopped/scrapped in many big cities (certainly the 32/52 in Edinburgh was cut about twenty years ago, the 9/10/11/12 was cut in Dundee and then reinstated - down here in Yorkshire we've seen the 8/9 in Leeds and the 2/59 in Sheffield chopped up a bit - I think Birmingham is one of the few places that retains an "Outer Circle") but it may take a brave person at First to look at making further cuts to the 90 (which, I appreciate isn't a proper daytime circle any more, but it still goes around 359 degrees around the "circle")

 

[Zakforbes4]

Was thinking of some route combinations that could balance length where possible or remove some sets of recovery time off of the map as well as creating some new links. The 8 is one I struggled with though as I don't know where you could split that. Will post any others if I come up with anything

31/64 combination-Carmunnock to Parkhead
90-Partick to Carmyle
43/90-Easterhouse to Braehead

60/60A-Summerston-Easterhouse
61-Sandyhills-Clydebank/Milngavie

Keep the 34A as it is but then do this with the 3/34 using Minard Road/Dinmont Road as there's no right turn onto Langside Avenue at Pollokshaws Road as the route switch:

3-Drumchapel to Govan via City Centre, Shawlands, Mosspark, Bellahouston, Halfway, Cardonald
34-Castlemilk to Govan via Battlefield, Shawlands, Riverford Road, Silverburn, Crookston, Kingsland Drive

1B/206- 1B becomes Glasgow to Dumbarton
206/206A- 206 every 30 mins-Haldane to Helensburgh via Castlehill, 206A-Haldane to Westcliff via 1B route between Dumbarton and Westcliff

227/229- Little Earnock to Whitehill/Eddlewood hourly each

9/9A/87/88-Paisley/Braehead/Penilee-Auchinairn/Harestanes

6A/41-Drumchapel-Easterhouse

10/19-Easterhouse-Silverburn

I'm getting serious overground vibes here lol

 

[PaulMc7]

I'm getting serious overground vibes here lol

Yeah there is an element of it lol

 

[Glasgowbusguy]

The 90 is actully fairly busy most of the time as it is quite handy for linking in to other services or trains and the underground
Plus it does provide good links

 

[PaulMc7]

The 90 is actully fairly busy most of the time as it is quite handy for linking in to other services or trains and the underground
Plus it does provide good links

Used it a fair bit across the full route and I'd say the quietest section of the route is Govan to Braehead although with the 77 there from the hospital into Braehead I'm not surprised and Mcgills also cover Govan to Braehead well with the 23 and 26

 

[route101]

The 90 is actully fairly busy most of the time as it is quite handy for linking in to other services or trains and the underground
Plus it does provide good links

The problem with it is realiability and the freq. I dont use it often but id hate to rely on it for work.

 

[Scotrail314209]

Yeah I remember First had a bus to Bridge of Weir at some point. Wonder if anyone would ever shift back to First from Mcgills given that First are probably now the lesser of two evils going by general opinion around online and from what I've heard while out on my travels

They ran a lot further, but competition was severe. They ended up cutting to Linwood where Arriva didn't really run to. I think once McGill's started running to Linwood and once First had stopped the X6/7 to Glasgow people shifted to McGill'.

I'm sure First even ran a 901 up to Largs at some point, I remember seeing pictures online of a Gemini with 901 branding going up the coast. Presumably this was to compete with McGills who at the time were based out of Greenock? Or was it Arriva.

 

[route101]

I'm sure First even ran a 901 up to Largs at some point, I remember seeing pictures online of a Gemini with 901 branding going up the coast. Presumably this was to compete with McGills who at the time were based out of Greenock? Or was it Arriva.

Yes, around 2008 to Largs. Think it was McGills from Glasgow at that time.

 

[awsnews]

Yes, around 2008 to Largs. Think it was McGills from Glasgow at that time.

From 2008

The 1276-busstop archive/The 1276-Busstop-First Glasgow/Current Fleet - Double Deck 2004-01-01 to 2010-01-12/fig3716901220808

www.gcsbromleygarage.com

 

[Glasgowbusguy]

The 90 is actully fairly busy most of the time as it is quite handy for linking in to other services or trains and the underground
Plus it does provide good links

 

[PaulMc7]

That 901X must have been a sore one on dead mileage getting it back to Scotstoun depot or was it taken off in Glasgow to avoid that?

 

[kez19]

I'm sure First even ran a 901 up to Largs at some point, I remember seeing pictures online of a Gemini with 901 branding going up the coast. Presumably this was to compete with McGills who at the time were based out of Greenock? Or was it Arriva.

I believe there is a pic on Flickr in First branding for Clyde Flyer

 

[route101]

That 901X must have been a sore one on dead mileage getting it back to Scotstoun depot or was it taken off in Glasgow to avoid that?

I'm sure it was run out of larkfield.

 

[PaulMc7]

I'm sure it was run out of larkfield.

Aw okay. I'm pretty sure I seen something before saying it was Scotstoun but either way it would be brutal for dead miles

 

[Zakforbes4]

Aw okay. I'm pretty sure I seen something before saying it was Scotstoun but either way it would be brutal for dead miles

They could of run a depot run so spt would pay for fuel

 

[PaulMc7]

They could of run a depot run so spt would pay for fuel

Yeah that's a fair point

 

[Busman84]

Aw okay. I'm pretty sure I seen something before saying it was Scotstoun but either way it would be brutal for dead miles

Larkfield done the services and I think part time drivers plus drivers from the hire side at the time did it. 37166-173 were branded for it and got there speed restricted increased too. I could be wrong but I think all buses ran empty only from depot to Buchanan Bus Station and same coming back the way later on.

 

[Stena Galloway]

37166 to 37169 where used on the 901. Only 4 where branded with Clyde Coaster branding. Quite smart branding in all fairness

 

[PaulMc7]

Larkfield done the services and I think part time drivers plus drivers from the hire side at the time did it. 37166-173 were branded for it and got there speed restricted increased too. I could be wrong but I think all buses ran empty only from depot to Buchanan Bus Station and same coming back the way later on.

Yeah that would be the most sensible way to operate it to be fair. I don't envy First trying to plan out the best point to start services to keep dead mileage down as much as possible

 

[XAM2175]

Yes and no, they speed up journey time as you have less buses clogging up the city centre particularly at bus stops plus they offer cross city connections. With adequate running time and layover at either end they can be just as reliable.

How many of those cross-city connections are actually useful, as opposed to operationally convenient?

As to running times and layover allowances, yes, these help with recovering the service at either end of the route, but they do little to alleviate the effects of delay through the core of the route (that is, a service that becomes late on the inbound leg of a cross-city trip carries that lateness through to the corresponding outbound leg).

Filling the city with idling buses could be avoided by running them through the city to termini on the outskirts.

 

[olddriver]

I seem to remember another route I got on again this was in the 00s was the 55 as far as I remember it ran from Buchanan Bus Station to Braehead(?), at the time I remember on one of their older buses possibly Olympians they displayed the number than destination

Yes, it was run by Cumbernauld depot when I was with First in the late 00s. I think it interworked with one of their X services.

 

[Stena Galloway]

Did the 55 service not run from BBS to Hillington? I remember driving the 22 which was Douglas Street to Braehead. Between it and the 23 it was a 15 minute service between Glasgow and Ross Hall

 

[lastbus]

Did the 55 service not run from BBS to Hillington? I remember driving the 22 which was Douglas Street to Braehead. Between it and the 23 it was a 15 minute service between Glasgow and Ross Hall

It went to braehead I think it interworked with the x3. There was also an X55 but I think that only ran on Saturdays and Sundays.

 

[kez19]

Yes, it was run by Cumbernauld depot when I was with First in the late 00s. I think it interworked with one of their X services.

See as I don't stay in Glasgow I don't have a clue lol .... but its strange how I remembered this one... When you mention interworked with the X services I guess like the X8 Pollok Circular? (Silverburn just an example...)

I also didn't realise how long the 60 is from Easterhouse to Clydebank too, I did a trip on that one too, I get the point that the city centre is the halfway point, I would have thought the likes of the 6/60 would be better terminating in the city centre (both directions) then have a quicker bus?

I'll give First a bit of credit when I have used them but when I have went to Clydebank the 1 service is pretty quick back, as well as the 240/255 to the Forge (I know these buses 240/255 aren't express in a way but they seem to be quick to get to destinations).

I know what I mention next maybe down to the council itself than bus companies itself but I find the traffic system a bit weird for the buses, if you have a service running from the bus station to then run along Argyll Street taking a turning off at George Square, they may as well have brought them out the bus station to head straight onto George Square (I guess the only service that does this is the Airport service)

 

[Glasgowbusguy]

See as I don't stay in Glasgow I don't have a clue lol .... but its strange how I remembered this one... When you mention interworked with the X services I guess like the X8 Pollok Circular? (Silverburn just an example...)

I also didn't realise how long the 60 is from Easterhouse to Clydebank too, I did a trip on that one too, I get the point that the city centre is the halfway point, I would have thought the likes of the 6/60 would be better terminating in the city centre (both directions) then have a quicker bus?

I'll give First a bit of credit when I have used them but when I have went to Clydebank the 1 service is pretty quick back, as well as the 240/255 to the Forge (I know these buses 240/255 aren't express in a way but they seem to be quick to get to destinations).

I know what I mention next maybe down to the council itself than bus companies itself but I find the traffic system a bit weird for the buses, if you have a service running from the bus station to then run along Argyll Street taking a turning off at George Square, they may as well have brought them out the bus station to head straight onto George Square (I guess the only service that does this is the Airport service)

The 60 is actully quite well used across city its a good bus for those with family in the eastend amd living in maryhull etc and its alway packed plus from a cost side of it its one single rather than 2 and no changing services

 

[Glasgowbusguy]

Heres one how much does the use of the bus station cost ?
Is there a cost to use govan bus station or breahead bus station

 

[sannox]

I also didn't realise how long the 60 is from Easterhouse to Clydebank too, I did a trip on that one too, I get the point that the city centre is the halfway point, I would have thought the likes of the 6/60 would be better terminating in the city centre (both directions) then have a quicker bus?

The problem is doing that ruins cross-city runs. Means double the fare if you want to go from say Hampden to Kelvinbridge etc.

 

[Busman84]

37166 to 37169 where used on the 901. Only 4 where branded with Clyde Coaster branding. Quite smart branding in all fairness

Aye that’s right there were only 4 buses branded my mistake. But 37166-173 got there speed upped too plus fitted with tacho meters (perhaps only 37166-171 for tachos)..

 

[Scotrail314209]

Paisley is a moderately sized place, both with good custom on the bus and train... but does it really warrant that many services up to Glasgow?

38 every 5 minutes
9 every 12 minutes
17 every 30 minutes
26 every 15 minutes

Would it be worth First pulling out of Paisley as their route 9 isn't all that busy

 

[Stena Galloway]

Aye that’s right there were only 4 buses branded my mistake. But 37166-173 got there speed upped too plus fitted with tacho meters (perhaps only 37166-171 for tachos)..

Yeah they where tacho fitted as well as having the limiters lifted a bit on them.
32580 to 32589 I'm sure where also tacho fitted. I remember doing T in The Park with one of them as well.

I remember the 57 plate B9s when delivered new would do 58mph on the motorway. They were limited after a while. 37166 also sounded like a hoover from the moment it was delivered.