First Greater Glasgow

[route101]

Back in Glasgow after a few months away.

Took 77 from airport and we were diverted up Byres Road and down Great Western Road non stop.

I heard the 2 and 3 are being diverted via University Avenue.

 

[Spsf3232]

Are you sure about going to Helen Street? That seems like an odd diversion rather than joining the M8 at Cardonald.

Not allowed over the sheildhall road overpass as its a 7.5t weight limit. Must be diverted both directions via Shieldhall Road

 

[PaulMc7]

Back in Glasgow after a few months away.

Took 77 from airport and we were diverted up Byres Road and down Great Western Road non stop.

I heard the 2 and 3 are being diverted via University Avenue.

The 2/3 are University Avenue, Eldon Street, Woodlands Road then the 2 down Newton Street onto St Vincent Street. From my experience on the 2 yesterday the diversion into the city centre actually wasn't awful.

 

[EMU303]

Just a pity passengers aren't getting first dibs on them with them being used for the C26 shuttle.

Hopefully the delegates won’t etch the windows….

 

[PaulMc7]

Anyone know if there's still changes planned for the 7th? I know that was the date mentioned on here previously but surprised there's not been anything on the website if that's the date they're happening given it's only a week away now.

 

[AndrewTaylor95]

Hopefully the delegates won’t etch the windows….

Etching isn't really that much of a problem here now.

 

[Strathclyder]

Etching isn't really that much of a problem here now.

Yeah. From my observations, it seemed to reach a crescendo in the late 2000s and has slowly tailed off since then. Granted, it hasn't completely disappeared, but it's nothing compared to what it was.

 

[vla50]

Does anyone know where the 54 reg Geminis will end up when cascaded (except the 10 heading to Somerset)?

 

[route101]

Tried out the diversions yesterday.

I took a 1C from City to Scotstoun. Waited at Howard St for ages and no number one services turned up. Eventually I figured out that they may be running from Oswald St. The run was clear via the M8 and Clyde Tunnel.

Secondly I took a 2 from Partick to City. Diversion via Glasgow University and Woodlands Road was chock a block.

 

[JumpinTrainz]

Does anyone know where the 54 reg Geminis will end up when cascaded (except the 10 heading to Somerset)?

They will be about 18 when the full LEZ order has been received so I imagine more will be cascaded down South and the rest will go for scrap. There are still a lot in the fleet.

 

[AndrewTaylor95]

What's the set up with the C26 - can that service be used by anyone or is it just exclusively for delegates? I've not really looked or heard too much about it.

 

[ScotRail158725]

Does anyone know where the 54 reg Geminis will end up when cascaded (except the 10 heading to Somerset)?

The rest of the Geminis won’t be seeing replacements until mid next year so you can‘t possibly expect a decision to be made on where they’re going after the replacements arrive. The most probably place they’ll go is scrap other than the 11 B7TL’s bound for Somerset

 

[Strathclyder]

The rest of the Geminis won’t be seeing replacements until mid next year so you can‘t possibly expect a decision to be made on where they’re going after the replacements arrive. The most probably place they’ll go is scrap other than the 11 B7TL’s bound for Somerset

If I were to ruminate on this for just a moment, I suspect those quoted 11 will end up down with Somerset to see out their last years, with the rest going the same way as virtually all the Tridents have. But I try and refrain from such speculation as much as possible as, aside from it being a bit too far in the future, plans can (and so often have in the past) have change. Best to just sit back and wait to see what actually happens; much less chance of folk jumping down your throat for getting something wrong that way too lol

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Who said they’re all getting cascaded? The rest of the Geminis won’t be seeing replacements until mid next year so you can‘t possibly expect a decision to be made on where they’re going after the replacements arrive. The most probably place they’ll go is scrap other than the 11 B7TL’s bound for Somerset

Indeed - they will be 18 years old by that point and there are B7TLs at that age now being disposed of by First. They are getting on a bit now!

 

[Strathclyder]

Indeed - they will be 18 years old by that point and there are B7TLs at that age now being disposed of by First. They are getting on a bit now!

It wouldn't at all surprise me if, in the future, a few of them will end up as open-toppers to displace the President/ALX400-bodied B7TLs currently dotted about the First empire in such roles. It also wouldn't surprise me if all bar one (I wouldn't dismiss preservation out of hand) get sent off to the great bus depot in the sky. But either way, the vast majority are now roughly the same age most Tridents, Atlanteans and Ailsas - 3 noteworthy Glaswegian examples, though there were noted exceptions for all 3 types - were disposed of at. Personally, it's still rather difficult to get a handle on that, considering I remember them when they were among the newest deckers about. Time flies way too quickly lol

 

[adrock1976]

George Square would make sense to pedestrianise but Byres Road certainly wouldn't as you say. The only issue if they pedestrianised George Square is the overload on the bottom of the City Centre and up at Bath Street/Cathedral Street that it would cause. They need to do away with a lot of parking spaces on Byres Road and Great Western Road and create proper bus lanes IMO that are actually monitored. Solves a lot of the issue potentially unlike the current issues.

Regarding Byres Road, something I have thought of is how the traffic lights at the crossroads of University Avenue/Highburgh Road are configured.

Even when I worked over Byres Road all those years ago, the signals were programmed for one arm at a time for the traffic flows e.g. Partick Cross - Tennent's Bar would change first, with no other traffic in any other direction, then Highburgh Road, then Byres Road from Gt Western Road, then University Avenue. I think at some point it was switched round the opposite way i.e. anti-clockwise.

Perhaps this crossroads needs reconfigured, with the traditional operation of Byres Road itself both north and south being green first (all left hand lanes being for left turning traffic only for all four arms), then University Avenue/Highburgh Road next.

Although this may impede right turning traffic, it would allow left turning traffic to approach and clear the crossroads quickly.

Regarding the parking spaces, being as Byres Road is a shopping area, parking (on a limited basis e.g. 60 minutes or so) would have to be maintained for people who have mobility issues, otherwise they would just drive to Braehead Centre at Renfrew, thus depriving Glasgow City Council of revenue through business rates if shops close (Braehead Centre's business rates go to Renfrewshire Council, as the boundary was adjusted just before or not long after it opened, hence how Glasgow CC gave the go ahead for The Fort at Easterhouse and for the Pollok Centre (Silverburn) to be redeveloped).

 

[cnjb8]

It wouldn't at all surprise me if, in the future, a few of them will end up as open-toppers to displace the President/ALX400-bodied B7TLs currently dotted about the First empire in such roles. It also wouldn't surprise me if all bar one (I wouldn't dismiss preservation out of hand) get sent off to the great bus depot in the sky. But either way, the vast majority are now roughly the same age most Tridents, Atlanteans and Ailsas - 3 noteworthy Glaswegian examples, though there were noted exceptions for all 3 types - were disposed of at. Personally, it's still rather difficult to get a handle on that, considering I remember them when they were among the newest deckers about. Time flies way too quickly lol

In terms of open tops, I’m not sure the Presidents and ALXs in these roles need replacing. Concern over age is different for open top versus closed deck vehicles, especially as the vehicles you mentioned are not step-entrance.

 

[EMU303]

Regarding Byres Road, something I have thought of is how the traffic lights at the crossroads of University Avenue/Highburgh Road are configured.

Even when I worked over Byres Road all those years ago, the signals were programmed for one arm at a time for the traffic flows e.g. Partick Cross - Tennent's Bar would change first, with no other traffic in any other direction, then Highburgh Road, then Byres Road from Gt Western Road, then University Avenue. I think at some point it was switched round the opposite way i.e. anti-clockwise.

Perhaps this crossroads needs reconfigured, with the traditional operation of Byres Road itself both north and south being green first (all left hand lanes being for left turning traffic only for all four arms), then University Avenue/Highburgh Road next.

Although this may impede right turning traffic, it would allow left turning traffic to approach and clear the crossroads quickly.

Regarding the parking spaces, being as Byres Road is a shopping area, parking (on a limited basis e.g. 60 minutes or so) would have to be maintained for people who have mobility issues, otherwise they would just drive to Braehead Centre at Renfrew, thus depriving Glasgow City Council of revenue through business rates if shops close (Braehead Centre's business rates go to Renfrewshire Council, as the boundary was adjusted just before or not long after it opened, hence how Glasgow CC gave the go ahead for The Fort at Easterhouse and for the Pollok Centre (Silverburn) to be redeveloped).

Byres Rd is to undergo a major change starting Spring next year, focused on enhancing the environment for pedestrians and cyclists.
Not sure if the link represents the final version but the drawings are interesting.

Final Plans for Byres Road

The final plans for the Byres Road public realm improvements have been released! We’ve come a long way since the first consultation in 2017, where we expressed our disappointment and frustration at…

space4peoplebyresroad.wordpress.com

 

[ScotRail158725]

It wouldn't at all surprise me if, in the future, a few of them will end up as open-toppers to displace the President/ALX400-bodied B7TLs currently dotted about the First empire in such roles.

Absolutely not. Those open top vehicles aren’t in need of replacement and wont be replaced for another good few years and when they do they’ll likely come from closed top vehicles currently in the WoE fleet

 

[Strathclyder]

In terms of open tops, I’m not sure the Presidents and ALXs in these roles need replacing. Concern over age is different for open top versus closed deck vehicles, especially as the vehicles you mentioned are not step-entrance.

Absolutely not. Those open top vehicles aren’t in need of replacement and wont be replaced for another good few years and when they do they’ll likely come from closed top vehicles currently in the WoE fleet

Fair enough, I did think that would be the case. Guess that's what I get for thinking out loud - I invariably end up getting excoriated for getting something wildly wrong and am left looking like a complete idiot as a result lol

In all seriousness, I'll keep my mouth shut in future.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

It wouldn't at all surprise me if, in the future, a few of them will end up as open-toppers to displace the President/ALX400-bodied B7TLs currently dotted about the First empire in such roles. It also wouldn't surprise me if all bar one (I wouldn't dismiss preservation out of hand) get sent off to the great bus depot in the sky. But either way, the vast majority are now roughly the same age most Tridents, Atlanteans and Ailsas - 3 noteworthy Glaswegian examples, though there were noted exceptions for all 3 types - were disposed of at. Personally, it's still rather difficult to get a handle on that, considering I remember them when they were among the newest deckers about. Time flies way too quickly lol

Not wishing to excoriate you further and you're right that some of the open toppers around the patch are getting on. That said, they're not so hard worked (in the main) because of the seasonal nature of operation especially those routes that pootle along an esplanade or through a historic city.

However, the expense of conversion etc needs to be viewed on the future life of the vehicle. You're just not going to spend that sort of money converted a vehicle that's already 18 years old. As a comparison, the B7TL/Presidents that were converted by First Kernow were 14 years old when so done, knowing that they'd have a good few years to recoup the cost of the conversion.

And hey, we've all been caught out by the odd gaffe so don't worry about it.

 

[Strathclyder]

Not wishing to excoriate you further and you're right that some of the open toppers around the patch are getting on. That said, they're not so hard worked (in the main) because of the seasonal nature of operation especially those routes that pootle along an esplanade or through a historic city.

However, the expense of conversion etc needs to be viewed on the future life of the vehicle. You're just not going to spend that sort of money converted a vehicle that's already 18 years old. As a comparison, the B7TL/Presidents that were converted by First Kernow were 14 years old when so done, knowing that they'd have a good few years to recoup the cost of the conversion.

And hey, we've all been caught out by the odd gaffe so don't worry about it.

That's all very true; guess my brain went into autopilot mode as it so often does and the first half of the post you quote above was the end result. And no worries about excoriting me further, you were beaten to it lol

As for my somewhat acute/blunt reaction above, I guess I've just been having a off day and I let that 'keep my mouth shut' bit slip through. It's not that I can't handle criticism, far from it. It's just that I'm not always in the right frame of mind to respond appropriately to it, I.E calm and measured/restrained, not blindly lashing out in white-hot anger. Ah, the joys of social media's* worst qualites clashing with one's shaky mental health...

*: that part hinges on whether or not you consider this site a form of social media, but I digress lol

 

[PaulMc7]

The next 3-4 years will probably be good for enthusiasts who love to take photos of new buses here to be quite honest. I'd imagine there will be plenty of cascading to come given the number of buses from 03-07/08 range. It'll be interesting to see what else comes in on top of the orders we already know about.

 

[GusB]

I'd just like to remind everyone of the need to be respectful when responding to others' posts. One person's suggestion might seem a bit off-the-wall to you, but it's entirely possible to explain why you think an idea isn't so good in a polite manner and without belittling people who may have quite legitimate questions. Bear in mind that not everyone who contributes to these threads either works in the industry, or are hardcore enthusiasts with their fingers on the pulse regarding every vehicle movement or company development.

Sometimes there's a wee bit too much of the "Naw, ye're wrang" attitude here, and it's not very constructive. Forums like this are for sharing information, after all.

 

[route101]

What's the set up with the C26 - can that service be used by anyone or is it just exclusively for delegates? I've not really looked or heard too much about it.

Don't think so. The Cop 26 shuttles seem to be well used, I seen a few standing loads. Still a few passengers on them after 8 last night.

With regards these buses, do they have less seating capacity than the existing eclipses on the 9?

 

[JumpinTrainz]

Don't think so. The Cop 26 shuttles seem to be well used, I seen a few standing loads. Still a few passengers on them after 8 last night.

With regards these buses, do they have less seating capacity than the existing eclipses on the 9?

I believe they are less seats but not by many. Think their seating capacity is about 40 compared with 43 on a B7RLE.

 

[route101]

I believe they are less seats but not by many. Think their seating capacity is about 40 compared with 43 on a B7RLE.

I see, I was thinking the same with the new McGills electric Yutongs on the 38. Soon the 9/38 corridor will be all electric.

 

[JumpinTrainz]

I see, I was thinking the same with the new McGills electric Yutongs on the 38. Soon the 9/38 corridor will be all electric.

It would be nice to see the 2 route get electric vehicles over time.

 

[route101]

It would be nice to see the 2 route get electric vehicles over time.

Electric deckers if that was the case.

 

[PaulMc7]

Are the cuts previously mentioned on here that were supposed to be happening now been cancelled? Going by what gets posted each day from Blantyre/Overtown the number of journeys missing has come down a decent amount but it's hard to tell with the rest of the depots as the communication is so poor that we don't know about them in terms of cancellations.