First Greater Glasgow

[PaulMc7]

George Square South stop was handy for Queen St.

I fully agree. It feels like changes for the sake of it. I also wonder why the 5 and 31 aren't getting taken from the same stop as the 65 too given that the 31 stops at Osborne Street with the 65 and the 5 stop is even closer.

There are probably a few other stop movements that would actually help in certain areas of the city centre to be honest. It's also a shame that there isn't space for another stop at Oswald Street too because the 9/9A and 10 often get in the way of everything else. I agree with moving the 1s and X4 away from that Glassford Street stop though. It's a nightmare if you need anything else at that stop with how many buses appear at once there.

 

[voidwxrranty]

I fully agree. It feels like changes for the sake of it. I also wonder why the 5 and 31 aren't getting taken from the same stop as the 65 too given that the 31 stops at Osborne Street with the 65 and the 5 stop is even closer.

There are probably a few other stop movements that would actually help in certain areas of the city centre to be honest. It's also a shame that there isn't space for another stop at Oswald Street too because the 9/9A and 10 often get in the way of everything else. I agree with moving the 1s and X4 away from that Glassford Street stop though. It's a nightmare if you need anything else at that stop with how many buses appear at once there.

Personally I’d move the 9’s and 10’s to Central, at the taxi rank. Leaving that stop for the services heading to the west of the city/Dumbarton.

 

[PaulMc7]

Personally I’d move the 9’s and 10’s to Central, at the taxi rank. Leaving that stop for the services heading to the west of the city/Dumbarton.

That's probably the best option to be honest. The amount of times I've seen people miss a bus at Oswald Street because it has stopped about 3 or 4 buses back is shocking. The number of buses per stop really needs to be more limited than it is to avoid incidents where people miss their bus due to not being able to see it.

 

[voidwxrranty]

That's probably the best option to be honest. The amount of times I've seen people miss a bus at Oswald Street because it has stopped about 3 or 4 buses back is shocking. The number of buses per stop really needs to be more limited than it is to avoid incidents where people miss their bus due to not being able to see it.

The solution to that problem would be to remove the 2, 3 and 4/A from that bus stop, since they stop 200m up the road at Caledonian Travel and Tesco.

 

[PaulMc7]

The solution to that problem would be to remove the 2, 3 and 4/A from that bus stop, since they stop 200m up the road at Caledonian Travel and Tesco.

The first stop on Hope Street would work for the 9/9A and 10 to be honest as it's effectively a spare one just now. The other issue that also needs to be factored in when moving buses from different stops is the amount of distance between stops. In an ideal world, less is more but the amount of issues it could cause for those less able bodied would stack up fairly quickly.

It's not just solely a City Centre issue to be fair with Glasgow. Some stops further out are really badly positioned too. The westbound one at Scotstoun before the junction up from the depot at Dumbarton Road is absolutely horrendous. A lot of drivers don't look at it if there is another bus at it and obviously this isn't helped by the fact that the 3 changes driver at it.

 

[Glasgowbusguy]

The St Vincent Street stop has been closed for well over a year, so I'm surprised it appears to be coming back in to use.

 

[92002]

The first stop on Hope Street would work for the 9/9A and 10 to be honest as it's effectively a spare one just now. The other issue that also needs to be factored in when moving buses from different stops is the amount of distance between stops. In an ideal world, less is more but the amount of issues it could cause for those less able bodied would stack up fairly quickly.

It's not just solely a City Centre issue to be fair with Glasgow. Some stops further out are really badly positioned too. The westbound one at Scotstoun before the junction up from the depot at Dumbarton Road is absolutely horrendous. A lot of drivers don't look at it if there is another bus at it and obviously this isn't helped by the fact that the 3 changes driver at it.

The simple fix in the West end of Dumbarton Road would be one stop for 1s and the next for 2s and 3s. Similarly in Partick. One stop for 2s, 8s, 90s and 141. With the next for 3s, 77s, 400s and M4. Spreading out the buses and passengers.

 

[PaulMc7]

The simple fix in the West end of Dumbarton Road would be one stop for 1s and the next for 2s and 3s. Similarly in Partick. One stop for 2s, 8s, 90s and 141. With the next for 3s, 77s, 400s and M4. Spreading out the buses and passengers.

I agree that it would be the right call but it would probably come with a lot of backlash given that it's common at most times of the day for people to use the stops at Scotstoun to swap between buses. I certainly do it a lot coming home as the 1C is handier than the other 1s or a 2 or 3 for me especially with how cold it is at the moment. The walk is fine in the summer but not ideal at the moment.

Less stops and less services at each stop is a must for speeding up journeys but it would take a lot of planning and arranging to do it. It would also take a lot of bus lanes to be created and enforced too for it to work. The bus lane at Dumbarton Road at Plean Street towards Scotstoun has probably been monitored about once in years and everytime I'm there, there are easily 10-20 cars or vans parked in the bus lane. It also doesn't help that the traffic gets backed up due to everything turning towards South Street too.

 

[retro.kid]

Terrible behaviour.

Police hunt teens after top deck of bus deliberately set on fire

Twelve passengers were evacuated from the bus following the incident in Glasgow on Thursday evening.

news.stv.tv

Hello. Without sounding ghoulish, would anyone know which vehicle was involved please?

 

[voidwxrranty]

Hello. Without sounding ghoulish, would anyone know which vehicle was involved please?

Vehicle was 37748.

 

[retro.kid]

Vehicle was 37748.

Many thanks

 

[PaulMc7]

Are First planning any price increases or service cuts now that the covid funding is being cut into oblivion at the end of the month? I'd be shocked if neither happens given that everyone else seems to do be doing one or the other.

 

[Bus Lightyear]

Are First planning any price increases or service cuts now that the covid funding is being cut into oblivion at the end of the month? I'd be shocked if neither happens given that everyone else seems to do be doing one or the other.

From my observations they need to increase services and I'm sure the same applies in other areas and not just Glasgow.

Maybe someone can put me right but when an operator registers a service change does that mean they are barred for 4 months before registering again? If that is the case then that answers part of your question.

 

[PaulMc7]

From my observations they need to increase services and I'm sure the same applies in other areas and not just Glasgow.

Maybe someone can put me right but when an operator registers a service change does that mean they are barred for 4 months before registering again? If that is the case then that answers part of your question.

I agree with you in the sense that some services need to increase when the driver situation allows it. The 2, 3, 7 and 61 are certainly four that spring to mind immediately.

I'm not too sure on how frequently companies can register though.

 

[RomeoCharlie71]

Are First planning any price increases or service cuts now that the covid funding is being cut into oblivion at the end of the month? I'd be shocked if neither happens given that everyone else seems to do be doing one or the other.

I'm sure we'll all find out together if there are any service cuts planned!

Maybe someone can put me right but when an operator registers a service change does that mean they are barred for 4 months before registering again? If that is the case then that answers part of your question.

12 weeks I believe

 

[PaulMc7]

I'm sure we'll all find out together if there are any service cuts planned!


12 weeks I believe

I thought it was certainly worth asking given that insider information does make its way onto here pretty quickly sometimes. To guess what could be cut would be a far harder task than normal mind you. Some of First's cuts are generally a matter of time over the years but it's a far more worrying time now.

 

[Bus Lightyear]

12 weeks I believe

Thanks and that rules out any changes at least until June as First Glasgow only recently had a change.

 

[Stan Drews]

Thanks and that rules out any changes at least until June as First Glasgow only recently had a change.

It’s 90 days after a registration change, before a further variation (or cancellation) can be registered to take place. Effectively 13 weeks.

 

[PaulMc7]

It’s 90 days after a registration change, before a further variation (or cancellation) can be registered to take place. Effectively 13 weeks.

Thank you for the information. I'm guessing First benefit from having the operation split into 2 then as it means that they can make registration changes at different times?

I can't remember the exact date of the First Glasgow(NO1) registrations either but it can't be too far off 90 days being up given how far in advance they need to submit the changes and the fact it's already been 5 weeks since the 5th February changes.

 

[Joerf21]

Anybody any info of when the 50 new electric buses are to arrive at Scotstoun depot?

 

[JumpinTrainz]

I’ve noticed a lot of B9TLs back on the 38 as of late. I’ve also noticed a few E200EVs at peak times. Surely they aren’t short of E400EVs? It’s quite unusual to see singles on the 38.

 

[Scott mac]

I’ve noticed a lot of B9TLs back on the 38 as of late. I’ve also noticed a few E200EVs at peak times. Surely they aren’t short of E400EVs? It’s quite unusual to see singles on the 38.

I guess First Glasgow is back to their old ways; any bus on any route.

 

[PaulMc7]

I guess First Glasgow is back to their old ways; any bus on any route.

It definitely seems to be that way across the depots these days. There was a day about a month or two ago where I noticed that every bus on the 65 that day was a double decker including 2 E400EVs. The E400EVs seem to pop up on everything now though and even with Blantyre, the 18 seems to see the odd single decker each day now rather than on a rare occasion.

 

[jazza374]

Any update on 34368? Still showing as SORN, heard a few times it was coming back but no sign yet.

 

[route101]

Where did the airport E200MMCs go? Was it Somerset?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 12 Mar 2023 ==

I’ve noticed a lot of B9TLs back on the 38 as of late. I’ve also noticed a few E200EVs at peak times. Surely they aren’t short of E400EVs? It’s quite unusual to see singles on the 38.

At one time the 38 was a single decker route.

 

[PaulMc7]

At one time the 38 was a single decker route.

The 38 has had just about everything on it over the years. I do feel like it's declined quite a bit due to Covid, though, and other factors outwith First's control. Glasgow Fort being right next to a motorway junction really doesn't help either. I tend to use the 19 and 38 for Glasgow Fort when I go there and both aren't what they used to be in terms of passenger numbers.

The 19 off-peak has been incredibly quiet when I've used it, to the point I could see it going every 30 minutes and the 38 drops off significantly beyond Alexandra Parade. I find the south side of the 38s to be far busier than the rest.

I don't really know what First could do with declining routes at the moment, to be quite honest. There seems to be the biggest imbalance I can ever remember between the busiest services and quieter ones in terms of passenger numbers. I don't feel like keeping the network the same is working but I also don't know what new things they could try to get more passengers. The funding cuts from the government really don't help either.

 

[cnjb8]

Where did the airport E200MMCs go? Was it Somerset?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 12 Mar 2023 ==


At one time the 38 was a single decker route.

They went to Wales. The Airport E300s went to Somerset

 

[JumpinTrainz]

Where did the airport E200MMCs go? Was it Somerset?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 12 Mar 2023 ==


At one time the 38 was a single decker route.

It sure did. I remember back when it had Darts but that was in the Overground days before there were so many different variations. It’s hard to think of that now as the 38s are always brimming particularly at peak times - they easily fill a decker. Sometimes before they went to Aberdeen - you’d see the odd E500 on the 38s. I got one on the 38A, 38C and 38E routes.

 

[PaulMc7]

It sure did. I remember back when it had Darts but that was in the Overground days before there were so many different variations. It’s hard to think of that now as the 38s are always brimming particularly at peak times - they easily fill a decker. Sometimes before they went to Aberdeen - you’d see the odd E500 on the 38s. I got one on the 38A, 38C and 38E routes.

Those E500s were pretty decent buses from what I can remember as a passenger. I used to use the 44 a lot when that had them. I never really had any issue with them.

The other thing I liked about them is that they had more seats than anything we have now too. As far as I can remember they had 13 more seats than the E400EVs.

 

[92002]

Those E500s were pretty decent buses from what I can remember as a passenger. I used to use the 44 a lot when that had them. I never really had any issue with them.

The other thing I liked about them is that they had more seats than anything we have now too. As far as I can remember they had 13 more seats than the E400EVs.

E500EVs are now available. Which could mean running less buses on a route, with more passengers and using less scarce drivers.

Although parking habits around bus stops woukd need to be improved dramatically to get Best use.