First Greater Glasgow

[Whiteway215]

Thats all the Ex English B7RLEs finished

Are they all for scrap ?

 

[route101]

Thats all the Ex English B7RLEs finished

Seen one on Saturday on Queen St. 07 plate B9TL , oldest buses in fleet now?

 

[ScotRail158725]

Seen one on Saturday on Queen St. 07 plate B9TL , oldest buses in fleet now?

they’re not in the fleet anymore they’re withdrawn and heading to the breakers 69299 already away

 

[camro]

Thats all the Ex English B7RLEs finished

I'm surprised to not even see a few them go to the training fleet, when a good few of the current ones are needing replaced.

 

[JumpinTrainz]

I'm surprised to not even see a few them go to the training fleet, when a good few of the current ones are needing replaced.

They’d be better upgrading the training fleet to E300s since they’re still modern enough and Glasgow has a lot of ADL stock.

 

[AndrewTaylor95]

Seen one on Saturday on Queen St. 07 plate B9TL , oldest buses in fleet now?

Yes, not many of them left either, soon as one chucks it that's it offski, that's the case with any B9TL now not viable to repair, 09 plates maybe an exception but they're tired as well some are worse than the 07 plates

 

[route101]

Yes, not many of them left either, soon as one chucks it that's it offski, that's the case with any B9TL now not viable to repair, 09 plates maybe an exception but they're tired as well some are worse than the 07 plates

Seen SF57MLE other day broken down near Motherwell, I wonder if that's away too. Amazing to think the B9TLs are now getting withdrawn.

 

[Scott mac]

Seen SF57MLE other day broken down near Motherwell, I wonder if that's away too. Amazing to think the B9TLs are now getting withdrawn.

With no real replacement as well

 

[Busman84]

Most 09 plates actually are the highest mileage B9s in the fleet

 

[JumpinTrainz]

With no real replacement as well

I’m hoping for a new order announcement fairly soon. Glasgow saw quite a bit of investment from 2019-2023 so I guess it’s natural to focus on other areas. That being said the B9TLs are dropping like flies and Glasgow still has a shortage of deckers!

 

[158715]

Seen SF57MLE other day broken down near Motherwell, I wonder if that's away too. Amazing to think the B9TLs are now getting withdrawn.

It looks like it's back in service from bustimes.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

It's not that surprising that B9TLs are getting withdrawn. They are 16-18 years old and have very high mileages. Any with major unit failure and/or need remedial work on corrosion are simply past economic repair.

First Glasgow got the lions' share of new vehicle capital expenditure during the 2019-2023 period. There are various English and Welsh opcos that have had very little investment but will need it to meet the terms of ZEBRA funding (not least the capital spend on charging infrastructure at depots) e.g. First Eastern Counties have electrified one depot in Norwich but will now need to fund additional vehicles at Great Yarmouth and the other Norwich depot in order to secure funding to electrify those depots.

Of course, depends what Scottish awards are made.

 

[LT02 NVV]

Scotstoun’s lost most of its B9TLs recently.

Most of them have moved to Caledonia now, so it’s only 37210, 37467 (but it hasn’t been out since August though), 37547, 37742, 37744, and 37748 left at Scotstoun.

 

[computerSaysNo]

Most 09 plates actually are the highest mileage B9s in the fleet

It's not that surprising that B9TLs are getting withdrawn. They are 16-18 years old and have very high mileages.

Why do they have high mileages? And are you able to say roughly how many miles they're at?

 

[JumpinTrainz]

Why do they have high mileages? And are you able to say roughly how many miles they're at?

They were new to Cumbernauld Depot back in 2009 operating express services. I imagine that’s clocked up a fair bit of mileage.

 

[stevenedin]

Also some although not many left are ex First Scotland East and worked long distance routes between Edinburgh and Fauldhouse/Bathgate/Whitburn/Blackridge etc on a daily basis.

 

[Busman84]

Some of those 09 plates will be close to 900k miles. Up until 2015 they were regular up and down doing mainly motorway work. While it’s high mileage it’s good mileage. These weren’t really going around Glasgow hitting potholes every minute of the day.
The ex Dumbarton ones should have the least mileage due to the fact they spent many years only working daytime 6 days a week.

 

[ScotRail158725]

Why do they have high mileages?

because they’re the oldest buses in the fleet?

 

[computerSaysNo]

because they’re the oldest buses in the fleet?

We were discussing the 09 plates which are not the oldest; there are still 07 and 57 plates in the Glasgow fleet.

 

[ScotRail158725]

We were discussing the 09 plates which are not the oldest; there are still 07 and 57 plates in the Glasgow fleet.

I didnt notice it was the 09 plates i thought it was B9s in general. as said above the extensive motorway work till 2015 has gave then a higher mileage

 

[smtglasgow]

Glasgow must be short of double-deckers. Saw an E300 on the X87 with a full standing load heading up Cathedral St the other day – not the most pleasant journey considering its basically first stop Lenzie.

Are the repowers the solution? Seems odd to be withdrawing buses before the replacements arrive. Has Glasgow just to muddle through for a month or two until more buses arrive? With no new buses confirmed I’d half expected to see some cascades from down south, but not sure what – if anything – is available.

 

[computerSaysNo]

I didnt notice it was the 09 plates i thought it was B9s in general. as said above the extensive motorway work till 2015 has gave then a higher mileage

Ah, I see. Do all First Bus B9TL have the 6-speed gearbox? If so then that at least means the engines shouldn't be getting too stressed, I would think.

 

[jazza374]

Why do they have high mileages? And are you able to say roughly how many miles they're at?

From MOT check on the web, two vehicles picked at random

37210 - 770841 miles at last MOT in March 2025
37741 - 892991 miles at last MOT in August 2025

 

[ScotRail158725]

Ah, I see. Do all First Bus B9TL have the 6-speed gearbox? If so then that at least means the engines shouldn't be getting too stressed, I would think.

they do yes, the engines will get stressed the same regardless of gears

 

[92002]

Glasgow must be short of double-deckers. Saw an E300 on the X87 with a full standing load heading up Cathedral St the other day – not the most pleasant journey considering its basically first stop Lenzie.

Are the repowers the solution? Seems odd to be withdrawing buses before the replacements arrive. Has Glasgow just to muddle through for a month or two until more buses arrive? With no new buses confirmed I’d half expected to see some cascades from down south, but not sure what – if anything – is available.

Repower 71035 currently on an 88. So may be a test today.

 

[camro]

Repower 71035 currently on an 88. So may be a test today.

Repowers started doing 88 boards a couple of weeks ago, they are now able to do every Caley North route. It's been over a month since I had 036 out on an X3

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Ah, I see. Do all First Bus B9TL have the 6-speed gearbox? If so then that at least means the engines shouldn't be getting too stressed, I would think.

Whether we’re discussing 07/57 or 09 plates, they’re over 16 years old so they’re going to be a bit tired.

 

[JumpinTrainz]

Glasgow must be short of double-deckers. Saw an E300 on the X87 with a full standing load heading up Cathedral St the other day – not the most pleasant journey considering its basically first stop Lenzie.

Are the repowers the solution? Seems odd to be withdrawing buses before the replacements arrive. Has Glasgow just to muddle through for a month or two until more buses arrive? With no new buses confirmed I’d half expected to see some cascades from down south, but not sure what – if anything – is available.

There’s been a lot of singles on the 38 as of late. One of the 446xx E200MMCs was on the 38E yesterday.

 

[LT02 NVV]

Scotstoun’s lost most of its B9TLs recently.

Most of them have moved to Caledonia now, so it’s only 37210, 37467 (but it hasn’t been out since August though), 37547, 37742, 37744, and 37748 left at Scotstoun.

37221 is back now at Scotstoun.

 

[AndrewTaylor95]

First Bus orders 17 Alexander Dennis next-gen electrics for Bath - routeone

First Bus has ordered 12 Alexander Dennis Enviro200EV next-generation battery-electric buses and five Enviro100EV examples for Bath.

www.route-one.net

First ordering E100EVs and E200EVs, I wonder if they'll start ordering from ADL again and Glasgow might see some ordered considering the integral E400EV is here and has been for nearly 9 months.