First Greater Glasgow

[camro]

Green Essex Streetlites 14 plates have a nice interior I'm sure that batch had a slight refurbishment a few years back when they where at Southampton, also have the White LED hanovers, good to see a shuffle about of more quirky stuff rather than it just being your bog standard Wright and ADL stuff, Fleet has been boring for years

I mean we did have a seriously quirky fleet back in January and I don't think it got boring again until the B7RLEs were withdrawn last month. 38600 seems to be the most interesting bus left but we've gotten so used to it now.

It was interesting to realise how many E200EVs are still off the road, all came back from initial repairs but some only lasted until April.

 

[AndrewTaylor95]

I mean we did have a seriously quirky fleet back in January and I don't think it got boring again until the B7RLEs were withdrawn last month. 38600 seems to be the most interesting bus left but we've gotten so used to it now.

It was interesting to realise how many E200EVs are still off the road, all came back from initial repairs but some only lasted until April.

There's only 8 E200EVs off the road

 

[158715]

I spotted both 38400 and 38600 on the 500 today.

 

[route101]

I spotted both 38400 and 38600 on the 500 today.

What type of buses are they?

 

[voidwxrranty]

What type of buses are they?

38400 is a BYD D8 E400EV, 600 is an ADL integral 400EV.

 

[318266]

What type of buses are they?

38400 (LC71EFD) is an ADL Enviro400 City EV-bodied BYD D8UR-DD, which was ADL's former electric double-deck offering. It is in a demonstrator livery from its time in that use, however I understand it is now part of a warranty-loan pool (of sorts), along with fellow ADL Enviro200 EV-bodied BYD D8UR 48900.

38600 (FB74ZEB) is an integral ADL Enviro400 EV, ADL's present electric double-deck offering, of the same type as the recent electric deckers at Kilmarnock under Stagecoach.

 

[JumpinTrainz]

I spotted both 38400 and 38600 on the 500 today.

Saw both on the M8 also. Quite unusual to see 38400 on anything other than the 31. Is there a shortage of Electroliners that they’re having to use other buses?

 

[camro]

Saw both on the M8 also. Quite unusual to see 38400 on anything other than the 31. Is there a shortage of Electroliners that they’re having to use other buses?

There were four other EVs that came in to cover 500 boards yesterday: the two demonstrators, another BYD decker and a NewPower.

You would occasionally get MMCs on the 500 when the diesel City's were the face of the service, but now I imagine First wants it to be fully electric run. Then again, I thought the same for the M3 until they put a Streetlite on it last month

To answer your question, 36686 has been out of service for a week.

 

[route101]

38400 (LC71EFD) is an ADL Enviro400 City EV-bodied BYD D8UR-DD, which was ADL's former electric double-deck offering. It is in a demonstrator livery from its time in that use, however I understand it is now part of a warranty-loan pool (of sorts), along with fellow ADL Enviro200 EV-bodied BYD D8UR 48900.

38600 (FB74ZEB) is an integral ADL Enviro400 EV, ADL's present electric double-deck offering, of the same type as the recent electric deckers at Kilmarnock under Stagecoach.

I see, bus numbers are another world to me.

Is bus no 38600 here for a while?

 

[158715]

I see, bus numbers are another world to me.

Is bus no 38600 here for a while?

It's been here for a while (I believe since January when a number of the Enviro 200EVs were away for repairs) but I'm not sure how long it will stay (or if it will stay permanently). I understand it was a "seed vehicle" for the new Enviro 400EV model - a sort of demonstrator. There were others for other groups and it was the First Bus one; it's registration is FB74ZEB because of this (First Bus, Zero Emission Bus). I'm not sure whether this means it will return to Alexander Dennis or stay with First Bus.

Perhaps they were taking the opportunity to carry out maintenance on the Electroliners on a Sunday while more other electric buses were available to cover.

 

[JumpinTrainz]

Despite the flaws with the ADL/BYD models - I do think the ADL E400EV is a much better product. I’ve been on it a few times on the 38. It would make sense for continuity for Glasgow to order them to replace the B9TLs considering how much ADL stock Glasgow already has.

 

[Metal Mickey]

Despite the flaws with the ADL/BYD models - I do think the ADL E400EV is a much better product. I’ve been on it a few times on the 38. It would make sense for continuity for Glasgow to order them to replace the B9TLs considering how much ADL stock Glasgow already has.

I think it all depends on how successful they are for obtaining ScotZeb funding towards future orders.

 

[jazza374]

Are Blantyre short of buses? 44442/3 and 44530 seem to be there from Overtown today. 44442/3 both on the 201 which seems like a tough shift for the old rattlers.

 

[JumpinTrainz]

I think it all depends on how successful they are for obtaining ScotZeb funding towards future orders.

I wonder if, although on a much smaller scale, that the 2026 Commonwealth Games may coincide with a new order.

 

[Joerf21]

I wonder if, although on a much smaller scale, that the 2026 Commonwealth Games may coincide with a new order.

I think with the threat of franchising, every thing has slowed up

 

[citybus2500]

Despite the flaws with the ADL/BYD models - I do think the ADL E400EV is a much better product. I’ve been on it a few times on the 38. It would make sense for continuity for Glasgow to order them to replace the B9TLs considering how much ADL stock Glasgow already has.

Better than what?

The E400EVs I have travelled on, including their showcase demo, have been complete rattle boxes (as expected).

And lets not mention the warranty programme that is being undertaken.

 

[Metal Mickey]

Better than what?

The E400EVs I have travelled on, including their showcase demo, have been complete rattle boxes (as expected).

And lets not mention the warranty programme that is being undertaken.

What do you mean by showcase demo?

 

[AndrewTaylor95]

What do you mean by showcase demo?

The one that's with First Glasgow FB74 ZEB 38600

 

[Busman84]

Is there no improvement then with the build quality then with the Demo (38600)? Yet to travel on that. But going by BYD E400s they are poor. This is what happens when you build using lightweight materials.

 

[Scott mac]

Is there no improvement then with the build quality then with the Demo (38600)? Yet to travel on that. But going by BYD E400s they are poor. This is what happens when you build using lightweight materials.

Don't listen to people on this forum their is massive improvements with the adl e400 ev

 

[Metal Mickey]

I would say the new Wright double decks on the 500 are worse for rattles but maybe that’s just my perception. Poor road surface in a lot of areas also doesn’t help.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 5 Nov 2025 ==

The one that's with First Glasgow FB74 ZEB 38600

Wasn’t sure if it was that one or the one in the fancy demonstrator livery.

 

[KrisEK]

First Glasgow announced a new X43 Motherwell-Glasgow Fort to start from 22nd November (still visible on Google), though oddly enough they've now pulled the news page from their website.

I seem to recall Whitelaws tried a similar route pre-COVID that never lasted very long?

 

[route101]

First Glasgow announced a new X43 Motherwell-Glasgow Fort to start from 22nd November (still visible on Google), though oddly enough they've now pulled the news page from their website.

I seem to recall Whitelaws tried a similar route pre-COVID that never lasted very long?

A new route in the West of Scotland, first in a long time.

 

[Jordan Adam]

First Glasgow announced a new X43 Motherwell-Glasgow Fort to start from 22nd November (still visible on Google), though oddly enough they've now pulled the news page from their website.

I seem to recall Whitelaws tried a similar route pre-COVID that never lasted very long?

I do wonder how much JMB's recent expansion and improvements have influenced this, it is notable that a lot of people on social media had been requesting that JMB look in to launching a similar route.

 

[Metal Mickey]

X43

Launching Saturday 22nd November 2025! Your fast, comfy link from Motherwell, Bellshill and Burnhead to Glasgow Fort, every weekend. Whether it’s shopping, lunch, or catching the latest movie, the X43 will get you there. Plan your trip

www.firstbus.co.uk

This tells us a little bit more and it’s weekends only.

 

[Jordan1296]

I do wonder how much JMB's recent expansion and improvements have influenced this, it is notable that a lot of people on social media had been requesting that JMB look in to launching a similar route.

Good on them for giving it a go. Will be interesting to see how it fairs!

 

[SarahDFIG]

About time First had some competition in Lanarkshire. JMB slowly expanding so First need to do something to try and stay ahead. Unfortunately I think missing Hamilton out might bite them on the backside. Only time will tell

 

[Jordan1296]

About time First had some competition in Lanarkshire. JMB slowly expanding so First need to do something to try and stay ahead. Unfortunately I think missing Hamilton out might bite them on the backside. Only time will tell

It’s quite bold of them to include Bellshill. It doesn’t have a direct service to Glasgow like Motherwell or Hamilton does and, whilst it’s frequent, the 240 is very unreliable and terribly slow.

 

[camro]

That's 33441 back in service after nearly 2 years off the road

 

[Buzby]

On a slight tangent, I’ve just noticed this flag atop most Renfield St & Union street stops - it may have been there for awhile, but assuming the ‘H’ doesn’t signify hover buses, it cannot (surely) mean it hosts a route to a hospital? Or does the driver give advice if you look a bit poorly?