First Greater Glasgow

[JumpinTrainz]

Same with the 3 service. I think it may come down to Scotstoun does not have many deckers to go around. I wonder if it is cheaper to run the 2 or 3 as all singles.

There are benefits to running singles as opposed to deckers but the fact the 2 often reverts back to deckers surely proves the route needs them.

 

[AilsaBus]

Every core route in Glasgow should have deckers. I've never understood why First replaced double deckers with singles back in the 90s.

 

[AndrewTaylor95]

Every core route in Glasgow should have deckers. I've never understood why First replaced double deckers with singles back in the 90s.

Packed single deckers just make for an uncomfortable journey

 

[JumpinTrainz]

Packed single deckers just make for an uncomfortable journey

Absolutely but aren’t they cheaper to run? I’ve always been under the impression that First would rather operate smaller buses more frequently rather than deckers more sparse.

Ideally if franchising ever happens I imagine Glasgow will see a majority of deckers.

 

[camro]

Mixed messages as McGill's staff told Bannockburn bus depot WILL close

The bus operator said no services or routes would be affected.

www.thecourier.co.uk

This could be interesting for First Glasgow.

All Bannockburn operations seem to be moving to Larbert. I'm no expert but I don't think Larbert depot is big enough to take all their routes on on top of its own.

So that could leave some Glasgow based routes like the 72 in a position to be taken by another operator.

 

[Buzby]

So that could leave some Glasgow based routes like the 72 in a position to be taken by another operator.

I thought McGill’s took it over a few years ago?

 

[camro]

I thought McGill’s took it over a few years ago?

Craig's of Cumbernauld ran the 72 and 178 until last summer when they weren't financially able to carry on with operations. Midland Bluebird took over, running the two routes out of Larbert depot and extending the 72 to go to Falkirk to make it more justified.

It's not guaranteed that Larbert would let those routes go but I think they would be under a lot of strain if they didn't.

I can only think of First, JMB and maybe Canavan as candidates to take over those routes

 

[Metal Mickey]

Craig's of Cumbernauld ran the 72 and 178 until last summer when they weren't financially able to carry on with operations. Midland Bluebird took over, running the two routes out of Larbert depot and extending the 72 to go to Falkirk to make it more justified.

It's not guaranteed that Larbert would let those routes go but I think they would be under a lot of strain if they didn't.

I can only think of First, JMB and maybe Canavan as candidates to take over those routes

First haven’t operated the 72 for almost 30 years when they withdrew it as a commercial service and it would appear they’ve been unsuccessful every time they’ve bid for the tender since then.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 4 Jun 2026 ==

Mixed messages as McGill's staff told Bannockburn bus depot WILL close

The bus operator said no services or routes would be affected.

www.thecourier.co.uk

This could be interesting for First Glasgow.

All Bannockburn operations seem to be moving to Larbert. I'm no expert but I don't think Larbert depot is big enough to take all their routes on on top of its own.

So that could leave some Glasgow based routes like the 72 in a position to be taken by another operator.

This article is filled with corporate hogwash and is similar to the statements First would release when they were closing depots or retreating from parts of the network.

The line “strengthening the resilience and reliability of services” is absolute nonsense as the opposite is more likely to happen.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 4 Jun 2026 ==

Every core route in Glasgow should have deckers. I've never understood why First replaced double deckers with singles back in the 90s.

Back then it was understandable as some of the corridors like Great Western Road had up to 30 journeys per hour. The likes of the service 2 should either have in increase in frequency or an increase in capacity on its existing frequency but it would seem that First don’t want to put their costs up.

 

[ScotRail158725]

Mixed messages as McGill's staff told Bannockburn bus depot WILL close

The bus operator said no services or routes would be affected.

www.thecourier.co.uk

This could be interesting for First Glasgow.

All Bannockburn operations seem to be moving to Larbert. I'm no expert but I don't think Larbert depot is big enough to take all their routes on on top of its own.

Larbert is more than big enough to take on the operations, its only an extra 30 buses at most

So that could leave some Glasgow based routes like the 72 in a position to be taken by another operator.

No it wouldnt

 

[Stan Drews]

Craig's of Cumbernauld ran the 72 and 178 until last summer when they weren't financially able to carry on with operations. Midland Bluebird took over, running the two routes out of Larbert depot and extending the 72 to go to Falkirk to make it more justified.

It's not guaranteed that Larbert would let those routes go but I think they would be under a lot of strain if they didn't.

I can only think of First, JMB and maybe Canavan as candidates to take over those routes

A little bit off thread but Craig’s lost the contract through the regular SPT tendering process. The current contract runs until July 2028.

 

[NorthClyde320]

Mixed messages as McGill's staff told Bannockburn bus depot WILL close

The bus operator said no services or routes would be affected.

www.thecourier.co.uk

This could be interesting for First Glasgow.

All Bannockburn operations seem to be moving to Larbert. I'm no expert but I don't think Larbert depot is big enough to take all their routes on on top of its own.

So that could leave some Glasgow based routes like the 72 in a position to be taken by another operator.

IF Larbert was found to be not big enough the most likely services to be given up would be schools over public services, alternatively McGill's would probably look for a smaller depot in the Stirling area for any overspill from Larbert.

 

[paisleytrans]

A little bit off thread but Craig’s lost the contract through the regular SPT tendering process. The current contract runs until July 2028.

Craigs now operate a couple of school contracts i believe (apologies if this is off topic).

 

[Noddy1]

I think Craigs rin route 247 Monklands Hospital unless that gas changed recently.

 

[AndrewTaylor95]

I think Craigs rin route 247 Monklands Hospital unless that gas changed recently.

JMB run the 147 & 247, Canavan run the 347

 

[overthewater]

JMB had the 147/247 for a while now, there was minor improvement on 247 back in April? SPT HAS NOT updated its timetable to reflect this. Canavans also operate 347A on Saturday good luck finding a timetable for that.

In the grand scheme of things, first wont care about any of the routes listed.

 

[Volvodart]

67890 is now here, supposedly on loan from Aberdeen.

 

[paisleytrans]

67890 is now here, supposedly on loan from Aberdeen.

Yeah, operating out of dumbarton depot due to vehicle shortages

 

[Bedford OB]

JMB had the 147/247 for a while now, there was minor improvement on 247 back in April? SPT HAS NOT updated its timetable to reflect this. Canavans also operate 347A on Saturday good luck finding a timetable for that.

In the grand scheme of things, first wont care about any of the routes listed.

The 347A timetable is perfectly easily found on Canavan's Facebook page.

 

[NorthClyde320]

JMB had the 147/247 for a while now, there was minor improvement on 247 back in April? SPT HAS NOT updated its timetable to reflect this. Canavans also operate 347A on Saturday good luck finding a timetable for that.

In the grand scheme of things, first wont care about any of the routes listed.

This is it here, Saturday it omits Kildrum hence the A

 

[jazza374]

67835 been involved in a bit of a bump this morning.

79K views · 189 reactions | A road in Clydebank has been closed after a bus crashed into a garden during the early hours of Monday morning. Emergency services were called to Mill Road at around 6am following reports of a single-vehicle crash. Passe

A road in Clydebank has been closed after a bus crashed into a garden during the early hours of Monday morning. Emergency services were called to Mill Road at around 6am following reports of a...

www.facebook.com

Link is to the STV Facebook Page showing the vehicle being recovered after a crash into a garden wall in Clydebank area today.

 

[LT02 NVV]

67835 been involved in a bit of a bump this morning.

79K views · 189 reactions | A road in Clydebank has been closed after a bus crashed into a garden during the early hours of Monday morning. Emergency services were called to Mill Road at around 6am following reports of a single-vehicle crash. Passe

A road in Clydebank has been closed after a bus crashed into a garden during the early hours of Monday morning. Emergency services were called to Mill Road at around 6am following reports of a...

www.facebook.com

Link is to the STV Facebook Page showing the vehicle being recovered after a crash into a garden wall in Clydebank area today.

I feel bad for that person’s garden being ruined. Hope the 4 hurt people are alright too.

Looking at the damage towards 67835, they’ll be able to fix it back up.

 

[Metal Mickey]

It would appear that First Glasgow and Aberdeen timetables are not showing on Bus Times today.

 

[CMBS]

It would appear that First Glasgow and Aberdeen timetables are not showing on Bus Times today.

First Bus data only usually lasts for some time and it takes a day or two to be updated usually

 

[AndrewTaylor95]

First Bus data only usually lasts for some time and it takes a day or two to be updated usually

Back on about 4 o'clock today

 

[LT02 NVV]

Back on about 4 o'clock today

And it’s off again today.

 

[AndrewTaylor95]

And it’s off again today.

Still works if you search the stops but you can't access the timetables, If it's a route only First serve then you won't find a dot to search the times, This stop shows only because West Coast Motors serve it with the 8A

 

[Metal Mickey]

Still works if you search the stops but you can't access the timetables, If it's a route only First serve then you won't find a dot to search the times, This stop shows only because West Coast Motors serve it with the 8A

How does the non-bus enthusiast manage as both the First website and app are very poor?

 

[AilsaBus]

How does the non-bus enthusiast manage as both the First website and app are very poor?

Stand at the bus stop and hope for the best I'd imagine.

 

[route101]

Stand at the bus stop and hope for the best I'd imagine.

I guess now, you just check the app for the next bus. I imagine younger persons, may not know actual timetables exist.

 

[AndrewTaylor95]

3 smaller length Optare Solo SRs are returning from Sheffield for the PVR increase due to the SPT services starting next month, 53865 WK68 BSZ arrived into Caley yesterday the GWR liveried one