First Greater Glasgow

[camro]

What do you do with the 6? Arguably it struggles with the lower frequency and single deckers- upping the frequency is a lot more resource and cost. Deckers are simple but nothing made to fit...

The BYD deckers are perfectly capable of fitting under that bridge btw, but low bridge rules have gotten tighter and the Enviro400s only manage to do the 6 because they always have done the 6 since 2011 and taking them off wouldn't make sense. I don't doubt that these tighter restrictions are for the best, but at some point when the Enviro400s get critically old (2029ish), either the BYDs are going to just have to do or the 6 will face becoming single deck only.

That will be a hard decision to make. The BYDs are unfortunately proving themselves to be terrible buses at 5 years old, and a notable problem they tend to have is with the kneeling system, something which is vital to keep in order if you're wanting to take a bus under a tight fit of a bridge like Busby, and it is seemingly a lot more difficult to work with than the system on an Enviro400.

Drivers are also told to take any bus that leans to one side off the road, but sometimes you will get the odd driver who doesn't notice or forgets it's an issue, and a leaning bus could be enough to cause a collision.

So the Enviro400 stays on the 6 for now because it always has done the 6. After that, I won't be surprised if it gets put down as a strict single deck route.

 

[AilsaBus]

Or they could just do the sensible thing and buy more low height double deckers?

 

[AndrewTaylor95]

The BYD deckers are perfectly capable of fitting under that bridge btw, but low bridge rules have gotten tighter and the Enviro400s only manage to do the 6 because they always have done the 6 since 2011 and taking them off wouldn't make sense. I don't doubt that these tighter restrictions are for the best, but at some point when the Enviro400s get critically old (2029ish), either the BYDs are going to just have to do or the 6 will face becoming single deck only.

That will be a hard decision to make. The BYDs are unfortunately proving themselves to be terrible buses at 5 years old, and a notable problem they tend to have is with the kneeling system, something which is vital to keep in order if you're wanting to take a bus under a tight fit of a bridge like Busby, and it is seemingly a lot more difficult to work with than the system on an Enviro400.

Drivers are also told to take any bus that leans to one side off the road, but sometimes you will get the odd driver who doesn't notice or forgets it's an issue, and a leaning bus could be enough to cause a collision.

So the Enviro400 stays on the 6 for now because it always has done the 6. After that, I won't be surprised if it gets put down as a strict single deck route.

The same reason Geminis can't do any Maryhill Road services anymore
68/19 plate E400MMCs and the BYD E400EVs would 100% get under that bridge at Busby but as you say, Daft rules and regulations are putting a stop to it

 

[JumpinTrainz]

Or they could just do the sensible thing and buy more low height double deckers?

First surely shouldn’t have an issue procuring low height Yutong or ADL deckers like they did in the past with the B7L East Lanc Nordics and the E400s. I’m sure they can find an electric replacement if they deem necessary.

 

[route101]

I think Oxford Bus bought low height Wrights for Botley Road Bridge which is 13ft. I believe the road there is getting lowered.

Safety comes first though

 

[AndrewTaylor95]

I think Oxford Bus bought low height Wrights for Botley Road Bridge which is 13ft. I believe the road there is getting lowered.

Safety comes first though

The Streetdecks are still 13"10' same as all the low height ones made hence why the road is being lowered, Same height as the 68/19 plate E400MMCs and the BYD E400EVs

 

[LT02 NVV]

I brought this up a bit ago, but I still find it odd that it took until like last year for the bridge near Maryhill to be given a 14"3' marking that lead to Gemini’s being pulled off the 60/60A & 61 routes. Because they could fit those buses and all the Tridents under it for years prior to that change.

 

[Buzby]

Well, either the canal bridge is starting to sag…. Or (more likely) the carriageway has been resurfaced and it’s been re-measured with a laser distance meter (instead of the yardsticks of old and converted to metric).

 

[Spsf3232]

Well, either the canal bridge is starting to sag…. Or (more likely) the carriageway has been resurfaced and it’s been re-measured with a laser distance meter (instead of the yardsticks of old and converted to metric).

The change has been the actually sign. It used to be a triangle height marker and now it's been changed to a circle height marker which makes it illegal for vehicles over that height to go through the bridge even though they fit

 

[AndrewTaylor95]

The change has been the actually sign. It used to be a triangle height marker and now it's been changed to a circle height marker which makes it illegal for vehicles over that height to go through the bridge even though they fit

It's Still Triangles I pass it everyday

 

[Buzby]

It's Still Triangles I pass it everyday

This was it 12 weeks ago

 

[AndrewTaylor95]

This was it 12 weeks ago

Yep, It's still like that today

 

[Spsf3232]

Yep, It's still like that today

My mistake I had heard that it was changed

 

[AilsaBus]

My mistake I had heard that it was changed

The signs on the actual bridge are triangles but the warning signs further down the road are circular. I'm guessing passing those circular signs would make it illegal to take anything over 14'3 under the bridge. https://www.google.com/maps/@55.889...try=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI2MDYyOS4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw==

 

[Buzby]

I'm guessing passing those circular signs would make it illegal

I’d suggest that’s a big guess. If you turned immediately right ahead, you’d be at another low canal bridge (Lochburn Road at 2.8m / 9’3”). You’ll notice the advance sign here, AND on the aqueduct itself are circular. Maryhill Road OTOH has the triangle ON the bridge, so modifies the earlier one.

Strange with such confusion there are few bridge strikes for such a major route To the north west.

 

[AilsaBus]

First need to find some way of rectifying the whole situation. After decades of full height double deckers running on that corrider it seems silly that they'd suddenly stop using them. The 60 is busy enough with double deckers on it but now because of this idiotic situation more singles are being used and always end up rammed. Either get more deckers on it or get the frequency up to compensate.

 

[Stan Drews]

I’d suggest that’s a big guess. If you turned immediately right ahead, you’d be at another low canal bridge (Lochburn Road at 2.8m / 9’3”). You’ll notice the advance sign here, AND on the aqueduct itself are circular. Maryhill Road OTOH has the triangle ON the bridge, so modifies the earlier one.

Strange with such confusion there are few bridge strikes for such a major route To the north west.

Glasgow’s buses have generally been to full height specification, so generations of 14’6” buses (Atlanteans, Ailsas, Citybuses etc) have safely traversed this canal bridge on Maryhill Road without any damage. I’m not aware of any alterations to the bridge or the road underneath that would suddenly cause bridge strikes by modern buses of similar height.

 

[Metal Mickey]

First need to find some way of rectifying the whole situation. After decades of full height double deckers running on that corrider it seems silly that they'd suddenly stop using them. The 60 is busy enough with double deckers on it but now because of this idiotic situation more singles are being used and always end up rammed. Either get more deckers on it or get the frequency up to compensate.

The reason the 60 and other services aren’t seeing increased capacity or improved frequencies is because the main priority for First’s hierarchy is increased profit margins and shareholder value.

 

[158715]

I noticed on a 57A recently (38412), that the bus stop announcement seemed to say "Bridge Saint Underground"! It appeared on the screen as "Bridge St Underground" I think.

 

[JumpinTrainz]

Anyone have any updates on the E200EVs that have been out of service for a long time? Some more have recently went out of service in the last few months too.

 

[Joerf21]

The signs on the actual bridge are triangles but the warning signs further down the road are circular. I'm guessing passing those circular signs would make it illegal to take anything over 14'3 under the bridge. https://www.google.com/maps/@55.8899004,-4.2890761,3a,19.5y,307.24h,94.58t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sWJqvqkPA1ticPam0SdJSkA!2e0!6shttps://streetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com/v1/thumbnail?cb_client=maps_sv.tactile&w=900&h=600&pitch=-4.575052707078399&panoid=WJqvqkPA1ticPam0SdJSkA&yaw=307.23995189887813!7i16384!8i8192?authuser=0&entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI2MDYyOS4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw==

Its either the bridge is marked wrong or the buses height marked wrong, u would think first bus senior management would demand the height either way get rectified

 

[Buzby]

Its either the bridge is marked wrong or the buses height marked wrong,

BOTH of the signs bear the same height, one advisory and the other mandatory. Either way, I would have expected management to verify for themselves the actual available safe passage height, than simply stop using deckers completely rather than challenge the Roads Dept of the Council.

 

[AilsaBus]

BOTH of the signs bear the same height, one advisory and the other mandatory. Either way, I would have expected management to verify for themselves the actual available safe passage height, than simply stop using deckers completely rather than challenge the Roads Dept of the Council.

I'm pretty sure the managment know fine well that full height double deckers fit under the bridge. They've only been doing it since the dark ages, even the double deck trams went under the bridge and I'm pretty sure they were taller than most double deckers at the time.

 

[Stan Drews]

BOTH of the signs bear the same height, one advisory and the other mandatory.

No they don’t. Look again at the images shared up thread.
4.3m / 14’4” (in the circular sign on the northbound approach)
or
4.4m / 14’3” (in the triangular signs on the bridge itself - both directions)
There doesn’t appear to be a circular sign on the southbound approach.

I’m sure there also used to be a 14’6” sign on one of the approaches - perhaps it used to be on the southbound approach and has gone.

 

[Buzby]

I’m sure there also used to be a 14’6” sign on one of the approaches - perhaps it used to be on the southbound approach and has gone.

There was - outside the Solicitor’s office southbound - two triangular signs in metric & imperial. Seen in the 2020 Streetview

 

[Moderating team]

OK, I think we have had enough discussion about the bridge height signage in Maryhill. Can we get back to discussing First Greater Glasgow please. Thanks.

 

[Joerf21]

The absolute work horse of first glasgow, must ne the enviro 300s, now they are 13/14 yeats old, and you never hear a bad thing about them from drivers and passengers, like the gemini it will be sadly missed when they start to replace them

 

[JumpinTrainz]

The absolute work horse of first glasgow, must ne the enviro 300s, now they are 13/14 yeats old, and you never hear a bad thing about them from drivers and passengers, like the gemini it will be sadly missed when they start to replace them

I was a bit dubious when the E300s entered service as they seemed very flimsy compared to earlier stock like the B10BLEs and B7RLEs but they’ve been great little workhorses as you say. Some are very tired internally and could do with a refurb. I hope when the time comes to start replacing them we get more doubles but if it has to be singles then I hope it’s Yutong E12s.

 

[Buzby]

I seem to recall that ADL stopped making the Gen 2 version in 2015 (I was on a factory visit and was told customers were specifying electric). With the youngest being 11 years old I wondered if they’d be refurbed or simply sold on….

 

[Metal Mickey]

The absolute work horse of first glasgow, must ne the enviro 300s, now they are 13/14 yeats old, and you never hear a bad thing about them from drivers and passengers, like the gemini it will be sadly missed when they start to replace them

I’m sure the E300 would’ve been a really good vehicle on a Volvo B7rle engine and chassis but I don’t think ADL were involved with Volvo during that time.