McGill's Buses - Renfrewshire & Inverclyde

[DunsBus]

That is incorrect, but this is not a forum for discussing the finer details of such an incident.

Happy to be corrected.

However, for someone to wish ill-will on McGill's on the back of this incident is bang out of order.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 14 Mar 2024 ==

The general bias against McGill's which seems to exist on this forum

It's the same through in the east as well. McGill's can do no right, Lothian and its sister companies can do no wrong - an attitude which stems from First days.

 

[Trnsprt4Sctlnd]

Happy to be corrected.

However, for someone to wish ill-will on McGill's on the back of this incident is bang out of order.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 14 Mar 2024 ==


It's the same through in the east as well. McGill's can do no right, Lothian and its sister companies can do no wrong - an attitude which stems from First days.

Personally I think having a certain bias one way or another reflects the public feeling of an operator, not always but often.

May we speak here about McGills not being happy about the potential of franchising of local bus services in the SPT area.

The fact of the matter is that McGills, like every other private firm, benefits from public funds in some way or other. At the end of the day it’s not as if them claiming victim of theft via franchising is surprising; surely they would still be able to turn a profit even within the realms of franchising?

McGill's in legal threat as SPT announces recommendation to franchise Glasgow buses

Bus operators have issued a robust early warning that they will take legal action over plans announced today by SPT to "move forward" with bus franchising in Greater Glasgow.

www.heraldscotland.com

Bus operators have issued a robust early warning that they will take legal action over plans announced today by SPT to "move forward" with bus franchising in Greater Glasgow.

Following years of agitating by transport campaigners, Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT) has now said it will take a "dual approach" to change the way the bus network is organised in its catchment area.

Proposals will go before the board of the transport body on Friday with activists saying they will picket the meeting.
The SPT announcement was met with immediate hostility from the millionaire owners of McGill's Group, Sandy and James Easdale, who refer to franchising as "business confiscation" and "against natural justice".

 

[davido39]

Having briefly worked for McGill's I can tell you that even their newer buses broke down very often. In fact, it is why I quit. I've worked with some independents and even their buses did not break down as much as McGill's buses.

This accident was only a matter of time before it happened.

 

[GusB]

I don't think it's very helpful to speculate about the cause of the accident. The people who know the actual cause are unlikely to be able to share it on a platform such as this, so all we can do is rely on forthcoming news reports.

I'd also caution against making any unfounded allegations about any company or individual without having specific evidence to back up your claim.

On the subject of sharing news, if you are linking to an external site, you must provide a relevant quote along with the link.

 

[318266]

If I would have one suggestion towards management, fix running faults when they arise rather than when they develop into a bigger issue. Increases public perception as people see a well maintained bus, decreases driver apathy and prevents more serious issues that could develop from that fault.

I have noted that for the last 3 weeks to a month, 3347 looks to have had a bite taken out of it. Although I have not seen it in the last week so it might have been repaired, a bus running with the offside front top corner missing isn't a good look.

I am well aware that I have no experience in the field, but if it works for other operators then it can work for McGill's, surely?

 

[voidwxrranty]

If I would have one suggestion towards management, fix running faults when they arise rather than when they develop into a bigger issue. Increases public perception as people see a well maintained bus, decreases driver apathy and prevents more serious issues that could develop from that fault.

I have noted that for the last 3 weeks to a month, 3347 looks to have had a bite taken out of it. Although I have not seen it in the last week so it might have been repaired, a bus running with the offside front top corner missing isn't a good look.

I am well aware that I have no experience in the field, but if it works for other operators then it can work for McGill's, surely?

3347 has had that issue for nearing on 4 months now. It’s as if a drivers clipped a traffic light, and they have repaired it with gaffa tape.

 

[sannox]

McGill's operating a new service on behalf of Renfrewshire Council - 514 which runs from Bishopton through the Dargarvel village development to Braehead via the M8 motorway.

Timetable PDF -

https://www.spt.co.uk/media/iopnoub2/service-514.pdf

 

[megabusser]

McGill's operating a new service on behalf of Renfrewshire Council - 514 which runs from Bishopton through the Dargarvel village development to Braehead via the M8 motorway.

Timetable PDF -

https://www.spt.co.uk/media/iopnoub2/service-514.pdf

Interesting to see it being exclusively funded by Renfrewshire Council - I don’t remember seeing that before within ‘SPT-land’. Is that unique?

Looks like a potentially useful service, Braehead is so close but a pain (and expensive if via train and bus) to get to by public transport from Bishopton.

I must say at first glance that timetable is pretty hard to understand, with the same destination listed multiple times but going in different directions? There must be an easier way to present it!

 

[sannox]

Interesting to see it being exclusively funded by Renfrewshire Council - I don’t remember seeing that before within ‘SPT-land’. Is that unique?

Looks like a potentially useful service, Braehead is so close but a pain (and expensive if via train and bus) to get to by public transport from Bishopton.

I must say at first glance that timetable is pretty hard to understand, with the same destination listed multiple times but going in different directions? There must be an easier way to present it!

It is unusual. As far as I can see only the M7, wholly funded by East Renfrewshire Council, is the same. Possibly developer funding given both serve new estates.

It is tricky to interpret as it seems to be two services in one. A local service for Dargavel and Bishopton and a link between Bishopton and Braehead.

It seems to be Braehead to Bishopton Station. It then loops anti-clockwise around Dargavel back to Bishopton Station to terminate. It then leaves Bishopton Station does a loop around Dargavel to Bishopton Station then off directly to Braehead.

 

[overthewater]

Interesting to see it being exclusively funded by Renfrewshire Council - I don’t remember seeing that before within ‘SPT-land’. Is that unique?

Its not unique abut its extremely rare, West Dunbartonshire council once paid for a Direct bus from Clydebank to the new hospital. QE1?

 

[Trnsprt4Sctlnd]

On a side note, if local authorities wanted to take direct control of what gets subsidised instead of SPT how would they go about this.

Surely some of SPTs state funding would be diverted to the local authorities for this?

 

[Stan Drews]

The 514 is funded via developer funding (as is the M7), which goes through the relevant planning authority and doesn’t come out of SPTs budget for subsidised services. However, SPT manage the procurement process in the same way that they do any of their other tendered service contracts.
The revenue taken on both services goes to the authority rather than the operator, unlike the majority of SPT tendered routes.

 

[ClydeCoaster]

Yutong J5701 (SG23OSN) left the road and overturned on the A760 (Kilbirnie - Largs) while operating the 904 this afternoon. Despite the many emergency vehicles and the road being closed, there were no injuries. No other vehicles were involved.

Bus driver and passengers rescued by emergency services after crash

The McGill's bus crashed on the A760 around 3.30pm on Thursday afternoon.

news.stv.tv

A road in Ayrshire was closed by police after a bus crashed with passengers on board.

Emergency services were called to the single vehicle crash involving a McGill’s bus on A760 between Kilbirnie and Largs around 3.30pm on Thursday.

The road was closed between Swinlees and Haylie Brae while police, ambulance and four fire engines were sent to help.

All passengers and the driver were safely removed from the vehicle.

 

[Dfatcontroller]

Yutong J5701 (SG23OSN) left the road and overturned on the A760 (Kilbirnie - Largs) while operating the 904 this afternoon. Despite the many emergency vehicles and the road being closed, there were no injuries. No other vehicles were involved.

Bus driver and passengers rescued by emergency services after crash

The McGill's bus crashed on the A760 around 3.30pm on Thursday afternoon.

news.stv.tv

*5071

 

[Stan Drews]

The small batch of 60 plate Streetlites (0400-4) which have been out of use for quite some time, have recently been sold to Ensign along with ADL E200 8441 and VDL SB200 6004.

 

[Christmas]

Hopefully now that Hornby has has left we'll see if the destination screens go back to showing via points rather than the ultimate destination.

 

[Numpt33]

On a side note, if local authorities wanted to take direct control of what gets subsidised instead of SPT how would they go about this.

Surely some of SPTs state funding would be diverted to the local authorities for this?

Councils in SPTs area can just fund it themselves in the same way as non SPT councils. Those councils aren't established any differently.

I think SPT has specific people for each council area.

 

[Stan Drews]

The original Volvo B10M coach 0601 i.e. G0601 has gone to Clyde Metals for scrap. I think when last in use it carried reg 55TXH, although it was new as T520EUB with Wally’s Trolleys.

 

[LT02 NVV]

The original Volvo B10M coach 0601 i.e. G0601 has gone to Clyde Metals for scrap. I think when last in use it carried reg 55TXH, although it was new as T520EUB with Wally’s Trolleys.

How long had it been out of service for again?

 

[Stan Drews]

How long had it been out of service for again?

I didn’t think it’s been in use for at least 5 years, probably more!

 

[LT02 NVV]

I didn’t think it’s been in use for at least 5 years, probably more!

Well I understand why they scrapped it then, it hadn’t been used for some time, and it’s number 0601 is now being used for a Midland Bluebird coach.

 

[Stan Drews]

Well I understand why they scrapped it then, it hadn’t been used for some time, and it’s number 0601 is now being used for a Midland Bluebird coach.

Yes, the ‘new’ 0601 is alive and well on school work in Stirlingshire.

 

[voidwxrranty]

Yes, the ‘new’ 0601 is alive and well on school work in Stirlingshire.

CV55AFA. been fair about the place that one!

 

[Stan Drews]

Long withdrawn E200s 8434/6/7 (YX08HCC/GX09AGU/BX58BFA) have been disposed of to Clyde Metals for scrap.
Former fleet member VDL SB200 6006 (YJ09CVN) has also now been disposed of (to Ensign).

 

[Geeves]

Have just seen on our news at Northern Rail that Alex Hornby of Transdev fame and most recently Mcgills has joined the company as Commercial and Customer Director.

 

[citybus2500]

Have just seen on our news at Northern Rail that Alex Hornby of Transdev fame and most recently Mcgills has joined the company as Commercial and Customer Director.

I'm sure everything will be amazing, there will be no issues, Northern are the best train operator in the world and anyone that says otherwise will be blocked/banned!

 

[Christmas]

Do McGill's have any other seasonal Sunday services apart from the 904? It is a busy route normally and could probably justify a minibus over the winter months.

I'm intrigued to know if the pull any other Sunday buses over the winter.

 

[Stan Drews]

Do McGill's have any other seasonal Sunday services apart from the 904? It is a busy route normally and could probably justify a minibus over the winter months.

I'm intrigued to know if the pull any other Sunday buses over the winter.

No, it’s just the 904 that gains a summer Sunday service. Past experience showed that there wasn’t the demand during the winter. The summer service has been quite well used since it was introduced in 2019, or might have been 2020 after covid.

 

[Metal Mickey]

There doesn’t seem to be Renfrewshire and Inverclyde Network Maps available on the McGill’s website unless they are there and I can’t find them.

However, the Xplore and Midland websites do have maps available for their local networks.

That seems to be a bit of an oversight from McGill’s commercial management team.

 

[Stan Drews]

The 2 new Mercedes Tourismo coaches that joined the coach fleet last month are confirmed as 0644/5 (BV74MYX/Y), and based at Johnstone depot.