Scottish Citylink

[Blindtraveler]

I would echo of the above comments on the train service or rather lack of. Suspect the route and stopping pattern of the 978 between Stirling and Edinburgh is to allow it to pick up some bsog and cover it's costs on what might be a potentially loss making section outside of the main tourist season. That said if the timings are attractive then it could well become popular on bits of that. I know for a fact that it it certainly increases my access to the West Highlands without having to go via Glasgow and again if connection timings work well then it could be a huge hit. I wonder if they will have new vehicles for it or if it will get the oldest and crappyest Scanias?

 

[Unstoppable]

I would echo of the above comments on the train service or rather lack of. Suspect the route and stopping pattern of the 978 between Stirling and Edinburgh is to allow it to pick up some bsog and cover it's costs on what might be a potentially loss making section outside of the main tourist season. That said if the timings are attractive then it could well become popular on bits of that. I know for a fact that it it certainly increases my access to the West Highlands without having to go via Glasgow and again if connection timings work well then it could be a huge hit. I wonder if they will have new vehicles for it or if it will get the oldest and crappyest Scanias?

I also know of one wheelchair user who frequently does the journey from Stirling to Oban which currently requires a trip to Glasgow and a lot of stress with getting the chair on 2 different coaches. This would provide her with a direct link. If it is WCM that run the service I can see them using whatever they have available

 

[Blindtraveler]

This will indeed be a game-changer for your wheelchair using friend. It's marvellous that we can carry wheelchair passengers now but the process is still not yet quick or slick especially if drivers don't do it very often and therefore are a bit unsure

 

[computerSaysNo]

Some of the new timetables are now up on the website.
I'll update the table below as the others come up.
The table is incomplete but I'll add to it when energy levels permit.
The table is presented in the same order as the route timetables are presented on the website.

Spoiler: Summary of Changes

Route Name	Route Number(s)	Previous timetable (Summer 2022) Mon-Fri	New timetable (Winter 2022/2023) (Mon-Fri) and changes
Glasgow to Edinburgh	900, N900	Daytime service every 15 minutes calling Edinburgh, (semi-fast to) Ratho Station, Harthill, comprised of Two per hour calling additionally at Ballieston Two per hour calling additionally at Maxim Park. Morning service every 30 minutes from midnight to 0630. Evening service every 30 minutes from 2000 to midnight.	Not yet available.
Edinburgh Airport, Stirling, Dunblane	909, M8, M9	909 operates every 2 hours, most journeys run Edinburgh - Stirling - Glasgow (and vice versa). Those which don't run through have connections onto services M8 or M9.	909 operates every 2 hours, most journeys terminate at Stirling University; one journey continues to Dunblane. No journeys to Glasgow. Times at weekends now identical to times on weekdays.
Glasgow to Oban	975, 976, 977	Four services a day running as a mixture of 975/976/977.	Three direct services a day running as 975/976. One additional journey shown in southbound direction as service 978 with change at Tyndrum onto service 914.
Glasgow to Skye	913, 914, 915, 916, 914, 977	Pre-winter timetable (26 September to 23 October): Five direct services a day Glasgow to/from Fort William; three of which operate to/from Portree; two of which operate to/from Uig. One additional journey between Glasgow and Fort William shown in both directions as services 977/913, changing in Tyndrum.	Direct services unchanged. Additional journey no longer shown.
Glasgow to Edinburgh Airport	900, N900, AIR	Daytime service every 30 minutes.	Daytime service every 30 minutes. Minor changes to timings.
Glasgow to Campbeltown	926	Five services a day. One addition service on Fridays only runs Glasgow to/from Kennacraig. One additional service on weekend days only runs Glasgow to/from Ardrishaig.	Four services a day. Two additional services on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays run Glasgow to/from Ardrishaig; one of which operates to/from Campbeltown.
Inverness to Skye	915, 916, 917	Pre-winter timetable (26 September to 23 October): Two services operate daily to/from Portree as service 917; one of which has connections shown to/from Uig. One additional journey shown Monday to Saturdays to/from Inverness as service 919, changing at Invergarry to/from a service for Uig.	No apparent changes.
Fort William to Inverness	915, 916, 917, 919, 920	Pre-winter timetable (26 September to 23 October): Five direct journeys shown. Two additional journeys operate Inverness to/from Invermoriston only. Three additional journeys operate Fort William to/from Invergarry only.	All through services split at Drumnadrochit and Invergarry. Connections guaranteed. Quantity of services unchanged.
Glasgow, Perth, Dundee, and Aberdeen	M8, M9, M10, M92	Service M8 runs every two hours between Glasgow and Dundee calling at Cumbernauld Centre, Bannockburn, Stirling St Ninian's Toll and Burghmuir and Bus Station, Dunblane, Gleneagles, Perth Broxden, Perth Bus Station, Inchture; connections shown to/from Aberdeen. Service M9 operates hourly between Glasgow and Aberdeen calling at Perth and Dundee. Some services call additionally at Forfar. Additional service M9 runs every two hours between Glasgow and Aberdeen non-stop.	Service M8 increased to hourly. Service M9 calling at Perth and Dundee remains hourly but calls at Forfar are now peak-only. Service M9 non-stop reduced to twice daily in each direction.
Edinburgh, Perth, Dundee, and Aberdeen	M9, M90, M91, 92, M92	Service M92 operates hourly Dundee to Edinburgh; one every two hours operates to/from Aberdeen. Some services operate non-stop Edinburgh Bus Station to/from Dundee Bus Station, others call additionally at Edinburgh Queensferry Street and Barnton Jct, Halbeath P&R, Kinross P&R. Connections are shown for every other hour to/from Aberdeen to Dundee. One direct service a day calls additionally at Forfar.	All service M92s now operate full route on an hourly frequency. All services call Edinburgh Queensferry Street and Barnton Jct, Halbeath P&R, Kinross P&R, Dundee Bus Station, Dundee Mill o'Mains only. Three direct services a day call additionally at Forfar. One direct service a day calls additionally at Perth Broxden P&R and Perth City Centre.
Edinburgh to Perth (City Centre; Summary)	M9, M90, M92	Direct service to/from Perth City Centre every two hours calling at Edinburgh Bus Station and Queensferry Street and Barnton Jct, Halbeath P&R, Kinross P&R, Perth Broxden P&R and Leisure Pool. Additional services every other two hours between Edinburgh and Perth Broxden P&R only; most call at all stops as above; some operate non-stop.	Direct service to/from Perth City Centre every two hours calling at all stops as previously; minor timing changes. Additional services every other two hours between Edinburgh and Perth Broxden P&R only; all call at Edinburgh Queensferry Street and Barnton Jct, and Halbeath P&R only (omitting Kinross P&R). Additional early morning and late evening services added.
Perth to Dundee (Summary)	M8, M9, M92	Hourly service between Perth Broxden P&R and Dundee Bus Station non-stop. One service mostly every two hours between Perth Broxden P&R and Dundee Bus Station calling at Perth Leisure Pool and Bus Station and South Street, and Inchture.	Express service remains at hourly. Stopping service increased to hourly.
Glasgow to Stirling (Summary)	909, M8, M9	Hourly service made up of one service 909 every two hours operating Glasgow Buchanan - Stirling Bus Station - Dunblane, and one service M8 every two hours operating Glasgow Buchanan - Stirling Bus Station only. All services call additionally at Cumbernauld Centre, Bannockburn, Stirling St Ninian's and Burghmuir.	Service 909 removed and service M8 increased to hourly; as a result, no services extend to/from Dunblane. Most services call additionally at Cumbernauld Centre, Bannockburn, Stirling St Ninians and Burghmuir. Some services run non-stop Cumbernauld Centre to Stirling Bus Station. Additional late-night and overnight services added.
Glasgow to Inverness	M8, M9, M10, M90, M91	Direct service once every two hours, running non-stop between Glasgow Buchanan and Perth Broxden P&R. Some services between Perth Broxden P&R and Inverness call at Aviemore only; others call at some or all of Birnam, Pitlochry, and Dalwhinnie. Additional journey every other two hours shown by connecting at Perth Broxden P&R.	Frequency of direct services remains unchanged but all services now call additionally at Pitlochry. Additional journey every other two hours shown by connecting at Perth Broxden P&R but only off the stopping service M8 for most of the day. Connections off the non-stop Glasgow/Perth service only possible once per peak.
Edinburgh to Inverness	M10, M90, M92	Direct service very roughly once every two hours. Some direct services operate non-stop between Edinburgh Bus Station and Perth Broxden P&R; others call additionally at Edinburgh Queensferry Street and Barnton Jct, Halbeath P&R, and Kinross P&R. Some services between Perth Broxden P&R and Inverness call at Aviemore only; others call at some or all of Birnam, Pitlochry, and Dalwhinnie. Additional journey every other two hours shown by connecting at Perth Broxden P&R.	Direct service every two hours; all services call at Edinburgh Bus Station and Queensferry Street and Barnton Jct, and Halbeath P&R. Some services call additionally at Kinross P&R. All services between Perth Broxden P&R and Inverness call additionally at Pitlochry and Aviemore. Four services a day call additionally at Dalwhinnie. Additional journey every other two hours shown by connecting at Perth Broxden P&R.
Scotland to Belfast	923, STENA/UB	Two services a day between Edinburgh and Stranraer calling at Glasgow Buchanan, Ayr Bus Station, Craig Tara Holiday Park (one journey only), and Cairnryan Ferry Terminal only. Additional two services a day shown part-route Glasgow to Stranraer only. Three connecting services a day shown between Cairnryan Ferry Terminal and Belfast Europa Buscentre calling at Belfast Ferry Terminal.	Not yet available.
Inverness to Ullapool	961	Two services a day shown (one morning and one afternoon) daily, both of which connect to/from the ferry to Stornoway.	Two services a day shown Monday to Friday (one morning and one afternoon) both of which connect to/from the ferry to Stornoway. One service on Sundays in the afternoon, with connecting ferry.
Edinburgh to Fort William	M8, M9, M90, 913, 915, 977	One direct service daily between Edinburgh Bus Station and Fort William Bus Station, calling at Edinburgh West End and Barnton Jct, Halbeath P&R, Kinross P&R, Perth Broxden P&R, Methven Arms, Crieff High Street, Comrie Library, St Fillans Hotel, Lochearnhead Cameron Court, Lix Toll Garage, Crianlarich Police Station, Tyndrum Layby, Bridge of Orchy Hotel, White Corries at Chairlift Road End, Glencoe Visitor Centre, Glencoe Crossroads, Ballachulish Tourist Office, North Ballachulish road junction, Onich Village Store, and Croit Anna Hotel. Connections from/to Aberdeen and Perth City Centre shown at Perth Broxden P&R. Connections to/from Oban shown at Tyndrum. Connections to/from Uig shown at Fort William. Service to Fort William departs Edinburgh in the morning. Service to Edinburgh departs Fort William in the afternoon.	Not yet available.
Edinburgh to Oban	914, 978	Not available.	One direct service daily between Oban and Edinburgh, calling at Dunbeg, Connel, Taynuilt Hotel, Crunachy Caravan Park, Cruachan Power Station Visitor Centre, Dalmally Railway Station, Dalmally Hotel, Tyndrum Layby, Crianlarich Police Station, Lix Toll Garage, Lochearnhead Cameron Court, Kingshouse shelter, Strathyre Hotel, Callander Station Road, Doune Fir Road, Stirling Bus Station and Burghmuir Road and St Ninian's Toll, Bannockburn Heritage Centre, Whins of Milton Glasgow Road, Grangemouth Garage, Newbridge East Lochend Road, Ratho Station Road, Ingliston Filling Station, Airport Hotels, Edinburgh Airport, Edinburgh Corstorphine Drum Brae and Haymarket Station and Princes Street. Connections shown to/from Fort William shown at Tyndrum. Service to Edinburgh departs Oban in the morning. Service to Oban departs Edinburgh in the afternoon.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 19 Oct 2022 ==

Edit 1 (19/10/2022 at 1730): Added remainder of routes.

 

[ld0595]

Hadn't picked this up but it looks like CityLink will be running a 24 hour service between Glasgow and Aberdeen from 7 November.

Scottish Citylink announces new 24-hour Glasgow and Cumbernauld buses

A leading bus company has introduced a new timetable of 24-hour routes through Glasgow and Cumbernauld.

www.glasgowtimes.co.uk

Scottish Citylink has introduced a new timetable of 24-hour routes through Glasgow and Cumbernauld.

Beginning on November 7, the new services will run 24 hours a day between Glasgow, Cumbernauld, Stirling, Perth, Dundee and Aberdeen in a bid to deliver more direct journeys.

Half-hourly services will run to most locations during the day, with up to hourly services during the night.

Scottish Citylink operations director Simone Smith said: “This new timetable is all about making life simpler and more convenient for our customers.

"We’ve worked hard to make sure that our passengers have even more opportunities to travel between our key cities, as well as the surrounding towns.


“We know life is busy - that’s why we’ve introduced services 24 hours a day on the Saltire Cross network for the first time.


"It opens up even more access to affordable and high-quality coach travel every day, and with a record number of direct services now available on our network, it’s easier than ever for people to get to where they want to be by coach.”

I'm not a frequent bus user but this is a positive development. Looks like CityLink are trying to get ahead of Ember's 24 hour service between Glasgow and Dundee.

 

[route101]

Hadn't picked this up but it looks like CityLink will be running a 24 hour service between Glasgow and Aberdeen from 7 November.

Scottish Citylink announces new 24-hour Glasgow and Cumbernauld buses

A leading bus company has introduced a new timetable of 24-hour routes through Glasgow and Cumbernauld.

www.glasgowtimes.co.uk

I'm not a frequent bus user but this is a positive development. Looks like CityLink are trying to get ahead of Ember's 24 hour service between Glasgow and Dundee.

The services between Glasgow and Aberdeen are quite near 24 operations before this timetable change, with late services from Glasgow to Aberdeen. I guess this will provide a service in both directions.

 

[Jordan Adam]

The services between Glasgow and Aberdeen are quite near 24 operations before this timetable change, with late services from Glasgow to Aberdeen. I guess this will provide a service in both directions.

Not really enough to call it a 24 hour service though as there are some gaps. Whereas with the new timetables it is truly a 24/7 service.

The new combined M9/M92 offer a huge improvement between Aberdeen and Dundee.

 

[computerSaysNo]

Not really enough to call it a 24 hour service though as there are some gaps. Whereas with the new timetables it is truly a 24/7 service.

There are still some gaps though. Offhand isn't there departures at 2330, 0100, 0300 and 0430?

 

[Jordan Adam]

There are still some gaps though. Offhand isn't there departures at 2330, 0100, 0300 and 0430?

At present from Aberdeen the last M9 is at 19:45 and the first isn't until 3:20, that's an 8 hour gap. In contrast the new timetable has the M9 operating hourly until 22:55, then 00:25 & 2:25 before returning back to hourly from 3:55.

Similarly from Glasgow the last bus at present is at 23:30, then theres an over four hour gap with the next one at 3:40 then the one after that is another three and a half hours later at 7:15. Compare that to the new timetable where there's an hourly service up to 23:00, then 0:30, 2:00, returning back to every hour from 4:00.

So while it's not entirely an hourly service through the night I do think the timetable is now consistent enough to call it a 24 hour service.

Another improvement of note is that with the enhanced M92 Dundee to Aberdeen will have a consistent 30 minute frequency from 8:00 to midnight while Aberdeen to Dundee will have a consistent 30 minute frequency from 4:55 to 21:55.

 

[computerSaysNo]

At present from Aberdeen the last M9 is at 19:45 and the first isn't until 3:20, that's an 8 hour gap. In contrast the new timetable has the M9 operating hourly until 22:55, then 00:25 & 2:25 before returning back to hourly from 3:55.

Similarly from Glasgow the last bus at present is at 23:30, then theres an over four hour gap with the next one at 3:40 then the one after that is another three and a half hours later at 7:15. Compare that to the new timetable where there's an hourly service up to 23:00, then 0:30, 2:00, returning back to every hour from 4:00.

So while it's not entirely an hourly service through the night I do think the timetable is now consistent enough to call it a 24 hour service.

Another improvement of note is that with the enhanced M92 Dundee to Aberdeen will have a consistent 30 minute frequency from 8:00 to midnight while Aberdeen to Dundee will have a consistent 30 minute frequency from 4:55 to 21:55.

Ah right, I somehow thought the current timetables were more than that.

 

[route101]

At present from Aberdeen the last M9 is at 19:45 and the first isn't until 3:20, that's an 8 hour gap. In contrast the new timetable has the M9 operating hourly until 22:55, then 00:25 & 2:25 before returning back to hourly from 3:55.

Similarly from Glasgow the last bus at present is at 23:30, then theres an over four hour gap with the next one at 3:40 then the one after that is another three and a half hours later at 7:15. Compare that to the new timetable where there's an hourly service up to 23:00, then 0:30, 2:00, returning back to every hour from 4:00.

So while it's not entirely an hourly service through the night I do think the timetable is now consistent enough to call it a 24 hour service.

Another improvement of note is that with the enhanced M92 Dundee to Aberdeen will have a consistent 30 minute frequency from 8:00 to midnight while Aberdeen to Dundee will have a consistent 30 minute frequency from 4:55 to 21:55.

I seem to remember the last Glasgow to Aberdeen was the Megabus M11 from London.

Certainly, an improvement.

 

[ld0595]

I seem to remember the last Glasgow to Aberdeen was the Megabus M11 from London.

Certainly, an improvement.

I remember that very well. The last way for me to get from Glasgow to Dundee after a gig when I lived there.

From what I remember, it also had a connection at Perth for Edinburgh services which rarely ran on time in my experience!

 

[Bus Lightyear]

Hadn't picked this up but it looks like CityLink will be running a 24 hour service between Glasgow and Aberdeen from 7 November.

Scottish Citylink announces new 24-hour Glasgow and Cumbernauld buses

A leading bus company has introduced a new timetable of 24-hour routes through Glasgow and Cumbernauld.

www.glasgowtimes.co.uk

I'm not a frequent bus user but this is a positive development. Looks like CityLink are trying to get ahead of Ember's 24 hour service between Glasgow and Dundee.

This is very welcome news

 

[route101]

I noticed at Buchanan Bus Station 65 plate Inderdecks which I haven't before. Were these ex-Stagecoach Western?

 

[Jordan Adam]

I noticed at Buchanan Bus Station 65 plate Inderdecks which I haven't before. Were these ex-Stagecoach Western?

Yes they're the former X74 batch. They moved to Cumbernauld for Citylink work earlier this year although have now moved to Aberdeen as Bluebird are picking up work due to the M9/M92 enhancements.

 

[route101]

Yes they're the former X74 batch. They moved to Cumbernauld for Citylink work earlier this year although have now moved to Aberdeen as Bluebird are picking up work due to the M9/M92 enhancements.

I thought they were from the X74 branch, just haven't seen them on Citylink services yet. Does anyone know if the white ex NX levantes are still in service and what services?

Was looking at fares and times on Megabus.com for Glasgow to Aberdeen, they are offering a half hourly service if you want to change in Dundee. Some Glasgow to Aberdeen services appears to be nonstop.

As for fares, Flixbus offer a cheaper fare short notice but with far fewer services.

 

[WestieBus]

Has anyone seen a 978 bus being operated by West Coast Motors or is it being operated by another operator?

 

[route101]

Has anyone seen a 978 bus being operated by West Coast Motors or is it being operated by another operator?

Not yet, I do fancy having a ride but being an Oban based route means its harder to do. I wonder if the timetable will expand next summer and offer an early Oban bound service from Edinburgh?

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

Not yet, I do fancy having a ride but being an Oban based route means its harder to do. I wonder if the timetable will expand next summer and offer an early Oban bound service from Edinburgh?

It certainly has potential to work, so let’s hope they do. Edinburgh Coach Lines could perhaps run an Edinburgh based journey?

 

[InOban]

I understand that the 978 has been launched using a 3-year route development grant from the Scottish Government.

I don't know whether it replaces the summer-only Edinburgh to Fort William via Perth service which has connections to and from Oban.

 

[Blindtraveler]

Is there a specific vehicle allocation for the 978 or is it just whatever is available at Oban at the time?

 

[Darklord8899]

Has anyone seen a 978 bus being operated by West Coast Motors or is it being operated by another operator?

I saw the 978 arriving in Edinburgh this afternoon, it was a pure white Irizar (I think an i6)
So I've no idea who it belonged to

 

[WestieBus]

I saw the 978 arriving in Edinburgh this afternoon, it was a pure white Irizar (I think an i6)
So I've no idea who it belonged to

West Coast Motors has a white Irizar (YS16 LMK) that used to have citylinkair branding which belongs in Oban depot.

 

[Darklord8899]

West Coast Motors has a white Irizar (YS16 LMK) that used to have citylinkair branding which belongs in Oban depot.

I was on a bus going the opposite direction, so didn't catch the reg, but sounds like it was most probably that WCM Irizar then

 

[route101]

How did the 900 fare today with the Rugby and rail strikes?

 

[BobbyBKinross]

How did the 900 fare today with the Rugby and rail strikes?

Just left the bus station myself, was & still is very busy! A line all the way from Gate A at least to the ticket/halfway point at around 9pm

 

[route101]

One of those new single axle Elites was on the 900 today.

 

[PG]

One of those new single axle Elites was on the 900 today.

Would that be a uni-coach?

 

[Blindtraveler]

Cosy

 

[computerSaysNo]

Would that be a uni-coach?

I like your thinking! Anyone good with Photoshop care to make one up?

Reminds me a bit of this image I first saw online years ago!
Image shows a single Northern Class 170 vehicle photoshopped to have a cab at each end and shortened to have only one set of doors.