Scottish Citylink

[LiviCrazy]

I think it would be great if Citylink would do through tickets with the 902 and 900/Air. Looking at quite a few of the times it seems it connects up well for both ways at Harthill. Would offer a faster connection while offering a through journey for people who want to go the slower way.

 

[cf111]

Any rumours of new coaches for the 917 Inverness-Portree service? Just curious really as a regular user, the current coaches are starting to show their age.

This is an aside, but there was a big Megabus interdeck on the 917 last week! That surprised me when I saw it in the Square before it departed back to Inverness.

 

[route101]

I think it would be great if Citylink would do through tickets with the 902 and 900/Air. Looking at quite a few of the times it seems it connects up well for both ways at Harthill. Would offer a faster connection while offering a through journey for people who want to go the slower way.

I wonder if you buy an Edinburgh to Glasgow return ticket on the 902, is it valid on the 900?

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

I wonder if you buy an Edinburgh to Glasgow ticket on the 902, is it valid on the 900?

You’d think it would be. I imagine there are plenty scenarios of walk ups being directed away from the 902 to the 900 as well.

 

[Dfatcontroller]

You’d think it would be. I imagine there are plenty scenarios of walk ups being directed away from the 902 to the 900 as well.

A guy walked up to the 902 in Buchanan Bus Station on Tuesday with a concession pass and asked for Princes Street(!). After scanning his pass, the Driver directed the chap to the stance next door and onto the 900.

 

[AndrewTaylor95]

A guy walked up to the 902 in Buchanan Bus Station on Tuesday with a concession pass and asked for Princes Street(!). After scanning his pass, the Driver directed the chap to the stance next door and onto the 900.

I honestly think it should only serve certain stops and not the same ones as the 900, Getting people coming on and asking for Glasgow they may as well get on the bus with a sleeping bag and a shaving kit

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

A guy walked up to the 902 in Buchanan Bus Station on Tuesday with a concession pass and asked for Princes Street(!). After scanning his pass, the Driver directed the chap to the stance next door and onto the 900.

Demand so far from Edinburgh seems pretty low. Just 5 or so on the peak runs leaving Edinburgh. I can’t see it lasting if I’m honest as I don’t really know what it achieves. Stopping at the Airport was absolutely fine.

 

[LiviCrazy]

Demand so far from Edinburgh seems pretty low. Just 5 or so on the peak runs leaving Edinburgh. I can’t see it lasting if I’m honest as I don’t really know what it achieves. Stopping at the Airport was absolutely fine.

It does fill the void left by X24/X25. Providing direct links between Livingston and Corstorphine/Murrayfield. I don’t think they publicised it at all which might explain the poorer numbers.

 

[Stena Galloway]

Demand so far from Edinburgh seems pretty low. Just 5 or so on the peak runs leaving Edinburgh. I can’t see it lasting if I’m honest as I don’t really know what it achieves. Stopping at the Airport was absolutely fine.

It's on the road less than 2 weeks over that part of the route. Give it time.

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

It does fill the void left by X24/X25. Providing direct links between Livingston and Corstorphine/Murrayfield. I don’t think they publicised it at all which might explain the poorer numbers.

A market that really should be busier than that by now though. I’m not sure if it’s the use of a coach, or the diversion into the Airport, or that the demand has simply gone due to the First/McGill’s and Lothian Country issues which played havoc with this particular market. Replacing the X24/X25 makes sense though.

It's on the road less than 2 weeks over that part of the route. Give it time.

I’m all for giving routes time, but it’s implementation that just seems strange. I think worst case scenario they’ll make changes to give it another chance. However, demand on a corridor like that really should’ve grown quicker than that. It should’ve been there in the first place, and on the face of it, it’s just not. As I say likely killed off by the previous issues West Lothian had.

For me, I can see this becoming a peak only extension, and eventually it’ll go. I just think they’ve gone in with such a high level of service too quickly.

 

[computerSaysNo]

A market that really should be busier than that by now though. I’m not sure if it’s the use of a coach, or the diversion into the Airport, or that the demand has simply gone due to the First/McGill’s and Lothian Country issues which played havoc with this particular market. Replacing the X24/X25 makes sense though.

I’m all for giving routes time, but it’s implementation that just seems strange. I think worst case scenario they’ll make changes to give it another chance. However, demand on a corridor like that really should’ve grown quicker than that. It should’ve been there in the first place, and on the face of it, it’s just not. As I say likely killed off by the previous issues West Lothian had.

For me, I can see this becoming a peak only extension, and eventually it’ll go. I just think they’ve gone in with such a high level of service too quickly.

Has it been advertised anywhere? People won't use it if they don't know it exists.

 

[route101]

Has it been advertised anywhere? People won't use it if they don't know it exists.

There is billboards in Glasgow advertising the 902 service.

 

[Bus9120UK]

Once Citylink cease operation of the 23 after July 13th, Stuarts Coaches will takeover.

 

[route101]

What routes do the new Volvo decker's and Yutongs do? I haven't managed to catch one yet.

 

[computerSaysNo]

There is billboards in Glasgow advertising the 902 service.

Ah, great. I imagine a lot of people will use it from Buchanan to Bargeddie and Coatbridge as it's quite fast to there.
I used it today, it was very quiet from Edinburgh but picked up a bit from the Airport. I noticed though that the departure screens at Livingston still show it as terminating at the Airport.

 

[Jordan1296]

Once Citylink cease operation of the 23 after July 13th, Stuarts Coaches will takeover.

Why are Citylink ending this service after such a short time?

 

[voidwxrranty]

Why are Citylink ending this service after such a short time?

contract with SPT was up for re-tender

 

[route101]

Ah, great. I imagine a lot of people will use it from Buchanan to Bargeddie and Coatbridge as it's quite fast to there.
I used it today, it was very quiet from Edinburgh but picked up a bit from the Airport. I noticed though that the departure screens at Livingston still show it as terminating at the Airport.

I wonder if there is much take up with passengers from Monklands heading to Edinburgh.

 

[computerSaysNo]

even just before Covid Citylink badly needed a kick up the back side. 2 hour gaps in places on certain routes. I can still remember the awful white N reg coaches that used to operate on the M92 and M9, they were really past there prime then.

What type were they?

 

[overthewater]

What type were they?

They were old National Express Plaxton Expressline. Citylink was treated like a cash cow for far too long.

 

[computerSaysNo]

They were old National Express Plaxton Expressline. Citylink was treated like a cash cow for far too long.

Thanks, I'll need to look those up. The time I started using Citylink was towards the end of them phasing out the Panther 2s and replacing them with Elites and Panoramas, though I thought the Panther 2s were still in good condition. The only vehicles I thought which were in poor condition were/are the Megabus Astromegas; quite a few of them had condensation in between the double glazing of the windows, and just generally looked quite grubby inside.

 

[Spsf3232]

They were old National Express Plaxton Expressline. Citylink was treated like a cash cow for far too long.

Those type of vehicles have not been used for a long time on Citylink. The last old B10Ms were replaced around about 2010

 

[Stena Galloway]

Those type of vehicles have not been used for a long time on Citylink. The last old B10Ms were replaced around about 2010

I would say they were last used in 2012. Replaced at Rennies by the 62 plate Panther Volvo B13s.

 

[route101]

I would say Citylink have come on in the last five years. I would say it started with the double deck coaches on the AIR and 900 service. I do find the branding confusing with Megabus, Stagecoach, West Coast Motors and other operators in the mix. They now have Ember and Flixbus on their patch.

 

[markymark2000]

I would say Citylink have come on in the last five years. I would say it started with the double deck coaches on the AIR and 900 service. I do find the branding confusing with Megabus, Stagecoach, West Coast Motors and other operators in the mix. They now have Ember and Flixbus on their patch.

I really don't understand the need for Megabus to be in Scotland. Now the sale has gone through for Megabus to ComfortDelGro, all of the Scotland only Megabus routes should be rebranded as Citylink. Megabus should then be just for cross border services and any routes operating solely south of the Scottish border. Consistency is key for a brand and right now Citylink couldn't be much more inconsistent with the contractors that they now have onboard.

 

[Sirius]

I honestly think it should only serve certain stops and not the same ones as the 900, Getting people coming on and asking for Glasgow they may as well get on the bus with a sleeping bag and a shaving kit

I’ve not been on it since they extended the route but previously the 902 driver at the airport spent a good 5-10 minutes explaining to tourists if they waited for the AIR (due 10 mins after a 902 departure) it gets to Glasgow quicker.

 

[route101]

I’ve not been on it since they extended the route but previously the 902 driver at the airport spent a good 5-10 minutes explaining to tourists if they waited for the AIR (due 10 mins after a 902 departure) it gets to Glasgow quicker.

I have seen that at Glasgow Buchanan Bus Station too. I noticed the 902 does not operate into Edinburgh Bus Station, have they run out of space?

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

I noticed the 902 does not operate into Edinburgh Bus Station, have they run out of space?

I thought it was to save money on entry fees.

 

[Stena Galloway]

I thought it was to save money on entry fees.

Edinburgh Bus Station is running at full capacity. Thats why the 902 and the Flix 090 aren't using it.

 

[LiviCrazy]

I have seen that at Glasgow Buchanan Bus Station too. I noticed the 902 does not operate into Edinburgh Bus Station, have they run out of space?

Tbh, with it actually running as a semi-local through Uphall, Broxburn etc it would make sense for it to run from the same place as the Lothian Country and formerly First/McGills, as that’s where the West Lothian public are used to.