Strange one, but Stagecoach have been steadily removing express Glasgow routes since COVID, even in the west.
The dead running for the X19 must have been something.
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Stagecoach West Scotland
- Thread starter ClydeCoaster
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The dead running for the X19 must have been something.
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AndrewTaylor95
Member
They should've ran the dead runs as X25s
Metal Mickey
Member
To Easterhouse and QEUH?
AndrewTaylor95
Member
Why not?, First done similar with the 3×× & 8×× series of numbers, Could alter the numbers to be like X20 and X26
I lived in Cumbernauld between 1979 and 1987 and then again between 1996 and 2003.
The original X40 and X50 (maybe X4/X5 - can't remember) from Abronhill to Anderston Cross were a great improvement and I could even get a bus home from the bottom of Hope Street to Abronhill after midnight.
Returning in the mid 90's the X25 was simply streets ahead (even free coffee for a while) and revolutionised bus travel from Abronhill to Buchanan Street.
I'm amazed and sad to find out that Stagecoach have managed to make a mess of it.
The original X40 and X50 (maybe X4/X5 - can't remember) from Abronhill to Anderston Cross were a great improvement and I could even get a bus home from the bottom of Hope Street to Abronhill after midnight.
Returning in the mid 90's the X25 was simply streets ahead (even free coffee for a while) and revolutionised bus travel from Abronhill to Buchanan Street.
I'm amazed and sad to find out that Stagecoach have managed to make a mess of it.
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overthewater
Established Member
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Alas the Stagecoach of 1997 isn't the same stagecoach of today.
None of the groups around in 1997 are the same groups today. Stagecoach is the same in name only.
JKP
Member
Which depot runs the X74 Dumfries from the Glasgow end? Is this Cumbernauld?
scotraildriver
Established Member
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- 1,846
It really was a fabulous service when it first started. Comfortable, articulated coaches were a novelty at the time and coffee/orange juice and a muffin on morning services. It really transformed Cumbernauld services and it's a shame it's come to this.
Stan Drews
Established Member
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Yes.
First tried the x19 before and it never worked
First inherited the X19 upon the takeover of SBL/KCB in the 90s. Stagecoach then started their own version which missed out Garthamlock. First then re-routed the X19 off the motorway to become the 19 which originally ran via Ruchazie and Royston Road. First's number 11 back then was re-routed to service Robroyston and the 19 was re-routed to go via Millerston and the bottom end of Craigend to replace that part of the 11.
It's all that is left of the Stagecoach Glasgow routes from early 2000s and has seen them withdraw from Castlemilk, Milton, Clydebank, Drumchapel, East Kilbride, Pollock, Baillieston and now Cumbernauld as well as the short lived hospital to Maryhill service.
Sadly I don't see the X19 lasting long and I suspect eventually when the shared depot with West Coast Motors is operational it will eventually be taken over by them. Perhaps even in the short term by WCM operating it with their own vehicles similar to the past when Parks of Hamilton ran the Cumbernauld as service and east Kilbride locals and Dart Buses ran the Pollock services
AndrewTaylor95
Member
Can't see it going any other way than being passed on or dropped completely with it being the only service run in the City, not half became a shaddow of themselves is Stagecoach Western
smtglasgow
Member
I think if Stagecoach came off the X19 First would have another go. Even if just to stop a competitor getting a foothold in Easterhouse. Not convinced First would want to go out to the hospital as that might take away some of the 77's business.
NorthClyde320
Member
Has it definitely been confirmed that Stagecoach will move what work it will have left at Cumbernauld depot to a sharing arrangement at West Coast's Charles Street depot and will there even be enough room for it all? Would it not make more sense to source their own depot in or near to the City Centre?
If the sharing arrangement is what is happening it would make it easier to transfer the X19 if Stagecoach do decide to give it up. Would still be surprised if it did happen as they have been operating to Easterhouse since the early 90's first with Routemasters playing their trade on the motorway during the Magicbus days till KCB/GCT took over then returning in the late 90's with Alexander and Northern Counties bodied Volvo's.
If the sharing arrangement is what is happening it would make it easier to transfer the X19 if Stagecoach do decide to give it up. Would still be surprised if it did happen as they have been operating to Easterhouse since the early 90's first with Routemasters playing their trade on the motorway during the Magicbus days till KCB/GCT took over then returning in the late 90's with Alexander and Northern Counties bodied Volvo's.
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The irony is they moved depot from Blochairn Road, just round the corner from Charles Steet to Cumbernauld.
NorthClyde320
Member
Yes, I actually checked to see if that was still vacant but not sure it is now. Didn't they move to Cumbernauld as it had a proper toilet emptying facility for coaches since it's Midland/Kelvin days and Blochairn didn't?
The old depot is now used by Evri so that's out of the question.
The depot sharing was put to staff recently when they got told however not sure if Charles Street will have space for all X19 vehicles and Citylink 900 allocation so will be interesting to see what happens unless we have South Street coming back into operation if that's not been taken over since WCM moved out.
NorthClyde320
Member
So South Street has closed, I wasn't sure as I recall seeing it's allocation reduced with Charles Street increased but when I looked at West Coast licence South Street has been removed. Charles Street also houses the City Sightseeing fleet and associated electric charging infrastructure I'm assuming?
AndrewTaylor95
Member
No, reverted back to Cumbernauld a while ago
Route One: Bus priority failures cited in Stagecoach Cumbernauld closure plan
Bus priority failures cited in Stagecoach Cumbernauld closure plan
Operator gives changes to Scottish Citylink work and extended journey times as further reasons
routeone Team
Published: 28 January 2026
Stagecoach South Scotland has announced closure plans for its Cumbernauld depot, with the operator citing the impact of falling traffic speeds and a lack of progress on bus priority measures as being influences on its decision.
Despite that, a review of operations was triggered by what the business says was withdrawal by Scottish Citylink of Megabus-branded services M11 and M20 between the central belt and London in late 2025, with which Cumbernauld depot was involved via joint venture.
“Their removal required Stagecoach to assess the viability of its remaining joint venture and local service operations at the depot,” the operator says in a statement. The planned closure of Cumbernauld will sit alongside an end to Stagecoach operation of that location’s part of the long-distance Saltire Cross element of the Scottish Citylink network.
In addition, services X25 and X25A between Abronhill and Glasgow will be withdrawn as unviable, with those routes having been returning “a sustained loss,” Stagecoach says. First Bus will replace them from 5 April, but Stagecoach adds that an end to both the Scottish Citylink duties that have ceased or will cease and the X25 group leaves Cumbernauld no longer viable.
Other express services there – routes X19 and X74 and the Scottish Citylink 900 between Glasgow and Edinburgh – will continue to operate but with a move to a base closer to Glasgow. Work is underway to identify the most appropriate location, Stagecoach notes.
Consultation with affected employees and their trade unions is underway but the group has warned that redundancies may be required.
Says Stagecoach South Scotland Managing Director Fiona Doherty: “We recognise that this is difficult and unsettling news for our colleagues and the communities we serve. Decisions like this are never taken lightly.
“We are fully committed to supporting our people through this process and to working with partners to ensure that customers continue to have access to safe and reliable bus services.”
Stagecoach adds that difficulties at Cumbernauld depot have been compounded by rising costs, peak journey times having increased by more than 25%, and “the lack of progress on priority measures for buses.”
The latter is thought to refer to the controversial Bus Partnership Fund (BPF) in Scotland. It was launched in 2020 by the Scottish Government amid talk of a £500 million allocation but ‘paused’ in 2024 among a hail of criticism with only a small fraction spent. One party claimed 17 projects were ready to start at that time.
The BPF was subsequently terminated, with a new Bus Infrastructure Fund introduced to handle bus priority spending in Scotland. At that scheme’s launch it was said that work already done by the BPF would be built upon.
AndrewTaylor95
Member
Managing directors as usual spouting the same old regurgitated nonsense, "Never taken lighty", I hope they keep the workers employed
Jordan Adam
Established Member
Surprised it hasn't been posted here already but according to an internal post that i have seen the X19, X74 and Citylink 900 will be fully transferring to West Coast Motors with some staff being TUPED over. The 909 will be transferring to Perth.
NorthClyde320
Member
Maybe because there has been so many rumours and different stories coming out so far, I think the early announcement from First reg the Cumbernauld express services didn't help as probably Stagecoach still had other areas to sort and finalize before they can or will make a proper announcement.
Can Charles Street even accommodate all the extra work as this is why people said the sharing arrangement was out of the question? Will the X19 & X74 be full West Coast services and how will that even work on the X74 when 3 journeys start from Dumfries?
Again so many questions but no definitive answers yet.
Can Charles Street even accommodate all the extra work as this is why people said the sharing arrangement was out of the question? Will the X19 & X74 be full West Coast services and how will that even work on the X74 when 3 journeys start from Dumfries?
Again so many questions but no definitive answers yet.