First Group: General Discussion

[DragonEast]

I would suggest that a vast part of the success of any bus company is down to a few key personnel. It's difficult to think of any successful bus operation which hasn't got there through the hard work, and commitment, of specific individuals.
With good management and leadership, everyone else is usually more committed to providing better co-operation, customer service etc

True. But it doesn't explain how in some cases their commitment seems to permeate across the organisation, and in other cases the commitment seems the same, or even better, yet doesn't and they remain dream islands. Clearly it's a very complex interaction, and the bus industry isn't any different from any other!

I just suspect that keeping things simple helps. If the people on the ground find themselves trying to do an impossible job aren't they going to try and find their own ways around the problem? And that's when the problems start. Some of us when the going gets tough the tough get going; most of us give up or get flustered.

 

[overthewater]

http://www.manchestereveningnews.co...r-news/bus-services-hit-major-strike-13639044

What on earth is going on at Bolton

A major bus drivers’ strike is set to cause disruption to passengers during EVERY MONDAY of October.

Commuters who use First Manchester are being warned to plan ahead for the action on October 2, 9, 16, 23 and 30.

A total of 43 routes will be affected if the walk-out by 679 staff members from the operator’s Bolton and Rusholme depots goes ahead. That’s most services which run from those branches.

They include 33 Bolton services, three Rusholme routes - and seven school buses.

All public transport and Greater Manchester’s roads are expected to be busier as a result, especially at peak morning and evening times. Key commuter routes are forecast to face the most pressure as people affected by the strike make alternative arrangements.

First bosses are still hoping the dispute with Unite the Union can be resolved - but are preparing for a worst case scenario.

Bus services from First Manchester’s Oldham and Queens Road depots are unaffected, including Manchester’s Metroshuttle.

The dispute follows the rejection of a pay offer by First Manchester. First Manchester staff at other depots are understood to have accepted the offer.

Phil Medlicott, Managing Director at First Manchester, said: “We’re extremely disappointed that staff from two of our depots have decided to take strike action despite a very reasonable pay offer.

“We are working with the Union to try and come to a solution that will avoid strike action, but it’s clear that the Union is intent on causing the maximum amount of disruption and inconvenience. I am truly sorry that our customers will be affected if the industrial action does go ahead.

“We will be working very hard over the next few days to finalise our contingency plans and establish what level of service we will be able to provide.”

The M.E.N has contacted Unite for comment.

Bolton

Service No. Start - End Via Notes

2 Bolton - intu Trafford Centre Kearsley , Swinton, Salford Royal Hospital

8 Bolton - Manchester Farnworth, Pendlebury, Salford Shopping Centre

36 Bolton - Manchester Little Hulton, Walkden, Swinton, Salford Shopping Centre

37 Bolton - Manchester Farnworth, Walkden, Swinton, Salford Shopping Centre

68 Farnworth - intu Trafford Centre Little Hulton, Walkden, Eccles, Salford Royal Hospital, Eccles

95 Salford Shopping Centre - Bury Kersal, Carr Clough, Prestwich, Unsworth

135 Bury - Manchester Whitefield, Cheetham Hill All Journeys will operate with the exception of 2035 2055 2155 2215 2235 2335 2355 0015 from Manchester and the 1945 2005 2105 2125 2145 2245 2305 2325 from Bury. These services which will not run operate from our Bolton depot. All other 135 services operate from our Queen’s Road depot, which is not affected by the strike action

162 Norden - Manchester Heywood, Middleton, Blackley

163 Bury - Manchester Darn Hill, Heywood, Middleton, Blackley

468 Tottington - Jericho Bury, Fairfield Hospital

471 Bolton - Rochdale Breightmet, Bury, Heywood

472 Bury - Ramsbottom - Bury Walmersley, Holcombe Brook

474 Bury - Ramsbottom - Bury Holcombe Brook, Walmersley

501 Farnworth - Johnson Fold Royal Bolton Hospital, Bolton, Brownlow Fold

507 Bolton - Harwood Tonge Moor Rd

510 Bolton - Bury Withins

511 Bolton - Bury Breightmet, Withins

524 Bolton - Bury Little Lever, Radcliffe

561 Withins - Bolton Breightmet

562 Withins - Bolton Breightmet

571 Great Lever - Bolton Swan Ln

572 Great Lever - Bolton Swan Ln

575 Horwich Old Lords Estate - Bolton Chorley New Rd

582 Bolton - Leigh Atherton

986 Swinton - Canon Slade HS Walkden

V1 Leigh - Manchester Royal Infirmary Tydesley, East Lancs. Park and Ride, Manchester

V2 Atherton - - Manchester Royal Infirmary Tydesley, East Lancs. Park and Ride, Manchester

X39 Farnworth - Manchester Little Hulton, Walkden, Pendleton Journeys at 0645 1730 1810 Will NOT Operate, as these run from our Bolton depot. Journeys at 0711 0734 1650 Will Operate as these run from our Queen’s Road depot which is not part of the strike action.

Y38 Bolton - Smithills HS Markland Hill

Y43 Bolton - Thornleigh College Elgin St

Y53 Atherton - St James CEHS Morris Green

Y54 Ainsworth - St Monicas RCHS Radcliffe

Y81 Seedley - St Patricks RCHS Monton Green

Rusholme

41 Sale - Manchester Northenden, West Didsbury, Fallowfield, Rusholme

42 East Didsbury- Manchester Didsbury, Fallowfield, Rusholme

53 Salford Shopping Centre - Cheetham Hill Old Trafford, Rusholme, Longsight, Gorton,

School buses

BN School

986 Canon Slade School

Y53 St James’s C of E School

Y38 Smithills High School

Y43 Thornleigh College

Y54 St Monica’s RC High Sch

Y81 St Patrick’s RC High School

Other First Manchester services, run from our Oldham and Queen’s Road (Cheetham Hill, Manchester) depots, will not be affected.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

http://www.manchestereveningnews.co...r-news/bus-services-hit-major-strike-13639044

What on earth is going on at Bolton

Calm yourself. It is Industrial action at a couple of depots. You may equally ask what is going on at Stagecoach Devon!

Unfortunate for the public but not unknown and, I predict, will be more prevalent as driver shortages are exacerbated by brexit!

 

[Robertj21a]

Interesting to note that Richard Adam (ex-Carillion) has stepped down from the board of First Group after only 7 months.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Interesting to note that Richard Adam (ex-Carillion) has stepped down from the board of First Group after only 7 months.

Given the s**tstorm that erupted there a few months ago, it isn't entirely surprising.

 

[route101]

Some of the Ticketer machines are now on caley buses , i think you have to scan the mobile phone ticket

 

[GaryMcEwan]

Some of the Ticketer machines are now on caley buses , i think you have to scan the mobile phone ticket

You have to scan anything that has a QR Code. A message will appear on the display telling you if the QR Code has been accepted or not...

 

[route101]

You have to scan anything that has a QR Code. A message will appear on the display telling you if the QR Code has been accepted or not...

What else has a OR code , the driver was having a hard time getting people to do that , some had the appsbut no barcode . I stopped using the app because it wouldnt load in time for the bus or crash , probably more my phone .

 

[Volvodart]

What else has a OR code , the driver was having a hard time getting people to do that , some had the appsbut no barcode . I stopped using the app because it wouldnt load in time for the bus or crash , probably more my phone .

If you have no barcode, you just show the phone to the driver as normal. The bar codes will only work if you purchased the ticket after a certain date.

 

[ooo]

I think the new ticket machines can also produce a barcode

Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk

 

[BBC]

What else has a OR code , the driver was having a hard time getting people to do that , some had the appsbut no barcode . I stopped using the app because it wouldnt load in time for the bus or crash , probably more my phone .

Over the last week I’ve seen the barcode may times, I think it’s slowly being rolled out for people in Bristol in pre for the new machines in October.

 

[Harbouring]

I think the new ticket machines can also produce a barcode

Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk

Yeah for returns, day tickets and weekly tickets. It makes loading quicker once people have gotten used it. (This is referring to First Portsmouth)

 

[NorthernSpirit]

It would seem that First in the Potteries have started everywhere every other first operating company follow suit with the NXWM style front on top of First livery

There's only four versions of this livery in West Yorkshire and those are the Calder Connect (mushy pea green), Red Arrow (red), Holme Valley Connection (red) and Zest503 (orange).

What suprise me the most is that it hasn't been adopted in Leeds, where I think it would work very well - especially on the service 5 LeedsCityBus as well as the 1 and 6, the 2, 3, 12, 13 and variants, the 4, the 33 and 33a, the 40, the 55, and the 56. It'd make a bit of a change with the Pulse branding.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Yeah for returns, day tickets and weekly tickets. It makes loading quicker once people have gotten used it. (This is referring to First Portsmouth)

Had to scan our day tickets on First Kernow - bit odd after 30 years of merely showing tickets to the driver but that's progress

 

[bluenoxid]

There's only four versions of this livery in West Yorkshire and those are the Calder Connect (mushy pea green), Red Arrow (red), Holme Valley Connection (red) and Zest503 (orange).

What suprise me the most is that it hasn't been adopted in Leeds, where I think it would work very well - especially on the service 5 LeedsCityBus as well as the 1 and 6, the 2, 3, 12, 13 and variants, the 4, the 33 and 33a, the 40, the 55, and the 56. It'd make a bit of a change with the Pulse branding.

I personally think First are waiting in Leeds to see what the Council are going to deliver with this £173.5m. No point in rebranding buses if they mostly get replaced in two years or so.

 

[Volvodart]

One more problem for First Glasgow:-

http://www.scotsman.com/news/transport/dirty-engine-buses-face-glasgow-city-centre-ban-1-4566585

Dirty engine buses face Glasgow city centre ban
Hope Street is among Glasgow city centre's most polluted streets. Picture: John Devlin
Hope Street is among Glasgow city centre's most polluted streets. Picture: John Devlin

ALASTAIR DALTON
Published: 16:39
Thursday 21 September 2017

HAVE YOUR SAY
Buses lacking the cleanest diesel engines would be the first vehicles to be banned from Glasgow city centre under anti-pollution measures due to be introduced next year.

Firms could ultimately lose their operating licences if they ran other buses through what’s expected to be Scotland’s first low emission zone (LEZ), the city council said today.

However, bus firms expressed anger at being singled out and warned that fares could rise and services cut.

Environmental campaigners also urged that other vehicles should be included in the restrictions from the start.

The council is expected to impose quotas on operators that will progressively increase the proportion of buses in the zone required to have compliant engines.

At present, just one in ten buses in main operator First Glasgow’s fleet have such Euro VI engines.

The council plans to target the 800 buses which use the city centre first because they cause the greatest health-threatening nitrogen dioxide pollution.

Some 300 premature deaths a year in Glasgow are caused by poor air quality.

The council hopes the move will reduced levels of the pollutant in the worst thoroughfares, such as Hope Street, by about 25 per cent.

In such streets, buses cause 70 per cent of the pollution.

The council has given no indication of when cars, taxis and lorries would face restrictions.

However, three quarters of diesel cars and taxis do not have the required cleanest engines.

That also goes for half the total number of cars in the city.

The LEZ boundaries have not been set, but it could cover an area bordered by the M8, River Clyde and High Street/Saltmarket, similar to the current air quality management area.

The Scottish Government is expected to help fund the retrofitting of bus engines so their exhausts can become complaint.

The council said it would cost about £15,000 per bus - a tenth of the £150,000 cost of a new vehicle.

LEZ restrictions would be enforced using number plate cameras, which already operate on some streets to deter other vehicles from using bus lanes.

The council expects Traffic Commissioner for Scotland Joan Aitken to add conditions to operators’ licences to enforce the restrictions.

If firms broke their quotas for the number of non-compliant buses entering the zone, they could be reported to the commissioner.

Sanctions include licences to operate being revoked.

Anna Richardson, the council’s sustainability and carbon reduction convener, said the bus quotas would be based on “what’s reasonable within a certain time period...the timescales are up for debate”.

She said: “People using buses have a right to be on clean buses and breathe clean air at bus stops.”

“It will make the city centre more pleasant and make for a nicer public transport experience.”

Ms Richardson added that if cars were restricted at a later stage, “We are not saying you have to change your car, but you may not be able to bring it into the heart of town.

“The city centre is very accessible by cycling, walking and public transport.”

However, the council stressed the city centre’s pollution levels did not make it dangerous to visit, as limits for short-term exposure had not been breached.

Although Glasgow has been in the lead, Edinburgh also wants to have Scotland’s LEZ.

It is possible that the capital might be chosen first, as a higher proportion of its buses have the cleanest diesel engines.

These include one in three of Lothian Buses’ fleet - the city’s main operator, and one in five of First Scotland East’s.

However, Glasgow’s need is arguably greater, with one third more deaths from pollution than the 200 a year in Edinburgh.

Transport minister Humza Yousaf, who launched a Scotland-wide consultation on LEZs two weeks ago, has said only that the first will be established next year.

The three other largest cities - which also include Aberdeen and Dundee - would follow by 2020.

Friends of the Earth applauded Glasgow’s “strong” proposal but said other vehicles should be included from the start.

Air pollution campaigner Emilia Hanna said: “LEZs are a life saving intervention, proven to reduce harmful levels of emissions and Glasgow City Council is to be congratulated for bringing forward plans which will allow children to breathe cleaner air and live healthier futures.

“The area that the council has proposed, which spans the city centre, is clearly the right choice, because this busy area, where many people live, work and relax in is a designated pollution zone which regularly experiences dangerous levels of pollution.

“Whilst the council’s ambition to have an LEZ is welcome, it’s very disappointing the plans would only restrict buses in the first instance.

“The Glasgow LEZ should apply to buses, lorries, and vans from the start and to include cars and taxis at a later stage.”

The Confederation of Passenger Transport, which represents bus operators, warned the plans could see fare increase and services cut.

Spokesman Paul White: “It is disappointing the council has drafted this report without consulting local bus operators or waiting for the ongoing national LEZ consultation to conclude.

“Introducing an LEZ without proper consideration of the impact on bus operators can lead to unintended consequences that gravely damage the wider bus service network.

“Operators unable to meet new vehicle standards may be forced to withdraw services operating within the LEZ or mitigate the cost of accelerated fleet renewal through the farebox.

“Both reactions will reduce bus use, increase car journeys, and worsen congestion and air quality.

“We will look to engage with the council to discuss this report and what complementary measures it intends to put in place to reduce congestion, increase traffic speeds and enable modal shift to bus.

“If that is not the council’s intended approach, then this report is punitive to bus passengers and will fail to tackle the underlying causes of poor city centre air quality.”

First Glasgow said buses should not be targeted first.

Managing director Andrew Jarvis said: “We are fully supportive of the Scottish Government’s plans for LEZs and we believe improving air quality can be best achieved through working in partnership with Glasgow City Council and other partners and stakeholders.

“However, as Glasgow’s biggest bus operator, First Glasgow is deeply disappointed that the city council’s proposals focus only on bus, which is the one form of road transport capable of reducing congestion and improving air quality on the city’s roads, given that one bus can absorb the people from 75 cars.

“In particular, this bus-only approach is in stark contrast to the current Transport Scotland consultation, Building Scotland’s Low Emission Zones, which specifically states that ‘bus-only LEZs are not being proposed in this consultation for any location in Scotland’.

“Our disappointment continues with the lack of engagement and consultation surrounding these specific proposals.”

The council denied the LEZ was designed to be bus only.

A report on its plans will be considered by the city administration committee next Thursday.

Ms Richardson said: “Poor air quality is a significant public health concern and a major social justice issue for Glasgow.

“This report is the first step towards reaching our aspiration to be the first city in Scotland to introduce a LEZ and we will be actively consulting with the public and organisations as part of this.

“This is the start of the conversation and certainly not, by any means, a final proposal.”

A spokesman for the Scottish Government’s Transport Scotland agency, said: “We welcome that Glasgow City Council is already giving consideration to the implementation of a LEZ. We would encourage local authorities to be ambitious in their proposals for LEZs.

“We have launched a detailed national consultation on low emission zones to ensure the public’s views are fully taken into account.”

http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/15550810.Warning_plan_for___39_bus_only__39__low_emissions_zone_in_Glasgow_will_trigger_massive_fare_hikes/

Warning plan for 'bus-only' low emissions zone in Glasgow will trigger massive fare hikes
Helen McArdle @HMcardleHT
Health Correspondent

Warning plan for 'bus-only' low emissions zone in Glasgow will trigger massive fare hikes

BUS operators will be banned from driving in Glasgow city centre by the end of 2018 unless their vehicles meet the toughest European standards for emissions, under plans to radically improve air quality.

Pollution is estimated to cause around 300 premature deaths in Glasgow a year. The city council is now seeking approval for plans to establish Scotland’s first Low Emissions Zone (LEZ) by the end of next year, but the restriction would initially only apply to buses.

Environmental campaigners said it was “very disappointing” that the LEZ would not also apply to lorries and vans from the start, while bus companies warned that it could lead to fare hikes or exacerbate congestion if operators were forced to axe services and passengers reverted to cars instead.

The plan means bus operators will be required to purchase new buses which meet the cleanest ‘Euro 6’ rating for nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons and particulates, or retro-fit existing buses with equipment to bring their emissions down to a compliant standard.

Strathclyde Partnership for Transport estimates that the cost to the bus industry will be in the region of £10-17 million, although taxpayers are likely to foot at least some of the bill through schemes such as the Scottish Government’s Green Bus Fund.

Papers which will be voted on at the council’s Sustainability and Environment committee next week state that restricting the LEZ to buses in the first phase “promises the most significant immediate benefits for air quality in the city centre”. It said buses generate 70 to 80 per cent of nitrogen oxide in highly congested parts of the city centre, like Hope Street. It is thought that the LEZ will cut levels of nitrogen oxide in these blackspots by around 20 per cent.

Councillor Anna Richardson, convenor for sustainability and carbon reduction, said: “We know there are 300 premature deaths a year in Glasgow as a result of poor air quality. If that isn’t a reason to make you want to act, then I don’t know what is.”

The council intends to gradually extend the LEZ to lorries, vans, taxis, motorbikes and eventually to private cars, but this is expected to take several years.

Ms Richardson added: “If people are thinking about changing their cars then this might give them a push, but it’s years away.”

The LEZ will initially be enforced though Traffic Regulation Conditions, rather than fines. Bus operators will be required to ensure that a minimum percentage of their fleet are Euro 6 compliant and that no non-compliant vehicles are used on routes within the LEZ, which will be monitored by cameras. Companies breaching either condition would be called before the Traffic Commissioner for Scotland where they could face sanctions such as having their licence revoked. The exact area covered by the LEZ is still to be determined.

In future, when other road users are covered by the ban, drivers will be fined for entering the LEZ if their vehicle exceeds the emissions limit.

Emilia Hanna, an air pollution campaigner at Friends of the Earth Scotland, said: “Whilst the council’s ambition to have an LEZ is welcome, it’s very disappointing that the plans would only restrict buses in the first instance. The Glasgow LEZ should apply to buses, lorries, and vans from the start and to cars and taxis at a later stage. This would help ensure even bigger improvements for the health of Glaswegians.”

A spokesman for the Confederation of Passenger Transport (CPT) Scotland said operators had not been consulted on the report and warned the plan could “gravely damage” the city’s bus service. He added: “Operators unable to meet new vehicle standards may be forced to withdraw services operating within the LEZ or mitigate the cost of accelerated fleet renewal through the farebox. Both reactions will reduce bus use, increase car journeys, and worsen congestion and air quality.”

Ralph Roberts, managing director of McGill’s said the outcome would be fewer services or "unprecedented fares increases".

Andrew Jarvis, managing director of First Glasgow, said it supported plans for an LEZ but was "deeply disappointed" by the focus on buses. He added that buses were "the one form of road transport capable of reducing congestion and improving air quality on the city’s roads, given that one bus can convey the people from 75 cars."

THE race is on to create Scotland's first low emissions zone, with both Glasgow and Edinburgh drawing up plans designed to cut hazardous air pollution from traffic.

These toxic fumes - largely from diesel vehicles - have been blamed for 3,500 premature deaths a year in Scotland and 300 in Glasgow. Air pollution from cars, vans, buses and lorries can trigger heart attacks and strokes. The emissions aggravate lung diseases such as asthma and one recent study also found that those living near major roads were significantly more likely to develop dementia.


In Germany, research estimated that LEZs had delivered nearly $2 billion of health benefits at a cost of just over $1bn for upgrading the country’s fleet of private and commercial vehicles.

However, proposals to restrict Glasgow's first phase solely to buses has gone down like a lead balloon with operators. They fear the proposed timescale may be unworkable given that new bus orders can take 18-24 months to deliver, and retrofitting requires around two days per bus.

There is uncertainty over the level of public funding which will be available to overhaul bus fleets, and operators were keen to draw attention to a line in the Scottish Government's ongoing national consultation on LEZs which states that "bus-only LEZs are not being proposed for any location in Scotland".

Queried on how this squares with the proposals being put forward by Glasgow City Council, a spokesman for Transport Scotland suggested that since what the council envisages is a staggered introduction of bans on other types of vehicles over time, it was "not really a bus-only LEZ".

However, Transport Scotland added that it would "encourage local authorities to be ambitious in their proposals for LEZs" - which seems like either praise for the fairly rapid timescale proposed, or a swipe at the failure to include lorries and vans from day one.

As the council itself stresses, the report is only "the start of the conversation". An updated version is expected within six months. Clearly it would be unfair if passengers incur fare hikes or cancelled services as a result of the LEZ being rushed out. But the longer the delays, the longer Glasgow misses out on the potential health benefits.

 

[route101]

Had to scan our day tickets on First Kernow - bit odd after 30 years of merely showing tickets to the driver but that's progress

Much easier just to show the driver eh

 

[route101]

One more problem for First Glasgow:-

http://www.scotsman.com/news/transport/dirty-engine-buses-face-glasgow-city-centre-ban-1-4566585



http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/15550810.Warning_plan_for___39_bus_only__39__low_emissions_zone_in_Glasgow_will_trigger_massive_fare_hikes/

Funny thing is the newest deckers are now on the x routes out of Buchanan Bus Station

 

[smtglasgow]

First must have seen the Glasgow LEZ coming – Hope St always tops the list of most polluted roads in Scotland. Maybe, just maybe, there is a plan. Perhaps the current investment ‘holiday’ will lead to a large new order in time for the LEZ. The Glasgow business could certainly support the investment over the lifetime of any new stock, but there might be question marks about Firstgroup’s ability/willingness to put up the initial funds for the purchases. Of course, if other cities across the UK start pushing for their own LEZ (and why wouldn’t they?), then it becomes a huge headache… Interesting to see that Andrew Jarvis seems less hostile to the idea than McGill’s Ralph Roberts.

 

[overthewater]

Most of the buses used by Mcgills are alot newer and I bet would pass the new tests?s

 

[route101]

Most of the buses used by Mcgills are alot newer and I bet would pass the new tests?s

Yeah true but they have such a varied fleet

 

[NorthernSpirit]

I personally think First are waiting in Leeds to see what the Council are going to deliver with this £173.5m. No point in rebranding buses if they mostly get replaced in two years or so.

What I do know is that Leeds are suppose to be getting something that resembles the Borismaster but whether that is still going ahead I do not know but what I do know is that a few more Park and Ride sites are to be built such as one that is to be built at Stourton which will be served by the PR3.

 

[Goldfish62]

Had to scan our day tickets on First Kernow - bit odd after 30 years of merely showing tickets to the driver but that's progress

Scanning records the ticket which allows much more data on journey usage and travel patterns to be collected.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Scanning records the ticket which allows much more data on journey usage and travel patterns to be collected.

I know - I was being a bit facetious. It's all about "big data".

 

[overthewater]

I agree that just going after buses is not the full answer, there need to overhaul the current road set up with Glasgow. You can travel down Wellington street and get stuck at every single light going down the one way system is bonkers. I actually think there should block off a few of the roads and turn then into car parks or something.

The Scottish Government is expected to help fund the retrofitting of bus engines so their exhausts can become complaint.The council said it would cost about £15,000 per bus - a tenth of the £150,000 cost of a new vehicle.

I wouldn't waste the money doing that on half FiG fleet, most need replacing, it would be wasting money down the drain especially on the 51/52 plates, if you did that to other parts of the fleet its money it doesn't have spare.

Ms Richardson needs to shut his face, It's clear he only going after buses yet bypasses all the cars traveling around the city.

Also that newspaper has lazy people, writing the stories "and one in five of First Scotland East’s." yes but fails to say is all of First newest stock is used on the Edinburgh routes.

Still don't get what Ralph Roberts, moaning about most of his stock on the Glasgow BAR Route 3 are pretty much new, I wouldn't be surprised if he buys some more new buses for the 23/26 and just cascaded the current stock to the Paisley locals.

Simple fact with First is, its dig itself into a hole and its needing to try alot better in Glasgow. During its time when its controlled the Scotrail, bus passenger decline, while Train passengers increase alot. Now First lost Scotrail and is left with FiG. To be fair there is plenty of scope for new ideas but it really needs to get its act together. Silverburn is pretty busy, but bus usage isn't, mind you some of the links to that place especially in a sunday are not great. Simplycit I dont think has actually worked and has ground itself to much with Glasgow City centre instead of looking at all part of Glasgow. There are 5 -6 things there could do for starters to improve the network.

 

[the101]

In a way I can see why buses are being targeted in Glasgow. While First has some new kit, a fair chunk of the fleet there is presented poorly and looks well overdue for replacement. While those old Tridents and B7s are, I am sure, entirely roadworthy, they create a very poor image in the eyes of the layman. They look exactly what they are; buses that have been worked almost to death that represent 1990s technology.

What I do not understand with all this focus on urban air quality is where taxis come into it. Walk past any taxi rank in any city and it is not uncommon for it to be full of battered old heaps that are left ticking over for extended periods while waiting for the next fare.

These things spew fumes and there is very often a gross over-supply of them. Where they return to the city or town centre for the next fare, they contribute more to pollution than private cars thanks to the amount of unproductive empty running. But outside London, where is the political will to deal with them?

 

[overthewater]

Can someone confirm the following?

First bus Fleet orders are now down locally and there will no longer be any national announcements. I think this is a load of hogwash and is alll because of this years idea to two this years order and clamped it together with next years order to save some pennies? There been alot of angry comments about this elsewhere.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

There been alot of angry comments about this elsewhere.

Who from?

 

[overthewater]

Who from?

Over on the Facebook page which covers First bus fans.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Over on the Facebook page which covers First bus fans.

The views of some enthusiasts really aren't something to keep them awake at night. They have bigger fish to fry