First Greater Glasgow

[lastbus]

Where exactly? North Lanarkshire and Dunbartonshire are littered with buses that are well over 15 years old. Don't see them being forced off the road any time soon.

Where in north Lanarkshire are you on about as in Motherwell firsts buses are mostly 63-68 plates. 24 brand new buses have gone to Overtown depot in the past 6 months.

 

[jazza374]

Where in north Lanarkshire are you on about as in Motherwell firsts buses are mostly 63-68 plates. 24 brand new buses have gone to Overtown depot in the past 6 months.

Absolutely correct. Oldest vehicles in North Lanarkshire are the few ex Jersey buses running around and 42885-88 at Overtown (05 plate darts).
In fact, Overtown must have the most modern fleet of virtually any First depot in the UK, and it’s great to see.

 

[Jordan Adam]

In fact, Overtown must have the most modern fleet of virtually any First depot in the UK, and it’s great to see.

Possibly Livingston given the majority of the fleet is 5 years old or younger? I'd have to double check though as i'm not the most in tune with what is currently at Overtown.

 

[Bus Lightyear]

I think what Glasgow needs is smaller singles like the E200MMCs which have been introduced on Lanarkshire local services for routes like the 8, 90, 46, 16. Routes which aren’t majorly busy the full route but still see good numbers. These routes see any random spare buses because that’s all they have. Given the 8, 90 and 16 go through the hospital it would be nice to upgrade them with something more economical rather than empty deckers. I also imagine more E200MMCs may be on the way to oust the remaining B10BLEs and B7Ls.

It would be nice to see some deckers introduced on the 2 after being deprived of them. The 4, 5 and 60 could be doing with some investment too not to mention the 19/19A. Most of the low height deckers have strayed off the 6 in recent months so it would be good if they could make up their mind what they intend to do with this route (ie making it single operated or not) instead of flooding it with tired B7RLEs.

Unfortunately I cant see the likes of the 8, 16, 46 and 90 getting new buses as they're not affected by LEZ and I cant imagine they're on the list of First Glasgow's highest earners. The 4, 5, 19 and 60 add in the 7, 10 and 41 will have to be upgraded to either new buses or retrofitted B7s or B9s.

 

[SarahDFIG]

The reason the E200s are away is due to the fact they are too high spec for normal service work and also not cost effective to refit them.

Plenty more vehicles coming with more due by the end of the year.

Older vehicles will be coming onto the fleet which should see the B10BLEs off fleet but these vehicles are putting up a good fight to remain on fleet longer.

in regards to NL vehicles, Think someone hasnt been outside recently as all the B10/B7s and Marshall darts all away from Overtown leaving mostly E5/E6 vehicles apart from 1/2 caetano darts and 3 05 plate darts. I would personally say Overtown has the best age vehicle profile in First Bus. I can see Overtown getting more E5/E6 to replace the rest in the coming future as it looks like First Glasgow have made a point to try and get a depot with a good age profile and Overtown fit the bill.

In regards to the E300s 201 branding. They will be branded in the very near future and the branding has a few issues. The vehicles were painted in advance so the vehicles could be branded up quicker.

Not posted any fleet updates recently but here we go.

61557/97 / 53204 awaiting collection for scrap
61599 on fleet at dumbarton
61661 on fleet at caley
66944/58 from Cymru to Caley

 

[Bus Lightyear]

How hard would it be for Glasgow to use their bonce and send them off to get the luggage racks taken out and upseated? Commercial decision or not, it's utter nonsense that buses that are not even 3 years old are being swapped for buses that are almost 17 years.

SPT and/or the Councils in and around Glasgow should be really be cracking down on the amount of buses on the road that are over a certain age...

It doesn't seem like you've been paying attention. They replaced 16 plate singles with 19 plate deckers on the 500. I think that's a very positive step.

As for First moving the single decks to another area in the group where they're running airport services, I think that's a very logical decision as it would be very expensive to refurbish 3 year old buses for service work. Also what route in Glasgow could justify vehicles with coach seats? And as there are only 10 of them it would have to be a route that takes 9 peak buses.

 

[Bus Lightyear]

The reason the E200s are away is due to the fact they are too high spec for normal service work and also not cost effective to refit them.

Plenty more vehicles coming with more due by the end of the year.

Older vehicles will be coming onto the fleet which should see the B10BLEs off fleet but these vehicles are putting up a good fight to remain on fleet longer.

in regards to NL vehicles, Think someone hasnt been outside recently as all the B10/B7s and Marshall darts all away from Overtown leaving mostly E5/E6 vehicles apart from 1/2 caetano darts and 3 05 plate darts. I would personally say Overtown has the best age vehicle profile in First Bus. I can see Overtown getting more E5/E6 to replace the rest in the coming future as it looks like First Glasgow have made a point to try and get a depot with a good age profile and Overtown fit the bill.

In regards to the E300s 201 branding. They will be branded in the very near future and the branding has a few issues. The vehicles were painted in advance so the vehicles could be branded up quicker.

Not posted any fleet updates recently but here we go.

61557/97 / 53204 awaiting collection for scrap
61599 on fleet at dumbarton
61661 on fleet at caley
66944/58 from Cymru to Caley

I understand you've mostly listed singles but what type of bus is 53204?

 

[lastbus]

Possibly Livingston given the majority of the fleet is 5 years old or younger? I'd have to double check though as i'm not the most in tune with what is currently at Overtown.

Possibly Livingston given the majority of the fleet is 5 years old or younger? I'd have to double check though as i'm not the most in tune with what is currently at Overtown.

Overtown has 7 older buses. The rest are 62 plate or newer. Livingston have a few Caetano darts and some B7RLEs I’m sure. I think for the size of the depot Overtown may have the most modern.

 

[lastbus]

I understand you've mostly listed singles but what type of bus is 53204?

Optare solo.

 

[SarahDFIG]

I understand you've mostly listed singles but what type of bus is 53204?

Optare Solo - TU04 TRU

Beyond economical repair

 

[Bus Lightyear]

Cheers

 

[Bus Lightyear]

Where in north Lanarkshire are you on about as in Motherwell firsts buses are mostly 63-68 plates. 24 brand new buses have gone to Overtown depot in the past 6 months.

I think it's reasonable to suggest that once the cities are fully up and running with LEZ, towns like Motherwell, Coatbridge, Clydebank, Stirling etc will be tackled next. That could have a major impact on the smaller operators who tend to buy old second hand buses.

 

[awsnews]

Not posted any fleet updates recently but here we go.

61599 on fleet at dumbarton

Dumbarton do seem to be struggling with the B10BLEs, despite all the recent arrivals. Over the last couple of weeks I have seen E300s on the 206 and 208 and a couple of days ago a double appeared on the 206, possibly the same borrowed one that was on the 1C/D yesterday.
I don't think the local routes need full size vehicles but with a lack of mid sized alternatives to transfer in there isn't much choice.

 

[Whiteway215]

Not posted any fleet updates recently but here we go.

61557/97 / 53204 awaiting collection for scrap
61599 on fleet at dumbarton
61661 on fleet at caley
66944/58 from Cymru to Caley

With respect didn't 61557 go some time ago?

 

[route101]

I think what Glasgow needs is smaller singles like the E200MMCs which have been introduced on Lanarkshire local services for routes like the 8, 90, 46, 16. Routes which aren’t majorly busy the full route but still see good numbers. These routes see any random spare buses because that’s all they have. Given the 8, 90 and 16 go through the hospital it would be nice to upgrade them with something more economical rather than empty deckers. I also imagine more E200MMCs may be on the way to oust the remaining B10BLEs and B7Ls.

It would be nice to see some deckers introduced on the 2 after being deprived of them. The 4, 5 and 60 could be doing with some investment too not to mention the 19/19A. Most of the low height deckers have strayed off the 6 in recent months so it would be good if they could make up their mind what they intend to do with this route (ie making it single operated or not) instead of flooding it with tired B7RLEs.

19 is linked to the 46 i think .

8 , 90 and 16 are mostly singles , theres a peak 90 decker though .
Yeah the 4 has gone back to older buses , usually got new ones , does follow the the 6 and is bit secondary .
6 all singles ? Not a good idea , not sure on the low heights on other routes maybe its to provide a modern bus on the 4

 

[JumpinTrainz]

Has it officially been confirmed that more buses are due by the end of the year?

 

[Jordan Adam]

Has it officially been confirmed that more buses are due by the end of the year?

No, but i'd be very surprised if there wasn't more.

To answer my own question earlier in the thread i have been informed there are no B10BLEs left in full service in Glasgow, However 6 do remain in reserve.

 

[SarahDFIG]

With respect didn't 61557 go some time ago?

it was destined for scrap then moved onto reserve and I believe was used but it's now back on the scrap line

Has it officially been confirmed that more buses are due by the end of the year?

Not yet should be publicly announced soon.

No, but i'd be very surprised if there wasn't more.

To answer my own question earlier in the thread i have been informed there are no B10BLEs left in full service in Glasgow, However 6 do remain in reserve.

Dumbarton still running a few and I believe Blantyre still got a few going unless things have recently changed.

 

[Jordan Adam]

Dumbarton still running a few and I believe Blantyre still got a few going unless things have recently changed.

Those would be the 6 in reserve.

 

[lastbus]

Those would be the 6 in reserve.

Yes blantyres are off fleet/reserve

 

[awsnews]

Those would be the 6 in reserve.

Something must have changed over the weekend, Dumbarton were using 6 on Saturday between the 206 and 208.

 

[Jordan Adam]

Something must have changed over the weekend, Dumbarton were using 6 on Saturday between the 206 and 208.

Possibly.

 

[CM]

Possibly.

And the change would be?

 

[Jordan Adam]

And the change would be?

More B10BLE's coming off the road...

 

[CM]

More B10BLE's coming off the road...

We gatherd that.... Your one word post of "possibly" implied something more but hey ho...

 

[Jordan Adam]

We gatherd that.... Your one word post of "possibly" implied something more but hey ho...

Nothing more, simply just agreeing with awsnews that it's a possibility. If i were implying anything further i would have alluded to it.

 

[JumpinTrainz]

Weird that the B10BLEs are almost finally gone! I remember them being introduced at Parkhead and always preferring them to the B7Ls. Will be sad to see them go.

I’m wondering what the new order may bring then. Possibly more singles this time round perhaps to replace the B10BLEs and B7Ls. Who knows will be interesting to see

 

[Jordan Adam]

Weird that the B10BLEs are almost finally gone! I remember them being introduced at Parkhead and always preferring them to the B7Ls. Will be sad to see them go.

I’m wondering what the new order may bring then. Possibly more singles this time round perhaps to replace the B10BLEs and B7Ls. Who knows will be interesting to see

From what i can gather there's only 19 B10BLEs left in service in First Group now (Not including trainers etc). 9 in Aberdeen, 6 in Glasgow and 4 in South Yorkshire. Those are including reserve vehicles.

 

[Whiteway215]

SarahDFIG Thanks for note re 61557

 

[Bus Lightyear]

SarahDFIG Thanks for note re 61557

I think that should be 61657