First Greater Glasgow

[Jordan Adam]

Anyone know when to expect the new timetables to be on First's website? Only 3 weeks until the changes now

Aberdeen and Scotland East ones are up so I'm surprised the Glasgow ones aren't.

 

[lastbus]

Aberdeen and Scotland East ones are up so I'm surprised the Glasgow ones aren't.

There has been last minute changes they will be up soon

 

[PaulMc7]

There has been last minute changes they will be up soon

Yeah was thinking because of the x1 stuff etc they'd be up a bit later than normal

 

[lastbus]

Yeah was thinking because of the x1 stuff etc they'd be up a bit later than normal

202 service is also moving to Blantyre

 

[PaulMc7]

202 service is also moving to Blantyre

Interesting move tbh given Overtown is the closest depot to Airdrie by a long way

 

[lastbus]

Interesting move tbh given Overtown is the closest depot to Airdrie by a long way

Operational requirements

 

[PaulMc7]

Operational requirements

Ah makes sense. Thanks for the info

 

[JumpinTrainz]

Come ride ours, you'll quickly learn why they're so hated! Totally unsuitable as a replacement to full size singles.

I feel like nothing can be worse than the B7Ls. They were a disaster from day one! Noisy, rattled like hell and smelly!!

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

I feel like nothing can be worse than the B7Ls. They were a disaster from day one! Noisy, rattled like hell and smelly!!

I agree with you. I have a love/hate view with the B7L. As an enthusiast, they're interesting on account of their rarity. However, as a passenger, they're terrible. Perhaps another to put in the hall of shame with the SB220/Prestige, Primo, Alero etc etc

Streetlites are far from perfect but miles better than B7Ls.

 

[AndrewTaylor95]

61588 has been preserved

 

[route101]

61588 has been preserved

What type of bus is that?

 

[route101]

I agree with you. I have a love/hate view with the B7L. As an enthusiast, they're interesting on account of their rarity. However, as a passenger, they're terrible. Perhaps another to put in the hall of shame with the SB220/Prestige, Primo, Alero etc etc

Streetlites are far from perfect but miles better than B7Ls.

Used to loath the b7ls, all gone now i think. Always thought the streetlites are a bit small for routes like the 267

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

What type of bus is that?

Volvo B7L

 

[route101]

They're not my favourite as they can make a lot of rattling noises when they're stationary but not terrible either. Used to pop up on the 8 and 90 a lot when they were first used

Smaller ones on the 90 was it not >

 

[route101]

I understand where you’re going here. I don’t think branding has ever been something First Glasgow has ever really excelled in. Even the destination signs don’t always list the key areas in which buses travel via.

I think the 2 being one of the biggest routes on the FIG network, it should have new, branded buses. However due to the 2 and 3 sharing buses from Scotstoun it would be almost impossible to do that which is a shame as it was done before in the Overground days.

I agree routes could be branded better however where do you stop is the issue. It would be impossible to brand every route but the key ones should be done as well as the ones which have the most competition. Going back to the whole business side of things - head office will look at each route and depending on which ones are doing well etc they will decide whether they want to spend the money on new buses/branding. The 19/19A can’t be a great money maker for them otherwise they wouldn’t have cut it. Not to mention it very rarely sees new buses but rather any old tat that’s laying around along with the 46.

The 3 is a Scotstoun only route . Unless caley do some shorts on it. It does pass caleys driver changeover point though

 

[route101]

Volvo B7L

Thanks , i dont know how some people know all these bus numbers ha

 

[lastbus]

My guesses for new buses would be 'TheOne' and the 9/9A (the latter has already somewhat been confirmed). Possibly the X11 & X85/X87 to allow the E400MMCs currently there to move on to the 60/60A along side the Ex-FSE examples.

When are these new buses coming? I was lead to believe all new bus orders for Glasgow were on hold due to the uncertainty surrounding the company. Only buses confirmed as still coming were two electric E200MMCs

 

[Jordan Adam]

Thanks , i dont know how some people know all these bus numbers ha

I don't blame you, i had to check too. the 61xxx series was used for a variety of different types.

When are these new buses coming? I was lead to believe all new bus orders for Glasgow were on hold due to the uncertainty surrounding the company. Only buses confirmed as still coming were two electric E200MMCs

The next batch of buses were always planned to be "early 2020". Not much more was confirmed, but it's suspected it would be slightly less than the 2018/19 order. Again not confirmed but the 9/9A has been suggested as it would directly oust quite a number of B7RLEs.

 

[route101]

I don't blame you, i had to check too. the 61xxx series was used for a variety of different types.



The next batch of buses were always planned to be "early 2020". Not much more was confirmed, but it's suspected it would be slightly less than the 2018/19 order. Again not confirmed but the 9/9A has been suggested as it would directly oust quite a number of B7RLEs.

Arent the pink fronted e200mmcs that are at caley for the 9 ?

 

[PaulMc7]

Smaller ones on the 90 was it not >

I believe so. Used to be torture to get off of when they were busy unless you were already standing close to the door. Always felt uneasy because I'm quite claustrophobic

 

[route101]

I don't blame you, i had to check too. the 61xxx series was used for a variety of different types.



The next batch of buses were always planned to be "early 2020". Not much more was confirmed, but it's suspected it would be slightly less than the 2018/19 order. Again not confirmed but the 9/9A has been suggested as it would directly oust quite a number of B7RLEs.

Regarding bus numbers , spoke someone who was into his buses and he can recall bus numbers just like that . Amazing .

 

[route101]

I believe so. Used to be torture to get off of when they were busy unless you were already standing close to the door. Always felt uneasy because I'm quite claustrophobic

Thats why i avoid singles on busy routes for short journeys ,nightmare to get off

 

[PaulMc7]

I think as far as new buses go, bringing them onto services with bigger PVRs might be the way forward depending on the order quantity. Services like the 1s, 2, 9s would be great for them as it would allow a lot of older stock to go. Had an E300 on an 8 today and it was a good feeling compared to the usual rubbish

 

[PaulMc7]

Thats why i avoid singles on busy routes for short journeys ,nightmare to get off

Yeah definitely. Out of all the buses close to me the 1C,1D and 6 are usually the only ones with deckers. Seen a few on the 2 of late though plus the 6 gets more singles now and the 1C is a mix between single and double

 

[Jordan Adam]

Regarding bus numbers , spoke someone who was into his buses and he can recall bus numbers just like that . Amazing .

I know all the stuff here, the issue is when the voyager fleetnumber system was implemented the numbers were allocated by area with new vehicles being allocated numbers based on type.

Arent the pink fronted e200mmcs that are at caley for the 9 ?

Not sure, we've never really got an explanation for those, however it wouldn't surprise me.

I think as far as new buses go, bringing them onto services with bigger PVRs might be the way forward depending on the order quantity. Services like the 1s, 2, 9s would be great for them as it would allow a lot of older stock to go. Had an E300 on an 8 today and it was a good feeling compared to the usual rubbish

They'll allocate new vehicles based on where they suspect they can get the most revenue growth. These will be routes to expanding areas, high bus use areas, corridors with competition etc.

 

[Bus Lightyear]

In defence of the Volvo B7l, I've travelled on a number of them and similar buses with rear vertical engines throughout the continent and found them to be very powerful. My gripe with First's B7ls is the awful build quality of the Wright Eclipse Bodywork and I remember travelling on one on a rainy day a few years back on the route 7 which had water leaking through some of the overhead vents causing the saloon to flood.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Thanks , i dont know how some people know all these bus numbers ha

That's what Flickr is for

 

[PaulMc7]

In defence of the Volvo B7l, I've travelled on a number of them and similar buses with rear vertical engines throughout the continent and found them to be very powerful. My gripe with First's B7ls is the awful build quality of the Wright Eclipse Bodywork and I remember travelling on one on a rainy day a few years back on the route 7 which had water leaking through some of the overhead vents causing the saloon to flood.

Had a few occasions with water leaking through them myself. Worst case was on a 6A last winter. Very heavy rain and it almost as wet on the bus as off it

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

In defence of the Volvo B7l, I've travelled on a number of them and similar buses with rear vertical engines throughout the continent and found them to be very powerful. My gripe with First's B7ls is the awful build quality of the Wright Eclipse Bodywork and I remember travelling on one on a rainy day a few years back on the route 7 which had water leaking through some of the overhead vents causing the saloon to flood.

The power isn't the question. It's the issue of the engine being in the passenger compartment with excessive heat and noise. The First examples are also from the era of terrible seating that also afflicted numerous B10BLEs, L94s, and B7TLs around the turn of the millennium.

 

[tbtc]

We've still got B7Ls in South Yorkshire, including some of the 51/02 ones that Glasgow dumped on us around a decade ago (in exchange for Geminis) - they were tired out back then and worse now - we had around fifty "native" examples from the Commonwealth Games fleet in 2002 - horrible noisy vehicles with threadbare seats, poor suspension and struggle to cope with hills (of which Sheffield has many) - a terrible decision, considering that low floor buses seemed to be getting better with each evolution (from B6BLE to SPDs to B10BLEs... but the B7Ls were a definite step backwards)