First Greater Glasgow

[PaulMc7]

Most buses serving Great Western Road are notoriously bad for timekeeping. The 11 was slightly different in that it via Woodlands Road instead of West Graham Street but it still got caught up in rush hour traffic at Charing Cross.

For a few years it went via University Avenue, Hyndland and Kelvindale but that made it a miserably slow journey for anyone travelling from Garscadden and Knightswood into town.

Going back even further during the early years of deregulation the 11 went all the way out to Cumbernauld.

Great Western Road is still one of the worst roads going for causing buses to be late. Case in point my 6 today was 22mins late. I remember the route through Kelvindale etc and that was torture to be on

 

[JumpinTrainz]

I wouldn't say it's always been poorly bussed. First did try running the 11 every 15 minutes. It was also extended to Bishopbriggs for a while.

They also tried extending the 12 from Balornock to Robroyston Asda around 2009.

Going back to Strathclyde's Buses days there was the 11A every 30 minutes and the 42A via Riddrie every 30 minutes then the 42A was replaced by the 38A which for a short time extended out to Glenboig of all places. After that you had routes like the 30, 35, 58 and 59 serving the area.

Glenboig is another area which is poorly bussed. Given the electrification on the Gartcosh line I imagine the train is still the chosen option but literally no buses run through Gartcosh/Glenboig at all...

 

[PaulMc7]

Glenboig is another area which is poorly bussed. Given the electrification on the Gartcosh line I imagine the train is still the chosen option but literally no buses run through Gartcosh/Glenboig at all...

Gartcosh has the 310 1 an hour but nothing that isn't SPT tendered and I think Glenboig has one of the smaller companies that operate in Coatbridge with a service through it but definitely can imagine more people using the train although more because they have no other choice

 

[JumpinTrainz]

Just saw the rebranded E400 for the X3 and really don’t understand why they’ve left it unfinished again. The express livery is such an eye sore. The FSE express branded E300s look so much nicer in all over gold at the front.

 

[Jordan Adam]

Just saw the rebranded E400 for the X3 and really don’t understand why they’ve left it unfinished again. The express livery is such an eye sore. The FSE express branded E300s look so much nicer in all over gold at the front.

Have they only applied half the gold again? If so that's a real shame.

 

[PaulMc7]

Considering how good some of their other branding has been it's a shame how their express branding has been poor in comparison

 

[Jordan Adam]

Considering how good some of their other branding has been it's a shame how their express branding has been poor in comparison

Agreed, it's not awful but it does seem lacking compared to the others,

 

[PaulMc7]

Agreed, it's not awful but it does seem lacking compared to the others,

Definitely. I'm a fan of simple yet effective designs but I'm sure another colour idea like the rest could have worked a bit better than the gold effort. Even gold colour in the style of the other branding would have been better

 

[Jordan Adam]

Definitely. I'm a fan of simple yet effective designs but I'm sure another colour idea like the rest could have worked a bit better than the gold effort. Even gold colour in the style of the other branding would have been better

Here's a photo of it here - https://www.flickr.com/photos/45060815@N07/48877774992

It doesn't look that bad, well not as bad as i thought it would.... However it would've been better without the gold stripe above the skirt.

 

[PaulMc7]

Here's a photo of it here - https://www.flickr.com/photos/45060815@N07/48877774992

It doesn't look that bad, well not as bad as i thought it would.... However it would've been better without the gold stripe above the skirt.

Yeah I fully agree with that. Looks a lot smoother than the First time around

 

[156478]

Given how pointless the X2 looks on the face of it I feel rather sorry for the people in Robroyston who do use the bus. Not even a connection to the Asda etc now. Been years in the making tbh. Always been a poorly bussed area even back to the days of the 11. First could even have used the 87 and extended some of them onto Robroyston Asda in a circle via Glendale then out via the roundabout instead of going back the same way

That X2 is a total sham of a service. The cynic in me is having a field day with it.

Is it deliberately running down a service they don't want to operate? and then claim as per the case of the X1- they were trying to make the service "more attractive". Is it the last throw of the dice before they withdraw a service from Glasgow to Robroyston totally?

Robroyston is nowhere near ideal bus territory as the vast majority of people up there own cars and own their own homes which are spread out over a wide area.

Instead the train is going to destroy the limited custom the bus has, as who is going to wait for an hourly bus service that has a very unattractive non-hourly afternoon service? And what happens when the same bus that runs the service all day- breaks down? The only thing that is good going for it is if they get the same drivers on the cycle and they get to know their customers.

It will end up off by the next service change with the usual MSP disgust and media storm and the SPT run 72 that already is a bit of a magical mystery tour will end up covering the gaps.

First keep tinkering with the buses up there and at Auchinairn and its getting rather confusing trying to remember how services used to run!

If I lived in Robroyston, I would be very worried about what First's intentions are.

 

[PaulMc7]

That X2 is a total sham of a service. The cynic in me is having a field day with it.

Is it deliberately running down a service they don't want to operate? and then claim as per the case of the X1- they were trying to make the service "more attractive". Is it the last throw of the dice before they withdraw a service from Glasgow to Robroyston totally?

Robroyston is nowhere near ideal bus territory as the vast majority of people up there own cars and own their own homes which are spread out over a wide area.

Instead the train is going to destroy the limited custom the bus has, as who is going to wait for an hourly bus service that has a very unattractive non-hourly afternoon service? And what happens when the same bus that runs the service all day- breaks down? The only thing that is good going for it is if they get the same drivers on the cycle and they get to know their customers.

It will end up off by the next service change with the usual MSP disgust and media storm and the SPT run 72 that already is a bit of a magical mystery tour will end up covering the gaps.

First keep tinkering with the buses up there and at Auchinairn and its getting rather confusing trying to remember how services used to run!

If I lived in Robroyston, I would be very worried about what First's intentions are.

Yeah the 57 and 87 keep switching left,right and centre in Auchinairn plus every time I've been there both come together almost constantly towards Glasgow. Robroyston doesn't have much to it at all but the fact they couldn't even route it to the Asda just to give people that link and a swap over to the 8/8A speaks volumes and really not in a good way. I think if people knew what the X2 involved beforehand we would be looking at a lot of political involvement like we had to save the X1.

It's only going to be 1 bus running it too so as you say 1 breakdown is catastrophic

 

[andy257]

Glenboig is another area which is poorly bussed. Given the electrification on the Gartcosh line I imagine the train is still the chosen option but literally no buses run through Gartcosh/Glenboig at all...

the 38 used to go to gartcosh/glenboig years ago when it was extended from easterhouse

 

[PaulMc7]

Think Gartcosh especially is one of those "no man's land" locations with not a lot to it as well. Nice enough area but far too small and too full of cars to make a successful bus service especially with the train upgrades too

 

[smtglasgow]

Think Gartcosh especially is one of those "no man's land" locations

There are big plans for Gartcosh and Glenboig! It’s North Lanarkshire Council’s main growth area – they’re planning for up to 3000 new houses. Think it’s getting some of the City Deal money. So we may see the 38 back in Glenboig some day – although a lot of the development is planned for well into the 2020s. Gartcosh is also in the running for the new hospital to replace Monklands, so it might become quite important bus-wise in a few years.

 

[PaulMc7]

There are big plans for Gartcosh and Glenboig! It’s North Lanarkshire Council’s main growth area – they’re planning for up to 3000 new houses. Think it’s getting some of the City Deal money. So we may see the 38 back in Glenboig some day – although a lot of the development is planned for well into the 2020s. Gartcosh is also in the running for the new hospital to replace Monklands, so it might become quite important bus-wise in a few years.

Yes definitely. Good to see some of the areas without a lot to them currently getting some positive attention and investment. I fully expect them to even become important even just with the houses alone but definitely if the hospital happens there.

I fully expect the areas alongside the M77 to become more important as it's all houses being built there and the Gorbals and Dalmarnock are also getting loads more houses too

 

[route101]

One area i can think of without buses is Simshill away from Carmunnock road and Old castle road coming up from the station to Simshill , was there any bus service there ?

 

[route101]

I see the 201 branded was not abandoned .

 

[JumpinTrainz]

There are big plans for Gartcosh and Glenboig! It’s North Lanarkshire Council’s main growth area – they’re planning for up to 3000 new houses. Think it’s getting some of the City Deal money. So we may see the 38 back in Glenboig some day – although a lot of the development is planned for well into the 2020s. Gartcosh is also in the running for the new hospital to replace Monklands, so it might become quite important bus-wise in a few years.

The Monklands was the main one I was thinking of. Moving that up here in Gartcosh would definitely drive more transport links I’m thinking. We may perhaps see the 38 extended out here again, connecting to two hospitals along the route (GRI and the new Monklands). I imagine they’d need to link Bargeddie to the new hospital too. Interesting times.

 

[JumpinTrainz]

I see the 201 branded was not abandoned .

Nope not abandoned! The E300s on that service are actually looking pretty good. I’m surprised more E300s weren’t branded considering their age. They’re the only ones I can think of that have been so far.

 

[route101]

Another area not linked into town is Titwood Road and Haggs Road which only has the 34/A

Has there ever been a service to the city from that road?

Eastwoodmains Road between Clarkston and Eastwood Toll , only has the 374 but im sure the 38 ran up here and the 11 perhaps

 

[route101]

Nope not abandoned! The E300s on that service are actually looking pretty good. I’m surprised more E300s weren’t branded considering their age. They’re the only ones I can think of that have been so far.

Still some old 201 branding on it

 

[route101]

Most buses serving Great Western Road are notoriously bad for timekeeping. The 11 was slightly different in that it via Woodlands Road instead of West Graham Street but it still got caught up in rush hour traffic at Charing Cross.

For a few years it went via University Avenue, Hyndland and Kelvindale but that made it a miserably slow journey for anyone travelling from Garscadden and Knightswood into town.

Going back even further during the early years of deregulation the 11 went all the way out to Cumbernauld.

Where did the 11 turn ? Down Byres road then left to Glasgow Uni? Or was it through Hyndland.

 

[route101]

Yeah most of our frequent buses are horrific for reliability. Most of the every 10 mins ones come in 2/3s then you get left waiting for 20/30mins just for another 2/3 to come together

Yep , happens on 6 . Anyone notice ghost buses on the app and bus stop screens . Bus is showing 3 mins say due , bus never turns up . Had it a few times , might be a glitch as its showing a bus only a few mins after the one in front.

 

[route101]

Plea to any Glasgow locals. Whilst sat in stationary traffic on the M8 yesterday near Hillhead I noticed a blue decker parked up on display by Peter Vardy’s car store.

Anyone have an identity for it? TIA.

Hillhead ? Thats in the West End , unless its another HIllhead

 

[route101]

Was on a 6 from Battlefield Road to Scotstoun West there and it was 22mins late by the time I got off. This happens quite a lot throughout the day tbh and it does really make me think the route should be split in 2.

Clydebank to Battlefield
Renfrew Street to Calderwood is what I'd go with tbh. Would make it at least semi reliable because a 2 hour plus route that involves anywhere around Glasgow is just very impractical and rarely leads to a bus running on time.

There's a few routes that length too:

3,6,8,60 and 90 are all 2 hour plus and none are very reliable at any time of the day. Goes with the 201 in Lanarkshire too. Another 2 hour plus route that's just not reliable at all

90 , would be interested in how late or on time it is .

 

[PaulMc7]

90 , would be interested in how late or on time it is .

For me they're very often 15/20 mins late both ways especially from like Parkhead. They're a problem because the route even from the start is hard to stick to. Byres Road causes delays at times coming from Partick and when Braehead is busier it's an issue getting out of there. Would probably cut the QEUH to Braehead part and go back to the old inner circle and outer circle days of the 89/90 and brand it

 

[PaulMc7]

Hillhead ? Thats in the West End , unless its another HIllhead

Think he means Hillington since that's where Peter Vardys is

 

[Bus Lightyear]

Where did the 11 turn ? Down Byres road then left to Glasgow Uni? Or was it through Hyndland.

No. From Anniesland Cross it went Dorchester Avenue, Cleveden Road, Hyndland Road, Highburgh Road, University Avenue, Gibson Street and Woodlands Road.

Before then it went Great Western Road, Park Road and Woodlands Road.

 

[Bus Lightyear]

Has there ever been a service to the city from that road?

Eastwoodmains Road between Clarkston and Eastwood Toll , only has the 374 but im sure the 38 ran up here and the 11 perhaps

The 38A many years ago turned left at Eastwood Toll then along Eastwoodmains Road to Clarkson Toll.