First Greater Glasgow

[JumpinTrainz]

Have First began to debrand the B7RLEs on the 9 or will they start to do this nearer the time?

 

[GALLANTON]

If theyre being replaced by new buses then they will probably just leave them branded until replaced. I imagine that when the new buses arrive the B7RLEs will be withdrawn anyway.

 

[PaulMc7]

Seen a few of the 9 branded buses today in the city centre. Been a few pictures on Flickr of them on other services recently too.

 

[JumpinTrainz]

If theyre being replaced by new buses then they will probably just leave them branded until replaced. I imagine that when the new buses arrive the B7RLEs will be withdrawn anyway.

Will the B7RLEs be directly replaced or will they see further service? They would be about 14/15 years old by the time they are replaced I wonder if this will be the end of the road for them.

 

[GALLANTON]

Considering the amount of new vehicles due I imagine theyd be withdrawn.

 

[route101]

Have First began to debrand the B7RLEs on the 9 or will they start to do this nearer the time?

I saw one on the 31 yesterday, so at least one is at Caledonia. I think these B7RLES are manky.

 

[overthewater]

Considering the amount of new vehicles due I imagine theyd be withdrawn.

How many are actually due?

 

[GALLANTON]

How many are actually due?

I'm sure that has been posted on here more than once.

 

[overthewater]

I'm sure that has been posted on here more than once.

My question is more linked to the fact if the actually number of buses been stated will actually turn up, Its already happened the numbers have altered.

 

[GALLANTON]

My question is more linked to the fact if the actually number of buses been stated will actually turn up, Its already happened the numbers have altered.

If you know the numbers have been altered then you know more than me. I only know the number stated on this forum.

 

[Jordan Adam]

148 electric buses are due for First Glasgow of these there are 91 Enviro400EVs and 57 Enviro200EVs.

Scottish Ultra-Low Emission Bus Scheme - completed bids | Transport Scotland

www.transport.gov.scot

SULEBS Round 1 - August - September 2020​

First Glasgow No 1 Ltd​

Bid: 22 single deck ADL E200 buses and infrastructure
Total funding awarded: £3,870,374

SULEBS Round 2 - January - February 2021​

First Glasgow No 1 Ltd​

Bid: 35 single deck ADL, 91 double deck ADL buses and infrastructure
Total funding awarded to date: £24,301,840

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

How many are actually due?

Isn’t it 22 initially?

 

[Jordan Adam]

Isn’t it 22 initially?

Indeed, the first batch will be 22 Enviro200EVs for the 9/9A which are due by the end of the year.

 

[JumpinTrainz]

I see that the 9/9A branded B7RLEs are fairly getting around since moving to Caley.

So far I’ve seen them on the 7, 19 90 and X3.

 

[PaulMc7]

The buses from the 2 and 3 seem to be the same lately too.

I've seen them on the X4, 6, 6A, 8, 90 and I've not been out that much in the last 2 weeks. They've probably been on other services too.

 

[Bus Lightyear]

I would expect a number of the Volvo B7RLEs ousted by the new electric vehicles to be dispersed throughout the rest of the First empire where there's older vehicles running.

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Where has it been confirmed which routes are to be allocated new buses or is it just guesswork?

 

[smtglasgow]

dispersed throughout the rest of the First empire where there's older vehicles running.

Those 9 branded buses seem a bit more knackered than other similar-aged vehicles. They’ve had a hard life hammering up and down Paisley Rd West. Not sure if other op-cos would be overjoyed to receive them – although they might not have much of a say in the matter.

Although I’m currently in First Essex-land, and the fleet here is (being kind) varied, so maybe they will end up being transferred.

 

[Bus Lightyear]

Those 9 branded buses seem a bit more knackered than other similar-aged vehicles. They’ve had a hard life hammering up and down Paisley Rd West. Not sure if other op-cos would be overjoyed to receive them – although they might not have much of a say in the matter.

Although I’m currently in First Essex-land, and the fleet here is (being kind) varied, so maybe they will end up being transferred.

There's also First Midland Bluebird's 52 and 54 reg Scania L94s, some of which are in a very poor state (I noticed one on the Balfron X10 still in Barbie!). These vehicles have spent much of their working lives on high mileage routes like the X10, X37 and the Stirling to Edinburgh route and are possibly even more knackered than Volvo B7RLEs which have spent their entire lives running on Glasgow city routes.

 

[JumpinTrainz]

The B7RLEs should have been refurbished long ago. They are good buses but suffered from a lack of care and they’ve been run to the ground.

The were hammered when they worked from Parkhead and Scotstoun on the 62. They have seen service in just about every route since.

I wouldn’t be shocked if they saw service elsewhere. There are a lot worse and older stock in the First empire than these. Same with B7TLs. With a repaint they look very smart and with an interior retrim they could easily go on another few years.

 

[Scotrail314209]

The B7RLEs should have been refurbished long ago. They are good buses but suffered from a lack of care and they’ve been run to the ground.

The were hammered when they worked from Parkhead and Scotstoun on the 62. They have seen service in just about every route since.

I wouldn’t be shocked if they saw service elsewhere. There are a lot worse and older stock in the First empire than these. Same with B7TLs. With a repaint they look very smart and with an interior retrim they could easily go on another few years.

I agree, I used to stay in Paisley up until 2009, and I remember when those B7RLEs were new.

It's why I favour McGill's over First on the Paisley Road West corridor, the vehicles have had much better care and attention.

 

[Rgy88]

The B7RLEs should have been refurbished long ago. They are good buses but suffered from a lack of care and they’ve been run to the ground.

The were hammered when they worked from Parkhead and Scotstoun on the 62. They have seen service in just about every route since.

I wouldn’t be shocked if they saw service elsewhere. There are a lot worse and older stock in the First empire than these. Same with B7TLs. With a repaint they look very smart and with an interior retrim they could easily go on another few years.

There are few random ones that have had the seats retrimmed and they look fresher
I would imagine the best ones might get moved on and with the worst ones get withdrawn and stripped for spares if anything major breaks on them
Have a few not been withdrawn already 69065 at least?

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

There are few random ones that have had the seats retrimmed and they look fresher
I would imagine the best ones might get moved on and with the worst ones get withdrawn and stripped for spares if anything major breaks on them
Have a few not been withdrawn already 69065 at least?

I would suggest that’s a fair assessment. Some will stay for the lesser Dumbarton or Blantyre routes possibly but some have already been withdrawn.

Moreover, elsewhere in First, some have been disposed of or converted to trainers. They are 15 years old now - good buses as they are, they are on borrowed time.

 

[GALLANTON]

I would suggest that’s a fair assessment. Some will stay for the lesser Dumbarton or Blantyre routes possibly but some have already been withdrawn.

Moreover, elsewhere in First, some have been disposed of or converted to trainers. They are 15 years old now - good buses as they are, they are on borrowed time.

Gone are the days when operators would get 20-25 years out of a bus before scrapping it.

 

[JumpinTrainz]

There are few random ones that have had the seats retrimmed and they look fresher
I would imagine the best ones might get moved on and with the worst ones get withdrawn and stripped for spares if anything major breaks on them
Have a few not been withdrawn already 69065 at least?

What happened to 69065?

 

[route101]

Gone are the days when operators would get 20-25 years out of a bus before scrapping it.

Indeed. The low height E400s might not last much longer. Suspension on them is terrible.

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I agree, I used to stay in Paisley up until 2009, and I remember when those B7RLEs were new.

It's why I favour McGill's over First on the Paisley Road West corridor, the vehicles have had much better care and attention.

I would use McGills too, more frequent service and nicer buses. Not sure on there single fares on the 38 though.

A few Eclipses came from down south in recent years, they never smelled and had nicer seats.

I was in Southampton last week and all First have there is Streetlites!

 

[cnjb8]

Indeed. The low height E400s might not last much longer. Suspension on them is terrible.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 13 Jul 2021 ==


I would use McGills too, more frequent service and nicer buses. Not sure on there single fares on the 38 though.

A few Eclipses came from down south in recent years, they never smelled and had nicer seats.

I was in Southampton last week and all First have there is Streetlites!

Poor Southampton, just saying! They lost their B7s a year ago

I think they’ll be one or two transfers but most will probably be disposed, not much can be replaced by a 2005/6 B7RLE anymore. I think the B7TLs will be in demand across First, with lots of ALXs and Presidents still operating country wide

 

[Jordan Adam]

I've generally found First Glasgow and Scotland East vehicles to be much scruffier inside than those at First Aberdeen. Window etching in particular seems to be a real issue in Glasgow, something which thankfully is rarely seen here.

 

[GALLANTON]

I've generally found First Glasgow and Scotland East vehicles to be much scruffier inside than those at First Aberdeen. Window etching in particular seems to be a real issue in Glasgow, something which thankfully is rarely seen here.

The fleet isnt anywhere near as bad now as it was back in the 00s.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Gone are the days when operators would get 20-25 years out of a bus before scrapping it.

To be fair, vehicles reaching that age were perhaps less frequent than you may think. The slowdown in fleet replacement around deregulation resulted in some vehicles lasting longer but in the 1970s, Glasgow were disposing of early PDR Atlanteans at the 14 year mark.

Poor Southampton, just saying! They lost their B7s a year ago

I think they’ll be one or two transfers but most will probably be disposed, not much can be replaced by a 2005/6 B7RLE anymore. I think the B7TLs will be in demand across First, with lots of ALXs and Presidents still operating country wide

There's not as many ALXs and Presidents requiring replacement about as you'd think. First West Yorkshire have only about 20, and South Yorkshire have got rid of all of theirs, whilst Bristol is down to penny numbers.

The requirement for social distancing etc meant that quite a few were retained for longer than anticipated so whilst the South West has quite a number, many ALXs are heading to Ensign fairly imminently and the Presidents are on borrowed time.

 

[cnjb8]

To be fair, vehicles reaching that age were perhaps less frequent than you may think. The slowdown in fleet replacement around deregulation resulted in some vehicles lasting longer but in the 1970s, Glasgow were disposing of early PDR Atlanteans at the 14 year mark.

There's not as many ALXs and Presidents requiring replacement about as you'd think. First West Yorkshire have only about 20, and South Yorkshire have got rid of all of theirs, whilst Bristol is down to penny numbers.

The requirement for social distancing etc meant that quite a few were retained for longer than anticipated so whilst the South West has quite a number, many ALXs are heading to Ensign fairly imminently and the Presidents are on borrowed time.

Yes that is true. There are still quite a few running around Essex, and one or two dotted around