First Greater Glasgow

[PaulMc7]

It feels a bit crazy to me that it's nearly 9 years already since Simplicity. It will be interesting to see if we get changes like that in the next few years. For me personally, I doubt it until Covid is a far smaller issue.

 

[route101]

I think for a short while the 18 had Blantyre, Cumbernauld, Larkfield and Scotstoun depots working it. It used to start at the bus station for a short while too.

 

[Busman84]

Yes the 18 did have Cumbernauld share it with Blantyre. Larkfield still done morning peaks back then and also done Saturday and Sunday morning workings.

 

[JumpinTrainz]

It feels a bit crazy to me that it's nearly 9 years already since Simplicity. It will be interesting to see if we get changes like that in the next few years. For me personally, I doubt it until Covid is a far smaller issue.

I wonder if that means that Simplicity has been a success and there has been no need to change anything.

Huge changes like Simplicity don’t come round very often and I remember the outcry when it was announced initially. People hate change.

 

[Bus Lightyear]

I wonder if that means that Simplicity has been a success and there has been no need to change anything.

Huge changes like Simplicity don’t come round very often and I remember the outcry when it was announced initially. People hate change.

All depends when we eventually get to the point that we're post pandemic and the whole industry including PTEs and local authorities will probably need to rethink how buses and other forms of public transport are operated.

 

[PaulMc7]

I'd imagine some routes may change and some frequencies too to create the most flexible network possible but it's probably all down to car use as that's the key to cross-city routes actually being reliable enough for people to use them.

 

[Trnsprt4Sctlnd]

I'd imagine some routes may change and some frequencies too to create the most flexible network possible but it's probably all down to car use as that's the key to cross-city routes actually being reliable enough for people to use them.

so many problems over the years have besieged bus usage in Glasgow, not to mention what’s been going on over the past couple of years alone.

The bus operator doesn’t seem blameless either however, especially reading about the amount of netork changes that occurred over the years.

but yes, motoring has taken over I’m afraid I agree, how does the public service get back out of that pit?

surely congestion has a huge daily impact on reliability also, not just on 1 or 2 routes.

 

[PaulMc7]

The car problem is so bad in Glasgow that there's probably not a route now in the entire city that doesn't get affected by congestion at one point or another. Even some of the shorter routes can be horrendous for it at times. A bus on time is a luxury these days and since I went back to work on the 5th I've not had one on time during the week due to the congestion. I've had multiple 2s be 35-40 mins late by the time I've got off them.

 

[ScotRail158725]

Former 75 branded vehicles off to Midland Bluebird. 1 on 1 replacements for the 22 Omnidekkas

First Midland Alexander Dennis Enviro 400 MMC 33202

First Midland Alexander Dennis Enviro 400 MMC Euro 6 (33202) ex First Glasgow Service 75 route branded looking smart after a repaint into the First Midland livery captured at Caledonia Depot it would be an offence for anyone to copy this photo , uploaded with permission from First Glasgow

flic.kr

 

[Scott mac]

Seen at Caley depot is E400mmc 33202 now in First Midland livery (ex 75 branded). I am very surprised at this.

Former 75 branded vehicles off to Midland Bluebird. 1 on 1 replacements for the 22 Omnidekkas

First Midland Alexander Dennis Enviro 400 MMC 33202

First Midland Alexander Dennis Enviro 400 MMC Euro 6 (33202) ex First Glasgow Service 75 route branded looking smart after a repaint into the First Midland livery captured at Caledonia Depot it would be an offence for anyone to copy this photo , uploaded with permission from First Glasgow

flic.kr

Can't understand this at all

 

[Trnsprt4Sctlnd]

Seen at caly depot e400mmc 33202 ex 75 branded now in first midland livery am very surprised at this.


Can't understand this at all

Underpowered pieces of junk lol

 

[ScotRail158725]

Seen at caly depot e400mmc 33202 ex 75 branded now in first midland livery am very surprised at this.

Can't understand this at all

As i said above they’ll be direct replacements for the 22 Omnidekkas at Midland Bluebird

 

[alexf380]

Are these low height? I thought Balfron needed low height decker for something, or is that not the case any more?

 

[Trnsprt4Sctlnd]

Are these low height? I thought Balfron needed low height decker for something, or is that not the case any more?

Maryhill Archway at Gairbraid Avenue?

Even 14.5m Geminis get under it.

 

[Scott mac]

Would have sent midland the b9s Instead of these.

 

[JumpinTrainz]

This seems so stupid. Isn’t the plan to meet the LEZ target and eliminate all the old stock by incorporating Euro 6> buses.

They can’t do that if every time they get an order they get rid of a batch of newer buses. Wouldn’t it have made more sense to get rid of the low height E400s? There’s about 20+ vehicles and they could have replaced them directly. Or better still send some of the 65/66 plate E400MMcs at most. Seems silly to get rid of some of the newest deckers in the fleet.

 

[AndrewTaylor95]

65 plate batch I would've given them and added on to their existing E400MMCs in Bannockburn. Not much difference except the height and no USB ports, Must be a reason behind it though. Think there's some going to Bannockburn and some going to Larbert. Spotted at Blue fronted one in the depot like the old 23 livery that I think a couple of Livingston's E400s carry. SK68 LWP was the one I'm sure that's this colour in Caley just now. I'm thinking maybe the X10/X10A might see some of these which would be a boost for that service.

 

[92002]

The car problem is so bad in Glasgow that there's probably not a route now in the entire city that doesn't get affected by congestion at one point or another. Even some of the shorter routes can be horrendous for it at times. A bus on time is a luxury these days and since I went back to work on the 5th I've not had one on time during the week due to the congestion. I've had multiple 2s be 35-40 mins late by the time I've got off them.

It's worth remembering that SPT and the Glasgow City Council don't want you to bring your car into the City centre area. You should be using public transport.

Short of bringing in a congestion charge to enter the city area nobody seems to bother.
Not usually much congestion travelling to the City on the Train. Its all a matter of personal choice how to get there.

 

[PaulMc7]

It's worth remembering that SPT and the Glasgow City Council don't want you to bring your car into the City centre area. You should be using public transport.

Short of bringing in a congestion charge to enter the city area nobody seems to bother.
Not usually much congestion travelling to the City on the Train. Its all a matter of personal choice how to get there.

The problem the bus has is that as soon as you have 2 people it's instantly cheaper to park in the city centre by car not to mention the areas just outside of the City Centre can be horrendous for congestion. I should have clarified with the 2s being 35-40 mins late at times that's before they've even hit the City Centre. Most mornings there's a few 10 mins late just by Whitecrook from Faifley

 

[Rgy88]

Seen at Caley depot is E400mmc 33202 now in First Midland livery (ex 75 branded). I am very surprised at this.


Can't understand this at all

With the LEZ regulations coming in, I thought these would have stayed in Glasgow
Take them off the 75 and put them onto other major routes that go through the city centre and bring the % of LEZ compliant vehicles up
They would have been a welcome upgrade to the 4, 5, 60, 57 plus other routes

 

[92002]

The problem the bus has is that as soon as you have 2 people it's instantly cheaper to park in the city centre by car not to mention the areas just outside of the City Centre can be horrendous for congestion. I should have clarified with the 2s being 35-40 mins late at times that's before they've even hit the City Centre. Most mornings there's a few 10 mins late just by Whitecrook from Faifley

The problem you have with using your car to the city is the cost of parking is horrendously expensive. Even if your employer is providing parking at their premises that is a benefit in kind, where the taxman needs to be paid to have this perk at your site.

If a congestion charge was imposed, just like the London one, you would instantly cut down on the number of vehicles and ease the congestion on the roads. No doubt all the way back many miles outwith the city.

To be fair, First Glasgow could ease the congestion by providing more double deck buses and less single deck buses. Less congestion more room on the roads and many less drivers needed to drive them. The same could be said for other bus providers too.
As an example on the 1 services, invariably 3 or 4 buses arrive in the city together. Which could easily be put on a double deck bus.

 

[adrock1976]

It's worth remembering that SPT and the Glasgow City Council don't want you to bring your car into the City centre area. If you are a car driver, you should shop at The Fort in Easterhouse or Silverburn in Pollok with both having free of charge parking.

Short of bringing in a congestion charge to enter the city area nobody seems to bother.
Not usually much congestion travelling to the City on the Train. Its all a matter of personal choice how to get there.

Fixed the bit in bold.

If Glasgow City Council were to introduce congestion charges (and going by comments in the local rag when this pops up from time to time), the shopping centres at The Fort and Silverburn would benefit instead rather than the shops in the centre of Glasgow. Not forgetting Braehead Centre, but this is a bit of a sticky point with GCC as when the boundary was adjusted years ago, the whole of the Braehead Centre is in Renfrewshire, with Renfrewshire Council benefiting from all of the business rates.

 

[alphabravo43]

Are these low height? I thought Balfron needed low height decker for something, or is that not the case any more?

I’m pretty sure it was one of the school services that saw the need for a low height, but the route may have changed or it may be one of the services now using a coach or changed operator to Carrs of Loch Lomond.

 

[Trnsprt4Sctlnd]

Fixed the bit in bold.

If Glasgow City Council were to introduce congestion charges (and going by comments in the local rag when this pops up from time to time), the shopping centres at The Fort and Silverburn would benefit instead rather than the shops in the centre of Glasgow. Not forgetting Braehead Centre, but this is a bit of a sticky point with GCC as when the boundary was adjusted years ago, the whole of the Braehead Centre is in Renfrewshire, with Renfrewshire Council benefiting from all of the business rates.

Which is why Glasgow City Council future plan will destroy business in the City Centre.

Cars to be BANNED from large area of Glasgow city centre

CARS will be banned from parts of Glasgow over the next five years, it has been confirmed. The move is to cut carbon emissions in the busy city centre and council leader, Susan Aitken, said a numbe…

www.thescottishsun.co.uk

CARS will be banned from parts of Glasgow over the next five years, it has been confirmed.

The move is to cut carbon emissions in the busy city centre and council leader, Susan Aitken, said a number of streets would become car-free.

The announcement was made today at an event promoting the role of cities in helping tackle climate change

The new initiative is part of a £30billion plan to make the city carbon-neutral by 2030.

As reported by the Glasgow Times, the car-free area will be created by 2026 and will stretch from George Square to Hope Street across Argyle Street and up to Cathedral Street.

SNP councillor Ms Aitken told how the council had already taken some “tough decisions” around congestion and pollution and congestion, including establishing Scotland’s first low emissions zone (LEZ).

Ms Aitken said: “Over the coming days we are going to announce that we have designated a core of our historic city centre from George Square, over to Hope Street where Central Station is, from Cathedral Street to the north to Argyle Street to the south and work towards that being a space entirely free of private cars over the next five years - obviously with caveats for disabled access.

“This core of Glasgow city centre will be given over entirely to public transport and to people moving actively.
“It’s a big step and we don’t underestimate the challenge of making that transition from what has been for far too long a private car dominated city centre.

“It is something that will have to be delivered in partnership with city centre businesses, which is why we will do it incrementally over the next five years or so.

“But I think it’s the kind of ambition that we have to demonstrate.

Instead of the assumption that people will “simply” use public transport if they can’t use there private & convenient car is a false idea.
It’s simply going to take business & congestion elsewhere.

If there is to be a future of pro-public transport, it has to be all eclipsing all over Glasgow.

From Glasgow Fort to Silverburn to Braehead and everything in between, parking charges rolled out all over including in the retail parks.

But giving buses an omnipotent level of priority would certainly make a difference, even if that means other vehicles wait twice as long.

 

[EMU303]

Re congestion in Glasgow, I was in the west end today and was gobsmacked by the amount of indiscriminate parking. Cars parked at bus stops, some blocking the flow of passengers to/from the bus, cars parked on double yellows, on pedestrian zig zags, sitting on box junctions stopping vehicles from turning off the main road and causing tail backs, parking on corners causing vehicles to encroach onto the main road and making it difficult for pedestrians. There was no evidence of any enforcement.

I hope FG management are giving the council earache on this. What’s the point in investing millions in new buses when car drivers can abandon their cars where they want and not pay for parking. Let’s be clear, there are great many drivers who don’t give a damn and non car users are then put to inconvenience as a result.

I’m a car driver myself (I use public transport as often as possible) but I don’t go for the mindset that issuing tickets is “targeting” drivers. The rules should be enforced, indeed the council has the opportunity to rebuild some of its finances at the same time. Why should some pay for parking and others get a free pass. The council need to get their finger out or bus services will become completely unreliable and things will spiral put of control, and non car users will be screwed.

Are traffic wardens able to issue tickets for double yellow parking or only parking bays?

 

[PaulMc7]

Byres Road and Dumbarton Road will always be the absolute worst in terms of inconsiderate parking and I've known it to be like that my entire life to be fair. I've heard a few 8/90 drivers say they've lost 20/25 mins just trying to get up to the Botanic Gardens and when you think how long those routes that's time you'd be lucky to make back with the areas they serve.

Out of the shopping areas Glasgow Fort is the worst from experience for buses getting held up. The 60/60A are unreliable at the best of times but anytime as soon as Christmas shopping starts there's chaos because of that motorway junction causing queues for a good 35-40 mins sometimes then everyone squabbling for a space the second one opens up.

 

[Trnsprt4Sctlnd]

Byres Road and Dumbarton Road will always be the absolute worst in terms of inconsiderate parking and I've known it to be like that my entire life to be fair. I've heard a few 8/90 drivers say they've lost 20/25 mins just trying to get up to the Botanic Gardens and when you think how long those routes that's time you'd be lucky to make back with the areas they serve.

Out of the shopping areas Glasgow Fort is the worst from experience for buses getting held up. The 60/60A are unreliable at the best of times but anytime as soon as Christmas shopping starts there's chaos because of that motorway junction causing queues for a good 35-40 mins sometimes then everyone squabbling for a space the second one opens up.

Glasgow Fort goes hand in hand with society and those responsible for building the retail park..

most things are geared towards private car usage & very little towards ensure a public service is prioritised.

most motorists want it this way of course.

 

[route101]

Glasgow Fort goes hand in hand with society and those responsible for building the retail park..

most things are geared towards private car usage & very little towards ensure a public service is prioritised.

most motorists want it this way of course.

Glasgow is quite an easy City Centre to drive to with M8/M77 etc. I guess with late running bus services perhaps timings are too tight. Sound like an old man but more young people aspire to have a car, rather than use the bus.

 

[Scott mac]

As i said above they’ll be direct replacements for the 22 Omnidekkas at Midland Bluebird

only 8 are going.

 

[Glasgowbusguy]

Out of the shopping areas Glasgow Fort is the worst from experience for buses getting held up. The 60/60A are unreliable at the best of times but anytime as soon as Christmas shopping starts there's chaos because of that motorway junction causing queues for a good 35-40 mins sometimes then everyone squabbling for a space the second one opens up.

Compared to issues at Silverburn the Fort is great for buses and the motorway access.
Silverburn is a nightmare with buses getting stuck at the roundabout and the confusion over what bus stops at what stand.