Jordan Adam
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First Greater Glasgow
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RailUK Forums
Very true. Could be an interesting period to come for what happens with First here. It'll definitely be interesting to see where we are in 12 months time regarding fleet, routes and driver numbers. I've noticed a lot of new ones in the last 2-3 weeks at Scotstoun
Bus Lightyear
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I don't think any operator that I know of has had a fares revision in the last 2 years. We can only assume this is one of the conditions of the Government funding.
Would be the only reason for not having one IMO especially given the wage increases on top of other rising costs plus it's been closer to 4 years without one for First here to their credit.
On another note I admire First's optimism by increasing some services from tomorrow when there's still a fair few buses missing on the current timetables.
Forgot about that to be fair especially as it was so minimal looking back at the details of it. Interesting looking back at fare costs in 2010 it was roughly £3.70/£3.75 for an all day ticket. Considering it's been 12 years since then it shows bus fares aren't actually dreadful compared to the rises we've seen in other things related to cost of living. The problem in Glasgow is definitely mindset regarding them but then again people would rather play so much more by using cars instead so if that doesn't change the bus doesn't have much chance to be fair.
Bus Lightyear
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Thanks for confirming this
Jordan Adam
Established Member
There was a significant increase in fares in the 2000s however since 2008-10ish Day/Week/Month Tickets haven't actually changed that much. It's more the single fares that have went up. Unless government subsidies improve i would expect a pretty sharp increase in the next year or two however, especially with the rising costs of electricity and oils.
The "our bus service is the most expensive and poorest" in the country mindset applies pretty much in every area of the country. Politicians seem to think brining buses back in to state control or franchising will fix things but in reality it won't. The main issue faced by local bus services is not really how the operators operate but more external factors such as rising running costs, rising cost of living, decline in peak time commuters, the boom in online shopping and subsequent decline in off-peak shoppers etc. It's the same reason companies like Argos and John Lewis are struggling, who's going to trail all the way to a retail park when you can get more variety online with next day delivery. But alas that's a topic for another thread and i suspect i've ranted too far already!
It's a very spot on assessment to be fair and the problem with politicians thinking that public run buses are best is that a lot of people suddenly think driver shortages, congestion issues and increasing running costs will magically disappear if First disappeared which we all know they wouldn't.
I think the fact that even on Covid timetables so many areas have buses that are every 20 mins or better shows that the buses here are actually very good. Even if services were every 30 mins and reliable I'd say it's not awful.
That's why I use services like the 8 and 90 when I can to be honest. Other than being a bit affected by a lack of drivers at times they've actually been a fair bit more reliable in recent months than they used to be from experience. I can remember the days I used to go for one and they'd either be very late or break down instantly after I got one. I've not had any misfortune with them lately.
I wouldn't want to rely on them every single day but that's more because I've grew up living on the highest frequency services for years.
Yes First Glasgow fares are not too bad. The only area is the single fares from Glasgow to anywhere outwith the city zone. For example Glasgow to Hamilton on the 267, its nearly £6 single. During Covid when the timetable was reduced the services were very reliable, lack of traffic !
TheGrandWazoo
Veteran Member
I agree with almost everything in this, though we're at risk of off-topicness. The problems that operators also have are appalling traffic congestion, the relative cheapening of car ownership compared to bus travel, and in the case of Glasgow, loads of on-street parking. Things that would affect buses irrespective of ownership as you rightly say.
ps Argos has the third most visited retail website and is doing very well - it's just that they have decided that most of the standalone stores are no longer necessary so they can simply vacate the premises and locate them in the back of a Sainsburys.
ScotRail158725
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B7TL purge well underway with 20 now off fleet for cascade
JumpinTrainz
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The B7TLs have had a good run and they’ve been good buses but they are well past their best.
10 of those supposed to be going to Buses of Somerset.
I have a feeling that most of the B7TLs will be withdrawn slowly at first, but the number of increasing withdrawals will come later on over the next few months of the year, with 37184 (SF07 FDV) being the last B7TL left in Glasgow’s Fleet.
Really? Huh, I guess it can finally go somewhere away from Glasgow, just like it’s sister buses that left Glasgow a while ago.
ScotRail158725
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Incorrect. 32581 upwards, except 10 will be in regions of England by May
37184 left Glasgow the other day. Off to Buses of Somerset/Kernow with 9 of it’s SF54 counterparts
adrock1976
Established Member
See the post in the Speculative ideas for First Glasgow thread regarding how FG could serve the north neighbourhoods in Cumbernauld with the south side of the M80 (which FG used to serve) left to Stagecoach (Ayr) at https://www.railforums.co.uk/thread...-glasgow-service-changes.223588/#post-5578552
If you mean that 32610 (SF54 TKT) will be the only one that gets to stay in Glasgow, then why that bus exactly? I wish they would keep 32626 (SF54 TMV) as it’s in a much better condition than 32610, with 32626 having re-trimed seats and being in the Urban Livery.
TheGrandWazoo
Veteran Member
I think the statement is that all bar 10 x B7TLs will be heading to the provinces.
Oh, well I am pretty sure then, they’ll keep 32626 then.
TheGrandWazoo
Veteran Member
I don't think that really counts for anything. When they sent down a number of B7TLs in 2019 to Bristol, some were in Urban, some in the Glasgow livery.
To illustrate - 32683 was in Livingston in two tone blue in Nov 2018, was moved to Glasgow and repainted by Feb 2019, in Bristol by Aug 2019, in Cornwall by Apr 2020, and repainted again into Kernow green by March 2021.
90sWereBetter
Member
Guessing there must still be a small amount of depreciation baked into the SF54 plates for most of them to be cascaded after 17 years of hard graft in Glasgow. I wonder what will happen to the older YN53 plates at Blantyre.
I think it was confirmed in Firstbus Enthusiasts that the remaining B7TL/Presidents (LK03 plates) will be staying in Glasgow until final withdrawal, which probably ties in with the group-wide push to remove Presidents from First fleets.
I think it was confirmed in Firstbus Enthusiasts that the remaining B7TL/Presidents (LK03 plates) will be staying in Glasgow until final withdrawal, which probably ties in with the group-wide push to remove Presidents from First fleets.
Well, it’s not just that, 32626 has had a complete seat re-trim too.
TheGrandWazoo
Veteran Member
It might stay, it might not but think you're perhaps over-estimating the significance. Unless there's a depreciation issue, it probably doesn't register and still wouldn't preclude transfer away to another OpCo.
It’s not really that important, but yeah, I wonder what 10 Gemini Buses Glasgow will keep in it’s fleet till the future.
TheGrandWazoo
Veteran Member
It may be a mixture of them. When the First ones went, they were 3254*/3255* but whilst 51/53 headed South, 52 didn't. Then when the next load went, they came from 3261*/3262* mainly but with 3267* and 3268* plus 3718* yet not 37184. So it could be a right mix rather than a neat block of 10 retained.