Scottish Citylink

[busesrusuk]

From what I gather Oxford tube is back to very heavy loadings again so probably needed those vehicles after all. I wonder if we'll see any significant new orders next year or just a trickle of vehicles here and there

Three are now in service on the Oxford Tube, two have been de-branded but 50448 retains (most) of its branding on the offside only. Pic here of 50448 departing Victoria earlier this afternoon:

SCoach Oxford 50448 Dec22

Victoria, Dec 2022. One of three Plaxton Paramount's that have arrived at Stagecoach Oxford to enhance the service on the Oxford Tube. Originally destined for the Tube, these coaches were diverted to Scotland when the frequency on the Tube was reduced due to the pandemic.

www.flickr.com

 

[route101]

I am surprised they haven't standardised the fleet for the M10, M90, M9 and M92 services with Panoramas.

 

[Surreyman]

I used Citylink on Monday for the first time ever. I was expecting a Stagecoach vehicle but it was a Parks Plaxton Elite in plain white (assume it was a Volvo, didn't check). It had some of the most comfortable coach seats I have ever experienced! How would this compare to Stagecoach?

 

[route101]

I used Citylink on Monday for the first time ever. I was expecting a Stagecoach vehicle but it was a Parks Plaxton Elite in plain white (assume it was a Volvo, didn't check). It had some of the most comfortable coach seats I have ever experienced! How would this compare to Stagecoach?

Parks have a Volvo 9700 out on some service perhaps that. McGills also have a few for Flixbus.

 

[Flying Snail]

Are any of the ex-Citylink Gold Elites still in use? The seats on those were a decent upgrade on the standard seats used on other Plaxtons.

 

[GusB]

Parks have a Volvo 9700 out on some service perhaps that. McGills also have a few for Flixbus.

The post clearly says it was a Plaxton Elite. While it may not be the same vehicle, there is a photo of HSK646 in plain white with Park's fleensmes here:

Parks of Hamilton Volvo B8R Plaxton Elite HSK646, new in October 2021, operating Citylink service M90 to Edinburgh at Queensferry Street, Edinburgh, on 5 February 2022.

Explore Robin Dickson 1's 48979 photos on Flickr!

www.flickr.com

 

[Dfatcontroller]

Are any of the ex-Citylink Gold Elites still in use? The seats on those were a decent upgrade on the standard seats used on other Plaxtons.

Parks replaced the Citylink Gold Elites in 2020 with Panoramas. The Elites passed to The Travellers Choice, Carnforth.

 

[nitten_travell]

Apologies if this has been brought up already, but I don't really have the time to scan through 500+ posts...

Just trying to book a journey between Glasgow and Edinburgh on the route 900, and I've noticed that Megabus sell tickets for this service, but at a much cheaper price (£3.90, compared to £9.00 on the Scottish Citylink site).

Is there a reason for this?

Tempted to just book with Megabus but don't want to be caught out by any hidden restrictions or similar, if any.

Megabus tickets are valid on booked service only and you must travel bus station to bus station as per your ticket details

Do the drivers physically prevent people from getting off at a different stop? I'm not sure I could memorise the final destination of each passenger in a full coach in the time it takes to drive along the M8.

But thanks for the Megabus money saving tip. It turns out too that "split ticketing" is a thing on the Citylink buses too!

 

[Unstoppable]

Do the drivers physically prevent people from getting off at a different stop? I'm not sure I could memorise the final destination of each passenger in a full coach in the time it takes to drive along the M8.

But thanks for the Megabus money saving tip. It turns out too that "split ticketing" is a thing on the Citylink buses too!

Alighting early can't really be enforced however getting on at the likes of Haymarket or Princes St with a Megabus ticket for Glasgow can be. It causes a fair few arguments. The bottom line is like a train you would be refused travel boarding at the wrong stop/service with an advance ticket. It is the same principal which these people seem to not understand

 

[route101]

Do the drivers physically prevent people from getting off at a different stop? I'm not sure I could memorise the final destination of each passenger in a full coach in the time it takes to drive along the M8.

But thanks for the Megabus money saving tip. It turns out too that "split ticketing" is a thing on the Citylink buses too!

I quite often see people with a Megabus ticket for the 900 waved on if it's for a different service.

Last time at Buchanan Bus Station I asked for a day return to Campbeltown and the lady said they don't do day returns anymore. You have to book the services you travel on apart from the 900.

 

[lewisdicks]

Does anyone know how busy the 900s will be during this week as a result of the train strikes? Likely travelling on Thursday and returning late on same day, not sure if I should book the £10 return or not in advance

 

[scotrail158713]

Does anyone know how busy the 900s will be during this week as a result of the train strikes? Likely travelling on Thursday and returning late on same day, not sure if I should book the £10 return or not in advance

If you get on at the bus station (don't know which direction you'll be travelling in) then you should be fine. There will probably be a queuing system in place but with a service every 15 minutes you'll be on your way quickly enough. Also as far as I know the £10 return ticket can be bought on the bus as well so if you want the flexibility in time then that's also an option.

 

[route101]

Does anyone know how busy the 900s will be during this week as a result of the train strikes? Likely travelling on Thursday and returning late on same day, not sure if I should book the £10 return or not in advance

I used the 900 during a Saturday strike and services were very busy. There was a queuing system in place, you may not get the exact service you want so get there early. I would just buy the £10 ticket from the driver. The 900 has advance fares but you are saving only a few quid to lose the flexibility.

 

[Scotrail314209]

I find the 900 seems to have awful reliability when coming out of Edinburgh at most times of the day.

I get on in Corstorphine and the bus id usually about 5-10 minutes late at that time.

 

[route101]

I find the 900 seems to have awful reliability when coming out of Edinburgh at most times of the day.

I get on in Corstorphine and the bus id usually about 5-10 minutes late at that time.

Yes, sometimes it can take an hour just to get the M8 from Edinburgh.

 

[route101]

I travelled on one of the new 72 plate elites yesterday on the M8 service. I was sitting to the rear on the right and there was a clicking noise like a lock. Anyone know what this is ?

 

[BobbyBKinross]

I travelled on one of the new 72 plate elites yesterday on the M8 service. I was sitting to the rear on the right and there was a clicking noise like a lock. Anyone know what this is ?

Could it have been the emergency exit door lock? Other than that I can't think of anything. If you don't mind me asking what is the interior like? Similar to the Panorama or more like the Parks Elites?

 

[Jordan Adam]

Could it have been the emergency exit door lock? Other than that I can't think of anything. If you don't mind me asking what is the interior like? Similar to the Panorama or more like the Parks Elites?

I don't have any photos i'm able to post but they look to be a dealer spec of some sort which makes me think they were perhaps a diverted order.

 

[voidwxrranty]

Could it have been the emergency exit door lock? Other than that I can't think of anything. If you don't mind me asking what is the interior like? Similar to the Panorama or more like the Parks Elites?

Park’s Elites, I travelled on 2/3 of them before Christmas, they were quite nice though.

 

[route101]

Could it have been the emergency exit door lock? Other than that I can't think of anything. If you don't mind me asking what is the interior like? Similar to the Panorama or more like the Parks Elites?

Yes, I thought it was something to do with the emergency exit. Same sort of sound you get in a Black Hack Taxi.

Could it have been the emergency exit door lock? Other than that I can't think of anything. If you don't mind me asking what is the interior like? Similar to the Panorama or more like the Parks Elites?

I think it had the same seats as the Panorama but without the seatback chargers, I also found the seats pretty low down. The interior seat colour was black, I thought it was a Stagecoach bus at first but must of been Parks.

 

[Flying Snail]

Yes, I thought it was something to do with the emergency exit. Same sort of sound you get in a Black Hack Taxi.

Most coaches have automatic locks that activate to prevent the emergency exit being opened while moving.

 

[PG]

I travelled on one of the new 72 plate elites yesterday on the M8 service. I was sitting to the rear on the right and there was a clicking noise like a lock. Anyone know what this is ?

If you are a user of social media I suppose you could always politely ask Citylink or Megabus under the guise of bringing this potential future problem to their attention? You might get a reply back saying you're not the first to have commented and its only the [...something-or-other...] and nothing to worry about?

 

[BobbyBKinross]

Been on a lot of M92s lately and the passenger numbers seem to be considerably high, every time. What are the chances of it going to a 30 minute frequency, or having a non-stop between Edinburgh and Dundee/Aberdeen and then a stopping service? It might sound silly but there seems to be demand for it! Although there are maybe not enough buses/drivers to cope with such an increase.

 

[route101]

Been on a lot of M92s lately and the passenger numbers seem to be considerably high, every time. What are the chances of it going to a 30 minute frequency, or having a non-stop between Edinburgh and Dundee/Aberdeen and then a stopping service? It might sound silly but there seems to be demand for it! Although there are maybe not enough buses/drivers to cope with such an increase.

I have not used the M92 but I am I correct in saying this is a more recent route that was added? I seem to recall you had to change at Perth for Aberdeen in the past.

If you are a user of social media I suppose you could always politely ask Citylink or Megabus under the guise of bringing this potential future problem to their attention? You might get a reply back saying you're not the first to have commented and its only the [...something-or-other...] and nothing to worry about?

Not sure what you mean about the potential future problem?

 

[scotrail158713]

I have not used the M92 but I am I correct in saying this is a more recent route that was added? I seem to recall you had to change at Perth for Aberdeen in the past

Might have been a while ago - not sure personally. They recently (November last year IIRC) increased the frequency of direct Edinburgh-Aberdeen services to hourly. Previously it was hourly Edinburgh-Dundee with every 2nd bus continuing to Aberdeen and the hourly M9 from Glasgow timed to arrive at the same time providing a connection to Aberdeen on the alternate hours.

 

[PG]

Not sure what you mean about the potential future problem?

That is just a ruse to justify enquiring as to the source of the sound.

Been on a lot of M92s lately and the passenger numbers seem to be considerably high, every time.

Probably due to strike action on the railway.

 

[BobbyBKinross]

I noticed that one of the 72' plate Elites had damage to its rear, but was still operating a service. Maybe it could have been this one as a result of the damage. (Didn't manage to catch fleet number or full reg)

 

[voidwxrranty]

I noticed that one of the 72' plate Elites had damage to its rear, but was still operating a service. Maybe it could have been this one as a result of the damage. (Didn't manage to catch fleet number or full reg)

54368, I have seen it at Glasgow a few days back, the damage didn’t look too severe though.

 

[route101]

Might have been a while ago - not sure personally. They recently (November last year IIRC) increased the frequency of direct Edinburgh-Aberdeen services to hourly. Previously it was hourly Edinburgh-Dundee with every 2nd bus continuing to Aberdeen and the hourly M9 from Glasgow timed to arrive at the same time providing a connection to Aberdeen on the alternate hours.

M92 is mostly Interdecks at the moment from what I have seen. The M10 service from Glasgow to Inverness was increased alongside the M92 I think. Before that it was a more limited Gold service.

 

[PG]

M92 is mostly Interdecks at the moment from what I have seen.

Are the Interdecks in Citylink or Megabus livery OR are they Stagecoach yellow?
Reason for asking is that the Buchan services seem to be short of a few Interdecks recently.