Yeah noticed a few seats with large areas missing .
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First Greater Glasgow
- Thread starter KGGXXXY
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Yeah both of my 1Cs today were pretty bad for it. Even the older bus on my 7A wasn't in as bad a condition seat wise. Speaking of the 7A that is another service that could come under threat of a cut. Westburn to Rutherglen is very very quiet
Presumably being done because the X36 is going to an hourly service?
That's possible but strange considering the X36 doesn't go through Muirhead at present. Unless it's just extra to operate alongside the X3 as extra buses through that area although from a different operation
christopherrfc
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- 16 Oct 2011
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Just an first Scotland east e400mmc on the 57 is this on loan or here permanently
Permanent move
smtglasgow
Member
I’m guessing Glasgow have had their eye on these buses for a while. Helps with Euro 6/LEZ and Glasgow has a far greater need for their capacity than Livingston. With Lothian matching First over most of their network, does Livingston need *any* double-deckers these days? They’ve lost a lot already, but could they all end up in Glasgow? Frees up older buses for Bristol (or wherever needs to get rid of their oldest tat). Streetlites from down south going into Livingston?
6 streetlites from bath already at Livingston.
More fleet movements to follow in coming weeks.
Jordan Adam
Established Member
In total 9 E400MMCs are due to transfer from Livingston to Glasgow.
overthewater
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That is not a good sign. The buses were brought with grant money, i wonder if the game is nearly up.
TheGrandWazoo
Veteran Member
What grant money was used?
I understand your thoughts but is it a reflection that the gig is up? Loadings will undoubtedly be affected and so deckers may not be required. They are replacing them with Streetlites that, whilst I appreciate people don't like them, will still have a fair chunk of book value/depreciation on them AND they are cheap to run. It's not quite like Plymouth where e400s were working and got moved to Cornwall to be replaced by ancient Tridents.
smtglasgow
Member
Scottish Green Bus Fund? Was the money allocated specifically to First Scotland East or to Firstgroup? If they’re staying in Scotland, does it matter? [and doesn’t Glasgow have some of the worst pollution hotspots in Scotland?]
This might be the best time for First to scale back fully in the likes of Aberdeen and West Lothian if they're running at a loss and focus on Glasgow and getting the most out of it. Could transfer the newest stock to Glasgow and send the rest to where ever needs it most. Would save a lot of investment on new buses coming in too if there's more than can be upgraded
It is only about £5,000 per bus, they could easily pay that back in the unlikely event that it was needed.
Big Ralphie
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TheGrandWazoo
Veteran Member
I was wondering if it was the Scottish GBF rather than something more area specific. In truth, if they're staying in Scotland, it isn't an issue.
So if they pulled out of places like Aberdeen and the rest of Scotland, wouldn't there be a massive write down (i.e. financial loss) on the value of those businesses in the financial statements?
Also, isn't it the case that Glasgow/Lanarkshire IS getting the investment at the expense of other areas (and not just in Scotland) as First spend what little available capital there (and Leeds) and next to nothing in the rest of the country? Jordan will doubtless be able to correct/clarify but Aberdeen sums up First Group new bus policy over the last 10-15 years so that aside from the major urban operations, it was some (but generally not enough) in 2005-8, investment largely dried up 2009-2012, refinancing allowed new vehicle investment to meet DDA 2013-6, investment dried up again. At least Aberdeen is due some Hydrogen buses soon.
Seen one of the wee caetano darts on the 7a at peak time.
Took 6 today to work from town. Eclispe , eclispe in front had broken down at muirend . Then we broke down in EAST kILBRIDE .Waited 20 mins for next 6 which was a eclispe . all the e4ooS were going other way . Frequency of 6 goes down around 5pm ,never used to be like that , seems like the peak runs have gone
Yeah the 6 even from mine's practically at scotstoun west used to still be around every 20mins til around 9/10pm. It drops off of a cliff after 5pm now
The way First have operated just reeks of complacency to be honest. Even with the likes of cost price for their service in Glasgow. As someone pointed out to me on Twitter we've had 3 price increases in 18 months. Small increases but when you add them up it's a lot. A lot of areas have no other bus alternatives either so it's just First or nothing and the cost of trains coupled with poor reliability doesn't help. I was thinking of it being a "cut your losses" drop of some areas. I can see Lothian taking up the likes of Stirling/Falkirk/West Lothian If First drop it more. I don't know anything about Aberdeen and it's a place I've never been too so can't comment on there
overthewater
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Its still a bit dodgy if you get money for one area then send the buses away to somewhere else. Livingston has seen more older buses being shipped in.
You should go up to Aberdeen and use the buses. Ive been a few times
Yeah only Scottish cities I've not been to are Aberdeen and Dundee
Some buses dont appear on the tracker , one ALX 400 i notice does not .
Tracking on the map would be useful to see where it is .
Dundees not far , small city .
Yeah. Been to St Andrews and pretty much everywhere else on the other side of the Tay Bridge lol. Had family in Leven for years until 2011 so enjoyed many trips there plus the coast is always good
St Andrews is a good run on the x24.
Furthest I've done into Fife by bus is to Leven from Glasgow but anywhere further was in a car. I get hit with random travel sickness sometimes so I always need to be careful lol. Furthest I've done by bus lately has been City Centre to Balloch on a 1A
Think ive only done the Balloch run once , would always go for train on that . I kinda developed travel sickness on coaches . I mostly get it abroad as they go faster in SE Europe . I did National Express to Birmingham last month .
Journey time doesn't really bother me despite travel sickness plus I always get either 4 week or 10 week network tickets so I'm always covered. I've been down to England a few times but not for years now