I think it'll have been shareholder pressure more than anything because there's cuts in every operation more than normal ever since the intention to sell has been announced. Feels like we are going to get cuts every other month
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Ways to improve the First Glasgow Network
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I think it'll have been shareholder pressure more than anything because there's cuts in every operation more than normal ever since the intention to sell has been announced. Feels like we are going to get cuts every other month
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Thought I'd make a list of services that do not serve the City Centre or only certain journeys do. I feel like the majority of these could also be advertised too on more used services to grab a few more customers:
M1- East Kilbride Circular
U1- Hamilton bus station to Hamilton Uni
M2-Toryglen Asda to Croftfoot Roundabout
M4- Anniesland to Partick
8/8A-Qeuh to Parkhead/Partick and Maryhill to Riddrie
M11- Clydebank to Gartnavel Hospital
14- Fernhill to Rutherglen
16- Blardardie to Qeuh
29/29A/129- Shawlands to Newton Mearns/Mansewood/Hillpark also Mansewood to City Centre with 129
32- Parkhead to Craigend
34/34A- Govan/QEUH to Castlemilk
43- Parkhead to Easterhouse
46- Easterhouse to Castlemilk
49- Govan to Southpark
M60- Drumchapel to Clydebank
74/74A- Castlemilk to Toryglen Asda
81- Duntocher to Clydebank
90- Braehead to Partick
93/193- Coltness to Carbarns/Cleland to Pather
94- Knightswood to Maryhill
120-EK Bus station to South Lanarkshire College
201- Hairmyres to Airdrie, Petersburn
202-Airdrie to Maxim Park
205-Torr Farm, Hamilton to Hairmyres Hospital
206- Westcliff to Haldane
208- Silverton to Brucehill
209- North Motherwell to Bellshill
210 is one journey each way, Law to Wishaw
226- Fairhill/Little Earnock to Hillhouse
227- Whitehill to Little Earnock
229-Hamilton to Eddlewood
230- Coatshill to Silvertonhill
241-North Motherwell to Cleland
242-Pather/Overtown to Holytown/Maxim Park
244/355-Forgewood to North Lodge/Newhouse Roundabout to North Lodge
251- Wishaw General to Larkhall
254-Newarthill to Motherwell
266-Newmains/Shotts to Hamilton
299-Strathclyde Business Park to Bellshill
Anyone got any advertising ideas for any of these or any route changes that could be made to create new links?
M1- East Kilbride Circular
U1- Hamilton bus station to Hamilton Uni
M2-Toryglen Asda to Croftfoot Roundabout
M4- Anniesland to Partick
8/8A-Qeuh to Parkhead/Partick and Maryhill to Riddrie
M11- Clydebank to Gartnavel Hospital
14- Fernhill to Rutherglen
16- Blardardie to Qeuh
29/29A/129- Shawlands to Newton Mearns/Mansewood/Hillpark also Mansewood to City Centre with 129
32- Parkhead to Craigend
34/34A- Govan/QEUH to Castlemilk
43- Parkhead to Easterhouse
46- Easterhouse to Castlemilk
49- Govan to Southpark
M60- Drumchapel to Clydebank
74/74A- Castlemilk to Toryglen Asda
81- Duntocher to Clydebank
90- Braehead to Partick
93/193- Coltness to Carbarns/Cleland to Pather
94- Knightswood to Maryhill
120-EK Bus station to South Lanarkshire College
201- Hairmyres to Airdrie, Petersburn
202-Airdrie to Maxim Park
205-Torr Farm, Hamilton to Hairmyres Hospital
206- Westcliff to Haldane
208- Silverton to Brucehill
209- North Motherwell to Bellshill
210 is one journey each way, Law to Wishaw
226- Fairhill/Little Earnock to Hillhouse
227- Whitehill to Little Earnock
229-Hamilton to Eddlewood
230- Coatshill to Silvertonhill
241-North Motherwell to Cleland
242-Pather/Overtown to Holytown/Maxim Park
244/355-Forgewood to North Lodge/Newhouse Roundabout to North Lodge
251- Wishaw General to Larkhall
254-Newarthill to Motherwell
266-Newmains/Shotts to Hamilton
299-Strathclyde Business Park to Bellshill
Anyone got any advertising ideas for any of these or any route changes that could be made to create new links?
Gingerbus1991
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Yeah, cut the losses to make it more financially attractive to another.
Personally I feel that's giving any new buyer a worst deal as I believe a few routes could be revived with more effort to the whole package of using a bus in glasgow.
Definitely. I feel whoever comes in will have a massive job figuring out how to get the trust back with a lot of people in Glasgow. I feel it would benefit being run by someone who knows here well and only has to focus on here. Customer relationship building is going to be extremely crucial too and how they use social media. First's biggest letdown is how poor that is
Bus Lightyear
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All of these routes are advertised on the website and in SPT travel centres.
All of these routes are well advertised as they are running with colourful brand new buses.
Probably two of the highest earning routes with the company as they're well used in spite of the competition.
Perhaps someone has mentioned this already- the routes out of BBS snake their way down Renfield St along Argyle st then the dogleg up Queen/Ingram/Stockwell streets. Better to revert back to SBG days and have them go a more direct route - maybe make George Sq a focal point for passengers? And ban cars from the square at the same time. It’s smack bag beside the expanded Queen St station and the Subway too.Would shorten journey times and improve reliability and resilience?
Ok some passengers would have to walk a few more minutes but snaking through the city especially at the peaks can be dead slow, slower than walking.
If not then at the very least open up the pedestrian precinct on Argyle st to euro 6 buses, which will be the norm soon enough. Would cut out the dogleg.
Ok some passengers would have to walk a few more minutes but snaking through the city especially at the peaks can be dead slow, slower than walking.
If not then at the very least open up the pedestrian precinct on Argyle st to euro 6 buses, which will be the norm soon enough. Would cut out the dogleg.
This would be a really good idea tbh. I remember one time getting a 267 from Buchanan Bus Station down to Stockwell Street and I could have walked there and back by the time the bus got there. Even off peak they can take ages to get down even to Argyle street. A reroute would definitely be a start. Would even suggest it applying to the buses from Renfrew Street that go via Ingram Street like the 6/7 etc Have them run along Renfrew St, Killermont St and down onto George Square
Could First clean up their numbering a bit in some areas?
For example, Scotstoun has the 1s,2 and 3 which runs cleanly organised whereas some areas have things a bit all over the place.
Another thing is having overkill with letters. Granted it's not on many services now but could First limit to a number and then an A variant at most?
It would prevent times like the following:
1/1A/1B/1C/1D/1E
38/38A/38B/38C/38E
In terms of these examples I think it should be the following:
1/1A only then X1 over the 1B, X2 should have been the 1D and X3 as the 1C and the 1E being even a 206A as the 206 is the current Bonhill main service.
With the 38s it could be 38/38A only then 35 as the 38B, 36 as the 38C and the 37 as the 38E.
The current X3 could be renumbered into an X38 to fit in with FSE's X35/X36/X37 and the new X2 coming in October replacing the 19A could just have been a 19A or X9 given that the 8/8A is the other Robroyston bus and the X8 is already taken unless that got changed to an X10 again and then the X8 could fit into Robroyston although I feel that could be confusing for regular users of the current X8
For example, Scotstoun has the 1s,2 and 3 which runs cleanly organised whereas some areas have things a bit all over the place.
Another thing is having overkill with letters. Granted it's not on many services now but could First limit to a number and then an A variant at most?
It would prevent times like the following:
1/1A/1B/1C/1D/1E
38/38A/38B/38C/38E
In terms of these examples I think it should be the following:
1/1A only then X1 over the 1B, X2 should have been the 1D and X3 as the 1C and the 1E being even a 206A as the 206 is the current Bonhill main service.
With the 38s it could be 38/38A only then 35 as the 38B, 36 as the 38C and the 37 as the 38E.
The current X3 could be renumbered into an X38 to fit in with FSE's X35/X36/X37 and the new X2 coming in October replacing the 19A could just have been a 19A or X9 given that the 8/8A is the other Robroyston bus and the X8 is already taken unless that got changed to an X10 again and then the X8 could fit into Robroyston although I feel that could be confusing for regular users of the current X8
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Gingerbus1991
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A fitting name change: ways to cut more of the first glasgow network
Definitely not what I'd want tbh. If anything I'd want to see First try and alter services instead of cutting them constantly where possible even to give new links between areas
If the council were serious about the issue and sorted out the problem with congestion in the city centre could we see less services terminate there and have more cross city routes around Glasgow?
I think it would be a chance for First to be creative and refresh some routes although knowing the council congestion isn't going to be fixed at all for a long time.
Could we see the likes of things like this?
Silverburn to Easterhouse
Bishopbriggs to Braehead
Clydebank to Silverburn
Kirkintilloch to Partick
Carmyle to Knightswood
East Kilbride to Silverburn/Braehead
These are just examples I could think of asap
I think it would be a chance for First to be creative and refresh some routes although knowing the council congestion isn't going to be fixed at all for a long time.
Could we see the likes of things like this?
Silverburn to Easterhouse
Bishopbriggs to Braehead
Clydebank to Silverburn
Kirkintilloch to Partick
Carmyle to Knightswood
East Kilbride to Silverburn/Braehead
These are just examples I could think of asap
Gingerbus1991
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A retail-to-retail 41 being extended onto the 10, coincidently whilst the 38 goes to Newton Mearns from easterhouse, would the 38 route not simply benefit from change from Easterhouse to Silverburn via Nitshill to replace the southern part of the 57? Again this would create another shopper type service.
The 57s as they are north of the city centre are also kept going all day, simply connecting that to the 77 to have a through route from Westerhill to Braehead via Partick?
Of course this negatively effects though perhaps looking for the bottom of Renfrew St.
Kelvingrove <> Partick is a particular busy place and popular place whether it be for university, Kelvingrove Park, Partick for business or work or QEUH and as said shopping at Braehead, does that reasonably indacate that more services should be connected directly to Partick?
The 57s as they are north of the city centre are also kept going all day, simply connecting that to the 77 to have a through route from Westerhill to Braehead via Partick?
Of course this negatively effects though perhaps looking for the bottom of Renfrew St.
Kelvingrove <> Partick is a particular busy place and popular place whether it be for university, Kelvingrove Park, Partick for business or work or QEUH and as said shopping at Braehead, does that reasonably indacate that more services should be connected directly to Partick?
Gingerbus1991
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I would still reckon kirkitilloch to Partick is much to further out when considering suburban-glasgow connections.
The 89 into Glasgow is only around half an hour so it's not too far out despite it looking it on a map
Partick is pretty well bussed tbh especially with the 2,3 and 77 but more could definitely work. First run about 25 buses an hour through yoker at off peak and that's overkill so it would fit in well imo. Plenty of new stuff in Partick and the only Silverburn link is the 3. First could run plenty of shopper type services and at least market around them. Even for smaller areas of shops like Parkhead etc they don't really market around it
Gingerbus1991
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The biggest issue with the 88, 89, x85 and x87 when comparing them to the 240 or 267 etc is the fact there terminating at the bus station, personally the 88 and 89 could operate Killermont Street, Hope st/Renfrew St and St enochs, although like said before extra time needed, extra buses, extra Rd space for extra waiting time which the city centre nor first have.
Yeah if the city centre had more space and less congestion I'd say with the X85/X87 make one go to Silverburn and one to Braehead instead of Buchanan Bus Station. Would save First a bit in costs of using the bus station
This was tried in Kelvin days about 25-30 years ago, with services extending from BBS to Anderson bus station. It wasn’t a success and abandoned.
Even before I was born lol it's definitely a problem for people using the Bishopbriggs/Kirkintilloch is that there's no variation at all for a terminus. Everything goes to the exact same place. Seen comments here and there online about the lack of options being a reason for people not using buses and in Glasgow we really do have a stale network and that's been the case since before Simplicity for me. Couple of sparks of innovation here and there but nothing game changing and I think that's what has made customer numbers dwindle in a sense. Obviously there's other things but this is one of the things that's least spoken about and when you think of it it's pretty spot on. Ambition and innovation are key in any business and the Glasgow bus market doesn't really have any company who show enough of it. Financial factors play a massive part in that but external factors exist in any business but you still need to adapt around them
Scotrail314209
Established Member
Something I feel could be done is, have all routes that run through the City Centre get their own branding. It helps passengers identify when their bus is coming as the color of the route will be visible.
Problem with that is the amount of services that do that and also a lot of buses don't seem to be limited to 1 or 2 services. Already seen those E400 MMCs from Livingston used on quite a few buses. 41/57A/60/60A/X85/X87 etc
Gingerbus1991
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The majority of the time.
Scotrail314209
Established Member
Also, has it also been common place for single deckers to pop up on the 19/A and the 57/A, it’s been a bit more regular. There is a 57 around 4pm that has been a single recently and has been packed
For a while it felt like most of the 19/19A were single deckers from what I seen. Yeah the 57 and 57A has a few singles appearing here and there. Not been on peak 57/57As for a while but even later on at night they can be very busy
Gingerbus1991
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I would like to say it's simply because of fleet movements & renewals that causes these issues, but there is a history of inconsistency in glasgow to start with.
Would anyone consider bringing back the old style 89/90 inner/outer circle instead of the current 90?
Never been remotely busy between QEUH and Braehead anytime I've used it out of 30/40 times and the 77 could be used to go to Braehead from there anyway
Never been remotely busy between QEUH and Braehead anytime I've used it out of 30/40 times and the 77 could be used to go to Braehead from there anyway
NorthClyde320
Member
Split the current service 6 into two seperate services with the new 6 operating between E K & Cowcaddens Underground and a new 40 between George Sq & Clydebank, extend the 41 from George Sq to Drumchapel to replace the 6A, OR extend the 41 from George Sq to Clydebank to replace the 6 and renumber the 6A to 42.
With the upcoming changes to the 19 & 60/60A you could extend the 19 from the City to Milngavie replacing the 60A, allowing the 60 to be increased to every 10 mins Mon-Fri, 12 mins Sat (to match the 61 & help with co-ordination), and every 15 mins Sun, this could then either replace the M60 or you could revise the M60 to every 10 mins Mon-Fri & 12 mins Sat allowing it to combine with the 60, you could also extend the M60 to Linnvale to put a squeeze on Avondale.
With the upcoming changes to the 19 & 60/60A you could extend the 19 from the City to Milngavie replacing the 60A, allowing the 60 to be increased to every 10 mins Mon-Fri, 12 mins Sat (to match the 61 & help with co-ordination), and every 15 mins Sun, this could then either replace the M60 or you could revise the M60 to every 10 mins Mon-Fri & 12 mins Sat allowing it to combine with the 60, you could also extend the M60 to Linnvale to put a squeeze on Avondale.
I'd definitely split the 6 but have the terminus as Renfrew St, not Cowcaddens as then you can link to the other services if you want to go further into the City Centre far more easily. The 60 during the day isn't that busy between Maryhill-Canniesburn-Drumchapel except for peaks so I wouldn't increase the frequency too much. I agree with the 19 ideas though. Definitely, think the M60 should be extended to Linnvale as the condition of Avondale's fleet is awful so I reckon more people would switch over to First plus there are changes for Avondale in November for the 100 and 200 so even having some M60s through Parkhall could be an idea
Anyone got any ideas on how First could improve reliability here? Timings obviously are the way they are because of cost etc but I think if timings were more realistic and recovery time at each terminus was longer then less buses would be late meaning more people would be inclined to using them. The 1s in particular are horrendous. A lot of the longer Helensburgh/Balloch to Glasgow 1s can be 15/20 mins late even off peak and the likes of the 3,6 and 75 etc are not that reliable either
JumpinTrainz
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I think ‘the One’ has to be looked at, particularly at peak times. This route is extremely busy from about 2ish onwards and progressively gets busier. That’s not to mention during the holidays it is the main bus to Balloch/Helensburgh. I’ve seen E300s absolutely bursting without exaggeration. Even the B9TLs seem to struggle they are full upstairs and downstairs.
I never really felt like the E300s were suitable for a route like that imo. It would be nice to see a single that would allow for more capacity. The B9TLs could be replaced by the E500MMC or something along those lines. They could be based at Caledonia so they could be used during the day/weekends on the busy 5, 75 routes. This would allow more B9TLs to be refurbished as I believe they are one of the very few which haven’t been touched and still have the original seat coverings. They look quite tired now.
I never really felt like the E300s were suitable for a route like that imo. It would be nice to see a single that would allow for more capacity. The B9TLs could be replaced by the E500MMC or something along those lines. They could be based at Caledonia so they could be used during the day/weekends on the busy 5, 75 routes. This would allow more B9TLs to be refurbished as I believe they are one of the very few which haven’t been touched and still have the original seat coverings. They look quite tired now.
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