Would make most sense tbh. Only viable option
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First Greater Glasgow
- Thread starter KGGXXXY
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Would make most sense tbh. Only viable option
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overthewater
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So SPT will pay for daytime service? I take it weekend service is deffo gone.
All just rumours at the moment.
Basically the company have issued a 'put up or shut up' warning for its future provision.
Shows people can have quite an influence on services. Surprised they've kept it tbh although it will take a lot of people using it. What will that mean for the 225?
I would imagine the 225 will be cancelled
Yeah would make sense. I think the problem people had with the 225 is that it wasn't even going to cover all of the X1 route and given the fact a lot of that side of Hamilton is uphill it wouldn't benefit those who needed it by having to walk further
TheGrandWazoo
Veteran Member
Yes but the comments from First echo what I said before. It's quite interesting that 4600 people sign a petition yet the daily usage is clearly a lot less than that. If only half of those who signed the petition were regular travellers, the X1 would have nothing to worry about.
Begs the question....how many of those signatories actually use the X1? Suspect we may be in the same position in a few months' time.
If First had just been open and said it was under review a while back more people would have used it. People get complacent when they think they've got something for good and it shows. I do think it'll be in a similar position down the line but at least people know now that it's on them if they don't use it
JumpinTrainz
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I have to agree with this. It’s very easy to fill in a petition online with the click of a finger when it’s being shared numerous times on social media. Some people just do it to support those who do use it or just because it’s in their community - it doesn’t mean they actually use the bus.
First have their flaws but I’m pretty sure they wouldn’t be getting rid of a service if it did well, which clearly the X1 doesn’t.
I think a lot of it comes down to complacency from people by thinking any bus is safe these days because nothing really is. First, also don't help themselves though and I fully believe every service change should involve consultation with the public. It builds customer relations and if First done this more they would be losing fewer customers. Also, think the X1 could do with a bit of advertisement too even on the other Hamilton services or with posters around the town. Doesn't need to be anything outrageous but just something that alerts people to it as an option because I don't believe that all of the people who signed the petition even knew about the X1 beforehand. That's on First though. If First wants services to do well then use a bit of forward-thinking and actually let people know it exists. Advertising is key in any business let alone public transport
overthewater
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Nothing really has been solved... Off peak will still be dire, peak time will be overloaded and first is back to square one...
Colleges and Unis going back will help a bit with some of the off peak out of Glasgow tbh as not everyone does full days constantly. It all comes down to 2 things for me:
People encouraging others to use it and First's ticket deals being great value. Only ways it'll last
Jordan Adam
Established Member
Saw a few U1's at lunch time yesterday, all empty!
overthewater
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Isn't that funded by the college?
Jordan Adam
Established Member
Indeed i think it is.
Gingerbus1991
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I'll keep my card close to my chest on this one.
However New buses on the route might offer something in the way of improvements to the service alone, but if you look at other operators who go out to offer something extra special on routes that could still have potential for recovery first haven't put that extra effort in and really they won't on this turnaround either.
As said before what about coach operation for the route, of course it doesn't work considering peaks loads vs the high floor of a coach given the X1 is partly a Town Service.
However I do wonder how it would do with alittle extra time taken to operate the X1 through Bothwell and Uddingston then on to the motorway, might bring extra punters for the service yet only 1 stop in each town..
However New buses on the route might offer something in the way of improvements to the service alone, but if you look at other operators who go out to offer something extra special on routes that could still have potential for recovery first haven't put that extra effort in and really they won't on this turnaround either.
As said before what about coach operation for the route, of course it doesn't work considering peaks loads vs the high floor of a coach given the X1 is partly a Town Service.
However I do wonder how it would do with alittle extra time taken to operate the X1 through Bothwell and Uddingston then on to the motorway, might bring extra punters for the service yet only 1 stop in each town..
Think First's problem with the X1 is the failure to put effort in tbh. It's proven that the services that First have gave new buses to that a facelift does improve passenger numbers. With putting the X1 through Bothwell and Uddingston I think that's an idea worth trying. Could take off the short work 255s too and that would be replaced by the X1 plus it wouldn't add too much journey time. 15/20mins max
TheGrandWazoo
Veteran Member
Putting new vehicles can sometimes provide an increase in patronage though usually it is linked to other aspects too. Of course, put new fleet on and you'll have increased depreciation.
I've asked you before but why don't you try to work it out. How many people do you think it needs to break even?
In addition, how many extra vehicles will you need for your diversion? How does that affect break even?
Odd locaction . Uni in a Business park .
Jordan Adam
Established Member
I think the issue with the X1 is that if you ignore the X1 there's already at least 10 buses per hour from Glasgow to Hamilton, granted these may take longer, however depending on where you're going in the city centre they may be faster.
For example in the morning peak from Udston Road to Cathedral Street / North Hanover Street the X1 takes 66 minutes, where as the 263 takes 55 minutes and the far more frequent 267 only takes 56 minutes. Granted this example is slightly bias against the X1, however it shows my point that the X1 is not always quicker and often not that much quicker. Even then the 263/267 cover much more of the city centre.
I think the X1 would potentially be better if it stayed on the M74 instead of branching over to the M8, it would also allow it to serve much of the same busy city centre stops as the 255/263/267.
I would agree that vehicle age is another issue.
For example in the morning peak from Udston Road to Cathedral Street / North Hanover Street the X1 takes 66 minutes, where as the 263 takes 55 minutes and the far more frequent 267 only takes 56 minutes. Granted this example is slightly bias against the X1, however it shows my point that the X1 is not always quicker and often not that much quicker. Even then the 263/267 cover much more of the city centre.
I think the X1 would potentially be better if it stayed on the M74 instead of branching over to the M8, it would also allow it to serve much of the same busy city centre stops as the 255/263/267.
I would agree that vehicle age is another issue.
With the extra diversion I'd say an extra bus each way might be needed and obviously that does play a part. I'm not overly familiar with the prices for the X1 tbh for singles but say people were to buy network all days it would take 6 an hour to break that £35 an hour figure you mentioned before. Will be easier to work out when they reveal what the special prices will be for it
Definitely agree with this. It's odd that they've never tried it fully along the M74 although the only thing is that most people would probably use it for the colleges/universities up that end of the city centre plus the Royal Infirmary too. Could run it like a 267 but limited stop in the city centre then go onto the motorway at Polmadie but it might add too much time to the journey and make it even longer than the other buses
Jordan Adam
Established Member
If the X1 joined/left the M74 at Polmadie (as you said) with a better route in the city it would likely do better.
The thing is, going from the city centre to Hamilton in the evening, who is going to walk up to Cathedral Street and wait for the half hourly X1 when you could go to the 255/263/267 stops which albeit are probably going to be slower however offer a much higher frequency of buses. If the X1 followed the same or most of the same route in the city centre it would probably do better.
It's not always about speed, but rather convenience and links offered. Looked over to the east as a prime example you see this reflected in the poor uptake of the EX1 compared with the more popular X18.
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I think we can all agree it's a service that has plenty of potential but so many possible ways to alter it as we've put together here. The trains have dented the bus market in Hamilton and tbh I'm surprised the X1 is staying. If anything I thought they'd have extended the 255 or 263 to High Earnock as an alternative instead of keeping the X1. It does also show though that if enough pressure is put on First then things can be held off for a while. Will be interesting to see what these supposed special fares are in the coming weeks and whether enough people will actually use it
Yeah convenience is bigger than we realise tbh especially with limited mobility too. I don't have the greatest set of legs for being pain free and that hill up to get the X1 is torture so I've got another bus into Hamilton before. Given the fact it's older people an X1 are likely to appeal to as well then it makes even more sense to reroute it
Jordan Adam
Established Member
Exactly, the X1 only really caters to a limited market (Bus station area and University), where as the 255/263/267 cover that market and the rest of the city centre. Given how hilly Glasgow City Centre is, it's no surprise many people pick convenience over speed. I for one would rather walk to Ingram Street than Cathedral Street!
The X1 must be one of the worst routes for convenience tbh. Even the Hamilton end of the route is ridiculously uphill. As soon as it's on Quarry St it starts going uphill. The worst ones though are the 205 and 227. Stewart Avenue and Meikle Earnock Road up to Sherry Drive on the 205 route are a challenge. There's a great view from up there but it's extremely hilly