• Our new ticketing site is now live! Using either this or the original site (both powered by TrainSplit) helps support the running of the forum with every ticket purchase! Find out more and ask any questions/give us feedback in this thread!

First Aberdeen

Sponsor Post - registered members do not see these adverts; click here to register, or click here to log in
R

RailUK Forums

V

Volvodart

Established Member
Joined
12 Jun 2010
Messages
2,664
First Aberdeen are providing the Festive Late Night Free Bus service.
 

Attachments

  • IMG_20241108_133024_HDR.jpg
    IMG_20241108_133024_HDR.jpg
    525 KB · Views: 92
V

Volvodart

Established Member
Joined
12 Jun 2010
Messages
2,664
Red Onion said:
Is there a source for the timetables etc? There’s nothing on their website that I can see.
Click to expand...
The promotion of the service started today with councillors photos, it will come in due course.
 
Last edited:
V

Volvodart

Established Member
Joined
12 Jun 2010
Messages
2,664
The late night timetables are now in the forthcoming timetables and include the Stagecoach routes that First will operate.
I presume it is Friday night into Saturday morning that they will operate.

Timetables

You can also use our Journey Planner on here or on our FREE First Bus App, where you'll also find our live bus tracking feature and can buy any of our tickets for a day or longer before you travel.
www.firstbus.co.uk www.firstbus.co.uk
 
Last edited:
Red Onion

Red Onion

Member
Joined
4 Apr 2012
Messages
390
Location
Aberdeen
Volvodart said:
The late night timetables are now in the forthcoming timetables and include the Stagecoach routes that First will operate.
I presume it is Friday night into Saturday morning that they will operate.

Timetables

You can also use our Journey Planner on here or on our FREE First Bus App, where you'll also find our live bus tracking feature and can buy any of our tickets for a day or longer before you travel.
www.firstbus.co.uk www.firstbus.co.uk
Click to expand...

That’s how it reads to me. I see they are only until November 30 too, so not sure if there will be an alteration after that. Good to see some more routes running compared to last year.

I am assuming these have received funding from Aberdeen Inspired or something similar?
 
Jordan Adam

Jordan Adam

Established Member
Joined
12 Sep 2017
Messages
5,610
Location
Aberdeen
Volvodart said:
The late night timetables are now in the forthcoming timetables and include the Stagecoach routes that First will operate.
I presume it is Friday night into Saturday morning that they will operate.

Timetables

You can also use our Journey Planner on here or on our FREE First Bus App, where you'll also find our live bus tracking feature and can buy any of our tickets for a day or longer before you travel.
www.firstbus.co.uk www.firstbus.co.uk
Click to expand...
According to the internal post it is Friday in to Saturday and Saturday in to Sunday that they'll operate. The services will run until the 4th of January.

The fact First won all of these says a lot about the state of the driver shortage at Bluebird!
 
A

aberdeenangus

New Member
Joined
18 Oct 2019
Messages
2
Location
Aberdeen
Long time lurker. Just want to say that didn't take First long to **** something new up. Night Bus (N18 in particular); Website map has it going (when traveling through Cove) up Loirston Avenue and up Earns Heugh Road more or less following the 3A route back to town. But alas, the driver's (nae his fault) route screen in his cab (found out when he drove past the turn off to Loirston Avenue, has it continuing along (Colsea Road?! Nae even the right road btw as it is other side of the railway line, but...) Cove Road and up Charleston Road. Completely bypassing Earns Heugh Road in its entirety (Nae use to me when I planned to get off there, ken). I mean FFS. What is it with this company?! Do they not talk to each other? Do they not proof read? Something that seems simple to me and you; Ensuring the drivers notes and the map / stops advertised for it matches up, yet still manage to make an arse of it. I don't know if any of you fellow subscribers have a position of influence within the company; I would submit a formal complaint but 99% sure get a standard response and nothing will happen. Considering this Night Bus will potentially run for six weeks at least I anticipate a few complaints if something ain't done, regardless of how many choose to use it. Hardly a great advertisement for it continuing to run in future (maybe the intention). I remember when the Cove night buses were packed every weekend, but the company frustrated fowk off using it by continually pricking about with the route so much so that nobody knew where it was going from one weekend to the next. Apologise for my rant but it is so f***ing frustrating sometimes. Service really is ****e these days, ever has been since Covid. Lucky if it turns up half the time. Downward spiral as they frustrate and price out passengers of using it, then winge because passenger numbers are low. £3.15 to travel 4 miles?! Yet fares will likely continue to increase & never come down; That would be a proper use of bus gate fines. Lower the overall fares for day to day fowk.
 
J

Jordan1296

Member
Joined
5 Sep 2020
Messages
88
Location
Aberdeen
aberdeenangus said:
Long time lurker. Just want to say that didn't take First long to **** something new up. Night Bus (N18 in particular); Website map has it going (when traveling through Cove) up Loirston Avenue and up Earns Heugh Road more or less following the 3A route back to town. But alas, the driver's (nae his fault) route screen in his cab (found out when he drove past the turn off to Loirston Avenue, has it continuing along (Colsea Road?! Nae even the right road btw as it is other side of the railway line, but...) Cove Road and up Charleston Road. Completely bypassing Earns Heugh Road in its entirety (Nae use to me when I planned to get off there, ken). I mean FFS. What is it with this company?! Do they not talk to each other? Do they not proof read? Something that seems simple to me and you; Ensuring the drivers notes and the map / stops advertised for it matches up, yet still manage to make an arse of it. I don't know if any of you fellow subscribers have a position of influence within the company; I would submit a formal complaint but 99% sure get a standard response and nothing will happen. Considering this Night Bus will potentially run for six weeks at least I anticipate a few complaints if something ain't done, regardless of how many choose to use it. Hardly a great advertisement for it continuing to run in future (maybe the intention). I remember when the Cove night buses were packed every weekend, but the company frustrated fowk off using it by continually pricking about with the route so much so that nobody knew where it was going from one weekend to the next. Apologise for my rant but it is so f***ing frustrating sometimes. Service really is ****e these days, ever has been since Covid. Lucky if it turns up half the time. Downward spiral as they frustrate and price out passengers of using it, then winge because passenger numbers are low. £3.15 to travel 4 miles?! Yet fares will likely continue to increase & never come down; That would be a proper use of bus gate fines. Lower the overall fares for day to day fowk.
Click to expand...
First do several agency drivers working for them at the moment, and it wouldn’t surprise me if they have thrown them on to the new routes.
 
V

Volvodart

Established Member
Joined
12 Jun 2010
Messages
2,664
First are providing free late night buses on 31 December 2024 too.

Free night bus services to operate on Hogmanay | Aberdeen City Council

www.aberdeencity.gov.uk www.aberdeencity.gov.uk

Free night bus services to operate on Hogmanay
Thursday 19 December 2024
Free night buses to key destinations across Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire are to operate on Hogmanay to help revellers get home from the city centre after the bells.

Aberdeen City Council is paying First Bus to operate the 10 routes from 12midnight on 31 December 2024 to about 3am on 1 January 2025.

The Hogmanay night bus is in addition to the existing weekend buses which are operating on weekends from Saturday 16 November 2024 to Sunday 5 January 2025.

The Hogmanay night bus services are being funded from bus lane enforcement revenue.

Aberdeen City Council Co-Leader Councillor Ian Yuill said: “The existing weekend night bus services have proved popular. I am delighted the Council has now been able to add free night buses on Hogmanay.

“So far thousands of people have used the free weekend nigh buses to travel to their homes in the city or Aberdeenshire.

“I hope as many people as possible take advantage of this free and safe transport home both for going out on Hogmanay and at weekends.”

Aberdeen City Council Co-Leader Councillor Christian Allard said: “More and more people are out enjoying the cafes, restaurants, and pubs in the city centre during the festive period and Hogmanay is always one of the busiest nights of the year.

“The Aberdeen City Council funding will help to support businesses by giving people another transport option for getting home safely on Hogmanay.”

Aberdeen Inspired is also promoting the Council-funded night buses services.

The services are

N1, city centre – Dubford/Ashwood/Danestone, via King Street;
N61, city centre – Ellon via Balmedie and Newburgh;
N17, city centre – Bucksburn/Dyce, via Great Northern Road;
N9, city centre – Inverurie, via Blackburn and Kintore, via Aberdeen Royal Infirmary (ARI);
N12, Torry – Northfield/Northfield - Torry, via city centre and Rosemount;
N23, city centre – Kingswells, via Summerhill and Sheddocksley;
N6, city centre – Westhill, via Queens Road;
N201, city centre – Banchory, via Cults and Peterculter, via North Deeside Road;
N18, city centre – Kincorth/Cove;
N7, Garthdee – Stonehaven/Stonehaven - Garthdee, via city centre, Portlethen and Newtonhill.
The provision of weekend night bus services will be reviewed by the City Council after this initial trial period. A total of 3,480 people have used the service so far.
Click to expand...
 
THarris123

THarris123

Established Member
Joined
20 Apr 2014
Messages
2,845
Location
Wells, Somerset
Apologies for the repetition that I'm sure this has come up many times - are all of the Hydroliners running in service in Aberdeen now or are some of them still away?
 
V

Volvodart

Established Member
Joined
12 Jun 2010
Messages
2,664
THarris123 said:
Apologies for the repetition that I'm sure this has come up many times - are all of the Hydroliners running in service in Aberdeen now or are some of them still away?
Click to expand...
None are in service, all are in Aberdeen. There is supposed to be hydrogen fuelling facilities installed at the depot but nothing has been done since the recent planning permission was approved. This would enable some to re enter service, but not all which would have to wait for the green hydrogen facility to open, which was supposed to be this year but is likely to be next year.
 
THarris123

THarris123

Established Member
Joined
20 Apr 2014
Messages
2,845
Location
Wells, Somerset
Volvodart said:
None are in service, all are in Aberdeen. There is supposed to be hydrogen fuelling facilities installed at the depot but nothing has been done since the recent planning permission was approved. This would enable some to re enter service, but not all which would have to wait for the green hydrogen facility to open, which was supposed to be this year but is likely to be next year.
Click to expand...
So they've all returned from Wright? Seems quite costly all of this. I assume when they re-enter service it'll push out the B9s and some E400s? Though I assume the new electrics will also push out those and the remaining bendies.

Talking of bendies, will they have to increase the frequency of 1 and 2 by using deckers on it or will they just cram them into deckers?
 
V

Volvodart

Established Member
Joined
12 Jun 2010
Messages
2,664
THarris123 said:
So they've all returned from Wright? Seems quite costly all of this. I assume when they re-enter service it'll push out the B9s and some E400s? Though I assume the new electrics will also push out those and the remaining bendies.
Click to expand...
Several of the Streetdecks have not been replaced, Aberdeen are just using less buses and cancelling some services, so when the hydrogen buses start returning to service not that many buses will be replaced, probably the five Glasgow liveried E300s or a similar number of E400s in their place.
 
B

Busman84

Member
Joined
9 Sep 2019
Messages
147
Location
East Kilbride
If they return to service I would imagine the lowheight E400s returning one by one back to Glasgow. A few have already returned (33918 repainted and still to enter service). 33918 returned in autumn yet still not seen service.
 
Jordan Adam

Jordan Adam

Established Member
Joined
12 Sep 2017
Messages
5,610
Location
Aberdeen
Busman84 said:
If they return to service I would imagine the lowheight E400s returning one by one back to Glasgow. A few have already returned (33918 repainted and still to enter service). 33918 returned in autumn yet still not seen service.
Click to expand...
33918 never transferred to Aberdeen.

It was repainted but kept breaking down just outside Glasgow whenever the journey north was attempted. Eventually 33920 was substituted in its place and transferred up at the start of 2024.
 
Jordan Adam

Jordan Adam

Established Member
Joined
12 Sep 2017
Messages
5,610
Location
Aberdeen
Red Onion

Red Onion

Member
Joined
4 Apr 2012
Messages
390
Location
Aberdeen
It’s been a couple of months since they stopped now but I wonder if anyone in the know has an idea of how well the free festive night buses were used?
 
V

Volvodart

Established Member
Joined
12 Jun 2010
Messages
2,664
Red Onion said:
It’s been a couple of months since they stopped now but I wonder if anyone in the know has an idea of how well the free festive night buses were used?
Click to expand...
See below

Thousands of people used free night bus services | Aberdeen City Council

www.aberdeencity.gov.uk www.aberdeencity.gov.uk

More than 6,000 people used the services of free night buses from Aberdeen City Council which went to key destinations across Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire at weekends in November and December and Hogmanay.

The buses on Hogmanay carried the most people on any single day of operation with 841 passengers. The two most busy weekends were 14 and 15 December with 1,156, and 21 and 22 December with 1,013.
Click to expand...
------------------
Volvodart said:
See below

Thousands of people used free night bus services | Aberdeen City Council

www.aberdeencity.gov.uk www.aberdeencity.gov.uk
Click to expand...
Aberdeen City Council has found money to subside late night buses on Friday and Saturday nights on 5 key routes from Aberdeen City Centre to Aberdeenshire, but no start date is confirmed.

www.aberdeenlive.news

Aberdeen City Council budget winners: Schools, arts and community groups handed funding

The announcement by the SNP and Liberal Democrat partnership will see funding for groups and new projects across the city, including Spectra being supported for the next two years and a fourth Cruyff Court to be built in Kincorth.
www.aberdeenlive.news www.aberdeenlive.news

Year-round night buses will be making a return across five key routes between Aberdeen city centre and Aberdeenshire for the next four years.
Click to expand...
 
Last edited:
Red Onion

Red Onion

Member
Joined
4 Apr 2012
Messages
390
Location
Aberdeen
Volvodart said:
See below

Thousands of people used free night bus services | Aberdeen City Council

www.aberdeencity.gov.uk www.aberdeencity.gov.uk


------------------

Aberdeen City Council has found money to subside late night buses on Friday and Saturday nights on 5 key routes from Aberdeen City Centre to Aberdeenshire, but no start date is confirmed.

www.aberdeenlive.news

Aberdeen City Council budget winners: Schools, arts and community groups handed funding

The announcement by the SNP and Liberal Democrat partnership will see funding for groups and new projects across the city, including Spectra being supported for the next two years and a fourth Cruyff Court to be built in Kincorth.
www.aberdeenlive.news www.aberdeenlive.news
Click to expand...

Interesting, thanks. I do wonder where these five routes will be and if it will be First that run them.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Top