First Greater Glasgow

[Dfatcontroller]

Does anyone know if First will trial any other kind of electric vehicle? I see McGills have an e-Citaro demonstrator. I know they’ve kept pretty much to ADL but with the need for more electric vehicles I wonder if they’ll branch out and try different types of bus.

The eCitaro lasted no more than around a week with McGills before it disappeared on a low-loader.

 

[Stan Drews]

The eCitaro lasted no more than around a week with McGills before it disappeared on a low-loader.

That’s fairly standard practice with demonstrators. It had been with both the Harrogate Bus Co and Go North East for about a week prior to its venture north of the border. I believe it went back to Mercedes’ base in the Midlands.

 

[JumpinTrainz]

That’s fairly standard practice with demonstrators. It had been with both the Harrogate Bus Co and Go North East for about a week prior to its venture north of the border. I believe it went back to Mercedes’ base in the Midlands.

I take it First won’t be getting a shot of it?

 

[GALLANTON]

I take it First won’t be getting a shot of it?

If First wish to trial the eCitaro I'm pretty sure they'd arrange it with Mercedes-Benz.

 

[JumpinTrainz]

If First wish to trial the eCitaro I'm pretty sure they'd arrange it with Mercedes-Benz.

Way to state the obvious

 

[LT02 NVV]

On Saturday October 9th, I was on 69298 on the 1D to Clydebank, it gave a fantastic thrash on the Clydeside Expressway, though the rattling sounds of the poles & seats where the only bad thing about it, still was nice to ride a B7RLE Eclipse (and a 2004 one as well), instead of the usual E300 or B9TL Gemini.

Bellow is my ticket for trip (I would of taken photos of the bus, but the driver kindly told me that he wouldn’t want to be in the photos):

 

[PaulMc7]

I've been pleasantly surprised whenever I've got an older bus on the 1s to be honest. They seem to handle the expressway much better than I thought they would given their age etc. Some of the E300s haven't been too great lately.

 

[ScotRail158725]

I've been pleasantly surprised whenever I've got an older bus on the 1s to be honest. They seem to handle the expressway much better than I thought they would given their age etc. Some of the E300s haven't been too great lately.

What Enviro 300s have you been on? As much as i hate Enviro 300s they deserve the credit for their high speed performaces on roads like the expressway. Much better than almost any other bus type.

 

[JumpinTrainz]

What Enviro 300s have you been on? As much as i hate Enviro 300s they deserve the credit for their high speed performaces on roads like the expressway. Much better than almost any other bus type.

The E300s have surprised me. When they first came on the scene back in 2012 I always felt like they were way too flimsy and had little wheels compared to the heavier type buses First had previously. To give them their credit the oldest ones are about 9 years old now and they’ve stood the test of time especially after a repaint.

 

[GALLANTON]

I've been pleasantly surprised whenever I've got an older bus on the 1s to be honest. They seem to handle the expressway much better than I thought they would given their age etc. Some of the E300s haven't been too great lately.

Given they've got the same 6.7-litre engine as the Enviro 400 and a 6-speed gearbox I fail to see how the Expressway with its 50mph limit could cause any hardship to a bus.

 

[PaulMc7]

What Enviro 300s have you been on? As much as i hate Enviro 300s they deserve the credit for their high speed performaces on roads like the expressway. Much better than almost any other bus type.

Given they've got the same 6.7-litre engine as the Enviro 400 and a 6-speed gearbox I fail to see how the Expressway with its 50mph limit could cause any hardship to a bus.

I never really notice their 5 digit number things but I tend to get any sort of 1 a lot more than anything else and lately there's been a few barely seem to get beyond 20mph even when the expressway has been quieter and the bus is already really late. My girlfriend also has had a couple break down in recent weeks too.

Completely different to before too. Still not the worst thing condition wise from the buses I've been on to be fair. I had a double decker 6 one day last week that had to be turned off and on multiple times due to an issue.

 

[ScotRail158725]

I never really notice their 5 digit number things but I tend to get any sort of 1 a lot more than anything else and lately there's been a few barely seem to get beyond 20mph even when the expressway has been quieter and the bus is already really late. My girlfriend also has had a couple break down in recent weeks too.

I seem to see how a single decker with a near 7 litre engine struggles to accelerate beyond 20mph on the expressway. Yet everytime i’ve had an Enviro 300 they’ve tackled the Expressway with ease and better than every other bus type i’ve taken on the Expressway everytime I go on it. This is the same bus type that handles a 100 odd mile round trip from Stirling to Tyndrum with ease as i’ve also learnt from experience

 

[PaulMc7]

I've always wondered if this would be a good idea but would the 6 benefit from new buses? Obviously, double deckers are an issue due to the height restrictions due to the bridge at Busby but new singles on it at some point could be decent IMO.

I've noticed a good few buses from the 2 and 3 on the 6 of late to be fair.

 

[JumpinTrainz]

I've always wondered if this would be a good idea but would the 6 benefit from new buses? Obviously, double deckers are an issue due to the height restrictions due to the bridge at Busby but new singles on it at some point could be decent IMO.

I've noticed a good few buses from the 2 and 3 on the 6 of late to be fair.

It will be interesting to see what gets new stock, however as we know it’s all electric stock coming now and Caledonia’s routes are the only ones who can accommodate them for the time being.

I definitely think the Kirky/Cumbernauld routes will see new stock. There are over 100 buses coming between now and 2023 so perhaps the 6 will see more E200MMCs and E300s. The good thing is the low height E400s are only 10 years old so I don’t think they’ll be going anywhere soon.

 

[PaulMc7]

It will be interesting to see what gets new stock, however as we know it’s all electric stock coming now and Caledonia’s routes are the only ones who can accommodate them for the time being.

I definitely think the Kirky/Cumbernauld routes will see new stock. There are over 100 buses coming between now and 2023 so perhaps the 6 will see more E200MMCs and E300s. The good thing is the low height E400s are only 10 years old so I don’t think they’ll be going anywhere soon.

I don't mind the E400s other than nearly sliding off of the seats and hitting my head on the ceiling downstairs on them multiple times when I'm only 5 ft 10 tbh. The Kirky/Cumbernauld buses have seen a fair few buses from the 38/75 in particular so it would make a lot of sense to give them their own stock.

 

[route101]

I've always wondered if this would be a good idea but would the 6 benefit from new buses? Obviously, double deckers are an issue due to the height restrictions due to the bridge at Busby but new singles on it at some point could be decent IMO.

I've noticed a good few buses from the 2 and 3 on the 6 of late to be fair.

6 is a mixture of singles and deckers. Obviously I would like more double deckers on the route.

 

[Scott mac]

It will be interesting to see what gets new stock, however as we know it’s all electric stock coming now and Caledonia’s routes are the only ones who can accommodate them for the time being.

I definitely think the Kirky/Cumbernauld routes will see new stock. There are over 100 buses coming between now and 2023 so perhaps the 6 will see more E200MMCs and E300s. The good thing is the low height E400s are only 10 years old so I don’t think they’ll be going anywhere soon.

87/88/89 will be getting e400mmc from a other route

 

[JumpinTrainz]

87/88/89 will be getting e400mmc from a other route

Do you know this for sure?

 

[Whiteway215]

Reported on the First South West thread that it is proposed to cascade 37184 and 32583-92 to Buses of Somerset.

 

[cnjb8]

Reported on the First South West thread that it is proposed to cascade 37184 and 32583-92 to Buses of Somerset.

It’s not proposed, it’s going to happen

 

[JumpinTrainz]

Reported on the First South West thread that it is proposed to cascade 37184 and 32583-92 to Buses of Somerset.

It’s nice to see the B7TLs see a new lease of life down South. They are nice buses I just hate the loud fan noise and they badly needed a retrim which I noticed they’ve been treated to down South.

With the E400EVs arriving next year I wonder if more B7TLs will be transferred or if they’ll start to scrap them. Glasgow still has very high numbers of them.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

It’s not proposed, it’s going to happen

I think @Whiteway215 has phrased it that way as cascade plans can and do change, and often at late notice. For instance, ex Glasgow B7TLs 37182/3/5 were to be swapped from Bristol, and be replaced by Kernow e400 33420-2. Two weeks later, the B7s have moved but the e400s are now moving to Somerset instead.

 

[Strathclyder]

Further to the discussion regarding older buses appearing on The One, the E300s, while I personally am 'meh' on them - primarily due to the fact that I've been riding them for 8-9 years at this point - they are well-suited to the limited-stop sections of the route (Victoria Park <-> Anderston etc). Much as I prefer the B9TLs overall, they do seem to lumber along in this regard in comparison to some of the E300s I've been on. B7RLEs and once upon a time B10BLEs are/were also capable performers on The One whenever they appear/appeared, same applies by and large to B7TLs whenever they crop up on the 1C/1D.

 

[Scotrail314209]

Over 1000 bus drivers in Glasgow vote to strike over 'poverty pay rise'

Over 1000 bus drivers in Glasgow vote to strike over 'poverty pay rise'

www.dumbartonreporter.co.uk

Oh dear. At this rate the whole of Scotland is going to come to a halt.

MORE than 1,000 First Bus drivers are to vote on strike action over a "poverty pay" row during COP26.

A total of 1,300 employees have been invited to take industrial action after an "unacceptable" pay rise offer from the employer.

On October 19, the return of a consultative ballot showed that 99 per cent of Unite’s members working for First Bus Glasgow rejected a pay offer in a 70 per cent turnout.

The ballot is expected to open on November 1 and close on November 15.

 

[PaulMc7]

Over 1000 bus drivers in Glasgow vote to strike over 'poverty pay rise'

Over 1000 bus drivers in Glasgow vote to strike over 'poverty pay rise'

www.dumbartonreporter.co.uk

Oh dear. At this rate the whole of Scotland is going to come to a halt.

I am not surprised by it to be fair. The only consolation is that if there's anything that causes disruption it's after COP26 and not during it.

 

[lastbus]

Over 1000 bus drivers in Glasgow vote to strike over 'poverty pay rise'

Over 1000 bus drivers in Glasgow vote to strike over 'poverty pay rise'

www.dumbartonreporter.co.uk

Oh dear. At this rate the whole of Scotland is going to come to a halt.

Non-story; any industrial action will not be during COP26 as there is simply not enough time. A postal ballot now needs to be done of the workforce and with further talks planned on the 26th that won’t be done until at least after these talks depending on how they go. After that the union would need to give the company notice to strike. Any strike, which I doubt it will come to, would be after COP26.

 

[Dfatcontroller]

That’s fairly standard practice with demonstrators. It had been with both the Harrogate Bus Co and Go North East for about a week prior to its venture north of the border. I believe it went back to Mercedes’ base in the Midlands.

McGills operated it in service from around the 4th September; took it off the road for one day on the 8th and applied additional branding to it, put it back on the road the 9th and it left on the 14th September.

 

[GALLANTON]

First still haven't announced any diversions for services during COP26. I'm guessing they are going to leave it to the last minute or probably not bother at all.

 

[Scotrail88]

First still haven't announced any diversions for services during COP26. I'm guessing they are going to leave it to the last minute or probably not bother at all.

The diversions are on the website.
The only official closure is the expressway so not sure what people expect.

 

[PaulMc7]

I think people thought they'd mention more about the knock-on effect of the expressway being shut but there wasn't a need IMO. I'd imagine Maryhill Road, Great Western Road and Dumbarton Road will be utterly horrendous so buses like the 2, 3, 6/6A, 60/60A, 61 and 77 will be hit with massive reliability issues during this time. I could also see University Avenue and Woodlands Road being worse too so the 4/4A are likely to be affected.