First Greater Glasgow

[lastbus]

Passed a X11 on the motoway that was full and standing. Is there a shortage of double deckers? The 267 service on Saturday was all E200MMCs from what I seen.

Two peak X11s are on pm peak boards so get allocated whatever is left in the depot in the afternoon. Occasionally these can be single deck operated but are generally double deckers.

 

[Glasgowbusguy]

64102 and 64153

Have they got luggage racks?

 

[ScotRail158725]

Have they got luggage racks?

No they’ve just had external wraps

 

[E400Lover101]

Have they got luggage racks?

They aren't needed considering it is only 5 or so minutes from Queen Street to Central station.

 

[LT02 NVV]

Knowing First Glasgow, I have a feeling that in the future, we may sometimes see the Scotrail buses make occasional services on other routes.

Back years ago, when First had the 398 route contract, they ran the service with branded Optare Solos, with two buses being given an SPT Rail wrap at first (53202 & 53203) but these got re-painted into the standard livery at the time. Later on, they gave two a Scotrail Saltire wrap (50463 & 50465), and they would also later be re-painted into the standard livery at the time too.

Anyways, they would sometimes make appearances on other routes such as the M3 (or the 3 before 2013), the M60 (or the 140 before 2013), the 81, and some of the 2xx Lanarkshire services, while a regular liveried solo would run in it’s place.



== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 24 Oct 2023 ==

(New Post: Tue 24 Oct)
So currently, here are the buses that are on-loan to Aberdeen right now from First Glasgow:

 

[route101]

I saw an Airport E400 City on the A9 near Perth earlier, along with two Geminis. Wonder if they were up in Aberdeen?

 

[fife_circle]

I saw an Airport E400 City on the A9 near Perth earlier, along with two Geminis. Wonder if they were up in Aberdeen?

They were, 33104 and 33109 along with 37143, 37268, 37741 and 67820, 67824

 

[MasterSpenny]

I saw an Airport E400 City on the A9 near Perth earlier, along with two Geminis. Wonder if they were up in Aberdeen?

They could have been, depending on if you know the fleet numbers for the buses you saw. This was stated in the First Aberdeen thread that two had moved back to Glasgow

It looks as if 33104 and 33109 are back in First Glasgow, with 33906 coming to Aberdeen and in Aberdeen colours.

 

[Volvodart]

I saw an Airport E400 City on the A9 near Perth earlier, along with two Geminis. Wonder if they were up in Aberdeen?

The ones you saw were 33104, 37143 and 37741

 

[route101]

The ones you saw were 33104,37143 and 37741

I seen a E400 in Aberdeen First colours broken down on the M73 today.

 

[ScotRail158725]

I seen a E400 in Aberdeen First colours broken down on the M73 today.

33918 returning from paint

 

[LT02 NVV]

One of the Ex-London Enviro 200s (44448) is now out in service at the Caledonia depot, I wonder if it will head to Dumbarton (like the 4 that are already there), or one of the Lanarkshire depots. Hopefully the same will happen with the others still at Caledonia.

 

[92002]

One of the Ex-London Enviro 200s (44448) is now out in service at the Caledonia depot, I wonder if it will head to Dumbarton (like the 4 that are already there), or one of the Lanarkshire depots. Hopefully the same will happen with the others still at Caledonia.

The Dumbarton ones tend to stick to the 206. With an occasional trip on 1s, usually during the peak

 

[LT02 NVV]

The Dumbarton ones tend to stick to the 206. With an occasional trip on 1s, usually during the peak

I honestly enjoy getting them on the 1 routes most of the time, it’s nice having buses out that aren’t just E300s.

My only gripe about the E200s when they are out on the 1 routes, is that they can be really busy during the week day peak-time services (from 16:00-19:00), the same can be said for the Streetlites too, but that’s because both of them are shorter bus types than the regular E300s.

 

[92002]

I honestly enjoy getting them on the 1 routes most of the time, it’s nice having buses out that aren’t just E300s.

My only gripe about the E200s when they are out on the 1 routes, is that they can be really busy during the week day peak-time services (from 16:00-19:00), the same can be said for the Streetlites too, but that’s because both of them are shorter bus types than the regular E300s.

Really what the 1s need are double deckers. Using less drivers and giving more space and seats. Hopefully when electrics get to Dumbarton it will be new generation E400 evs. We can but hope.

 

[LT02 NVV]

1. Why has First Aberdeen King’s Coaches 20613 been tracking on some Glasgow routes for a while now, but I don't know if the bus is actually here (because I haven’t seen it out in service) or some other bus is using its ticket machine?

UPDATE: It’s actually a spare ticket machine that’s being used for one of the Gemini buses in Olympia livery (I think it’s 37192), I just saw it pass on the 60, at the time it is tracking that coach today.

 

[thetangoman]

UPDATE: It’s actually a spare ticket machine that’s being used for one of the Gemini buses in Olympia livery (I think it’s 37192), I just saw it pass on the 60, at the time it is tracking that coach today.

What app do you use for tracking?

 

[LT02 NVV]

What app do you use for tracking?

BusTimes.org usually, though I know sometimes they don’t track the right bus or track a bus at all.

Because I am in the Drumchapel area, I was able to see the bus pass me, and I did notice it was one of the few Olympia Gemini buses. I don’t know who’s idea it was to add a spare ticket machine tracker that’s based in Glasgow to an Aberdeen coach on BusTimes, but it’s kinda stupid.

 

[ScotRail158725]

I don’t know who’s idea it was to add a spare ticket machine tracker that’s based in Glasgow to an Aberdeen coach on BusTimes, but it’s kinda stupid.

It's not done manually; the ticket machine will input itself into the system which bustimes.org uses.

 

[Jordan Adam]

I don’t know who’s idea it was to add a spare ticket machine tracker that’s based in Glasgow to an Aberdeen coach on BusTimes, but it’s kinda stupid.

It is not a spare ticket machine, the ticket machine code is "20613" therefore those vehicle details are accurate. It is an issue on First's end.

 

[Observer]

I was on the 89 earlier in the week and it was my first experience of tap on tap off, only problem is I got charged £5 instead of £2.85 as I only made a single journey. The driver told me to tap off at the end of the journey which I did.

I filled in the form regarding adjusting the price, but my question is more about why did this happen in the first place? Think next time I'll just put coins in the vault if it's just for a single.

 

[JumpinTrainz]

Alexander Dennis unveils next-generation electric buses offering more choice, more flexibility and more value with industry-leading energy throughput and warranties | Alexander Dennis

Alexander Dennis, a subsidiary of NFI Group Inc., one of the world’s leading independent global bus manufacturers, today launched its next generation of battery-electric buses for the UK and Ireland with the unveiling of the new Enviro100EV small bus and Enviro400EV double decker. They provide a...

www.alexander-dennis.com

Taken from another forum. ADL have revealed their new E100EV and E400EVs. I must say the new generation E400EVs look much smarter than current ones and more practical. They seem to resemble the MMC design which I am a huge fan of.

With the B9TLs ageing - I’m hopeful Glasgow will order a big batch of these soon. Given Glasgow seem to be trying to standardise the fleet it would be interesting to see them order some E100EVs for Lanarkshire local services which could also see off the Streetlites.

 

[Trnsprt4Sctlnd]

I was on the 89 earlier in the week and it was my first experience of tap on tap off, only problem is I got charged £5 instead of £2.85 as I only made a single journey. The driver told me to tap off at the end of the journey which I did.

I filled in the form regarding adjusting the price, but my question is more about why did this happen in the first place? Think next time I'll just put coins in the vault if it's just for a single.

where did you get on and off?

 

[jazza374]

Second attempt as apparently I missed out a link.
According to bustimes long term absent 33920 is back on the road on the 60 today.

Sourced from here https://bustimes.org/vehicles/fgla-33920

 

[Observer]

where did you get on and off?

Kirkintilloch to Kilsyth. Got the 89 because it would be quicker than waiting a while for the 247 (which I had a day ticket for) and changing for the 435 at Craiglinn.

 

[LT02 NVV]

Second attempt as apparently I missed out a link.
According to bustimes long term absent 33920 is back on the road on the 60 today.

Sourced from here https://bustimes.org/vehicles/fgla-33920

I think it’s ticket machine is in another bus, but I’m not sure, as I haven’t seen anyone else take a photo of it yet.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 7 Nov 2023 ==

Taken from another forum. ADL have revealed their new E100EV and E400EVs. I must say the new generation E400EVs look much smarter than current ones and more practical. They seem to resemble the MMC design which I am a huge fan of.

With the B9TLs ageing - I’m hopeful Glasgow will order a big batch of these soon. Given Glasgow seem to be trying to standardise the fleet it would be interesting to see them order some E100EVs for Lanarkshire local services which could also see off the Streetlites.

Yeah, I think with the success of the batches of previous EV Electric buses, First Glasgow will probably get more of them for their services, as they did state that all buses will be electric by 2035.

Also, adding on to the the other point you’ve made, I’d say that the B9TLs will be gone by either 2024 at the earliest or 2025 at the latest, with some hopefully going for preservation.

 

[ScotRail158725]

I think it’s ticket machine is in another bus, but I’m not sure, as I haven’t seen anyone else take a photo of it yet.

It's out. I saw it in person the other day.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 7 Nov 2023 ==

Yeah, I think with the success of the batches of previous EV Electric buses, First Glasgow will probably get more of them for their services, as they did state that all buses will be electric by 2035.

Also, adding on to the the other point you’ve made, I’d say that the B9TLs will be gone by either 2024 at the earliest or 2025 at the latest, with some hopefully going for preservation.

The B9TLs are Euro 6 so there's no rush to get rid of them, especially the refurbished ones as most of those are still in quite a decent nick.

 

[JumpinTrainz]

I imagine when the B9TLs start being withdrawn it’ll be a gradual thing since they range from 2007-2009.

The oldest B7TLs were about 19 when they were withdrawn which I think will be a similar case for the B9TLs, however I imagine in terms of trying to standardise the fleet and speed up the switch to electric - more B9TLs will no doubt go South.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

I imagine when the B9TLs start being withdrawn it’ll be a gradual thing since they range from 2007-2009.

The oldest B7TLs were about 19 when they were withdrawn which I think will be a similar case for the B9TLs, however I imagine in terms of trying to standardise the fleet and speed up the switch to electric - more B9TLs will no doubt go South.

Perhaps also worth noting that there are plenty of OpCos south of the border that won't have electrical infrastructure and would welcome some modern cascades. Already seen Berkshire received some e400mmcs (and Essex/Wales got some slightly older ones). No guarantee that the oldest vehicles will be leaving first.

 

[JumpinTrainz]

Perhaps also worth noting that there are plenty of OpCos south of the border that won't have electrical infrastructure and would welcome some modern cascades. Already seen Berkshire received some e400mmcs (and Essex/Wales got some slightly older ones). No guarantee that the oldest vehicles will be leaving first.

Correct. I wouldn’t be surprised if Glasgow were to lose their E200MMCs or Streetlites if more depots go electric now that Scotstoun is complete.