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First Greater Glasgow

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CM

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28 Dec 2010
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667
Also that is untrue. First have in the past renewed buses on the old 40, 61 and 62 routes after about 4 years. The Scania L113s and L94s from about 1997-1998 were replaced in 2001 (by that point they were only about 3/4 years old). They were succeeded by B10BLEs and B7RLEs which were then replaced themselves by about 2005/2006 (about 4/5 years). It is possible and not completely unheard of.

That was in 2001 though, when money wasn't as tight as it is now and companies like First had the cash to invest regularly and heavily. It's a totally different ball game now with First being in the state it's in, less money being reimbursed to operators because of the free Concession passes among many other things. Back in 2001 replacing a 4-5-year-old bus with a new one was quite common but now with operators trying to save as much as possible, it just isn't going to happen.
 

PaulMc7

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9 Jul 2019
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38 branded bus on 60 tonight

Definitely seems to be the case with Caley that anything can go on any service. Suppose it's cool having a surprise of what turns up on your bus lol. Had a few cases of big surprises. E300 on an 8 recently, E200 MMC on a 46 and the original E200 MMCs on 7s too
 

JumpinTrainz

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30 Jul 2018
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Definitely seems to be the case with Caley that anything can go on any service. Suppose it's cool having a surprise of what turns up on your bus lol. Had a few cases of big surprises. E300 on an 8 recently, E200 MMC on a 46 and the original E200 MMCs on 7s too

Would have been nice if the E500s were still here and we could have seen them darted about on routes like the 2.
 

PaulMc7

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Would have been nice if the E500s were still here and we could have seen them darted about on routes like the 2.

Wouldn't surprise me to see that tbh. They were interesting buses.

Used to get them back from school on the 44 a lot of the time
 

LT02 NVV

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12 Nov 2019
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272
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I Seen 2 ALX400 TRIDENTS On the 60 in Drumchapel this morning.
1. 7:36 AM: 33365 LK53EYF
2. 8:00 AM Unknown, I did not see the Plate or Number.
 

PaulMc7

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I Seen 2 ALX400 TRIDENTS On the 60 in Drumchapel this morning.
1. 7:36 AM: 33365 LK53EYF
2. 8:00 AM Unknown, I did not see the Plate or Number.

Quite a variation of buses on the 60/60A recently. Seen one of the unbranded deckers brought in last year on a 60A on Monday but it can get just about anything
 

JumpinTrainz

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The 60/60A is a busy route. Particularly the east end section. I’d say it would be better suited to decker operation however I have seen a number of E200MMC and E300s on the route and think they would be quite good vehicles for the route also as they seem to cope quite well with the capacity. They tend to have the singles on the 60A variation rather than the 60. Perhaps they could brand some singles and deckers like FSE did with the X23/23.
 

PaulMc7

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The 60/60A is a busy route. Particularly the east end section. I’d say it would be better suited to decker operation however I have seen a number of E200MMC and E300s on the route and think they would be quite good vehicles for the route also as they seem to cope quite well with the capacity. They tend to have the singles on the 60A variation rather than the 60. Perhaps they could brand some singles and deckers like FSE did with the X23/23.

That would definitely be a good idea. From Maryhill onwards to Milngavie the 60A is never that busy whereas Clydebank to Maryhill can be very busy on a 60 despite Canniesburn not being too great for customers from the times I've used the 60
 

route101

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16 May 2010
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10,594
I Seen 2 ALX400 TRIDENTS On the 60 in Drumchapel this morning.
1. 7:36 AM: 33365 LK53EYF
2. 8:00 AM Unknown, I did not see the Plate or Number.

They appear to have moved the alx 400s that were on the 31 to the 60.

Had LT02NWC on 31 this morning , this varies day to day , gemini or alx 400 . Only one decker diagram on the 31, the two earlier buses in the morning are busier and deserve a decker .

Seen 75 branded e400mmc on 4 last night too.
 

route101

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Would have been nice if the E500s were still here and we could have seen them darted about on routes like the 2.

Didnt they burn fuel like no tomorrow and were sat in the depot on sundays .

Deffo think the 2 needs deckers , every ten mins , less buses to clog up the streets .
 

route101

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Definitely seems to be the case with Caley that anything can go on any service. Suppose it's cool having a surprise of what turns up on your bus lol. Had a few cases of big surprises. E300 on an 8 recently, E200 MMC on a 46 and the original E200 MMCs on 7s too

E200MMCS are quite common on the 5 and 7 now.
 

Jordan Adam

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12 Sep 2017
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Aberdeen
Didnt they burn fuel like no tomorrow and were sat in the depot on sundays.

That was due to the A/C system (which was unreliable at the best of times.) Aberdeen have since disabled it and retrofitted them with hopper windows and standard under seat heater units that you find on most ADL buses. I understand the MPG they achieve is not far off that of a standard B9TL now, of course they cost more to run due to their size and extra axle, but the higher capacity (around 30 more people overall) makes up for that.

Aberdeen typically don't use E500s (or B7LAs) evenings/Sundays, however that may be about to change as the duty changes this week have seen the Aberdeen 1/2 converted to "Big bus" operation for the first time since 2010.
 

PaulMc7

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Really dont see the X1 and X2 lasting long tbh. Only 2 other passengers and myself on the X2 earlier and 6 including me on my X1 to Hamilton currently. Not a cash paying customer on either at the time. 3 concessions and 3 phone tickets on the X1 and 3 phone ticket users on the X2.

65 plate E200 MMC on the X2 being wasted imo if that's the passenger level and the X1 is still the same deckers that have been on it before the changes

1 thing I will say about the X1 though is that there were plenty of people getting off it at BBS but I doubt the number of passengers 1 way will make them keep it unless it's making great money
 

NorthClyde320

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30 Jun 2019
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also some SF55 and a WX55 RLEs moved to Scoutston from Caley as well as some YN08 B9s at Caley

34363/4/96 have been debranded from the 38

I know this will sound picky but wouldn't it have been better to debrand 34365 instead of 34396, that way 34361-5 would be in plain livery and 34366-401 would branded for the 38. It's the same with the 201 and 240 branding. Damn my ocd.
 

69036

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4 Feb 2019
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56
I know this will sound picky but wouldn't it have been better to debrand 34365 instead of 34396, that way 34361-5 would be in plain livery and 34366-401 would branded for the 38. It's the same with the 201 and 240 branding. Damn my ocd.
Thought that too lol
 

experts

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15 Apr 2007
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34396 was chosen due to being involved in a collision the day before 34365 was meant to go in for painting. So it would’ve been pointless to have two buses off the road to be repainted. Enthusiasts don’t see the day to day stuff but there you go, answered!


I know this will sound picky but wouldn't it have been better to debrand 34365 instead of 34396, that way 34361-5 would be in plain livery and 34366-401 would branded for the 38. It's the same with the 201 and 240 branding. Damn my ocd.
 

Jordan Adam

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Another view of the new 41 branding - https://www.flickr.com/photos/45060815@N07/49065326988/

Looks smart, although i'm not the biggest fan of how the vinyls/lettering have been applied. The application on the FSE 23 branded vehicles with the side numbers centred and the front Wifi/contactless logos higher up is better. Also much like LCB's recent B7RLE refurbs the side "Glasgow" text is very lopsided. Regardless though, glad to see branding being rolled out on to other routes, moving 10 of these E400MMCs to Glasgow was clearly a smart (and logical) move.
 

KGGXXXY

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4 Aug 2017
Messages
141
Location
Glasgow
Another view of the new 41 branding - https://www.flickr.com/photos/45060815@N07/49065326988/

Looks smart, although i'm not the biggest fan of how the vinyls/lettering have been applied. The application on the FSE 23 branded vehicles with the side numbers centred and the front Wifi/contactless logos higher up is better. Also much like LCB's recent B7RLE refurbs the side "Glasgow" text is very lopsided. Regardless though, glad to see branding being rolled out on to other routes, moving 10 of these E400MMCs to Glasgow was clearly a smart (and logical) move.
Looks Good, the yellow looks to be a slightly less vibrant shade than the 75 but it could just be the photo, will keep an eye out.
 

PaulMc7

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9 Jul 2019
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Was on the 19 earlier and I was amazed how quiet it was. Barely anyone on it at all from Provanmill to Glasgow Fort. Got a feeling it's a lot to do with people being annoyed with the 19A cut. Wonder how long the 19 will stay every 20mins if things don't go well.

Been on it a few times since the change and it's been the same every time. Can see it going back to every 30mins outside of peaks
 
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NorthClyde320

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30 Jun 2019
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North of Glasgow
34396 was chosen due to being involved in a collision the day before 34365 was meant to go in for painting. So it would’ve been pointless to have two buses off the road to be repainted. Enthusiasts don’t see the day to day stuff but there you go, answered!

Thanks for explaining, always a simple and logical reason behind most companies' decisions.
 

PaulMc7

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If anyone wants an example of why roadworks are so problematic for buses there's ones at Westland Drive in Whiteinch lasting until the 12th of January and because of the traffic build up into Scotstoun from about 4pm onwards it's been taking the 1s until about 8/9pm to get back to normal and on time because of the sheer size of delays. It's been 20/30/40 min delays every single day
 

PaulMc7

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Seen a 38 branded decker on the 75 today and an X85/X87 branded bus on a 38E too. Anyone know how many 41s have been branded so far and how many are still left to be done? Never seen any out of the 4/5 41s I seen today
 

Bus Lightyear

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16 Nov 2018
Messages
542
Seen a 38 branded decker on the 75 today and an X85/X87 branded bus on a 38E too. Anyone know how many 41s have been branded so far and how many are still left to be done? Never seen any out of the 4/5 41s I seen today
Only 33440 has been done.
 

92002

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27 Mar 2014
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Clydebank
If anyone wants an example of why roadworks are so problematic for buses there's ones at Westland Drive in Whiteinch lasting until the 12th of January and because of the traffic build up into Scotstoun from about 4pm onwards it's been taking the 1s until about 8/9pm to get back to normal and on time because of the sheer size of delays. It's been 20/30/40 min delays every single day
Perhaps the 1s and X4d should consider using the Clydrside route and avoid the Expressway congestion at the busy times. They have used that during any expressway congestion in the past.
No stops involved to be missed.
 

gka472l

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29 Apr 2016
Messages
427
Seen a 38 branded decker on the 75 today and an X85/X87 branded bus on a 38E too. Anyone know how many 41s have been branded so far and how many are still left to be done? Never seen any out of the 4/5 41s I seen today

33992 on the 38E yesterday, taken by Pollokshaws East station in between catching last runs on 314's...….

HTH
 

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PaulMc7

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Perhaps the 1s and X4d should consider using the Clydrside route and avoid the Expressway congestion at the busy times. They have used that during any expressway congestion in the past.
No stops involved to be missed.

There's a stop on both sides at Victoria Park now so if they do that it misses at least one and if they come up South St back onto Dumbarton Road at the next possible point they'd miss another stop towards Scotstoun.

If anything the X4 route should be changed to come off at Thornwood and go up towards Broomhill Cross and then along the old 4 route along the top of Victoria Park. Would dodge the congestion and make it possible for more people to use it. It's never really busy outside of peaks
 

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