First Greater Glasgow

[Busman84]

The X8 is no longer done by Scotstoun. Caledonia do it now along with the 9 so branded buses from other Caledonia routes will be seen on these routes occasionally.

 

[PaulMc7]

The X8 is no longer done by Scotstoun. Caledonia do it now along with the 9 so branded buses from other Caledonia routes will be seen on these routes occasionally.

I was thinking this was the case to be fair. It makes sense considering how easy it is to get onto the M77 from the Gorbals though

 

[route101]

The 6 from East Kilbride to the City, operated by an E300, was full by Battlefield. The journey back on the 6 was full from town. So drivers are still enforcing this.

Last week these journeys were operated by E400s. Today was it mostly E300s on the 6.

 

[JumpinTrainz]

The 6 from East Kilbride to the City, operated by an E300, was full by Battlefield. The journey back on the 6 was full from town. So drivers are still enforcing this.

Last week these journeys were operated by E400s. Today was it mostly E300s on the 6.

The 6 was mainly made up of E300s prior to COVID. I would have thought they’d still be using the E400s while social distancing was still in existence.

 

[route101]

The 6 was mainly made up of E300s prior to COVID. I would have thought they’d still be using the E400s while social distancing was still in existence.

Allocation is still the same as it was before covid.

6 and I'm sure other routes are back to pre covid reliability.

 

[olddriver]

I’m surprised to see on the First Group Careers Website that No 1 drivers now seem to be on a higher pay rate that No 2 drivers. Is this a new thing and how on earth did the Union agree to that?

 

[GALLANTON]

First Glasgow No1 was previously Strathclydes Buses whilst First Glasgow No2 was previously Kelvin Central Buses and I beleive they've always been on different pay and terms.

 

[olddriver]

I used to drive out of Larkfield depot in the mid-2000’s and I thought everyone was the same rate back then. If the No 2 guys were on a different rate back then, that completely passed me by.

 

[Jordan Adam]

If i'm not mistaken the whole reason First Glasgow still operate as two different companies is purely because of the different driver pay rates and conditions?

 

[Busman84]

No1 and No2 drivers were on the same rate. No2 were asked to vote for a a pay freeze while No1 got the rise. No1 had more drivers so this was voted through. That’s your Union for you who accepted and advised that. This is similar to the minibus rate they brought in around 2000 and then years later asked senior drivers (big bus drivers) to take a pay freeze so they could bring the minibus drivers up and make it the one big rate.

 

[PaulMc7]

Timetables

www.firstbus.co.uk

There are quite a few reductions due to driver shortages from Monday.

 

[lastbus]

Timetables

www.firstbus.co.uk

There are quite a few reductions due to driver shortages from Monday.

On the plus side the effect on passengers shouldn’t be too great as buses will be back to full capacity.

 

[PaulMc7]

On the plus side the effect on passengers shouldn’t be too great as buses will be back to full capacity.

Yes that's very true. As long as the reliability isn't dreadful I don't think many people will notice a lot of the reductions.

 

[GaryMcEwan]

Unless I'm missing it, there's nothing regarding the night buses.

I would have thought with the restrictions almost completely gone and the clubs and late night hospitality able to open again, they would have put them back on.

 

[route101]

Yes that's very true. As long as the reliability isn't dreadful I don't think many people will notice a lot of the reductions.

Reliability has been poor of late. I had a number 6 service, not turn up on Victoria Road this evening.

I wonder if the night buses will return.

 

[PaulMc7]

Reliability has been poor of late. I had a number 6 service, not turn up on Victoria Road this evening.

I wonder if the night buses will return.

I've noticed the 3s start to bunch up a lot more lately but given that it's a route over 2 hours like the 6 it always was a matter of time.

With the night buses they'll probably come back eventually once they see what nightclub numbers are like etc. I could see them being back when they've not got a driver shortage or the end of the month if the first 2 weekends are overly busy in the city centre.

 

[92002]

Reliability has been poor of late. I had a number 6 service, not turn up on Victoria Road this evening.

I wonder if the night buses will return.

Having waited 20 minutes on a 6 yesterday, two turned up together. Its all related to the ongoing city centre works - reducing lanes of traffic to create more walking space. The 6 would benefit greatly by following the 75 route in the city centre, avoiding George Square. It did this during the filming work and reliability was greatly improved.

 

[JumpinTrainz]

I was looking over the new order and with about 91 new E400EVs that will be enough to withdraw the B7TL fleet and the remaining ex-London deckers.

Does anyone know if the Hybrid E400s will be returning to service? I saw they were possibly being converted but they’ve been off the road for a while now and surely First will need all the newer deckers they can get for LEZ.

The single order confused me as there must be over 100 B7RLEs remaining in the fleet. Most B7RLEs are about 15 years old some are actually older. There are still 54 plates. From what I can see there will be about 57 singles coming to Glasgow between now and 2023 which doesn’t come close to replacing the B7RLE fleet. Could the plan perhaps be to cascade some relatively newer singles form other subsidiaries to Glasgow and have them converted? I get not all stock will be affected by LEZ but I’m thinking more from an age perspective.

 

[Volvodart]

They do not need 100% replaced, just the services that use the low emission zone.

 

[JumpinTrainz]

They do not need 100% replaced, just the services that use the low emission zone.

Most modern singles are replaced by the time they are about 16. The B7RLEs range from 54-56 plate making them on average almost about 16 years old. If this current order goes up to 2023 the 06/56 plates will be 17 years old so for hearsay there’s more singles ordered in 2024 they’ll be 18 years old by that point. That’s more what I was getting at

 

[Volvodart]

That is 3 years away. The services most of them do outside the LEZ could well get cascades.

 

[mb88]

Home

Where do you want your journey to start?

www.firstgroupcareers.com

Recruiting part time drivers for Glasgow/Lanarkshire depots. Is this a new thing? Certainly don’t recall ever seeing it before.

We are looking for Trainee & Qualified Bus Drivers to join our team in the following depots on part time hours!

Caledonia (City Centre)
Blantyre
Scotstoun
Overtown
Dumbarton

Do you fancy a change? We can offer you a rewarding career with a difference! Going out on the open road as a bus driver, you'll work on your own initiative and take ownership of your bus on its travels, looking after passenger safety and providing a great customer experience. You'll drive different routes, issue tickets and drop people off at their destinations.

*If you already have a PCV licence, you will automatically come in at £10.70 per hour (pay rates increase over a period of 5 years, up to £12.35 p/h). You will be contracted to 15 - 25 hours per week.* For trainee applicants there is a requirement to undertake 3 to 4 weeks full time paid training to acquire the bus licence before commencing part time hours.

As a trainee bus driver you will be earning £9.10 - £ 9.20 per hour whilst in training, £10.00 per hour once qualified.


Who are we looking for?

We are looking for someone who is a good communicator and gets on well with people. You must be patient, a safe driver, reliable and calm under pressure. Happy to work a variety of shifts including early mornings, evenings and weekends, you should also have a full UK driving licence (with no more than 3 points).

Training & Qualifications:

Full paid training will be provided which includes;

• Training for a PCV Licence (if applying as a trainee driver)
• Vehicle and route familiarisation
• Ticket machine and ticket type training

 

[route101]

Home

Where do you want your journey to start?

www.firstgroupcareers.com

Recruiting part time drivers for Glasgow/Lanarkshire depots. Is this a new thing? Certainly don’t recall ever seeing it before.

I knew of a guy who did it part time whilst at University.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 5 Aug 2021 ==

Having waited 20 minutes on a 6 yesterday, two turned up together. Its all related to the ongoing city centre works - reducing lanes of traffic to create more walking space. The 6 would benefit greatly by following the 75 route in the city centre, avoiding George Square. It did this during the filming work and reliability was greatly improved.

6 routing out via Jamaica St would improve things. Noticed more B7RLES on the 6 last few days.

The George Square to St Vincent Place section for buses can be a nightmare.

 

[adrock1976]

Have the single deck Scanias that were common on the then 62, 54, 40, and present day 61 (around the mid Noughties post Overground) all been withdrawn, or are there still a small handful left?

 

[route101]

Have the single deck Scanias that were common on the then 62, 54, 40, and present day 61 (around the mid Noughties post Overground) all been withdrawn, or are there still a small handful left?

I think they were withdrawn in 2015. The B10BLES lasted till last year. Still a few trainers in the fleet.

 

[adrock1976]

I think they were withdrawn in 2015. The B10BLES lasted till last year. Still a few trainers in the fleet.

Many thanks.

 

[JumpinTrainz]

Have the single deck Scanias that were common on the then 62, 54, 40, and present day 61 (around the mid Noughties post Overground) all been withdrawn, or are there still a small handful left?

It’s hard to believe that the 40, 61, 62 and 54 at one stage received so much new stock. From R and S plate L113s to L94s then B10LAs. By 2001/2002 they had new buses again in the form of B10BLEs and B7Ls.

The 61 has received refurbished B9TLs now and hasn’t seen new stock for a while. The 2s newest stock was back in 2013 for a route which used to see new buses every few years. The 60 tends to get anything that is going.

 

[92002]

It’s hard to believe that the 40, 61, 62 and 54 at one stage received so much new stock. From R and S plate L113s to L94s then B10LAs. By 2001/2002 they had new buses again in the form of B10BLEs and B7Ls.

The 61 has received refurbished B9TLs now and hasn’t seen new stock for a while. The 2s newest stock was back in 2013 for a route which used to see new buses every few years. The 60 tends to get anything that is going.

No doubt when the new machines arrive the 2, 54 60 and 61 will be among the first recipients of some. Both the 2 and 60 get some 38 and 77 branded machines. With an occasional 41 and 75. So it's not as bad as it seems.

Would think the 1s and 3 are also a part of the plan.

 

[Bus Lightyear]

The first Scania Single Decks to operate in Glasgow were the 2 N113s/Plaxton Verdes which most of the time operated on the 66 or private hires. They were demonstrators at first having been sourced following the Larkfield Depot fire almost 30 years ago then were purchased outright shortly afterwards but I thought the 5 DAF Ikarus hired at the same time were better. Then 3 K93s/East Lancs (I may be mistaken) were brought in on private plates and traded as SB Travel for hires but ended up at Cumbernauld a few years later.

After First had acquired SB Holdings, the 61 became the first route go all low-floor with red Volvo B10L/Wright Liberator and Scania L113 Wright/Axcess but soon after it was fully barbie operated. The 12, 40, 45, 62, 75 and the short lived X77 were also amongst some of the first routes to operated with Barbie Scanias. The L113s were good motors despite their flimsy Wright bodywork and they could shift when you put the foot down. The Scania L94 wasn't a patch on the L113 as they were more prone to faults and they weren't pleasant to drive. But of the all buses purchased during that era I found the Volvo B10BLE to be the best.

No doubt when the new machines arrive the 2, 54 60 and 61 will be among the first recipients of some. Both the 2 and 60 get some 38 and 77 branded machines. With an occasional 41 and 75. So it's not as bad as it seems.

Would think the 1s and 3 are also a part of the plan.

The 54 was replaced by the 7 on the northside and the 9A in the southside in 2013.

 

[JumpinTrainz]

No doubt when the new machines arrive the 2, 54 60 and 61 will be among the first recipients of some. Both the 2 and 60 get some 38 and 77 branded machines. With an occasional 41 and 75. So it's not as bad as it seems.

Would think the 1s and 3 are also a part of the plan.

I don’t think the 1, 2 or 3 will see any new buses given the E300s have all just been branded up. It would be nice for the 2 to see some deckers branded up alongside the E300s.

The 60/61 could possibly see new stock but I think the 7/7A will see new singles and possibly the 10, 57 and kirky routes see E400EVs.