First Midland Bluebird

[Gingerbus1991]

The C11 service timetable has been amended as of today - Cambusbarron will now be the start and end of the journey and Aberfoyle is now back to being city centre via Dobbies etc to Aberfoyle.

A bit of a climb down from First after their "council funded route cant go the same route as a non council funded bus" nonsense when they applied this exceptionally unpopular route change. Back to 45 minutes from Stirling to Aberfoyle rather than the hour plus that the Cambusbarron excursion made it.

I assume many of these midland bluebird services are very quiet.

 

[Journeyman]

Very pleasantly surprised the 38 is going back to 4 buses an hour from Linlithgow to Edinburgh. I didn't see that coming at all.

 

[overthewater]

Either the winchburgh housing money has turned up or first know what lcb phrase 4 is..

 

[Journeyman]

Either the winchburgh housing money has turned up or first know what lcb phrase 4 is..

Sounds about right. I live in Winchburgh so the cut to half-hourly was very inconvenient.

 

[overthewater]

I still think the service should be cut in two at falkirk. And with edinburgh side being every 20mins off peak, every 12mims peaks. I do beleive there should bring back 631 every hour.

 

[Observer]

• PM0000003/681 Registered
  MIDLAND BLUEBIRD LTD
  
  Route: Alloa to Cowie via Tullibody, Causewayhead, Sterling, Braehead, Broomridge
  
  Service number: 51 ()
  
  Service type: Hail & Ride, Normal Stopping
  
  Effective date: 18 Feb 2019
  
  
• PM0000003/679 Registered
  MIDLAND BLUEBIRD LTD
  
  Route: Cowie Post Office to University of Stirling Bus Hub via Cornton, Bridge of Allan
  
  Service number: 54 ()
  
  Service type: Normal Stopping
  
  Effective date: 18 Feb 2019
  
  
• PM0000003/684 Registered
  MIDLAND BLUEBIRD LTD
  
  Route: University of Stirling Main Entrance to Manor Powis
  
  Service number: 55 ()
  
  Service type: Hail & Ride, Normal Stopping
  
  Effective date: 18 Feb 2019
  

 

[Gingerbus1991]

I assume the likes of Dunblane doesn't get a bus service now? Plus how does the 59 to Callander do, load wise?

 

[overthewater]

Stagecoach operate an hourly service to Dunblane, there is also C48 and Perth and kinross council route 20.

 

[Gingerbus1991]

Q. Is Midland Bluebird(Stirling & Falkirk) still a seperate entity from First Scotland East(Livi)?

 

[overthewater]

Q. Is Midland Bluebird(Stirling & Falkirk) still a separate entity from First Scotland East(Livi)?

Yes, its two operating licences and accounts

 

[Gingerbus1991]

Yes, its two operating licences and accounts

Is there anywhere the accounts for Midland Bluebird can be sourced?

 

[gazthomas]

Is there anywhere the accounts for Midland Bluebird can be sourced?

2 second Google:

https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/company/SC016923/filing-history

 

[overthewater]

Plus the account details have been posted in the First group thread.

 

[Gingerbus1991]

Wow the companies never really been a decent profit maker lol

 

[Gingerbus1991]

Could Balfron outstation not be closed to help save money or is this an important part of there operations?

 

[overthewater]

Could Balfron outstation not be closed to help save money or is this an important part of there operations?

It's only open because of the school tenders. Route 10, 11, and 12 = 4 buses.

 

[Gingerbus1991]

It's only open because of the school tenders. Route 10, 11, and 12 = 4 buses.

So I assume they need to be able to fuel those 4 buses etc at balfron?

Surely theyll still have liability costs etc for balfron.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

So I assume they need to be able to fuel those 4 buses etc at balfron?

Surely theyll still have liability costs etc for balfron.

The depot is relatively small - most of the fleet is parked in the yard - so business rates and overheads are low-ish.

The schools/college contracts supplement the four main bus boards and cover the overhead and allows them to be operated without extensive dead mileage. Quite a survivor and probably makes modest money. The issues will be elsewhere!

 

[Gingerbus1991]

I really wish stirlingshire area could rejuvenate its bus service somehow, its a pitty Falkirk has went the same, falkirk main street is dire.

 

[overthewater]

Stirling should be doing better, it has uni etc but the day bus ticket is like £6, weekly bus ticket is like £24 just to travel around the city area which is rather small. There is alot of growth, but its just fallen flat. Falkirk high street may be on its backside but the cars the amount of traffic cleary tells a different picture, that retail park across the road is always busy.

 

[Gingerbus1991]

Stirling should be doing better, it has uni etc but the day bus ticket is like £6, weekly bus ticket is like £24 just to travel around the city area which is rather small. There is alot of growth, but its just fallen flat. Falkirk high street may be on its backside but the cars the amount of traffic cleary tells a different picture, that retail park across the road is always busy.

Of course there’s very little that can be done to improve on this poor future thats ahead for this industry, right or wrong?

 

[overthewater]

I believe some stuff can be done to improve the operations alas bus companies need to evolve or die, like all business. Of course for First the dont have the money to generate or impairment new out of the box ideas.

 

[matchmaker]

• 
  
  
• PM0000003/679 Registered
  MIDLAND BLUEBIRD LTD
  
  Route: Cowie Post Office to University of Stirling Bus Hub via Cornton, Bridge of Allan
  
  Service number: 54 ()
  
  Service type: Normal Stopping
  
  Effective date: 18 Feb 2019
  
  

So the 54 is going back to pretty much how it used to be?

 

[Volvodart]

So the 54 is going back to pretty much how it used to be?

Stirling & Forth Valley Service Changes will launch on February 18th 2019.

https://www.firstgroup.com/south-east-and-central-scotland/stirling-network-changes

Stirling Network Changes
Stirling & Forth Valley Service Changes will launch on February 18th 2019.
First Scotland East are pleased to announce service improvements on it’s Forth Valley network following feedback from Customers, Stakeholders and following attendance at various local community meetings.

Improved links for students across the Forth Valley.

Direct links to Stirling Community Hospital (Stirling Care Village) from Bannockburn, Cowie and St Ninian’s.

Improvements to Stirling University’s Uni Link services based on consultations with the University staff and students.

Additional links to University from the Hillfoots at peak times during term.
The First Scotland East team has taken on-board comments and requests, and after consulting with the relevant Local Authorities are now making further improvements to the network which are detailed below:

Service 51
Cowie - Bannockburn - Stirling - Alloa - Revised timetable.

One evening journey from Stirling to Cowie has been added in response to public request.

Service 54

Cowie - Bannockburn - Stirling - Cornton - Bridge of Allan - University of Stirling

Route extended from Stirling to Cowie via Community Hospital.

Revised morning timetable.

Changes introduced following consultations and requests by public and local council.

Service 55
Tullibody - Alloa - Tillicoultry - Menstrie - University of Stirling

New Peak only service introduced in response to University request. Service will operate during university semester.

Andrew Jarvis, Managing Director for First Scotland East said: “We are pleased with the feedback and continued support we have received from our customers across the Forth Valley and the surrounding areas over the past few months with our new simplified network.

“We hope these revisions indicate our commitment to listening to feedback and proves we are always willing to take suggestions on board from the local community. Hopefully now the local community can get behind their local bus services as we strive to continue improvements to services in the area.”

 

[overthewater]

So that's one extra bus to the network, plus an extra bus at 20.15 to Cowie.

 

[Observer]

Ex-Compass Bus Enviro 300 MX05 OTC is at Bannockburn now, not seen the other one yet but presumably will be allocated there too.

 

[overthewater]

I heard there been hiding in Glasgow for the past few weeks. I think there going put on the 38s.

 

[Observer]

Well they are in the wrong depot to go in the 38s, plenty of other services for them, plus there were some recent service changes in Stirling.

 

[overthewater]

As stated elsewhere a fare review is happening and there are some real bargains..

First Midland Bluebird is making changes to their fares from Sunday 24th March, but is continuing to offer its best value fares to customers when they purchase tickets in advance of boarding the bus via the First Bus App.

Here are some highlights:

Reductions or freeze on some of our most popular tickets such as First Day and First Weekly tickets.
New First Unlimited rewards our most frequent service users with more convenience and discounted travel.
Customers who switch from buying tickets from the driver, to purchasing them in advance of boarding via the mTickets App will continue to pay 2018 prices in the main. Most fares have been frozen or reduced on the mTickets App, while most single and return tickets purchased on-bus from the driver will increase by around 6%. The best value fares are being offered to mTicket customers, making it the cheapest way to get around.

Graeme Macfarlan, Commercial Director for First Midland Bluebird said: “We generally need to review our fares each year to ensure we meet the rising costs that we face as a business, but we have worked hard to keep any increases to a minimum with ticket prices last reviewed in January ‘18.

“Travel by First Midland Bluebird offers great value for money and we continue to offer a lower price for most tickets purchased via the First mTickets app, in comparison to tickets bought from the driver, so that we can encourage people to switch and help speed up their boarding time. This allows us to improve access to purchase tickets on the go for the increasingly mobile savvy consumer.

“Our Midland Bluebird operation has seen a significant rise in ‘smart’ payments in recent months, with over 60 per cent of our customers now using a ‘cashless’ method. This shows the positive response we have had from our customers to this investment in technology and incentivising these news ways to pay are in response to consumer demand.

 

[Bluebirdscot66]

Wow that 3-5 zone down from £46 to £25 !! hopefully not a misprint