First Midland Bluebird

[Bluebirdscot66]

Yep that's it . I don't know how much work it needs but may be a couple of months before it can be used . it all sounds as though it could be a tad chaotic though . Especially at the start of the changes .time will tell .

 

[Observer]

I did look at the GMB office today and it didn't seem that anything had been done to it, not even removing the GMB stuff still stuck on that place. I had assumed that the bus station office would still be getting used for the time being, no rush to vacate that yet. That place should be big enough for the driver rest area and inspector's office as well as the reception area.

Also, slightly unrelated but also related in a way, what's happening with the Stagecoach 28? They have not put a variation in to remove the bus station and go somewhere else, are they still going to get access into a bus station which is going to have nothing else serving it? That service by the way won't have time to hit Newmarket St and back, only thing that makes sense is terminating and starting at the stop at Vicar Street. I believe it's happened before when roadworks blocked access into the bus station years ago.

It seems there will be further public meeting about Livingston service changes for Delridge west. If there had got off there back side in the first place like Craigshill First might have done something about it. Ive also heard there may be meeting in Clackmannanshire about these awful changes.

Waste of time considering the changes are all registered.

 

[Darklord8899]

....I don't know Falkirk at all, or what's happening there... Why is everything being moved from the bus station? Is it being closed?

 

[Observer]

Yes the bus station is closing as First and the council don't own it, it's not in a good condition (hasn't for many years) and improvements have not been able to have been carried out that would have sorted out that place. There is a plan to turn a number of disused shopping units there into flats which was reported weeks before plans to pull out of the bus station were announced.

 

[Bluebirdscot66]

Yeah the 28 is going to look pretty Lonley in there , apart from the occasional emergency toilet break for a passing 1 or 38 service and even then there has been arrangements made with the bingo.

 

[overthewater]

Stagecoach has been told about this but Since its up to Falkirk and Fife council since they pay for it Stagecoach just has to wait..

 

[Darklord8899]

Yes the bus station is closing as First and the council don't own it, it's not in a good condition (hasn't for many years) and improvements have not been able to have been carried out that would have sorted out that place. There is a plan to turn a number of disused shopping units there into flats which was reported weeks before plans to pull out of the bus station were announced.

Ahh, ok thanks for the info

 

[overthewater]

First has been tweeting out this tweet:

Want to be a bus driver? Want a £1,000 welcome BONUS if you already have a PCV licence (after qualifying period)? Want to earn £10.65 per hour? Want good holidays & loads of other benefits? Contact our Training Academy on 01506 424124 or apply on line at http://www.firstgroupcareers.com/

I wonder how many drivers have left?

 

[Driver362]

A lot , I’m one of them

 

[overthewater]

Surly Lothian can't take you all? Unless Lothian are planning another route very shortly...

 

[Bluebirdscot66]

when they start a newly passed driver in one depot at top rate and another in a different depot at the lower rate it's no wonder they think about leaving and who could blame them . Hope you enjoy your new adventure driver 362

 

[Driver362]

I heard , 15 from larbert 1 from Bannockburn, not shure how many from Livingston, and from elsewhere too , wasn’t the requirement for 65 ? , do you mean other route in addition to 27/28 275 , 43’s ?

 

[Driver362]

Thanks I think I will , I totally agree with you on the rate issue , they made a rod for there own back with that one , that and the whole Falkirk bus station mess , etc

 

[overthewater]

I heard , 15 from larbert 1 from Bannockburn, not shure how many from Livingston, and from elsewhere too , wasn’t the requirement for 65 ? , do you mean other route in addition to 27/28 275 , 43’s ?

I know a few have left Livingston, but I didnt release it was that much from Larbert! I can see them just moving or asking staff to move depots from Stirling. Mind you has First lost any school contracts.
Edit: I have to look this up and it would seem yet? Mind you if it gets any worse there could just give up the Fife School contracts, I'm sure Stagecoach and Bay would hoover them up.

Yes I do mean other routes. The jury is still out if these route and fare can win people over.

https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=JUL326628

Section V: Award of contract
Lot No: 1

Title: F16BUSED801

A contract/lot is awarded: Yes

V.2 Award of contract
V.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
26/06/2018

V.2.2) Information about tenders
Number of tenders received: 9

The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators: No

V.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
E & M Horsburgh Ltd

180 Uphall Station Road, Pumpherston

Livingston

EH53 0PD

UK

Telephone: +44 1506432251

Fax: +44 1506835405

NUTS: UKM78

The contractor is an SME: Yes

V.2.4) Information on value of the contract/lot (excluding VAT)
Total value of the contract/lot: 29 403.00 GBP

V.2.5) Information about subcontracting
Section V: Award of contract
Lot No: 2

Title: F16BUSED802

A contract/lot is awarded: Yes

V.2 Award of contract
V.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
26/06/2018

V.2.2) Information about tenders
Number of tenders received: 9

Number of tenders received from SMEs: 8

Number of tenders received from tenderers from other EU Member States: 00

Number of tenders received from tenderers from non-EU Member States: 0

Number of tenders received by electronic means: 9

The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators: No

V.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
E & M Horsburgh Ltd

180 Uphall Station Road, Pumpherston

Livingston

EH53 0PD

UK

Telephone: +44 1506432251

Fax: +44 1506835405

NUTS: UKM78

The contractor is an SME: Yes

V.2.4) Information on value of the contract/lot (excluding VAT)
Initial estimated total value of the contract/lot: 35 000.00 GBP

Total value of the contract/lot: 37 527.30 GBP

V.2.5) Information about subcontracting
Section V: Award of contract
Lot No: 3

Title: F16BUSED803

A contract/lot is awarded: Yes

V.2 Award of contract
V.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
26/06/2018

V.2.2) Information about tenders
Number of tenders received: 6

The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators: No

V.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
jas adamson minicoaches

9 comrie terrace bo.ness

Bo'ness

eh51 9de

UK

Telephone: +44 1506510607

Fax: +44 1506510607

NUTS: UKM76

The contractor is an SME: Yes

V.2.4) Information on value of the contract/lot (excluding VAT)
Total value of the contract/lot: 22 800.00 GBP

V.2.5) Information about subcontracting
Section V: Award of contract
Lot No: 4

Title: F16BUSED804

A contract/lot is awarded: Yes

V.2 Award of contract
V.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
26/06/2018

V.2.2) Information about tenders
Number of tenders received: 6

The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators: No

V.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
jas adamson minicoaches

9 comrie terrace bo.ness

Bo'ness

eh51 9de

UK

Telephone: +44 1506510607

Fax: +44 1506510607

NUTS: UKM76

The contractor is an SME: Yes

 

[Driver362]

Not that I’ve heard tbh , wasn’t Fife schools all the ones stagecoach didn’t want !? I think the network changes in Falkirk,and the bus station debacle is going to get messy and I’m guessing guys are maybe jumping at an opportunity to go before the maybe pushed and as bluebird Scott has said the whole pay rate thing as well hasn’t helped in keeping drivers

 

[overthewater]

Not that I’ve heard tbh , wasn’t Fife schools all the ones stagecoach didn’t want !?

If that was the case, it was under the old management, ie the one who is now in control of First scotland.. Stagecoach would love to get the contracts back.

I think the network changes in Falkirk,and the bus station debacle is going to get messy and I’m guessing guys are maybe jumping at an opportunity to go before the maybe pushed and as bluebird Scott has said the whole pay rate thing as well hasn’t helped in keeping drivers

The network changes are not that bad, some issues yes ( cough Bo'ness) but it could have been alot worse. I agree with you it will become a debacle, who is to blame may never come out, but the bus station is a dump and who in their right mind would want a flat next to a nightclub. What this pay rate all about? Throw into the mix its believe this is the last throw of the dice or it could be sold off doesn't help either.

 

[Driver362]

Very interesting reading about the tenders , will pop up a post about pay rates tomorrow at some point early rise tomorrow

 

[Observer]

First didn't lose any of the contracts listed above. Wasn't many up this year anyway.

As for drivers leaving well that's why the routes have been getting changed. Less drivers down to deal with. People go to First and get trained up only to end up leaving soon after, this has been a problem for a long time and what are the management really doing about it? If there's an obvious problem then it should be looked at and sorted out. But I don't blame drivers leaving for Lothian or anywhere else, you can only be around for so long before you want a change of things.

Regarding the bus station closing I don't think a lot of people are that annoyed about it, considering the state it was in it is a move in the right direction. Most get on and off at Newmarket Street/ASDA anyway, it has been that way for a very long time.

I did see that they have finally moved that ex-Borders coach from the car park at Larbert this week, which has been standing there for well over a year.

 

[Journeyman]

Regarding the bus station closing I don't think a lot of people are that annoyed about it, considering the state it was in it is a move in the right direction. Most get on and off at Newmarket Street/ASDA anyway, it has been that way for a very long time.

Falkirk bus station has to be just about the most miserable, bleak, unappealing, grotty place I've ever seen in my life. Closing it has to be a good thing.

 

[smtglasgow]

Nothing can beat the hell that is the town centre stops at Cumbernauld.

 

[Journeyman]

Nothing can beat the hell that is the town centre stops at Cumbernauld.

It's a close-run thing. I recently did a journey between the two of them, and I agree, on a miserable November morning, they both made me feel pretty depressed.

 

[overthewater]

North side has been down up. It no longer looks like a crack den

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Haha - I had an explore on First about five years ago whilst up for work and visited Cumbernauld before heading to Falkirk. Agreed - both absolutely dreadful places to wait for a bus. In fact, waiting at Cumbernauld, I half expected to look out and see a Kelvin Y type Leopard such was the time warp feel.

Have to say that Scotland has had some of the worst bus stations I have experienced and, unlike the English PTEs, Strathclyde hasn't seemed to be so bothered about providing too many nice places to wait.

Also on the Caledonian bus station roll of shame and thankfully consigned to history, I found Dalkeith absolutely terrible as was the old one in Airdrie. There were a few others that seemed preserved in aspic like Inverness, Perth and Dundee where you'd expect some Smart Thinking/Citylinking Leyland Tiger to appear!

 

[overthewater]

SPT only owns four bus stances, Hamilton, Greenock, East Kilbride and Buchanan street. All four have been done up. Kilmarnock getting some money spent on it the now? and Ayr... its dire aswell but this might changed.
Perth is still a dump, and actually most of the citylink work has moved to Broxden P&R. Im still surprised the remaining stagecoach routes still use it and haven't moved to Mill street ( which does have a mess room)

The only First travel shop in Central Scotland IE Falkirk will close on Sunday..

 

[Observer]

Nothing can beat the hell that is the town centre stops at Cumbernauld.

Well they were supposed to completely revamp them last year but that went out the window. Proposal PDFs can be seen on the right hand of the page. https://www.northlanarkshire.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=32677

The proposals include: full height glass fronts to the passenger waiting areas, increasing light and visibility to the bus stops; widened external pedestrian areas to improve safety and access; improved layouts allowing better passenger circulation; improved passenger information; and resurfacing of the bus stop areas.

Within each bus stance, on either side of the dual carriageway, there will be space for a kiosk and improved lighting and automatic doors.

 

[overthewater]

Some money has been spent, it has new lighting the brickwork has been repaired and the windows down up it still a dump but a nice looking dump.

 

[Darklord8899]

......I think the best way to improve the stops at Cumbernauld is to blow them up

 

[overthewater]

......I think the best way to improve the stops at Cumbernauld is to blow them up

Sad and awful truth is the current building are pretty much bomb proof. Hence why both are standing. Ugly as sin but test carried out a few years ago made it clear they sound as a pound.

 

[Darklord8899]

Sad and awful truth is the current building are pretty much bomb proof. Hence why both are standing. Ugly as sin but test carried out a few years ago made it clear they sound as a pound.

Probably explains why they are still standing then, sadly!

 

[overthewater]

Its been made clear phrase 2 could last another 100 years, its so well built. Thankful its been painted a dark blue, not sure what that will do but it looks nice.