First Scotland East (Midland Bluebird and West Lothian operations)

[Baileygirl]

X38 is going to end up with I dare say 20 year old stock running up and down on a flagship route? I could deal with that if the FSE interiors were given a bit of TLC, but there in bad shape.

They could put back on the Streetlights which were first bought for the X38 as they have Euro6 engines. Although they were prone to break down.

 

[ScotRail158725]

They could put back on the Streetlights which were first bought for the X38 as they have Euro6 engines. Although they were prone to break down.

Prone to breakdown, nowhere near adequate for a journey of that sort, the list could go on forever…

 

[Jordan Adam]

First’s Enviro 300s are good buses, on country roads, dual carriageways and motorways they handle them with ease

The gearbox set up on them is superb, they shift through the gears seamlessly, always know which gear to be in and they move at good pace with minimal effort. If there's no plans for new vehicles then to me it would make more sense to give the E300s a full refurb and put them on the X38.

I've never been able to get my head round why First bought so many unsuitable Streetlites for FSE, they're dreadful enough on shorter journeys as it is!

 

[overthewater]

That is simple, they were cheap. Plus it was claimed from the horse's mouth they managed to get excellent fuel consumption.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

That is simple, they were cheap. Plus it was claimed for the horses mouth there manged to get excellent fuel consumption.

Indeed and you have to remember that First had to obtain a lot of buses to meet the impending DDA deadlines when they had little money to spend despite the rights issue.

 

[computerSaysNo]

Not sure if this has been covered in another thread as I don't keep up with all of them, but is there a reason the First fleet is very Wrightbus-heavy? In a similar way to the Stagecoach fleet being very Alexander- Dennis (/Plaxton) -heavy?
The vast majority of vehicles First operates (in Scotland anyway) seem to be either Wright Gemini's or Wright Streetlites, and Stagecoach operate a mostly ADL E200, E300 and E400 fleet.

I was just thinking about this in relation to the "why did they buy so many unsuitable Streetlites" comment; would First spec E200s or E300s have been any better?

 

[JumpinTrainz]

Not sure if this has been covered in another thread as I don't keep up with all of them, but is there a reason the First fleet is very Wrightbus-heavy? In a similar way to the Stagecoach fleet being very Alexander- Dennis (/Plaxton) -heavy?
The vast majority of vehicles First operates (in Scotland anyway) seem to be either Wright Gemini's or Wright Streetlites, and Stagecoach operate a mostly ADL E200, E300 and E400 fleet.

I was just thinking about this in relation to the "why did they buy so many unsuitable Streetlites" comment; would First spec E200s or E300s have been any better?

That was perhaps the case years ago for Glasgow, however in recent years I’d say ADL have taken over. Glasgow predominantly operates E200s/E300s/E400s and at a time E500s. I don’t think any Wright stock was bought for Glasgow since about 2009 then briefly a few Streetlites in 2014 but that wasn’t in big numbers.

 

[Jordan Adam]

I was just thinking about this in relation to the "why did they buy so many unsuitable Streetlites" comment; would First spec E200s or E300s have been any better?

E200s wouldn't have been any better. The E200 and Streetlite are essentially the same bus mechanically.

First did buy a few hundred E300s in 2012/13 however they initially weren't satisfied with them hence the swap to Streetlites in 2014, however in the long run the E300s have proven to be the better vehicles.

 

[Strathclyder]

That was perhaps the case years ago for Glasgow, however in recent years I’d say ADL have taken over. Glasgow predominantly operates E200s/E300s/E400s and at a time E500s. I don’t think any Wright stock was bought for Glasgow since about 2009 then briefly a few Streetlites in 2014 but that wasn’t in big numbers.

The last Wright products bought new for Glasgow were indeed the Streetlites in 2014 (47618-628 & 63224-240). The only Wright products bought for Glasgow since then (transfers between different First divisions obviously don't count here) were the ex Go-Ahead LJ13-reg Streetlites (47392-399) for use on Clydebank local services. The last deckers were the the SF09-reg B9 Geminis (37736-751). But yeah, ADL has become the supplier of choice for Glasgow since 2009 with the YX09-reg mini E200s for Lanarkshire (44905-920) and ofc the SN09-reg E500s (38201-225).

But we're getting a bit off-topic here, so I'll cap myself there.

 

[cnjb8]

Not sure if this has been covered in another thread as I don't keep up with all of them, but is there a reason the First fleet is very Wrightbus-heavy? In a similar way to the Stagecoach fleet being very Alexander- Dennis (/Plaxton) -heavy?
The vast majority of vehicles First operates (in Scotland anyway) seem to be either Wright Gemini's or Wright Streetlites, and Stagecoach operate a mostly ADL E200, E300 and E400 fleet.

I was just thinking about this in relation to the "why did they buy so many unsuitable Streetlites" comment; would First spec E200s or E300s have been any better?

The big bus companies tend to put in one big order for buses and divide it up between their fleets, so thats one of the reasons why First have so many StreetLites combined with other reasons

 

[Volvodart]

First were involved in the development of the Streetlite and committed to taking a certain number of them.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

That was perhaps the case years ago for Glasgow, however in recent years I’d say ADL have taken over. Glasgow predominantly operates E200s/E300s/E400s and at a time E500s. I don’t think any Wright stock was bought for Glasgow since about 2009 then briefly a few Streetlites in 2014 but that wasn’t in big numbers.

Wrightbus had largely fallen out of favour since 2015/6 across First Group, with only First West Yorkshire (and First South Yorkshire with a batch of Streetlites) continuing to receive Wright products.

 

[Surreyman]

I think there may have been a token political angle, i.e 'made in Scotland' even if that meant Scarborough and (part) Guildford.
With a dearth of new vehicle orders during the pandemic, I suspect that manufacturers may be desperate to sell anything at reduced prices, which might explain Arriva & First recently taking Streetlites.

 

[Mickcloud9]

First West Lothian seem to have acquired some Dumbarton/Blantyre Enviro 300 cast offs, also saw an 02 plate Caetano Bodied Dart. That being said, One of the Enviro 300's has a twisted chassis, and another was sat at Bathgate today broken down. also the X25's appear to be running dupes out of Armadale so they are directly in front and behind the LC 280 when it's leaving Blackridge, they are like Russian dolls all of a sudden... usual First, flooding a route until an operator pulls out then reduces the service and leave folk stranded. Heard someone complaining about having to wait 3 Hours for a bus from Fauldhouse on Monday

 

[mb88]

First West Lothian seem to have acquired some Dumbarton/Blantyre Enviro 300 cast offs, also saw an 02 plate Caetano Bodied Dart. That being said, One of the Enviro 300's has a twisted chassis, and another was sat at Bathgate today broken down. also the X25's appear to be running dupes out of Armadale so they are directly in front and behind the LC 280 when it's leaving Blackridge, they are like Russian dolls all of a sudden... usual First, flooding a route until an operator pulls out then reduces the service and leave folk stranded. Heard someone complaining about having to wait 3 Hours for a bus from Fauldhouse on Monday

I saw that 02 plate Dart on an X25 going to Edinburgh yesterday. The Solos are making occasional appearances on the X24 as well. Bizarre allocations. With regards to Fauldhouse, unfortunately the residents there showed where their loyalties lay when Lothian attempted to run the X17 and 281. Many a time when I was doing a 281 folk at the stops would let me go by and get the 26. Don’t think I ever had more than 5 people coming out of Fauldhouse. As the saying goes, use it or lose it.

 

[Blindtraveler]

Please let these incomers see an end to the dreadful Streetlites on the x24 in particular. A Solo on that corridor is interesting though; I'm not sure if it would be better or worse.

 

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[stevenedin]

I saw 67756 on the 26 earlier

 

[Jordan Adam]

Interesting that West Lothian is getting Enviro300s, If they were given a decent refurb they'd be ideal vehicles for the WL network tbh.

 

[JumpinTrainz]

I saw 67756 on the 26 earlier

Didn’t this bus go to Essex from FSE?

 

[CN04NRJ]

Which Streetlite is it that caught fire on Gorgie Road this afternoon?

 

[mb88]

Which Streetlite is it that caught fire on Gorgie Road this afternoon?

47460 I think.

 

[CN04NRJ]

47460 I think

Thanks, hopefully the damage isn't too bad as it looked like the fire crews got there quickly.

 

[Bus9120UK]

First West Lothian seem to have acquired some Dumbarton/Blantyre Enviro 300 cast offs, also saw an 02 plate Caetano Bodied Dart. That being said, One of the Enviro 300's has a twisted chassis, and another was sat at Bathgate today broken down. also the X25's appear to be running dupes out of Armadale so they are directly in front and behind the LC 280 when it's leaving Blackridge, they are like Russian dolls all of a sudden... usual First, flooding a route until an operator pulls out then reduces the service and leave folk stranded. Heard someone complaining about having to wait 3 Hours for a bus from Fauldhouse on Monday

First Enviro400 33906 has also appeared with West Lothian with it being on the X24 today. No idea if it's a temporary loan or a transfer. Image: https://flickr.com/photos/46005056@N02/51942673435/in/feed-45984708-1647449567-1-72157719994487186

 

[Murray J]

First Scania Enviro400 33906 has also appeared with West Lothian with it being on the X24 today. No idea if it's a temporary loan or a transfer. Image: https://flickr.com/photos/46005056@N02/51942673435/in/feed-45984708-1647449567-1-72157719994487186

Quick correction but 33906 is a regular E400, not a Scania.

 

[Bus9120UK]

quick correction but 33906 is a regular E400, not a scania.

Thanks for that, corrected it ASAP.

 

[LiviCrazy]

First Enviro400 33906 has also appeared with West Lothian with it being on the X24 today. No idea if it's a temporary loan or a transfer. Image: https://flickr.com/photos/46005056@N02/51942673435/in/feed-45984708-1647449567-1-72157719994487186

There was a wee A4 sheet on the side window when I drove past saying on Loan for FSE from First Glasgow.

 

[overthewater]

It's Drivers they need not buses. Has more staff left or is covid just getting worse at certain depots?

 

[RomeoCharlie71]

It's Drivers they need not buses. Has more staff left or is covid just getting worse at certain depots?

Why would a driver shortage require buses to be transferred in from Glasgow?

 

[overthewater]

All three main depots are having issues, and Livingston have also had to curtail evening runs, so if the trouble was them being "short of buses" surely you would be able to operate a full evening service since it has got a lower PVR.