Glasgowbusguy
On Moderation
- Joined
- 21 Feb 2019
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- 419
This is something I do regularly in Glasgow on dark nightsUse the phone flashlight, driver told me to use it once if they couldn't see you easily
This is something I do regularly in Glasgow on dark nightsUse the phone flashlight, driver told me to use it once if they couldn't see you easily
The 23D, 26A and 51A services perform the same function in Renfrewshire.
I can remember doing it in winter mornings 10 years ago when I used Mcgills to go to college in Paisley. It was in the days of the 22C from Clydebank to Paisley and I used to use my phone light just to make sure the bus didn't go without stopping as not many used it until it was over the Erskine Bridge.This is something I do regularly in Glasgow on dark nights
It is a certainly smart idea, would be perfect if you lived in say, Kilmalcolm, and you were heading to Glasgow in the morning, you could do that.I can remember doing it in winter mornings 10 years ago when I used Mcgills to go to college in Paisley. It was in the days of the 22C from Clydebank to Paisley and I used to use my phone light just to make sure the bus didn't go without stopping as not many used it until it was over the Erskine Bridge.
Our street lights are so poor that sadly it's more common to need to use alternative lights just to be seen.
I fully agree. We shouldn't need to do it but it's a good idea to make sure you get the bus. I'd imagine in the likes of Inverkip, Skelmorlie etc it would be pretty handy too especially as the 901 and 906 aren't the most reliable due to the route length.It is a certainly smart idea, would be perfect if you lived in say, Kilmalcolm, and you were heading to Glasgow in the morning, you could do that.
Considering it was literally in Kilmacolm (one L!) heading to Greenock I had to use it, I must agree!It is a certainly smart idea, would be perfect if you lived in say, Kilmalcolm, and you were heading to Glasgow in the morning, you could do that.
Service 52 Withdrawal – Barrhead Local Service
Passenger numbers on this route have only recovered to around 75% of the levels seen before the pandemic, and unfortunately this service was already suffering significant losses pre-Covid. Therefore, the route will be withdrawn with effect from 23rd January, with the last day of operation being Saturday 21st January.
The nearest alternative services are routes 3 or 51 on Glasgow Road or Main Street. The SPT MyBus route M91 is also available for those unable to access regular buses, click here to find out more information about this service.
Service 530 Withdrawal – Kilmacolm to Port Glasgow
This route, introduced in 2020, has unfortunately suffered from low passenger numbers and has never been able to cover even the basic costs of operation. Therefore, the route will be withdrawn with effect from 23rd January, with the last day of operation being Saturday 21st January.
The early morning and early evening journeys on service X7 will continue to operate to/from Greenock, along with the SPT supported journeys during the later evenings and all day on Sundays.
No replacement offered for the 530, which means the loss of a daytime service between Kilmacolm and Port Glasgow. What were passenger numbers like on the old 531 which alternated between terminating at Slaemuir and Kilmacolm; would it be feasible for this to return? Obviously less direct than the current 530 but would reduce some of the losses by serving Slaemuir
The extension of the 531 didn’t work either, and it meant a bus far bigger than was ever justified, was running up and down largely empty. The change to the 530 allowed the use of a more appropriate vehicle with lower running costs, whilst allowing the much busier 531/2/3 to gain newer buses, with brand new Yutong EVs due in the coming months. Covid clearly hasn‘t helped, but Kilmacolm - Port Glasgow is one of those poorly frequented links that is unlikely to ever be commercially viable, particularly when it has to stand on its own, so if they are going to exist they will require local authority (or SPT) support.The 530 was always a bit of an odd way to run the Kilmacolm service. To be honest, it was too frequent.
If you extended every other 531, making an every 40 mins service up, it could have worked.
But at least the previous iteration of the 531 had a decent load for most of its route between Greenock and Kilmacolm, as I believe even today it's still fairly busy up to Slaemuir, whereas the 530 seems to be running mostly empty for its entire route as it's not really useful to anybody except those who live in Kilmacolm, given it skips past Park Farm and Slaemuir.The extension of the 531 didn’t work either, and it meant a bus far bigger than was ever justified, was running up and down largely empty. The change to the 530 allowed the use of a more appropriate vehicle with lower running costs, whilst allowing the much busier 531/2/3 to gain newer buses, with brand new Yutong EVs due in the coming months. Covid clearly hasn‘t helped, but Kilmacolm - Port Glasgow is one of those poorly frequented links that is unlikely to ever be commercially viable, particularly when it has to stand on its own, so if they are going to exist they will require local authority (or SPT) support.
The important part was that the 531 had a decent load for MOST of its route i.e. Greenock - Slaemuir. However, the bit from there to Kilmacolm was very quiet, but required one extra bus on the service to fulfill it. Therefore that section of route had to generate enough additional revenue to justify the cost of that extra bus. Converting it to a bus with lower operating costs, gave it the best possible chance to be viable, but has clearly failed.But at least the previous iteration of the 531 had a decent load for most of its route between Greenock and Kilmacolm, as I believe even today it's still fairly busy up to Slaemuir, whereas the 530 seems to be running mostly empty for its entire route as it's not really useful to anybody except those who live in Kilmacolm, given it skips past Park Farm and Slaemuir.
Hopefully a deal can be done with SPT to introduce a subsidised service.
Service 530 - Timetable changes
Mon 23rd Jan onwards
This service will now be financially supported by Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT). However, a small number of journeys will no longer operate.
On Mondays to Fridays the following journey will be withdrawn:
1725 Port Glasgow to Kilmacolm
On Saturdays the following journeys will be withdrawn:
0710, 0810, 0840 Port Glasgow to Kilmacolm
0725, 0825, 0855 Kilmacolm to Port Glasgow
Not referenced here is the fact it now runs to/from Greenock Depot in the morning and evening, no longer running interlinked with the 545.Spt are subsiding the 530 service
Service 530 - Timetable changes - McGill's Buses
www.mcgillsbuses.co.uk
What happens in the morning between 8 and 9? Only runs on School holidays- is the bus used for a school run elsewhere at that time?Not referenced here is the fact it now runs to/from Greenock Depot in the morning and evening, no longer running interlinked with the 545.
The 1725 run was the funny run that ran off to run the X7, seemingly those two (and the 545) no longer interwork.
There is indeed a school run around the Park Farm area on the 533 that runs to Newark Primary with the same bus.What happens in the morning between 8 and 9? Only runs on School holidays- is the bus used for a school run elsewhere at that time?
I still think running a direct route between Kilmacolm and Port Glasgow is a strange one, even though I understand the logic it seems like doubling resource on a lot of the route.
Previous iterations of the link (X7, 531) have adequately covered that ‘demand’, however passengers numbers were/are minimal.One thing that strikes me as an issue with the 530 is the fact it's really not suitable if you work a 9am to 5pm job. I'm not saying that would bring in enough revenue to make it viable but it really doesn't help.
Minimal still isn't zero therefore backing up my point too. Direct routes when they were as short as the 530 is are usually destined to fail too.Previous iterations of the link (X7, 531) have adequately covered that ‘demand’, however passengers numbers were/are minimal.
I can’t imagine many Kilmacolm residents will be commuting to Port Glasgow, for a 9 to 5 job either!
They’re definitely not going to reduce the frequency of the busy (and profitable) parts of the X7, in order that full size buses can be redeployed to provide a link that cant justify the operating costs of a small minibus!Minimal still isn't zero therefore backing up my point too. Direct routes when they were as short as the 530 is are usually destined to fail too.
The X7 is probably the best service to cover that link but you'd probably have had to make it hourly between Greenock and Glasgow with extra at peaks and then hourly between Linwood and Glasgow to maintain an every 30 minute frequency between that section.
They’re definitely not going to reduce the frequency of the busy (and profitable) parts of the X7, in order that full size buses can be redeployed to provide a link that cant justify the operating costs of a small minibus!
Most of the suggestions that have appeared on here, have all been tried before and didn’t work. Therefore the forthcoming scenario of SPT financially supporting the link, using the most cost effective solution, appears to be the best compromise.
Are McGills due anymore Yutongs? I passed this blue and white one on the M3 heading Northwards on Tuesday morning.
Yes, a further 41 are due. This is one of the shorter E10 versions, which I think are due for the ‘Upper Port’ services 531/2/3 in Inverclyde.Are McGills due any more Yutongs? I passed this blue and white one on the M3 heading Northwards on Tuesday morning.
I've seen another around Normanton very close to Pelican's site by J31 of the M62 in the last 2 days.Are McGills due any more Yutongs? I passed this blue and white one on the M3 heading Northwards on Tuesday morning.
Only the 530 is new, the others are variations.3 new registrations have gone through VOSA:
PM0000015/329 Registered (Short notice)
MCGILL'S BUS SERVICE LTD
Route: Larkfield Industrial Estate, Earnhill Road or Port Glasgow, Church Street to Kilmacolm, Bridge of Weir Road
Service number: 530
Service type: Normal Stopping
Effective date: 22 Jan 2023PM0000015/253 Registered
MCGILL'S BUS SERVICE LTD
Route: Inverclyde Royal Hospital to Gourock McInroy's Point
Service number: 545
Service type: Normal Stopping
Effective date: 26 Feb 2023PM0000015/262 Registered
MCGILL'S BUS SERVICE LTD
Route: Larkfield Ind Estate to McInroy's Point via Gourock Station Road
Service number: 803
Service type: Normal Stopping
Effective date: 26 Feb 2023
I meant new as in new registrations today and not new services. My apologies if that wasn't clear in the original post.Only the 530 is new, the others are variations.
The 530 is now a SPT tender, after the commercial service registration was cancelled.
52 Service Withdrawal Delayed
McGill’s have agreed to delay the withdrawal of the 52 service to allow further consultation with the local community – find out more here.www.mcgillsbuses.co.uk
52 Service Withdrawal Delayed
Today Fri 20th Jan 2023
Service 52 – Barrhead Local Service - Withdrawal Delayed
McGill’s have agreed to delay the withdrawal of the 52 service to allow further consultation with the local community. The service will therefore continue to operate from Monday 23 January until further notice.