McGill's Scotland East (Midland Bluebird and Eastern Scottish)

[Stan Drews]

Sounds like a lot of the acquired First vehicles will have to be disposed of then!

There have been many parked up out of use at all the main depots for some time, so yes I’d expect a lot of the older stuff will end up simply being disposed of.

 

[Observer]

The new operator isn’t exactly trying to look new or outstanding. Given the livery it’s typical McGills. We shall see how many drivers they lose in the coming weeks. They have a reputation which unfortunately proceeds them at every opportunity. Coming from Glasgow and Lanarkshire I have seen them many times try to take over companies, implement their management style and contracts and saw them fall flat on their backside. McNairns/United Coaches is a prime example; they spent millions buying up small independents only for said independents to go buy new/better buses and lo and behold 18 months later, the independents are back on their routes with newer fleets with McGills retreating into a corner cowering at the money they have wasted.They are worse than First. Believe me when I say the people of Scotland East think they are the saviour the now, give it a year and they be wishing First had stuck it out.

Coatbridge did turn into a joke for them but fortunately with the exception of the Livingston operations, competition barely exists elsewhere. McGill's bought it knowing they would have an easy ride for most places....the only ride.

McGill's exited that depot knowing there were other operators available for the work, because by then all they had were SPT services, so they were retendered at the end of their contracts.

Look at Stirling. Before coronavirus happened there were other services to Clackmannanshire, services going to Denny, even one going to Callender. Those are all gone now, they don't appear to be coming back two years later.

There's nothing in Falkirk other than the few Stagecoach services and two contracts run by Prentice Westwood. Nobody will even bother now given McGill's attitude to competition. There's been routes in that area for companies to try and give a better service, but nobody is interested in spending money to give it a shot unless it's tendered school services and even then they've largely been picked up by out-of-area companies these days.

Any focus on competition will be directed towards Eastern Scottish and Lothian Country. Nowhere else matters. McGill's obviously want to give it a try, they wouldn't do separate repaints for Eastern otherwise.

And at the end of it, they'll probably be left with a winner and loser, and the loser is out of the area. McGill's could cut their losses and improve Midland Bluebird instead, if it doesn't work out of course.

Has anyone else been disappointed with this weeks events? It's like everything is just limping along as before expect for a new App and website. I expected maybe 10 newer buses in the new livery to hit the road running while the rest of the fleet to have stickers on the outside of the buses to say McGills have taken over, plus every bus to have a new fleet number.

They clearly needed more time to get this ready, rather than a few weeks notice. The fact there's still buses going around with First stickers onthem tells you what you need to know.

 

[computerSaysNo]

Maybe I just got the one Streetlite in the fleet with good build quality today but I was on an X25 and thought the vehicle was well-suited to the route. Acceleration in first gear was very poor but in second and above was perfect, rattles were almost non-existant, the bus was clean, bright and a nice temperature, not too noisy. They actually seem like very nice vehicles for pottering about those sorts of routes, when you get one that works as intended. Based on that journey I would not complain if they replaced most of the older vehicles with new Streetlites.

 

[ScotRail158725]

There have been many parked up out of use at all the main depots for some time, so yes I’d expect a lot of the older stuff will end up simply being disposed of.

There are quite a few of the native 64/65 plate Streetlites that have been sitting out of use for months.

 

[Trnsprt4Sctlnd]

There are quite a few of the native 64/65 plate Streetlites that have been sitting out of use for months.

Not just months..some of them a few years at least.

 

[Humberscot]

If the McGill operation takes off then I suspect Lothian country will not wish to throw money at it to compete. But that's a topic for another discussion. In answer to a question up thread, I can't think of anywhere on the 200 that an ex lb would struggle noticeably, perhaps somebody could clarify the section of route in drylaw for clearance and maybe alter the driver change point from clermiston crescent to drumbrae hub

What looks like a first shot in the LCB v McGill's West Lothian bus battle - a shiny ex-First 66 plate on an X24 gleaming in the Broxburn sunshine in a dark green and cream livery with Eastern Scottish written in cursive writing! The green and cream looked very familiar!.......

 

[Russel]

There are quite a few of the native 64/65 plate Streetlites that have been sitting out of use for months.

What is the reason for them being long term out of use?

 

[Whiteway215]

What is the reason for them being long term out of use?

Wasn’t there a problem with obtaining spares when Wrightbus went out of business in 2019?

 

[Omnibi]

What looks like a first shot in the LCB v McGill's West Lothian bus battle - a shiny ex-First 66 plate on an X24 gleaming in the Broxburn sunshine in a dark green and cream livery with Eastern Scottish written in cursive writing! The green and cream looked very familiar!.......

Early this morning at Livingston centre

 

[Humberscot]

Early this morning at livingston centre View attachment 121294

Passengers won't be sure which company they're travelling with!

 

[ScotRail158725]

What is the reason for them being long term out of use?

They’re broken. Believe a couple 6325x have been off the road since 2019? Before covid anyway i believe

 

[Graham Alexand]

They’re broken. Believe a couple 6325x have been off the road since 2019? Before covid anyway i believe

63253 (SN64 OKT) has been off since December 2018, 63252 (SN65 OKS) has been off since October 2019 and 63276 (SN65 OKB) since (around) March 2021.

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

63253 (SN64 OKT) has been off since December 2018, 63252 (SN65 OKS) has been off since October 2019 and 63276 (SN65 OKB) since (around) March 2021.

I heard a suggestion these ones have been used as spare donors for a while now too, which seems a bit unusual given their age? Can anyone confirm?

 

[Graham Alexand]

I heard a suggestion these ones have been used as spare donors for a while now too, which seems a bit unusual given their age? Can anyone confirm?

I seen a photograph recently of 63252 inside the Livingston depot fully intact. However, as this was on Facebook, I would require permission from the person who took the photograph (which I'll try to obtain).

I couldn't tell you the situation for the other two.

 

[PaulMc7]

I wonder what people without social media think of Mcgills so far because that's a couple of times on social media already where I've seen people say that they miss First already. Considering what was said about First towards the end, that's pretty damning if you ask me.

Still early days but those with experience of Mcgills elsewhere did try to warn those with no prior experience of them and say that it could potentially be awful. I didn't expect it so quickly mind you.

 

[Observer]

Seeing how First's social media feeds tended to be full of complaints on a daily surprise, they're certainly have been in for a shock that McGill's dropped them so quickly for support replies.

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

I wonder what people without social media think of Mcgills so far because that's a couple of times on social media already where I've seen people say that they miss First already. Considering what was said about First towards the end, that's pretty damning if you ask me.

Still early days but those with experience of Mcgills elsewhere did try to warn those with no prior experience of them and say that it could potentially be awful. I didn't expect it so quickly mind you.

People miss First? That is really damming. Surely they’ll have to change this eventually? I can only assume that Xplore Dundee offers 1:1 support as those staff were already there from National Express days. It’s clear this set up is not fit for purpose, and I think it won’t be long before local press start jumping on it (if they haven’t already), and that’s the last thing McGill’s need at the minute.

 

[RomeoCharlie71]

Seeing how First's social media feeds tended to be full of complaints on a daily surprise, they're certainly have been in for a shock that McGill's dropped them so quickly for support replies.

They seem to have dropped their social feeds entirely. There was no cancellation list provided again today for Midland Bluebird or Eastern Scottish.

It wouldn't surprise me if they've stopped producing a cancellation list because it'd be so long, and look bad on the company!

There was only one 38 running at 3pm this afternoon after a number of double decks had been taken off service to operate school services, and others had been taken off due to no relief driver - the former was an issue, yet again in the morning. Hopefully McGill's can get some of those 100-odd buses that "Stan Drews" mentioned back on the road to resolve that issue.

People miss First? That is really damming. Surely they’ll have to change this eventually? I can only assume that Xplore Dundee offers 1:1 support as those staff were already there from National Express days. It’s clear this set up is not fit for purpose, and I think it won’t be long before local press start jumping on it (if they haven’t already), and that’s the last thing McGill’s need at the minute.

You're lucky to receive a response from Xplore on Twitter. If you leave a negative comment on Facebook, sure as fate it will be removed, and if you continue to post negative comments you will be blocked.

 

[PaulMc7]

People miss First? That is really damming. Surely they’ll have to change this eventually? I can only assume that Xplore Dundee offers 1:1 support as those staff were already there from National Express days. It’s clear this set up is not fit for purpose, and I think it won’t be long before local press start jumping on it (if they haven’t already), and that’s the last thing McGill’s need at the minute.

Unless politicians put an absolute wall of pressure on them to do it I don't see any change coming. It's the same with their West Scotland operation and always has been to be honest so it shouldn't be a surprise than they've done this already.

I've also noticed a rise in their West Scotland cancellations of late too and they seemed less affected than First and Stagecoach for a good while too.

As much as First have their issues, "be careful what you wish for" was used a lot as soon as the sale was announced and it's been proven right so far.

 

[markymark2000]

Would I be right in thinking that due to First being so corporate with their centralised contact centres, these two divisions don't have dedicated customer service and so people compiling these lists are people would have far more other important jobs, perhaps such as driving a bus to reduce the amount of cancellations? It would also explain why the Twitter isn't being used for customer support. McGills would need to recruit new staff specifically for customer service.

 

[Stan Drews]

Would I be right in thinking that due to First being so corporate with their centralised contact centres, these two divisions don't have dedicated customer service and so people compiling these lists are people would far more other important jobs, perhaps such as driving a bus to reduce the amount of cancellations but also would explain why the twitter isn't being used for customer support. McGills would need to recruit new staff specifically for customer service.

Correct.
Marketing, Commercial and Customer Service are all centralised First functions, so no staff with those roles at Scotland East.

 

[PaulMc7]

Would I be right in thinking that due to First being so corporate with their centralised contact centres, these two divisions don't have dedicated customer service and so people compiling these lists are people would far more other important jobs, perhaps such as driving a bus to reduce the amount of cancellations but also would explain why the twitter isn't being used for customer support. McGills would need to recruit new staff specifically for customer service.

In terms of cancellations, West Lothian and the rest of the South East and Central Scotland was First's best area for reporting them in Scotland. Aberdeen got the cancellation feature on the app first though.

No excuse for Mcgills being so poor considering they did it to begin with. They're pretty hopeless elsewhere too on customer service and social media use.

 

[CN04NRJ]

In terms of cancellations, West Lothian and the rest of the South East and Central Scotland was First's best area for reporting them in Scotland. Aberdeen got the cancellation feature on the app first though.

No excuse for Mcgills being so poor considering they did it to begin with. They're pretty hopeless elsewhere too on customer service and social media use.

Have McGill's announced any plans for the future, whether be it service changes/improvements, fleet improvements, fare structure changes and so on?

Whenever i've seen other operations taken over by other companies they usually come out with a list of promises or plans for the future (whether they come to fruition or not is another matter)... but with this takeover there's just been nothing at all. Whether they've got any "surprises" planned for other operators is one thing, but letting the public know how they're going to improve the mess First left behind is another.

 

[Glasgowbusguy]

I've also noticed a rise in their West Scotland cancellations of late too and they seemed less affected than First and Stagecoach for a good while too.

McGill's west of Scotland is short of about 30 drivers.

 

[Cesarcollie]

Have McGill's announced any plans for the future, whether be it service changes/improvements, fleet improvements, fare structure changes and so on?

Whenever i've seen other operations taken over by other companies they usually come out with a list of promises or plans for the future (whether they come to fruition or not is another matter)... but with this takeover there's just been nothing at all. Whether they've got any "surprises" planned for other operators is one thing, but letting the public know how they're going to improve the mess First left behind is another.

Give them a chance…..!!

 

[Bus9120UK]

No excuse for Mcgills being so poor considering they did it to begin with. They're pretty hopeless elsewhere too on customer service and social media use.

They have blamed the lack of information for fake accounts, suggesting they couldn't post as a result of them..

https://mobile.twitter.com/mcgillseast/status/1574701527855341568

Midland Bluebird - Daily Cancellations for Tuesday 27th September

We apologise for the delay on this information over the weekend, due to fake accounts we were unable to post.
If you see any accounts impersonating us please let us know. Thank you.

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

They have blamed the lack of information for fake accounts, suggesting they couldn't post as a result of them..

https://mobile.twitter.com/mcgillseast/status/1574701527855341568

Rather helpfully, a message has appeared saying ‘This tweet has been deleted’.

It would therefore appear McGills are also experiencing a lack of information for explaining the current lack of information as well. Jokes aside it does appear that some information has come through, and that new messages have since been posted. This includes the explanation for the lack of information. I think McGills are just after the twitter account name personally. I mean it’s a ridiculous excuse, how on earth can a fake account prevent them from posting cancellations?

 

[PaulMc7]

Rather helpfully, a message has appeared saying ‘This tweet has been deleted’.

It would therefore appear McGills are also experiencing a lack of information for explaining the current lack of information as well. Jokes aside it does appear that some information has come through, and that new messages have since been posted. This includes the explanation for the lack of information. I think McGills are just after the twitter account name personally. I mean it’s a ridiculous excuse, how on earth can a fake account prevent them from posting cancellations?

It's worrying that the Twitter replies are so nice about it for that exact reason you've mentioned. The account usernames weren't even closely the same and it didn't mean that they couldn't use the website for them and they didn't do that either. It was a choice to not post them on the Twitter account and a bad one at that.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Give them a chance…..!!

Exactly.

Whilst I'm sure they have done due diligence, there will be a number of issues that they will have trouble mitigating or that were unexpected. They will have a bit to sort out, and that's whilst they have to deal with the ongoing operational challenges of driver shortages etc (that also are in the trouble mitigating or unexpected categories too).

They've had the operations a week, and it was only announced on the 7th Sep - less than three weeks ago. So perhaps a little patience might be necessary.

 

[Glasgowbusguy]

Assuming it will be the usual Twitter process where if the identity of accounts is in question those accounts are blocked from posting untill it's sorted