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

[stevenedin]

470 has been sold back to First along with another. Apparently there are more to come.

Do you know where it’s heading?

 

[Auld reekie]

Later this year, Autumn or winter.

Thank you.

 

[Highland050261]

Do you know where it’s heading?

Blantyre.

 

[Observer]

Has any news come out yet about what service is going to Tamfourhill come August?

There is a meeting tonight but the council don't seem to want to fund any replacement.

Community urged to attend public meeting over plans to axe Tamfourhill bus service

A community is up in arms over plans to scrap a bus that many residents consider a lifeline.

www.falkirkherald.co.uk

Earlier this month it was revealed the Midland Bluebird number 6 route, which links the Falkirk Wheel with Forth Valley Royal Hospital, was being scrapped from August 13.

Bus company McGill’s said most of the route will be replaced by an extended number 2 service, which will take passengers directly from Bo’ness to Forth Valley Royal Hospital. But residents in Tamfourhill fear being cut off as there is currently no other service for their area.

Discussions were due to take place between the operator and Falkirk Council, however, the local authority has maintained its is position that this is a commercial route which it doesn’t currently subsidise – and doesn’t have the cash to do so.

Councillor Lorna Binnie organised a public meeting last week follow a number of residents raising concerns about the loss of the bus service.

Some told her that it would leave them unable to leave their homes without public transport, while for others the only way to access Tamfourhill without a car will be by walking through a poorly lit and isolated park raising safety fears.

Camelon, Bantaskin and Tamfourhill Community Council is hosting a public meeting at 6pm this Wednesday, July 26 in Tamfourhill Community Hub, Machrie Court, which council officers have agreed to attend.

Mark Stevenson, chair of the community council, said: “With the impending withdrawal of the number 6 bus service from Falkirk town centre to Tamfourhill by McGill’s, we were extremely disappointed at the absence of council officers at the public meeting organised by Councillor Binnie on July 19.

"Whilst the outgoing commercial operator attended the meeting to give a full and frank account of the reasoning behind their decision, the absence of council officers left many unanswered questions, with no decision makers to listen to concerns, or understand what the community needs their bus service to look like.

"It was highlighted that McGill’s gave notice of their intention to end the service to Falkirk Council on June 2, but this was not then communicated to elected members or the community council, who were completely unaware of the situation until McGill’s announced the improvements they were going to make from August 14, which made it apparent that the Falkirk to Tamfourhill route was being dropped. As this was almost at the end of the fourth and final week of the consultation period, there was very little chance to be involved in any consultation.

“We understand that transport planners are working hard on this matter but no papers have yet been published and the No 6 service is due to end on August 13. As the next council executive meeting is on August 22, it is unclear what will happen during this interim period.”

He urged as many members of the community as possible to attend this week’s meeting to air their views.

Councillor Lorna Binnie said: “Over 80 people from Tamfourhill attended the meeting on July 19 with McGill’s management in attendance along with Councillor Stainbank and other stakeholders.

“It was an insightful meeting with residents embolden after McGill’s management’s apologetic and difficult decision why they were withdrawing the Tamfourhill service saying that this route was not commercially viable, however, they did say it could be potentially operated with a local authority subsidy.

“Residents voiced their great concerns and disappointment and spoke passionately their reasons why there should be a bus service, elderly people and young people have free bus passes but will be unable to use them if there is no bus.

“It is called Tamfourhill for a reason – on a hill and not everyone has the same level of mobility. Equalities are an issue, policies, 20-minute neighbourhoods, people need to be able to access their GP, hospitals, shops and open spaces, not everyone has cars. Overall our community felt they were being ‘cut off’ was their overarching message.”

Resident Vera Sneddon who attended last week’s meeting said: “Tamfourhill will be left with no access to doctors, dentists, pharmacies, banks, supermarkets, recreation, schools or work. Apparently we can walk to Windsor Road – more than 20 minutes for a fit walker, which many are not; that’s pensioners, disabled people, pregnant women and small children walking in all weathers. And, as winter isn't far away, a walk in the dark – who cares? No one. The cancellation is from August 13 and as no further discussion or decision will take place until the end of August, even if the council does anything about this, residents will have no access to public transport for a minimum of two weeks.”

A spokesperson for Falkirk Council said: “We stress again that this was a bus operator commercial decision on a route that is not subsidised by Falkirk Council. There is no allocated budget to facilitate this route, and our focus must therefore be on our existing subsidised routes across the Falkirk area.

“We are attending the meeting this Wednesday and will listen to the community concerns regarding the bus operator cancelling this local service, and be available to explain our position more fully.”

McGill’s has been approached for a comment.

Not a surprise given the nonsense the council wrote last year when it came to tendered service cuts, blaming everyone but themselves.

Reduction of bus service comes into effect Monday, 15 August

Reduction of bus service comes into effect Monday, 15 August

www.falkirk.gov.uk

Due to a 21% increase in costs on previous years, the number of bus services running across the Falkirk area will be reduced as of Monday, 15 August.

Commercial operators who tendered to run the subsidised service cited the pandemic, fuel prices and the broader economic impact of Brexit and the Ukraine conflict for significantly higher bids.

These bids far exceeded the money the Council had available to spend. To bring costs back on budget, several early morning, evening, and Sunday services – selected due to low usage - will no longer operate.

However, the Council will continue to spend around £1.1m to ensure communities retain a number of services that operators said were not commercially viable.

 

[Metal Mickey]

Midland Bluebird have went with the slogan “Better Times Are Coming” as the heading on their spiel for the upcoming Service Change but from my observations only the customers travelling on the Grangemouth circulars 3 and 4 will see any benefit from these changes. In fact, I would say running two every 30 minutes frequencies still isn’t ideal given it serves some of the highest density areas for population in the Falkirk Council area and they should perhaps aim to increase both services to every 20 minutes at a future change.

Also looking at the X36 and X37 between Cumbernauld Village and Glasgow there seems to have been a slight oversight with both services running slightly off the clockface from each other instead of a simple every 30 minutes frequency.

 

[roadierway77]

Seems like the X36/X37 will be receiving new branding under the name 'CitySwift'. Source is the Midland Bluebird Facebook page.

Midland Bluebird

Travelling on the X36 and X37 is about to get better. CitySwift is coming this August 2023. #Stirling #Falkirk #Glasgow More news soon.

www.facebook.com

Travelling on the X36 and X37 is about to get better. CitySwift is coming this August 2023.
#Stirling #Falkirk #Glasgow
More news soon.

 

[Delenn]

Seems like the X36/X37 will be receiving new branding under the name 'CitySwift'. Source is the Midland Bluebird Facebook page.

Sounds very Hornby-esque.

 

[Trnsprt4Sctlnd]

Seems like the X36/X37 will be receiving new branding under the name 'CitySwift'. Source is the Midland Bluebird Facebook page.

Midland Bluebird

Travelling on the X36 and X37 is about to get better. CitySwift is coming this August 2023. #Stirling #Falkirk #Glasgow More news soon.

www.facebook.com

They really will try Anything.

 

[LothianBusesPh]

Seems like the X36/X37 will be receiving new branding under the name 'CitySwift'. Source is the Midland Bluebird Facebook page.

Midland Bluebird

Travelling on the X36 and X37 is about to get better. CitySwift is coming this August 2023. #Stirling #Falkirk #Glasgow More news soon.

www.facebook.com

Already some Transdev Esque things happening with McGill's!

 

[SCH117X]

Already some Transdev Esque things happening with McGill's!

or should that be TrentBarton Esque

 

[overthewater]

And? What is wrong with that? McGills do nothing people complain, McGills get a man in and does some showboating to get new passengers, people complain. I'm all for this. Maybe might make a few other up their games.

 

[Delenn]

And? What is wrong with that? McGills do nothing people complain, McGills get a man in and does some showboating to get new passengers, people complain. I'm all for this. Maybe might make a few other up their games.

I for one am not complaining. Wish he was still with Transdev.

 

[Stan Drews]

Sounds very Hornby-esque.

The vehicle upgrades for the X36/X37, and the new Midland Bluebird livery were in the planning before Mr Hornby arrived, as were all the other changes being made on the 14th August.
He isn’t the only one in the industry that thinks branding can be effective when done properly.

 

[roadierway77]

Sounds very Hornby-esque.

Already some Transdev Esque things happening with McGill's!

The vehicle upgrades for the X36/X37, and the new Midland Bluebird livery were in the planning before Mr Hornby arrived, as were all the other changes being made on the 14th August.
He isn’t the only one in the industry that thinks branding can be effective when done properly.

Definitely, Hornby's influence is already very clear, though yes in general McGill's have got much better at branding in recent years. Fresh, modern, stylish branding is exactly what the Scotland East division needs. As other 'flagship' routes, I would expect the 38/X38 to receive similar route branding at some point in the future.

 

[LothianBusesPh]

And? What is wrong with that? McGills do nothing people complain, McGills get a man in and does some showboating to get new passengers, people complain. I'm all for this. Maybe might make a few other up their games.

I am unsure how that looks like a complaint, I quite like it actually.

 

[cnjb8]

They really will try Anything.

Still better than First's efforts

 

[Baileygirl]

Are the three ADL E400mmc still to come from London? I take it they will be for the X36 ad X37.

 

[Graham Alexand]

Are the three ADL E400mmc still to come from London? I take it they will be for the X36 ad X37.

The MMCs are coming from Livingston, the 66 plates. All the ex London stock are the older generation ADL E400s, I believe.

The MMCs are to be allocated to the X37. I can't quite recall if they're to get used on the X36, but I think they are aswell.

 

[Jordan Adam]

The MMCs are to be allocated to the X37. I can't quite recall if they're to get used on the X36, but I think they are aswell.

They already get used on the X36, in fact the X36 is entirely E400MMC operated today.

 

[borage]

Seems like the X36/X37 will be receiving new branding under the name 'CitySwift'. Source is the Midland Bluebird Facebook page.

I like the branding, but it's slightly unfortunate that CitySwift is already the name of some "artificial intelligence powered" bus scheduling software used by a number of UK bus companies (not McGill's). It's unlikely to cause a trademark problem, but it's not great for search engine optimisation, and I bet the software company will have to deal with a few tweets/enquiries about the namesake bus service

 

[Stan Drews]

Definitely, Hornby's influence is already very clear, though yes in general McGill's have got much better at branding in recent years. Fresh, modern, stylish branding is exactly what the Scotland East division needs. As other 'flagship' routes, I would expect the 38/X38 to receive similar route branding at some point in the future.

You’ll see a number of further routes branded as we go into the autumn.

 

[delt1c]

You’ll see a number of further routes branded as we go into the autumn.

Well they could brand routes in Livingston area starting with , Livingston cancelled.

 

[318266]

Well they could brand routes in Livingston area starting with , Livingston cancelled.

In all fairness, its obvious that Livingston is now the black sheep that they don't care about and some could argue wish weren't there. Wouldn't be surprised if at some point they pull out and consolidate on Midland Bluebird.

 

[computerSaysNo]

In all fairness, its obvious that Livingston is now the black sheep that they don't care about and some could argue wish weren't there. Wouldn't be surprised if at some point they pull out and consolidate on Midland Bluebird.

I've been thinking this for a while but they're still advertising for drivers for Livingston and they're still (slowly) repainting buses into the green livery aren't they?

 

[overthewater]

The war of words carries on...

Community vow to continue fight for 'lifeline' Falkirk bus service McGill's will axe

A community has vowed not to give up the fight to retain a “lifeline” bus service in the area.

www.falkirkherald.co.uk

The Midland Bluebird number 6 route, which links the Falkirk Wheel with Forth Valley Royal Hospital, is being scrapped from August 13. Bus company McGill’s said most of the route will be replaced by an extended number 2 service, which will take passengers directly from Bo’ness to Forth Valley Royal Hospital.

However, residents in Tamfourhill say this will leave them without a vital public transport link. Several public meetings have been held, the last on July 26, with representatives from the bus firm and Falkirk Council attending. But both have made their stance clear with McGill’s saying the current route is not financially viable and the council saying it does not have the £130,000 in its coffers needed to subsidise the service.

Camelon, Bantaskin and Tamfourhill Community Council has said that while there was sympathy for the plight of residents at the latest meeting there was no indication of anything changed.

A spokesperson for the community council said the only “ray of hope” came from the three local councillors for the area – Lorna Binnie (SNP), Euan Stainbank (Labour) and Sarah Patrick (Conservative) – offering to treat the issue as an emergency and work together on a motion to be presented to the council’s executive on August 22.

"The motion will set out the ways that even a slimmed down service could work, that would get people to connecting bus stops at the very least,” said the spokesperson.

They added: “The frustration, the anger, the disempowerment, the awful anticipation of what awaits this community of 2000, soon to be 2500-plus people, on its steep and ancient hill, in danger of being cut off from normal life, was palpable in the hall.
"Meanwhile, the community council will wait for the outcome of the council executive on August 22 and work to provide some kind of pandemic-style cover to fill the gap from August 14. If the decision is another big no, then we will need to fight on until Tamfourhill has a sustainable bus service.”
Central Scotland Green MSP Gillian Mackay has called on McGill’s to reconsider their withdrawal, saying the decision is “devastating news” for the community.


She said: “Local bus services are a lifeline that enable communities to access essential services and I have heard from constituents that this route allows them to visit elderly family, commute to education and work, and collect groceries. Tamfourhill is an area with no doctor’s surgery or even a chemist. The most vulnerable in that society simply can’t walk the distance to the closest bus service in Windsor Road.
“We must think of the safety of residents. The removal of this route would mean that the only way to access Tamfourhill, for those without a car, will be by walking through a park with poor lighting. The people of Falkirk rightly expect public transport to be widely available, as well as affordable and intuitive.
“I have written to McGill’s detailing the importance of this route and to ask them to reconsider their decision. I have also written to Falkirk Council to request a meeting to discuss what possible options may be available, and if possible, to explore establishing publicly owned services.”
Replying to the criticism on social media of the decision to change the route, Alex Hornby, McGill’s group managing director, said: “We have liaised well in advance with the council and the community at large. Not shying away from the issue but this route in this case can’t survive without funding to support them given low patronage and accelerating costs.”
A spokesperson for Falkirk Council previously said: “We stress again that this was a bus operator commercial decision on a route that is not subsidised by Falkirk Council. There is no allocated budget to facilitate this route, and our focus must therefore be on our existing subsidised routes across the Falkirk area.”

 

[LothianBusesPh]

The War of words carry's on...

Community vow to continue fight for 'lifeline' Falkirk bus service McGill's will axe

A community has vowed not to give up the fight to retain a “lifeline” bus service in the area.

www.falkirkherald.co.uk

I am pretty sure this was already linked in this forum, it could've been another one though.

 

[overthewater]

You're thinking of last week's one.

 

[Stan Drews]

In all fairness, its obvious that Livingston is now the black sheep that they don't care about and some could argue wish weren't there. Wouldn't be surprised if at some point they pull out and consolidate on Midland Bluebird.

Livingston is certainly the poorest performing depot financially, as it was under First for many years.
Investment is always likely to go to routes that have the greatest potential for a financial return on that investment (ROI), which is a fairly standard business practice in all industries. It’s nothing to do with not caring, unless you think not caring about whether your business makes money is good practice!

 

[cnjb8]

In all fairness, its obvious that Livingston is now the black sheep that they don't care about and some could argue wish weren't there. Wouldn't be surprised if at some point they pull out and consolidate on Midland Bluebird.

With Hornby in charge I feel like we should be expecting a 'Livingston Locals' brand to appear soon

 

[Simon75]

With Hornby in charge I feel like we should be expecting a 'Livingston Locals' brand to appear soon

Or Team Livingston