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

[Metal Mickey]

Other than the choice of a default Windows font for the displays... which is completely unintelligible on certain boards

What do you mean by that?

 

[318266]

What do you mean by that?

Instead of using the fonts specifically designed for destination displays, they picked one designed for Microsoft Word.

 

[Metal Mickey]

Instead of using the fonts specifically designed for destination displays, they picked one designed for Microsoft Word.

I get it now. The font they’re using on front destination screens looks awful and they also no longer show via points.

It’s also a legal requirement for the X10 to be screened as Balfron for Stirling and Balfron for Glasgow but they don’t seem to be doing that either.

McGill’s, Western and First Glasgow screens are done to a much better standard.

 

[stevenedin]

I get it now. The font they’re using on front destination screens looks awful and they also no longer show via points.

It’s also a legal requirement for the X10 to be screened as Balfron for Stirling and Balfron for Glasgow but they don’t seem to be doing that either.

McGill’s, Western and First Glasgow screens are done to a much better standard.

Is it definitely a legal requirement? I thought that was just when we were part of the EU that it was?

I am personally a fan of destinations in that format. I prefer the end destination and then Via underneath.

 

[kez19]

I get it now. The font they’re using on front destination screens looks awful and they also no longer show via points.

It’s also a legal requirement for the X10 to be screened as Balfron for Stirling and Balfron for Glasgow but they don’t seem to be doing that either.

McGill’s, Western and First Glasgow screens are done to a much better standard.

It looks like the same font is applied across the McGills network as Xplore Dundee uses that same font on both number and destination (Xplore got rid of the via points too).

 

[Jordan Adam]

It’s also a legal requirement for the X10 to be screened as Balfron for Stirling and Balfron for Glasgow but they don’t seem to be doing that either.

Is it definitely a legal requirement? I thought that was just when we were part of the EU that it was?

This is a common misconception, there is no legal requirement under PSVAR (Public Service Vehicle Accessibility Requirements) for split registered services to display the end point for each individual registration. The regulation defines destination as being "a word or words to describe the route or final destination", this is rather vague and allows for the destination to be something other than the destination listed on the registration, hence circular routes rarely have the terminal point listed as the destination but will rather have a description of the route itself. Similarly a lot of routes in smaller areas will just display "....Town Service". The Traffic Commissioners Office have also confirmed regarding a previous similar case with another operator that for example a bus departing Glasgow showing "X10 Stirling" would be perfectly within the regulations.

 

[Observer]

Problem with the destinations is they just want it all to be in one line, two lines are not being allowed despite requests even though some would make sense "Glasgow via Balfron, Glasgow via Cumbernauld etc".

Also the font that they use, sometimes doesn't work too well with smaller screens like the Mellor Sprinters. All they need to do is get a different font for the small screens and the issues would be addressed.

What I will say is at least it looks better than the tiny text that First were using for a long time. At least there are some positives to changing the destination screens, not all negatives!

 

[Stan Drews]

So would this be the first cock-up since Alex Hornsby joined McGills with the city swift brand

Talking of cock-ups, who’s Alex Hornsby?

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Talking of cock-ups, who’s Alex Hornsby?

I think he fronted a band called The Range, and sang on their 1986 hit "The way it is"

<one for the teenagers>

 

[Stan Drews]

I think he fronted a band called The Range, and sang on their 1986 hit "The way it is"

<one for the teenagers>

Think that was his brother Bruce.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Think that was his brother Bruce.

Very true - Alex must have been on the fiddle bass

 

[Trnsprt4Sctlnd]

Is it definitely a legal requirement? I thought that was just when we were part of the EU that it was?

I am personally a fan of destinations in that format. I prefer the end destination and then Via underneath.

Lothian Buses have done without "via" for years now.

It's a personal choice for the operator, nothing else.

 

[citybus2500]

So would this be the first cock-up since Alex Hornsby joined McGills with the city swift brand

and "Mr Hornsby" is well aware of who CitySwift are.

It is also suggested that CitySwift took their name from when Dublin Bus used it as a brand. There is a connection.

 

[Cesarcollie]

Can they not arrange it through their own MOT stations for that though? Larbert has one as does Livingston I believe.

possibly. But certification is not done by a normal MOT tester - so it depends whether DVSA would send out a specialist officer to an operator depot to certify one or two buses.

 

[Christmas]

City Swift was an odd branding anyway as a swift is most certainly not a bluebird.

 

[Trnsprt4Sctlnd]

City Swift was an odd branding anyway as a swift is most certainly not a bluebird.

Not everyones is an ornithologist..

There is nothing wrong with a well kept and classic Midland Bluebird livery..

 

[ScotsRail]

It’s also a legal requirement for the X10 to be screened as Balfron for Stirling and Balfron for Glasgow but they don’t seem to be doing that either.

Speaking of the X10 looks like they are planning on cutting it back - opinions being asked on proposed cuts from next August.

Option C
X10 - Balfron -Stirling whole Sunday Service would be cut.

Specific Journeys:
Mon - Friday
X10 Balfron-Stirling 09.32
X10 Stirling -Balfron 16.00
X10 Balfron -Stirling 16.42

Saturday
X10 Balfron-Stirling 08.04
These journeys will also affect Strathblane and Killearn residents travelling to Stirling and villages east of Balfron including hospital appointments.

Option B
All of option C above plus

Mon-Sat
X10 Balfron -Glasgow 17.47
X10 Balfron -Glasgow 18.57
X10 Stirling -Balfron 19.05 Mon-Thursday
X10 Stirling -Balfron 20.40
X10 Stirling -Balfron 23.00

Mon- Saturday
X10 Balfron- Stirling 19.29
X10 Glasgow - Balfron 19.10
X10 Glasgow -Stirling 20.35 M-Thursday
X10 Balfron - Stirling 21.47
X10 Glasgow - Balfron 21.40
X10 Glasgow - Balfron 22.40

Option A
Is both B & C - i.e. all of the above plus C30

 

[alphabravo43]

Speaking of the X10 looks like they are planning on cutting it back - opinions being asked on proposed cuts from next August.

Option C
X10 - Balfron -Stirling whole Sunday Service would be cut.

Specific Journeys:
Mon - Friday
X10 Balfron-Stirling 09.32
X10 Stirling -Balfron 16.00
X10 Balfron -Stirling 16.42

Saturday
X10 Balfron-Stirling 08.04
These journeys will also affect Strathblane and Killearn residents travelling to Stirling and villages east of Balfron including hospital appointments.

Option B
All of option C above plus

Mon-Sat
X10 Balfron -Glasgow 17.47
X10 Balfron -Glasgow 18.57
X10 Stirling -Balfron 19.05 Mon-Thursday
X10 Stirling -Balfron 20.40
X10 Stirling -Balfron 23.00

Mon- Saturday
X10 Balfron- Stirling 19.29
X10 Glasgow - Balfron 19.10
X10 Glasgow -Stirling 20.35 M-Thursday
X10 Balfron - Stirling 21.47
X10 Glasgow - Balfron 21.40
X10 Glasgow - Balfron 22.40

Option A
Is both B & C - i.e. all of the above plus C30

Not McGill's that are looking to make these cuts however, these are the proposed cuts by Stirling council to the supported services to try and balance the budget

 

[Scotrail88]

Not McGill's that are looking to make these cuts however, these are the proposed cuts by Stirling council to the supported services to try and balance the budget

Is there anywhere online this can be found ??

 

[alphabravo43]

Is there anywhere online this can be found ??

https://engage.stirling.gov.uk/projects/stirling-council-budget

 

[christopherrfc]

Airport service confirmed

MCGILL’S SCOTLAND EAST LIMITED

Airport Express

Waterloo Place, Edinburgh

Edinburgh Airport

Support links​

• Telephone

 

[VioletEclipse]

Airport service confirmed

MCGILL’S SCOTLAND EAST LIMITED

Airport Express

Waterloo Place, Edinburgh

Edinburgh Airport

Support links​

• Telephone

so it seems they aren't giving it a service number, just 'Airport Express'.
Curious to see if it only lasts a year, or if it ends up being very successful and staying around.

 

[markymark2000]

Airport service confirmed

MCGILL’S SCOTLAND EAST LIMITED

Airport Express

Waterloo Place, Edinburgh

Edinburgh Airport

Support links​

• Telephone

Any link to the source?

 

[Tartanarmy85]

Any link to the source?

Exactly no start date ect?

 

[RomeoCharlie71]

Any link to the source?

Exactly no start date ect?

A relatively quick and simple search on the GOV.UK site reveals this: https://www.vehicle-operator-licens...registered-local-bus-services/details/617907/

Registration number PM0000923/369
Licence Number PM0000923
Variation number 0
Status New
Service number: Airport Express
Service type: Limited Stop
Start point: Waterloo Place, Edinburgh
Finish point: Edinburgh Airport
Via: Haymarket, St John's Road
Date received: 17 Nov 2023
Effective date: 01 Jan 2024
End date:
Supported by subsidies?: No
Local authorities covered by route: The City of Edinburgh Council
TAOs covered by route: Scotland

 

[Graham Alexand]

It would appear that 0434 (SN64 CKG) has been transfered to Larbert.

Source link:

0434 - SN64 CKG

Wright StreetLite DF

bustimes.org

(A quick note, I understand to take everything on bustimes.org with a pinch of salt)

 

[Jordan Adam]

so it seems they aren't giving it a service number, just 'Airport Express'.

A very textbook Alex Hornby / Ray Stenning move. Just look at Transdev or Trent Barton where much the same happened...

 

[roadierway77]

Airport service confirmed

MCGILL’S SCOTLAND EAST LIMITED

Airport Express

Waterloo Place, Edinburgh

Edinburgh Airport

Support links​

• Telephone

I hate to be pessimistic but I don't expect this service to stand the test of time, if all its rumoured attributes come to fruition - Airlink will have the upper hand in terms of frequency, capacity, service quality, and brand recognition. The lower fares that Bright Bus Express will offer means that it's going to have to see high patronage to offset operating costs and airport charges, and I just don't see McGill’s abstracting enough passengers from Airlink for this, especially if the presence of a new competing express service leads Lothian to drop their airport fares. But one can never predict the future, it may end up becoming a success - we shall see.

 

[Spsf3232]

I hate to be pessimistic but I don't expect this service to stand the test of time, if all its rumoured attributes come to fruition - Airlink will have the upper hand in terms of frequency, capacity, service quality, and brand recognition. The lower fares that Bright Bus Express will offer means that it's going to have to see high patronage to offset operating costs and airport charges, and I just don't see McGill’s abstracting enough passengers from Airlink for this, especially if the presence of a new competing express service leads Lothian to drop their airport fares. But one can never predict the future, it may end up becoming a success - we shall see.

It will do pretty well, tourists just get on the first bus that says City centre and off they go. They don't care about brand or capacity and won't be interested in the Lothian brand.

 

[ScotRail158725]

I hate to be pessimistic but I don't expect this service to stand the test of time, if all its rumoured attributes come to fruition - Airlink will have the upper hand in terms of frequency, capacity, service quality, and brand recognition. The lower fares that Bright Bus Express will offer means that it's going to have to see high patronage to offset operating costs and airport charges, and I just don't see McGill’s abstracting enough passengers from Airlink for this, especially if the presence of a new competing express service leads Lothian to drop their airport fares. But one can never predict the future, it may end up becoming a success - we shall see.

This is exactly what was said about the tours and its turned out to be a profit turner and one of the most valuable assets to the McGills brand