McGill's Buses - Renfrewshire & Inverclyde

[Cesarcollie]

Here's a revolutionary thought for SPT. Instead of tendering them out for McGill's to then hoover them up, why dont SPT employ their own drivers and operate them directly..

Probably cost them twice as much.....government (whether local or central) don't exactly have a good track record of cost-effective delivery!!

 

[Observer]

Here's a revolutionary thought for SPT. Instead of tendering them out for McGill's to then hoover them up, why dont SPT employ their own drivers and operate them directly..

They did actually get their own operators license in 2014, but they've not taken on work themselves.

 

[AlexanderPS]

They did actually get their own operators license in 2014, but they've not taken on work themselves.

You would think they would use the license for short term tenders so that they get can get an idea on how much a services is used and how much it would cost to run.

 

[smtglasgow]

Can’t make up my mind about McGills in Monklands. On the one hand it always seemed a weird decision to move into the area. Bus use has been destroyed by the worst of deregulation – mad competition and low quality buses – and the congestion suggests that just about everyone who needs to get around has got their hands on a car. Like the Vale of Leven debacle, I reckon McGills might want to quietly forget about the whole thing. But then again they must be the most likely outfit to win any long-term tenders, so maybe they’re not so daft after all!

There was a great comment on Yahoo about how the unintended consequence of all this nonsense might be to boost First’s remaining routes in the area - might even save the 2 in Monklands…

 

[overthewater]

I spotted this last year when the 212 went to every 20mins, FiG no 2 and 201 were picking up all the passengers between the two towns. The problem is the network that was brought over and then kept was never great to begin with. Most people really had no choice but to get a car... Asda is still busier than ever. If you live around Coatbridge the huge tower blocks are actually pretty close to the shops..

No2 provide the only links to Euro central. But there are plenty of place you can't get to by bus: Strathclyde Business Park? nope... Airdrie - Chaplehall to Motherwell during the working daytime? nope... there plenty of others...

 

[overthewater]

Here is an odd thing, McGills have reprinted its monklands booklet with all the SPT services. Why didn't they just let SPT create those leaflet?

 

[Volvodart]

The electric demonstrator bus that was with Lothian is with McGills this week.

 

[AlexanderPS]

McGills have lost the X50 Hamilton-Gelspin to JMB Travel from the 8th of July.

http://www.spt.co.uk/cms/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Service-X50-080718.pdf

 

[Volvodart]

"A row has broken out after staff working for one of Glasgow's bus companies were told they would face job losses if fare fraudsters could not be curbed":-

https://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/news...d-with-job-losses-over-ticket-fraud-on-buses/

McGill's threatened with job losses over ticket fraud on buses
By Niall Christie

A ROW has broken out after staff working for one of Glasgow's bus companies were told they would face job losses if fare fraudsters could not be curbed.

Drivers for transport provider McGill's were informed on Monday that ongoing issues with fares on the company's ticketing app were affecting profit margins.

According to the company's managing director, Ralph Roberts, McGill's have experienced a fall in revenue due to adults falsely buying child tickets.

Bosses also revealed that ticket fraud was the reason that a pay rise was not awarded to staff in the summer, despite drivers not directly dispensing these tickets to customers.

In a letter to all drivers, he added that it was now down to staff to properly police buying of tickets on the app.

It reads: "It has become increasingly clear that there is rampant ticket fraud and fare evasion going on within our network.

"The single biggest problem is the use of child tickets by adults on mobile. This problem is easy to spot but it take you, the driver, to deal with it on the spot.

"We will be introducing fines for those caught and will be removing their mobile accounts so that they have to pay with cash. Additionally, and unfortunately, when detected, they will recommend that the driver concerned is dismissed. This is a last resort.

"Revenue has been falling dramatically and the lion's share of it is due to the wrong value tickets being used. This is the reason that a pay rise was not awarded this summer. In short, fare evasion and ticket fraud is now costing you money.

"What I ask is that: you play your part, collect the correct fare and make sure that abuse of electronic tickets isn't happening. Today it's costing you money; next it will cost jobs."

The communication from the company's bosses was sent privately to staff, with one disgruntled driver sharing the letter on social media.

In response, concerns have been raised with driver's unions in Scotland as they seek to resolve the problem.


A spokesperson for Unite the Union, who represent many of the affected drivers, said: "This has been brought to our attention and Unite will be consulting with our members over whether they wish to raise grievances."

When approached for comment, McGill's did not clarify whether all staff faced job losses if customers continued to purchase the wrong tickets. They also refused to confirm that drivers were being penalised for ticket fraud by members of the public.

Managing director, Ralph Roberts, said: "We have detected widespread abuse of child mobile tickets by adults. Obviously, this discount is only available to children up to age 16 and the abuse is detectable by our driving staff as they board the bus.

"I do understand that it is sometimes very difficult for a driver to confront an adult who is using a child ticket but this is part of the job.

"When fraud means reduced revenue it unfortunately means that pay awards suffer and that ultimately, it means that jobs may be at risk.

"We have a limited number of options available to us; either remove all discounts or ask our staff to ensure that abuse is confronted. This situation amounts to the few spoiling it for the many.”{/QUOTE]

 

[Megafuss]

"A row has broken out after staff working for one of Glasgow's bus companies were told they would face job losses if fare fraudsters could not be curbed":-

https://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/news...d-with-job-losses-over-ticket-fraud-on-buses/

The other option is to remove child tickets from the app, which would not cost them a penny

 

[GaryMcEwan]

Doesn't surprise me. Their single and return fares verge on extortion.

 

[overthewater]

Does first glasgow not have the same problems?

 

[JonnyB1984]

Does first glasgow not have the same problems?

Revenue Protection officers are always out in force with FIG but yes its a problem with all companies as its hard to determine when a teenager looks older/younger than 16 and give you a d.o.b that makes them 15. By the looks of it, McGills drivers have not been challenging those with incorrect tickets unlike FIG. I have seen myself plenty of times just stopping the bus until the passenger pays the correct fare or removes themselves from the vehicle.

 

[route101]

First Glasgow , ive only had revenue checks near caley depot !

 

[route101]

Doesn't surprise me. Their single and return fares verge on extortion.

Yeah , always got a day ticket on McGills .

 

[smtglasgow]

If I was a McGills driver I wouldn’t be very impressed about the lack of pay increase, long-term threat to jobs or the short-term transfer of blame from management to drivers. As others have said, if child rate m-tickets are such a problem, stop selling them. Or invest in adequate revenue protection. This smacks of management looking for excuses. McGills talk a good game, but the reality disappoints. They are obviously facing the same challenges as First Glasgow in terms of declining passenger numbers but with the added complication that their core territory – Paisley, Greenock – is possibly facing even worse economic headwinds than Glasgow itself.

 

[overthewater]

Maybe there will sell off to someone else?

 

[Gingerbus1991]

If I was a McGills driver I wouldn’t be very impressed about the lack of pay increase, long-term threat to jobs or the short-term transfer of blame from management to drivers. As others have said, if child rate m-tickets are such a problem, stop selling them. Or invest in adequate revenue protection. This smacks of management looking for excuses. McGills talk a good game, but the reality disappoints. They are obviously facing the same challenges as First Glasgow in terms of declining passenger numbers but with the added complication that their core territory – Paisley, Greenock – is possibly facing even worse economic headwinds than Glasgow itself.

These declining passenger numbers are down to the sheer level of cars purchased, over the last 10 years I've driven buses I remember back in 2010 FiG 88 service used to get loaded deckers at rush hour, its not like that anymore, of course shopping habits have change etc but there more down to it than that.

 

[overthewater]

Hasn't the housing estate on that route also been knock down?

 

[overthewater]

https://assets.publishing.service.g...achment_data/file/742230/Written_Decision.pdf

It seems Untied and Mcgills did come to blows, United has been fined but has been given 4 extra disks... One can only wonder where the extra 4 buses worth of work is going?

 

[GaryMcEwan]

https://assets.publishing.service.g...achment_data/file/742230/Written_Decision.pdf

It seems Untied and Mcgills did come to blows, United has been fined but has been given 4 extra disks... One can only wonder where the extra 4 buses worth of work is going?

Are McGill's going have a similar enquiry? Somehow I doubt it.

McGill's drivers are well known for their abuse and bad behaviour and I mean McGill's drivers specifically, not the ones that came over from ASW. They are actually quite pleasant and helpful. You just need to take a look at some of the Coatbridge based drivers and it becomes evidently clear.

There was one driver who is based there, started squaring up to a taxi driver at Croy Station who was waiting on a pick and the driver got out the cab and started kicking off because he couldn't get his bus in.

 

[Gingerbus1991]

Hasn't the housing estate on that route also been knock down?

Theres actually more houses being built as we speak on the far west of glasgow.

The chances are though that these are not social housing and many will have cars if it is private housing.

 

[Volvodart]

McGill's chief demands action on roads as profits tumble
https://www.heraldscotland.com/busi...ef-demands-action-on-roads-as-profits-tumble/

McGill's chief demands action on roads as profits tumble
Scott Wright
Deputy Business Editor

THE boss of McGill’s Bus Service has called for a radical change to Scottish transport policy as the company reported a plunge in profits in its latest financial year.

Greenock-based McGill’s cited worsening road congestion, disruption caused by roadworks, cheap car parking and falling high street footfall as profits dropped to £384,056 in the year ended December 31, down from £2.03 million the year before. Turnover remained broadly steady at £39.5m.

The company, which runs bus services throughout Largs, Inverclyde, Glasgow, Renfrewshire, East Renfrewshire and North and South Lanarkshire, said last year saw it continue to observe the pressures it has faced since the end of 2014 when “patronage” began to “fall dramatically”.

Managing director Ralph Roberts said: “The epicentre of this footfall reduction is in west central Scotland, where congestion is at its worst. Ultimately, we have seen three years of declining footfall on some key corridors across the business. 2017 saw a continuation of that.”

He added: “It’s not just a McGill’s issue – it’s industry-wide.”

Mr Roberts’ comments come as the Scottish Parliament consults on a new Transport (Scotland) Bill, under which ministers are bidding to make “Scotland’s transport network, cleaner, smarter and more accessible than ever before”.

The McGill’s chief, who has given evidence to the Parliament’s Rural Economy and Connectivity Committee, said: “The first thing they (the government) have to do is acknowledge there is a problem. There is no quick fix to this. It has taken almost decades to get to this situation we have with roads.”

Mr Roberts went on: “It is going to take policy to change that. Only when they do that can we start working with local authorities, [and] with utilities who are digging up roads and causing mass disruption out there. It is not just bus passengers that get disruption, it is any road user.

“And part of that problem is that the infrastructure is swamped in many areas.

“There are a whole number of policy measures that need to take place in order for us to start reversing the flow. It is going to take quite some time.”

Having been in contact with policy makers at Holyrood, Mr Roberts expressed concern that politicians are more concerned with introducing to Scotland the same ticketing regime that operates in London than on improving infrastructure. He acknowledged it is achievable for Scotland to have such ticketing, but pointed out that Transport for London takes responsibility for this in the UK capital. He also said there are workplace parking levies and congestion charging in force in London, where parking is more tightly controlled.

Mr Roberts said: “The industry cannot achieve this alone. There needs to be some input from government, whether local or national.”

Noting that the level of subsidy the bus sector receives in Scotland is eclipsed by the resources it is afforded in London and Manchester, Mr Roberts said: “We have peppercorn levels of subsidy in Scotland. The public sector gets a very good deal.”

Mr Roberts said the bus industry commissioned KPMG to report on the challenges facing the bus sector. It concluded that factors outside the industry’s control were responsible for 75 per cent of the reasons why bus fares are going up. Mr Roberts said the document offers a “starter for 10” to policymakers looking for ideas to “create a better environment” for bus operators.

Despite the challenges, Mr Roberts said the company’s accounts for 2017 show that McGill’s remains in “rude health”. But he said McGill’s is having to put more and more of the surpluses it generates into supporting routes which are effectively loss-making, in order to maintain its social commitments.

The company, owned by brothers James and Sandy Easdale, made commitments totalling £3.8 million for new vehicles last year, when it introduced 27 new buses to its fleet. The average lifespan of its buses ranges from 12 to 15 years.

The accounts state that McGill’s employed an average of 814 staff last year, down from 831 last time, with payroll costs booked at £21.5m, broadly in line with the previous year.

Dividends of £3.35m were paid to shareholders during the period.

 

[smtglasgow]

The sound of McGills coming back down to earth? The Monklands adventure has cost them dearly – don’t think we’ll be hearing about their expansion plans for a while. They’ve been trimming their core network in Renfrewshire for a while now. The only oddity has been pushing the 38 up to every 5 mins against First which just leaves Paisley Rd West over-bused. Some of their Glasgow services (17, 23) seem quiet these days – although to be fair the Clyde Flyer looks as busy as ever. Presumably we’ll be seeing hefty fares increases soon with McGills and First (no doubt dressed up as an effect of the Glasgow LEZ), but McGills are already quite a bit dearer than First for weekly and monthy tickets.

 

[overthewater]

Clyde flyer will soon be getting cut for the winter, Maybe there should try again with the no17 going via Glasgow uni?

 

[christopherrfc]

Clyde flyer will soon be getting cut for the winter, Maybe there should try again with the no17 going via Glasgow uni?

There's a timetable saying the clydeflyer will not be changing this winter

 

[smtglasgow]

When Arriva run the 17 (or was the 7 in those days?) via University Avenue it was an unmitigated disaster. Buses got stuck in the traffic on Byres Rd and Woodlands Rd. Anyway, the centre of gravity for the whole university is about to shift towards Dumbarton Rd as the new campus is built on the old Western Infirmary site.

Back to McGills, I think they’re going to have to be brutal with some of their local routes. Paisley, Johnstone, Greenock and Port Glasgow are all a bit dead these days – I’d guess that this is where the big losses are. Express buses are probably doing fine.

 

[GaryMcEwan]

The fares are high enough already withiut them increasing them further.

A single from Braehead to Glasgow on the 23 is £4.70, but yet an all day ticket is £4.50.

From what I've seen Stagecoach have been gaining a lot of patronage between the City Centre, Govan and the new hospital.

 

[gingerheid]

Ashton's started the 517 Largs to University Avenue. The open secret was that if they were late they wouldn't actually serve University Avenue.

 

[Bluebirdscot66]

Do you think bus companies put the single fares higher than day tickets because of the drop in reimbursement from concession tickets ?with the thinking being customers paying to go to braehead from city will be Likley to return anyway .?