Scottish Citylink

[AndrewTaylor95]

Will be interesting how the 902 gets on, I wonder if the ticket price is the same as the AIR service to Edinburgh airport.

It is.

 

[Volvodart]

West Coast Motors have also gained an Aberdeen

YS16 LMV has just come into Aberdeen on an M9.

 

[Stobarts63]

OIG1543 is a Plaxton Panther 2.

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Right - cheers.

901 is totally different route. It goes to Largs and it has always been a McGillss Route - before that it was Arriva.

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I really do hope this goes ahead, i have been saying for a while there needs to be a bus back out between Glasgow and Livingston again, the train as good as it is, is not sited well in Livingston meaning either a long walk from each station to the centre or getting a bus which then adds to the fare payed just to get out there. It will be interesting to see how frequent it might be and how it compares in price to the train.

They are running a 902 every hour.

 

[sannox]

901 is totally different route. It goes to Largs and it has always been a McGillss Route - before that it was Arriva.

Was the 901 ever Arriva?

It's so complicated background but to Gourock it was a Citylink Route up until the early 2000s. I think it was run by various contractors and possibly Arriva were one but DJ International ran it before McGill's

 

[318266]

The 901 was a Citylink route that got thrown into McGill's hands who eventually threw Citylink away altogether.

Though we must not forget the time First tried to compete with them with one of the most hilarious routings - avoiding Greenock Town Centre by going via the south part of Greenock, which is more violent to say the least of it...

 

[duffers2324]

Yeah, that was the ill-fated Clyde Coaster 901 that First tried with route-branded Geminis for the run. The Geminis probably were a good call as the route is scenic at the Largs end etc, but it obviously didn't last long.

Actually, speaking of old Citylink routes, I just had a look at some old pics and saw the 501 from Ayr to Edinburgh; were there any other unusual routes like this for Citylink in the past?

 

[gingerheid]

Yeah, that was the ill-fated Clyde Coaster 901 that First tried with route-branded Geminis for the run. The Geminis probably were a good call as the route is scenic at the Largs end etc, but it obviously didn't last long.

Actually, speaking of old Citylink routes, I just had a look at some old pics and saw the 501 from Ayr to Edinburgh; were there any other unusual routes like this for Citylink in the past?

Prior to Stagecoach taking over Western and introducing the X7- services Ayr was a stable fixture in the citylink network for my entire childhood. They also had the commuter services from Cummnock and New Farm Loch to Glasgow, and the service from Edinburgh to Hamilton & East Kilbride. I think this was all so until about 1993 / 1994ish.

 

[sannox]

There used to be a Glasgow Airport to Edinburgh via Paisley, Clarkston and East Kilbride

Indeed, there used to be a whole load of Renfrewshire Motorway Expresses which moved to Clydeside.

 

[gingerheid]

Yes, in the earlier 80s the Western coach routes that would later be Clydeside's Quicksilver were Citylink branded, also including the original iteration (before a long gap and the appearance of Ashton's CoastLine) of the 585 Ayr - Greenock!

This included the:

580 Glasgow - New Cummnock
585 Ayr - Greenock
589 Glasgow - Linwood
Glasgow - Erskine - Bishtopton
591 Glasgow - Foxbar
? Glasgow - Kilbarchan
594 Glasgow - Renfrew
? Glasgow - Barrhead - Irvine
597 Glasgow - Kilbirnie - Largs
598 Glasgow - Dalry - West Kilbride - Largs
599 Glasgow - BOW - Kilmacolm - Port Glasgow

 

[route101]

There used to be a Glasgow Airport to Edinburgh via Paisley, Clarkston and East Kilbride

Indeed, there used to be a whole load of Renfrewshire Motorway Expresses which moved to Clydeside.

I have a timetable for that service. The service eventually became the 904 East Kilbride to Edinburgh.

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Was the 901 ever Arriva?

It's so complicated background but to Gourock it was a Citylink Route up until the early 2000s. I think it was run by various contractors and possibly Arriva were one but DJ International ran it before McGill's

I remember the DJ International coaches on the 901 but not any Citylink liveried coaches. Why were the Inverclyde routes designated Citylink services?

 

[sannox]

I have a timetable for that service. The service eventually became the 904 East Kilbride to Edinburgh.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 26 Feb 2023 ==


I remember the DJ International coaches on the 901 but not any Citylink liveried coaches. Why were the Inverclyde routes designated Citylink services?

901 was definitely a Citylink routes. There are some photos of it being operated by them.

http://www.photo-transport.co.uk/coaches/citylink/glasgow2000/sc-901.jpg

DJ INTERNATIONAL RIL3692 (G846GNV)

G846GNV was a Volvo B10M-60 / Jonckheere Deauville C51Ft purchased new by Green's of Kirkintilloch in August 1989..It moved to Redwatch Coaches of East Calder in July 1990. It then passed (on loan) to Clyde Coast between May and August 1992, before joining Stewart's of Aberfeldy in October 1992...

www.flickr.com

 

[Volvodart]

I suspect that it could be HSK646/647 with a 9700 as required from Parks to make the 3rd vehicle.
I hope ECL will be SJ72HSE too.

It looks like HSK646 has been doing the publicity at Livingston. Edinburgh Coach Lines has had an Irizar I6 in the older swooped Citylink livery repainted, I assume that is the one that is intended for the 902.

 

[WestieBus]

Has Park's gained a contract on the 914? I've seen Park's Elites get tracked on it via bustimes.org

 

[InOban]

Maybe Shiel Buses are short of a coach - this is a service from Fort William and back so it's unlikely to be crewed by Parks. The additional summer services to Oban are always Parks, I think.

 

[route101]

I saw a 975 service head to Oban but was heading towards Glencoe. Big diversion for that service.

 

[WestieBus]

I saw a 975 service head to Oban but was heading towards Glencoe. Big diversion for that service.

Wouldn't it be able to turn at Orchy and head for Dalmally from there? If that is the road is open.

 

[Unstoppable]

Wouldn't it be able to turn at Orchy and head for Dalmally from there? If that is the road is open.

That road is barely wide enough to fit a small car

 

[InOban]

That road is barely wide enough to fit a small car

You exaggerate, but it's certainly not suitable for a coach. Particularly when it's chock full of cars trying to pass each other, as it was yesterday.

 

[route101]

Wouldn't it be able to turn at Orchy and head for Dalmally from there? If that is the road is open.

Perhaps it went that way rather than the A828.

Noticed a few interesting buses on Citylink duties of late.

A panther on the M9 today. I thought these had been withdrawn.
A vanhool on the 918 from Fort William to Inverness.

 

[Volvodart]

A panther on the M9 today. I thought these had been withdrawn.

The Panther could be 54126, now with Hairy Haggis Tours of Fauldhouse.

 

[route101]

The Panther could be 54126, now with Hairy Haggis Tours of Fauldhouse.

Interesting, it was on the M9 service yesterday.

 

[Volvodart]

They do some M9 and M92 services from Aberdeen on Fridays to Sundays.

 

[Davie]

What runs do Edinburgh coach lines do?

I noticed that they are looking for drivers to do Citylink work.

 

[route101]

What runs do Edinburgh coach lines do

I noticed that they are looking for drivers to do citylink work.

902 and 0909

 

[ecb124]

Noticed the updated registration (PM0001031/108) for the 913. I know it's early days but does anyone have anymore information on the return of the service for this year?

 

[GusB]

Noticed the updated registration (PM0001031/108) for the 913. I know it's early days but does anyone have anymore information on the return of the service for this year?

Perhaps you'd like to share the details?

 

[ecb124]

Perhaps you'd like to share the details?

All I know as of yet is as follows:

Running Daily
Operating between Edinburgh Bus Station and Fort William Bus Station given service number 913 effective from 03 April 2023. To amend Timetable.
I'm struggling to find any details elsewhere.

 

[BobbyBKinross]

Runs from the second last Monday in May until the last Sunday in October. Operated by Stagecoach East Scotland and last year was usually a Rennies Elite (Double Axle) or an ex-Citylink Panther 2 (SP62 CKJ) but I think it seen it's last day on the 913 last year. In fact, I've just found out that this coach was likely the one seen on the M9 at the weekend as it is now owned and operated by "Hairy Haggis of Fauldhouse". This year I could see it being a Rennie's Elite or possibly one of the spare Elite's at Blairgowrie.

 

[ecb124]

Runs from the second last Monday in May until the last Sunday in October. Operated by Stagecoach East Scotland and last year was usually a Rennies Elite (Double Axle) or an ex-Citylink Panther 2 (SP62 CKJ) but I think it seen it's last day on the 913 last year. In fact, I've just found out that this coach was likely the one seen on the M9 at the weekend as it is now owned and operated by "Hairy Haggis of Fauldhouse". This year I could see it being a Rennie's Elite or possibly one of the spare Elite's at Blairgowrie.

Ah, that's brilliant. Shame about the panther, great buses they were, must try and get another ride on one before they all vanish. Was planning a trip to fort William from the 22nd to the 24th and getting there and back from Edinburgh is a bit of a hassle by train. Bit irritating that it's the day of the timetable change so will be close to then before the timetables are confirmed but I'm hoping that it will follow the timetables from the past few years.

 

[Jordan Adam]

I wouldn't rule out Stagecoach buying new coaches for Citylink this year. According to internal information there's a new route launching in June which will see Stagecoach Bluebird's vehicle requirements for Citylink work doubled.