I think new things should be tried, many route variations should be simplified, I don’t think the SimpliCITY branding makes sence either with regards to this.
Why can’t operators just find a simple yet attractive livery and stick with it, pitty we don’t see a Dark Grey/Strathclyde Red bus around glasgow.
Airport links in Glasgow as well need seriously looked at!
Route Connections as well to create more inter-suburban links,
Connect 87 <> 10 operating as the 100 via Killermont St and Hope St/Renfrew St to Silverburn of course on a 15 minute interval, with a Half-Hourly extension out to Neilston and Barrhead to compete with Mcgills 3 Service.
41 <> 9/9A with a new 300 route number, operating a combined 10 minute frequency Easterhouse to Paisley Rd West via the City Centre THEN from Paisley Rd West a 20 minute interval to Braehead via Penilee and another 20 minute split to Glasgow Airport via Paisley Town Centre.
Connecting paisley rd wst and paisley town centre to the Airport as well.
I understand this would reduce the frequency at Penilee to the City Centre by 10 minutes so I’d also take on McGills 17 with a New half-hourly 78 service, via Partick, QEUH, Penilee to Paisley from the City Centre, if timed properly is would maintain a 10 minute frequency to the City Centre from penilee, jointly between the new 78 or 300.
Continue the 77 half-hourly to the airport via Renfrew and change the 500 to coach operation for more comfort and to take the luggage need away from the interior.
I would have the 500 operate directly onto the motorway instead of using George Square etc.
Perhaps a new service from EK to the Airport considering EK is a particularly large extremity of glasgow, An hourly bus to the airport navigating the northside of glasgow such as Summerston, Drumchapel via the Clyde Tunnel.
The 38 and 38A I’d keep, considering they start and terminate in the same place with only alittle variation at the southside of the route.
The 38C as the 36 service considering in-part that it used to be the 36 route to Chryston anyways.
38E > 35 and the 38B > 37 changes.
Changing up the 34/34A as well, I’d have the 34 navigating Castlemilk to Glasgow University/Kelvingrove via QEUH/Clyde Tunnel and the 34A omitting QEUH but traveling via Govan, The Arc and onto Kelvingrove/Glasgow Uni as well.
Of course creating new links for possible students on the southside, including Govan whilst maintaining QEUH access on the 34.
The 7/7A renumbered to 62/62A, keeping them near the same numbering commonality, where the 64/65 operate on the South-East side of town, and the 60/61 at the northside of the city.
Summerston terminous would be ideal for opp-charge pylons for electric Volvo 7900e buses, provided that the glasgow young team left them alone.
The 1/1A as the dedicated Balloch services as they are or “The One” as its so called, of course the 1E becoming the 1B.
Newly Renumber the existing Helensburgh 1B as a new express limited-stop service, split this up to operate a service from Garelochhead/Feorlin Way to Glasgow via Helensburgh, Cardross, Colgrain, Dumbarton and on to Great Western Rd with Coaches.
I’d give the 1C and 1D new numbers and disassociate them from the one given that they don’t go nearer the extremity of the west coast.
I would actually reduce the 88 to a 20 minute frequency as well as reduce the 89 to an hourly service, but I’d re-introduce the x86 from Banton to Glasgow via Kilsyth, Croy/Train Station, Blackwood and the M80.
I’d bid for Canavans 43 service and see to operate that to bishopbriggs retail park every 20 mins to help replace the reduced 89 yet improving the frequency to strathkelvin.
An x88 peak service omitting Balgrayhill, Mavis Valley and Lenzie from Harestanes and on to a limited-stop service through bishopbriggs etc
The x85 would become the x85/x85a and I’d operate a Stagecoach-esque coach service on the x85A omitting Lenzie via Lenzie Bypass/Initiative Rd, the x85 would work alongside the x87 to maintain a 15 minute frequency through Lenzie to Glasgow.
Here is where I think the 10.3m 400 MMC’s that are used on this route become to small at peak through Lenzie.
I would also take Stagecoach on at there own game and operate Coaches from Cumbernauld to Glasgow as they did with First years ago.
But I would not operate these from the Bus Station, only the City Centre, as I read recently SPT are increasing the cost of departure from buchanan.
If in control of them I would also take on and upgrade the x36/x39 Midland Bluebird services, they’d be partly coach operated to partake in competition with Stagecoach East Scotlands services.
The 9 Service I’d simply maintain that as is with a raft of new high-spec buses for the route to completely go up against the 38, as both operators seem reluctant to really go for a much nicer vehicle on these routes.
I would also take on McGills in the Govan area with direct to City Centre services, as FiG's 3 takes far to long just for the centre etc.
I’d keep all the M buses on the basis that they are SPT subsidised, of course if there are ways in which they could be withdrawn in favour for a rerouted commercial service you would also be doing SPT a favour.
All of my views are based around the fact that there are so many different operators in Glasgow and much of the public don’t seemingly want to adopt the Tripper ticket, I’m a big fan of bus re-regulation, in this area anyways.
Some of these hypotheticals may make sense considering those who would travel to work in the city centre with there cars and park on the streets, john lewis multi-storey or the car park behind the bus station, these people may be disadvantaged when the LEZ is to take effect meaning the cheapest mode of transport is the bus.
Of course glasgows Subway also takes the focus off the LEZ for bus travel aroundthe City Centre.
