First Greater Glasgow

[route101]

I have to say I’m rather shocked that the Airdrie section of the 2 is being withdrawn completely. Most people I understand tend to get the train however it was useful for those travelling to Morrisons or Swinton even not to mention those who live in Bargeddie. I guess the Whifflet line being electrified provides a better service than what was once there so it makes sense.

I wouldn’t say it would make a huge difference as the 62 used to run as deckers while the Airdrie variation ran as singles so it wasn’t hard to manage really. So the Kirkwood bridge doesn’t really have an effect on the Baillieston section. I do agree, however that deckers could be used on the 2 alongside singles I would say. This would allow a lot of the ageing E300s and E200MMCs to be cascaded on to other routes on the network and eliminate a lot of the old stock. I think it’s silly for them to keep pushing for singles on such a huge route.

Wonder if they will extend the 38b out to Bargeddie

 

[route101]

Have moe b9ls been refurbished ? Seen one on 31 and 4 of late

 

[PaulMc7]

Wonder if they will extend the 38b out to Bargeddie

Could either extend the 38E or even extend the 43 down to Bargeddie through Swinton and Baillieston

 

[JumpinTrainz]

At every ten minutes its still more frequent than a lot routes , the 6 for example. I thought at somepoint it as gonna get e400s but it as changed to e300s .

Remember deckers were predominant on the 62 at one point (mainly B7TLs) alongside the B7RLEs. In 2009 E500s were also originally ordered for the 62! I think even running at every 8 minutes could still merit deckers, they wouldn’t need to make the route a 10 minute frequency as I’m sure the buses would still fill up. It’s a busy service and also a long service which covers many busy areas along its route. E400MMCs would be welcomed!

 

[JumpinTrainz]

Could either extend the 38E or even extend the 43 down to Bargeddie through Swinton and Baillieston

The 213 (which effectively was the 38E route) used to run to Bargeddie but was cut when Simplicity was introduced so they’ve been there done that in a sense.

 

[overthewater]

Here are the service changes: United Coaches are going to have a field day in Kirkwood. And First really should just extend the 242 to Monklands

https://www.firstgroup.com/greater-...es/planned-changes/service-change-august-2019

Service Change from Sunday 18 August 2019

Service 2 Faifley - Baillieston

Section of route between Baillieston and Airdrie withdrawn.

Revised timetable daily

Journeys between Airdrie and Maxim replaced with new Service 202

********************************************************************************

Services 4/4A Broomhill - Newton Mearns/Eaglesham.

Service 18 City Centre - East Kilbride, Greenhills. and

Service 120 East Kilbride Bus Station - South Lanarkshire College

Revised Timetable, Monday - Friday.

No change to Saturday or Sunday timetable.

********************************************************************************

Service 16 Blairdardie - QEUH

Section of route between Drumchapel and Blairdardie withdrawn.

Revised timetable daily.

********************************************************************************

Service 202 Airdrie – Maxim/Eurocentral

New Monday - Friday service.

Between Airdrie Town Centre and Maxim via Chapelhall.

********************************************************************************

Service 266 Shotts/Newmains - Hamilton

Revised Timetable, Monday - Friday & Saturday.

No change to Sunday timetable

********************************************************************************

Service 500 City Centre (Buchanan Bus Stn.) – Glasgow Airport

Revised timetable daily.

********************************************************************************

From the same date the following services will be withdrawn:

308, 311, 313, 320, 322, 338, 357, 379, 807, 808, 809, 811, 826, 828, 829, 837, 846, 847, 848, 850, 869 & 880.

 

[PaulMc7]

Here are the service changes: United Coaches are going to have a field day in Kirkwood. And First really should just extend the 242 to Monklands

https://www.firstgroup.com/greater-...es/planned-changes/service-change-august-2019

First should do that with the 242 but from a cost point of view they only need 1 bus for the 202

 

[PaulMc7]

The 213 (which effectively was the 38E route) used to run to Bargeddie but was cut when Simplicity was introduced so they’ve been there done that in a sense.

Did the 262 not also run at the time? I'd have been quite young so not 100% sure. It's weird how the 2 didn't do well there considering the train is only every 30mins too and there's not much else in terms of travel except car

 

[JumpinTrainz]

Did the 262 not also run at the time? I'd have been quite young so not 100% sure. It's weird how the 2 didn't do well there considering the train is only every 30mins too and there's not much else in terms of travel except car

I remember as far back as the 260 which used to be grey branded B7Ls back in the Overground days. The route was then renumbered the 262 and it used to see mainly B10Ms and B7Ls with the odd B7RLE and B10BLE at a time. Then there was the idea to merge with the 62 which I believe still ran as far as Caldercruix for a time! Most unusual now that they have gone as far as withdrawing the full service!

As a common user of the service I can speak from personal experience of using the 2 to Airdrie... the passengers loads tended to drop off by about Baillieston lights then you’d get the odd number travelling towards Bargeddie but mostly after that the numbers dwindled especially towards night time but it must be dire for them to have cancelled the full route.

 

[PaulMc7]

I remember as far back as the 260 which used to be grey branded B7Ls back in the Overground days. The route was then renumbered the 262 and it used to see mainly B10Ms and B7Ls with the odd B7RLE and B10BLE at a time. Then there was the idea to merge with the 62 which I believe still ran as far as Caldercruix for a time! Most unusual now that they have gone as far as withdrawing the full service!

As a common user of the service I can speak from personal experience of using the 2 to Airdrie... the passengers loads tended to drop off by about Baillieston lights then you’d get the odd number travelling towards Bargeddie but mostly after that the numbers dwindled especially towards night time but it must be dire for them to have cancelled the full route.

Yeah Bargeddie, Kirkwood, Whifflet and Coatbridge seem to be a nightmare for bus operators at the minute. Apart from the smaller operators that do a few services it's almost all spt tenders especially with the 216 and 287 also being dropped by Mcgills

 

[NorthClyde320]

Until I saw the cancellations for the 2 remaining McGill's commercial Monklands services appear at the end of last week I had thought maybe they might have submitted a replacement in some form for the axed section of First service 2, but obv that won't be happening now. I wonder if McNairn's may change their service 212 so that after Coatbridge, instead of operating to Shawhead it goes instead to Kirkwood or even Baillieston, which would cover all of the 2, i.e. Clark Street to Baillieston, then you could switch to the First 2 or 38E at Baillieston. Looks like the SPT will have to alter it's 213 service to provide a better Evening and a full Sunday replacement though.

 

[PaulMc7]

Until I saw the cancellations for the 2 remaining McGill's commercial Monklands services appear at the end of last week I had thought maybe they might have submitted a replacement in some form for the axed section of First service 2, but obv that won't be happening now. I wonder if McNairn's may change their service 212 so that after Coatbridge, instead of operating to Shawhead it goes instead to Kirkwood or even Baillieston, which would cover all of the 2, i.e. Clark Street to Baillieston, then you could switch to the First 2 or 38E at Baillieston. Looks like the SPT will have to alter it's 213 service to provide a better Evening and a full Sunday replacement though.

It will probably need to be ran daytime too because currently there's only the train in Bargeddie after the 18th. Means it'll be a 2nd change too with the route cut to the 213 already this month

 

[NorthClyde320]

Didnt' know about the change to the 213 till I was waiting for it a few weeks back in town lol. I guess United could extend the Bargeddie bus to Baillieston but difficult for timings.

 

[PaulMc7]

Didnt' know about the change to the 213 till I was waiting for it a few weeks back in town lol. I guess United could extend the Bargeddie bus to Baillieston but difficult for timings.

Yeah my thought was either First extending the 43 from Easterhouse through Swinton to Baillieston and Bargeddie as it's currently a small route. The 38E being extended could work but it's fairly unreliable as it is without extending it more

 

[NorthClyde320]

Yeah my thought was either First extending the 43 from Easterhouse through Swinton to Baillieston and Bargeddie as it's currently a small route. The 38E being extended could work but it's fairly unreliable as it is without extending it more

Even before First submitted the changes to the 2 I thought maybe they could extend the 8 from Parkhead to Airdrie/Maxim Park, maintaining the link to the Forge & Baillieston, but it could only operate with single deckers though.

 

[adrock1976]

Here are the service changes: United Coaches are going to have a field day in Kirkwood. And First really should just extend the 242 to Monklands

https://www.firstgroup.com/greater-...es/planned-changes/service-change-august-2019

Regarding the 16 being changed with the Drumchapel - Blairdardie section being withdrawn, I can remember the 16 running Blairdardie - Auchinairn Woodhill via St Vincent Street, Queen Street Station, Royal Infirmary, and Broomfield Road. This continued into when the Overground concept first started.

At some point during 2002, the 16 was revised to run Blairdardie - somewhere in East Kilbride (possibly Gardenhall) sharing the common section of route with the 18 between the Western Infirmary and maybe the bus station in East Kilbride. This common section provided a frequency of a bus every 7/8 minutes as each of the 16 and 18 were every 15 minutes.

When the new Southern General Hospital opened, the 16 was revised to run to the hospital from Partick via Clyde Tunnel, and the 18 was curtailed to run Glasgow - Greenhills with the Summerston - Byres Road section being covered by the 15 which also went to the hospital via Clyde Tunnel.

 

[PaulMc7]

Even before First submitted the changes to the 2 I thought maybe they could extend the 8 from Parkhead to Airdrie/Maxim Park, maintaining the link to the Forge & Baillieston, but it could only operate with single deckers though.

That would make the 8 about a 3 and a half hour route if it happened. It's currently 2 hours 15mins from the hospital to Parkhead

 

[NorthClyde320]

That would make the 8 about a 3 and a half hour route if it happened. It's currently 2 hours 15mins from the hospital to Parkhead

Yes, that would be the only downside to it though, would certainly earn your wage driving it and get your moneys worth with a dayticket on it though

 

[PaulMc7]

Yes, that would be the only downside to it though, would certainly earn your wage driving it and get your moneys worth with a dayticket on it though

Yeah it's even the fact the 8 takes an hour from Partick to Springburn as it is too. Must be torture to drive. The likes of the Faifley to Airdrie 2s and the 6 and 90 must also be brutal to drive.

 

[Scott mac]

Regarding the 16 being changed with the Drumchapel - Blairdardie section being withdrawn, I can remember the 16 running Blairdardie - Auchinairn Woodhill via St Vincent Street, Queen Street Station, Royal Infirmary, and Broomfield Road. This continued into when the Overground concept first started.

At some point during 2002, the 16 was revised to run Blairdardie - somewhere in East Kilbride (possibly Gardenhall) sharing the common section of route with the 18 between the Western Infirmary and maybe the bus station in East Kilbride. This common section provided a frequency of a bus every 7/8 minutes as each of the 16 and 18 were every 15 minutes.

When the new Southern General Hospital opened, the 16 was revised to run to the hospital from Partick via Clyde Tunnel, and the 18 was curtailed to run Glasgow - Greenhills with the Summerston - Byres Road section being covered by the 15 which also went to the hospital via Clyde Tunnel.

18 was withdrawn the 16 ran city centre to ek then they changed it back to a 18 and the 16 was completely withdrawn

 

[PaulMc7]

On a note though, when we do we think the next major set of changes will come? Simplicity has worked to an extent but when will be the next type of thing like that? I think it depends on the sale more than anything

 

[overthewater]

First promise no major changes for 10 years, so there are hold steady. However I agree on should be on the cards in the next two years, Glasgow is so Different from 2013.

Even before First submitted the changes to the 2 I thought maybe they could extend the 8 from Parkhead to Airdrie/Maxim Park, maintaining the link to the Forge & Baillieston, but it could only operate with single deckers though.

Mcnairn did that route for a while, after top end of Baillieston went to Fort, the traffic just isn't here anymore.

 

[PaulMc7]

First promise no major changes for 10 years, so there are hold steady. However I agree on should be on the cards in the next two years, Glasgow is so Different from 2013.



Mcnairn did that route for a while, after top end of Baillieston went to Fort, the traffic just isn't here anymore.

Yeah the one is a great example of how times have changed and I guess they did try to follow the evolution of how journeys should work with the idea of the X4 too but it goes to show why they hold steady so often and cut whenever things don't work very quickly even if it looks busy to the untrained eye. It's a dilemma for me because I'm full of creative ideas but I'm also very accountancy driven too so I see it from both sides

 

[overthewater]

The other problem is many parts of the city are being regenerated with many housing stock being knock down and new estate being built.

 

[PaulMc7]

The other problem is many parts of the city are being regenerated with many housing stock being knock down and new estate being built.

Yeah that's true. Sighthill and the Gorbals are the biggest ones I can think of but there's so many areas being rebuilt

 

[NorthClyde320]

I remember when The Overground was launched in 1999 they said the routes wouldn't change for at least 10 years but that only lasted for a couple of years before they started to change them. I think it would be next to impossible for any bus operator, big or small, to have a route left unchanged for 10 years, so many circumstances and factors change over the years, even months.

 

[JumpinTrainz]

First promise no major changes for 10 years, so there are hold steady. However I agree on should be on the cards in the next two years, Glasgow is so Different from 2013

I agree, Glasgow has changed since 2013. I remember Simplicity being announced and just how drastic the changes were at the time! From renumbering to completely changing routes which had been around for decades.. Routes like the 23 disappearing and being partially replaced by the 3, the 20 disappearing, routes like the 7 being extended and not to mention all the different variations of the 38!

I think they could be doing with evaluating the network again. Routes like the 4 which was a Streamline route at one time, have saw decline in recent years. The 9 could be revamped to allow tough competition with McGills, the 10 has also dwindled. Routes like the 16 and 8 have changed drastically. It would be nice to see a proper numbering system too unlike the one we got. The 60/61 could be merged into the 3 and using variants (ie 3A Easterhouse - Clydebank while the 3B Sandyhills - Summerston). Also the 38 could become the 8 and operate its own variants again.

 

[PaulMc7]

I agree, Glasgow has changed since 2013. I remember Simplicity being announced and just how drastic the changes were at the time! From renumbering to completely changing routes which had been around for decades.. Routes like the 23 disappearing and being partially replaced by the 3, the 20 disappearing, routes like the 7 being extended and not to mention all the different variations of the 38!

I think they could be doing with evaluating the network again. Routes like the 4 which was a Streamline route at one time, have saw decline in recent years. The 9 could be revamped to allow tough competition with McGills, the 10 has also dwindled. Routes like the 16 and 8 have changed drastically. It would be nice to see a proper numbering system too unlike the one we got. The 60/61 could be merged into the 3 and using variants (ie 3A Easterhouse - Clydebank while the 3B Sandyhills - Summerston). Also the 38 could become the 8 and operate its own variants again.

They need to get it so that if there's any letter variants it's an A or B at most. I do like where they were going with grouping buses with similar numbering together but they've done it for some areas and not went through with it fully in others

 

[PaulMc7]

Seen a few articles of people being fuming by the cuts to the 2 and 16 in particular and it got me thinking. Why do these services have dwindling numbers of passengers if so many people are outraged? The cut to the 4 from Knightswood back to Broomhill and what happened after the X4 started are the biggest cases of this I remember. A lot of people in Knightswood wanted an express bus instead of a long bus to town yet when they got it it's so quiet out with peak times. I feel like a lot of people clearly don't know what they want or don't appreciate the service that they have at times

 

[Bus Lightyear]

I think the First Glasgow network is fine the way it is. For example the 60-60A-61 makes up a 5 minutes service from Gallowgate to Maryhill and the 38 family of routes running frequently from Shawlands to Alexandra Parade. These are pretty good services which a number of UK cities would be happy with.

It would be nice if they could extend more in the likes of Renfrewshire or North Lanarkshire but for economic reasons that might not be wise.