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

[stevenedin]

Has anyone else noticed that the Midland Bluebird twitter bio and recent posts have links to a ‘midlandbluebird.com’ instead of the McGill’s Scotland East site that’s still in use? The link always redirects to there, but I’m wondering if separate websites are coming?

It’s almost like they are trying to separate them so that they can offload any part of it at anytime.

 

[Jordan Adam]

Hence why they are partly funded by SPT.

Indeed, although the original point was relating to Lothian not operating outwith the Lothian council regions and therefor being unlikely to bid for the Whitburn to Shotts tender currently operated by McGills.

Has anyone else noticed that the Midland Bluebird twitter bio and recent posts have links to a ‘midlandbluebird.com’ instead of the McGill’s Scotland East site that’s still in use? The link always redirects to there, but I’m wondering if separate websites are coming?

Perhaps its just so there's more local identity in the branding/marketing? First already do this too, for example 'firstglasgow.com'.

 

[WestieBus]

Indeed, although the original point was relating to Lothian not operating outwith the Lothian council regions and therefor being unlikely to bid for the Whitburn to Shotts tender currently operated by McGills.

Perhaps its just so there's more local identity in the branding/marketing? First already do this too, for example 'firstglasgow.com'.

They have run outside of Strathclyde in the past. They ran a bus from Glasgow to Peebles on Sundays.

PM0000001/113 – bustimes.org

240X - Glasgow, Buchanan Bus Station to Peebles, Eastgate via Motherwell, Wishaw, Carluke, Lanark, Biggar​

Registration numberPM0000001/113TypeNormal StoppingSupported by subsidy?NoAuthoritiesStrathclyde Partnership for Transport

Variation history​

1. • Received6 Sep 02
   • Effective4 Nov 02
   • Cancelled
     Sunday only. 2 hourly frequency
   Operating between Glasgow, Buchanan Bus Station and Peebles, Eastgate given service number 240X effective from 04-Nov-2002.
2. • Received13 May 02
   • Effective7 Jul 02
   • Registered
   • Short notice
     Sunday only. 2 hourly frequency
   From: Glasgow, Buchanan Bus Station
   To: Peebles, Eastgate
   Via: Motherwell, Wishaw, Carluke, Lanark, Biggar
   Name or No: 240X
   Service Type: Normal Stopping
   Effective Date: 08-Jul-2002
   Other Details: Sunday only. 2 hourly frequency

 

[Jordan Adam]

They have run outside of Strathclyde in the past. They ran a bus from Glasgow to Peebles on Sundays.

PM0000001/113 – bustimes.org

I fail to see what connection that has to the point about Lothian not operating local registered bus services outwith the Lothian Council Regions? Therefore being unlikely to take on the Whitburn to Shotts tender currently operated by McGills Eastern Scottish.

 

[GusB]

I fail to see what connection that has to the point about Lothian not operating local bus services outwith the Lothian Council Regions? Therefore being unlikely to take on the Whitburn to Shotts tender currently operated by McGills Eastern Scottish.

It doesn't matter what Lothian choses to do anywhere; it's off-topic for this thread

 

[danielhogg2005]

Do they engines in the streetlites automatically turn off if the bus sits for a while with the engine on?

 

[delt1c]

Do they engines in the streetlites automatically turn off if the bus sits for a while with the engine on?

I haven't noticed it, which is a blessing as I would be worried that it wouldn't restart.

 

[Spsf3232]

Do they engines in the streetlites automatically turn off if the bus sits for a while with the engine on?

Yes, most modern vehicles have an idle time out on them that will turn the engine off if left. Usually around the 5 minute mark to allow drivers to do things like walk round checks

 

[JD2168]

Do they engines in the streetlites automatically turn off if the bus sits for a while with the engine on?

Yes, the ones at First South Yorkshire emit a loud ringing sound when it is about to happen, the driver usually revs the engine & it stops.

 

[danielhogg2005]

Yes, the ones at First South Yorkshire emit a loud ringing sound when it is about to happen, the driver usually revs the engine & it stops.

That's what the driver of the service 20 I used did today.

Also on Alex Hornby's twitter background image it shows a Midland Bluebird, Xplore Dundee and a McGill's bus but there isn't a Eastern Scottish one.

 

[EMU303]

That's what the driver of the service 20 I used did today.

Also on Alex Hornby's twitter background image it shows a Midland Bluebird, Xplore Dundee and a McGill's bus but there isn't an Eastern Scottish one.

You get the impression Eastern Scottish is the black sheep of the family, that they don’t see a way to make it profitable but because First sold their FSE as a job lot McGills had to take it.

 

[Stan Drews]

First sold their FSE as a job lot McGills had to take it.

I don’t think that is a secret. It was a problem child for First for many years, made worse by the Lothian incursion and then the pandemic. First certainly weren’t going to sell the better parts of the business and keep the little bit with the big losses.

 

[Lothianbus703]

I don’t think that is a secret. It was a problem child for First for many years, made worse by the Lothian incursion and then the pandemic. First certainly weren’t going to sell the better parts of the business and keep the little bit with the big losses.

I can remember seeing somewhere that one of the Mcgills staff said this when they took over Livingston; "dont worry we will sort them out down the road soon" (LC) , that went well .
NOTE - I do not have proof this happened, only my memory.
This is not First/McGills V Lothian its just a quote before someone starts

 

[roadierway77]

You get the impression Eastern Scottish is the black sheep of the family, that they don’t see a way to make it profitable but because First sold their FSE as a job lot McGills had to take it.

It seems that what Scotland East was to First, Eastern Scottish is to McGill’s...

I can remember seeing somewhere that one of the Mcgills staff said when they took over Livingston, "dont worry we will sort them out down the road soon" (LC) , that went well .
NOTE - I do not have proof this happened, only my memory.

Well, I guess they technically won the battle in terms of the local network considering all of LCB's competing local routes are now gone but it's likely a bit unfair to give McGill’s credit for LCB's withdrawal! I don't think either of their networks were ever profitable and Lothian seized the opportunity to pull out before McGill’s could.

 

[Stan Drews]

I can remember seeing somewhere that one of the Mcgills staff said this when they took over Livingston; "dont worry we will sort them out down the road soon" (LC) , that went well .
NOTE - I do not have proof this happened, only my memory.
This is not First/McGills V Lothian its just a quote before someone starts

Lothian did withdraw a few services in the West Lothian area not long after McGill’s took over, but that may just have been coincidence?

 

[Metal Mickey]

I don’t think that is a secret. It was a problem child for First for many years

That’s not quite true. It was performing very well for at least 5 years before Lothian Country entered the scene. Between 2014 and 2016 the Livingston depot received 26 new single deckers and 19 new double deckers making it, at the time, one of the most modern fleets in all of First UK Bus. This wouldn’t have happened if the business was, as you've described it, a problem child.

 

[stevenedin]

That’s not quite true. It was performing very well for at least 5 years before Lothian Country entered the scene. Between 2014 and 2016 the Livingston depot received 26 new single deckers and 19 new double deckers making it, at the time, one of the most modern fleets in all of First UK Bus. This wouldn’t have happened if the business was, as you've described it, a problem child.

They also got 17 new Scania Omnidekkas in 2005 and 10 new B9TLs in 2008.

 

[danielhogg2005]

Lothian did withdraw a few services in the West Lothian area not long after McGill’s took over, but that may just have been coincidence?

Not really, Lothian withdrew routes not just because of West Lothain's profitability but also because their routes where also very competitive with First/McGill's routes such as Livingston - Blackridge (LC 280/ES X25), Livingston - Loganlea (LC 276/ES 26) & Edinburgh - Livingston - Whitburn (LC X27/ES X22). Also when McGill’s planned to withdraw Blackridge, Greenrigg and Harthill from their network they failed to realise that while West Lothian has a high percentage of people that use cars there is also a high percentage that rely on the bus and I think Lothian did what they did because of competition and also because of resources and they knew that the areas they withdrawn services out of that they already had a McGill’s service.

Key
LC - Lothian Country
ES - First/McGill's

 

[Ding Ding]

Lothian did withdraw a few services in the West Lothian area not long after McGill’s took over, but that may just have been coincidence?

Lothian had to register their intention to withdraw services with the relevant authorities, which I believe is 42 days, I may be wrong. This doesn't include the internal discussions and planning within Lothian to come to this decision, so this adds on another month or two at least. These changes had been planned and brought about, due to the fact that they were suffering from a shortage of drivers, a consequence of Covid, and were constantly having to cut short journeys or cancel them altogether. The service they were providing at that time was woeful, so they took the decision to consolidate and concentrate on their Edinburgh corridor, so withdrew the two West Lothian services where McGill's had a presence, thus ensuring that there was a service being provided to the effected communities.
The news, when it came out, that McGill's had bought over First's operations in the East, was a surprise to most people. I therefore agree, that it was purely coincidental regards the timing of the withdrawals.

 

[kez19]

I noticed on Flickr a former Xplore bus has turned up in Bannockburn depot (think it’s 2828?)

At a guess any of the Geminis that have been withdrawn from Dundee are possibly heading there?

credit photographer: https://www.flickr.com/photos/graeme8665/53136072214/

 

[matchmaker]

I’ve just seen a few of the new style destination screens in Edinburgh, and I’m not a huge fan. For example, on the X24, having ‘St John’s Hospital’ all squashed in small text in one line makes it harder to see from a distance. Also, wouldn’t it be better for it just to say Livingston? Many people from outwith Edinburgh and West Lothian won’t necessarily know where the hospital is. I agree with cutting down on unnecessary via points or scrolling text, but you surely still need some level of detail

54 now simply says "City Centre" rather than "Stirling Bus Station". As long as you know which city...

 

[danielhogg2005]

On the timetable for the UL on the McGill's website it looks like from September 11th the night journeys will no longer be numbered ULN and instead just UL.

 

[AndrewTaylor95]

On the timetable for the UL on the McGill's website it looks like from September 11th the night journeys will no longer be numbered ULN and instead just UL.

Anything to do with the NECs (national entitlement cards) and that they might start accepting them possibly?

 

[danielhogg2005]

Anything to do with the NECs and that they might start accepting them possibly?

Do they not accept it right now?

 

[cammyeaston]

Do they not accept it right now?

I don't believe that NECs are currently accepted on any 'premium' rate service which includes nightbuses.

 

[InOban]

I think that's quite standard. Certainly not accepted on Lothian night buses. Although they are on airport services.

 

[danielhogg2005]

I don't believe that NECs are currently accepted on any 'premium' rate service which includes nightbuses.

I know my NEC is valid on Lothian Buses Airlink 100 Service and the First Glasgow Airport Express 500 Service during the day and they are premium services so I assumed that they would be valid on the Stirling Unilink day service.

 

[Jordan Adam]

Anything to do with the NECs (national entitlement cards) and that they might start accepting them possibly?

I think operators are perhaps starting to realise that accepting them on night service may prove beneficial through higher passenger usage given that a lot of those passengers will be 18 to 21 year olds.

 

[LothianBusesPh]

I know my NEC is valid on Lothian Buses Airlink 100 Service and the First Glasgow Airport Express 500 Service during the day and they are premium services so I assumed that they would be valid on the Stirling Unilink day service.

My one works on Stagecoach coaches, Flixbus, Scottish Citylink, which could be called premium (maybe not the Stagecoach Coaches but the latter ones do apply).

 

[danielhogg2005]

My one works on Stagecoach coaches, Flixbus, Scottish Citylink, which could be called premium (maybe not the Stagecoach Coaches but the latter ones do apply).

Mine too, but I've never tried using it on Unilink so unsure if it's valid on the day service.