On another note, there seemed to be less cancellations today compared to most days because of the driver shortage. I highly doubt it but I'd love to be confident at some point that every single day is a lot better. Seeing the training buses from Scotstoun out on a daily basis now.
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First Greater Glasgow
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Trnsprt4Sctlnd
Member
Are you adding more drivers to your workforce or simply replacing them?
This will always be the big thing. I'd make more cuts just to absolutely guarantee that driver shortages isn't the reason for cancellations though. Breakdowns etc are part of the industry that can't always be controlled but unless there's another massive Covid outbreak then driver availability should be fairly known. There definitely seems to be a lot more flexibility on offer though because I've had a fair few new drivers on my 2 in the morning but the bus always swaps at Scotstoun. Considering it leaves Faifley just after 7:40 that's quite something.
I remember a good while back when you'd barely ever get a driver changeover before 9am but it's a daily thing now before it.
Glasgowbusguy
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I know at least 1 driver has been pulled from the 9/A to cover the 2 in the morning
Trnsprt4Sctlnd
Member
Given that the 9s are ran by Caley-East and the 2 by scotstoun how does that work in term of the logistics between supervisor-control desks and the drivers involved.
Caley-East drivers did partly have some of the 2’s so they obviously know the route it would just seem strange.
RomeoCharlie71
Established Member
The bus you talk of leaves the depot at around 0530, so there will need to be a changeover before 1100 (5.5hrs maximum driving time before a break). The bus doesn't get back to Scotstoun until 1107, so that'll be the most likely reason why there's a changeover at around 8am.
The other possibility is that it is the most optimised way of running things as dictated by the Optibus scheduling system that First use
Is Caley east , the ex Parkhead part of the garage? I wonder how many drivers have a good knowledge of other depots/sides routes?
Trnsprt4Sctlnd
Member
Yeah.
East - Parkhead
South - Larkfield
North - Cumbernauld
North generally has the least problems with driver retention because for many drivers the x85, x87, 87, 88, 89, 128 or M3…in other words they’ve got it somewhat cushier.
Glasgowbusguy
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I only know as I use both buses daily and the driver I used to get on the 9A is now the driver I get on the 2.
Strathclyder
Established Member
Cheers, knew it had been an all-day service at some stage if route branding for it existed, but wasn't 100% sure. Barring it's autumn period as the 6B, the history of that particular First Glasgow corridor has been something of a blindspot for me (ironic, considering it was one of my local routes lol).
Off-topic, but yeah, how could I forget that? lol
Busman84
Member
That driver would have previously done the 9 road but that has moved to Caledonia now who don’t do any of the 2 road anymore.
Nowadays it mainly goes like this:
West Dumbartonshire - Dumbarton
West of Glasgow - Scotstoun
The East, North, and South of Glasgow - Caledonia
Lanarkshire - Overtown & Blantyre
Trnsprt4Sctlnd
Member
Despite the fact that Scotstouns 2, 3, 8, 77 & 90 are North, East or South Glasgow.
christopherrfc
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The M3 is operated by the parkhead drivers I'm pretty sure and also the 128 is sub contracted to citybus just now.
Is the 6 fully operated by Scotstoun now?
RomeoCharlie71
Established Member
Yes
Off-topic posts about bus lanes in Glasgow have been moved to a separate thread:
Please keep this thread for discussion of First Glasgow services and fleet.
Glasgow bus lane discussion
Mod note: Posts #1-27 were originally in this thread: https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/first-greater-glasgow.164437/ What these chats regarding what bus could go where, It brings me back round to the inept and snail pace the councils goes to understanding any of these problems areas with...
www.railforums.co.uk
Please keep this thread for discussion of First Glasgow services and fleet.
First app update on Android since mid February happened today. I'm hoping this makes it so much more reliable and a step towards the cancellation feature coming to here. It appears Friday was just a bad morning for the 2 as it was fine this morning again.
I have noticed though that when it's a double decker it's either very busy or extremely quiet with no in-between. I wouldn't be surprised if the extremely top heavy double decker scheduling of late starts to dwindle back towards single deckers.
Update on the above.
They've wasted no time at all with getting single deckers back on the 2. Most of them are single deckers and all at the minute from Faifley seem to be
I have noticed though that when it's a double decker it's either very busy or extremely quiet with no in-between. I wouldn't be surprised if the extremely top heavy double decker scheduling of late starts to dwindle back towards single deckers.
Update on the above.
They've wasted no time at all with getting single deckers back on the 2. Most of them are single deckers and all at the minute from Faifley seem to be
Last edited:
AndrewTaylor95
Member
It's been there a while along with one of Dundee's BYD E400s.
JumpinTrainz
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I wonder if it’s been faulty.
Yes that is still there as well.
Glasgowbusguy
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Trnsprt4Sctlnd
Member
That is an odd one.
RomeoCharlie71
Established Member
Splitting hairs a bit, but that's a 75 branded one. Tracking would suggest 33215 was also on the 500 today
Not that unusual to get a E400MMC on the 500. Even seen the low height E400s on the 500.
JumpinTrainz
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Yeah seen it a few times before.
Jordan Adam
Established Member
The issue seems to be more to do with First's "Award winning" app.
Yeah the app is a mess that First badly need to sort. I thought I'd ask since I've been on a few buses that have had broken ticket machines lately.