First Scotland East (Midland Bluebird and West Lothian operations)

[TheGrandWazoo]

That's great, cheers .

I noticed before hand it had "Diamond" logos, I know this is of topic here but it follows up on my original question.

Is Diamond Bus part of First Bus?

Diamond Bus is owned by Rotala. They simply bought Bolton depot from First though the fleet wasn’t purchased but hired to Rotala until they purchased their own vehicles.

However, whilst most vehicles did eventually return to First at the end of this loan period, Rotala did eventually buy a few Eclipses from First.

 

[Graham Alexand]

Diamond Bus is owned by Rotala. They simply bought Bolton depot from First though the fleet wasn’t purchased but hired to Rotala until they purchased their own vehicles.

However, whilst most vehicles did eventually return to First at the end of this loan period, Rotala did eventually buy a few Eclipses from First.

Ahh right, so I'm guessing that they've got a whole fleet now (no more loans)?

 

[cnjb8]

Ahh right, so I'm guessing that they've got a whole fleet now (no more loans)?

Depends. You'll have to wait and see unfortunately.

Glasgow also have a batch of the ex Rotala B7RLE loanees to be converted to driver trainers

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Ahh right, so I'm guessing that they've got a whole fleet now (no more loans)?

Rotala invested in a fleet of 90 Wright Streetdecks (ironically a number were built for First Leeds but delivered to Rotala) plus some secondhand Citaros and e200s from YourBus at Heanor and a number of intra-group transfers.

A number of vehicles left on the transfer (which the Citaros replaced). The influx of additional vehicles allowed a large number of e400s (and some B9TLs) on loan to return to First ending up in Dorset, Bath and Wells, Leicester, and South Yorkshire. The Eclipses were left on loan and whilst some have returned to First, a number were subsequently purchased by Rotala.

 

[cnjb8]

Depends. You'll have to wait and see unfortunately.

Glasgow also have a batch of the ex Rotala B7RLE loanees to be converted to driver trainers

Rotala invested in a fleet of 90 Wright Streetdecks (ironically a number were built for First Leeds but delivered to Rotala) plus some secondhand Citaros and e200s from YourBus at Heanor and a number of intra-group transfers.

A number of vehicles left on the transfer (which the Citaros replaced). The influx of additional vehicles allowed a large number of e400s (and some B9TLs) on loan to return to First ending up in Dorset, Bath and Wells, Leicester, and South Yorkshire. The Eclipses were left on loan and whilst some have returned to First, a number were subsequently purchased by Rotala.

Oh I thought he meant the loans from Glasgow to Scotland East!

 

[David Verity]

Oh I thought he meant the loans from Glasgow to Scotland East!

Apologies if this is off piste but quite a number of the ex First Bolton B7RLEs are still with Rotala, thirteen of them now being at Preston.

 

[cnjb8]

Apologies if this is off piste but quite a number of the ex First Bolton B7RLEs are still with Rotala, thirteen of them now being at Preston.

Yep, they were purchased by Rotala as the remaining StreetDecks to replace them were delayed

 

[Graham Alexand]

I use this ,( if it works) not good at pasting things

secret non-open data powered First bus tracker

This has now stopped working unfortunately.

 

[Baileygirl]

Yes they are there with 69147. 69137and 69147 are in first white/blue fleet colours with West Lothian fleetnames

69135 is also in white/blue fleet colours with the West Lothian branding

 

[Graham Alexand]

69135 is also in white/blue fleet colours with the West Lothian branding

Are these replacing the 52 plate darts or is there a PVR increase?

 

[cnjb8]

Are these replacing the 52 plate darts or is there a PVR increase?

The darts are minibuses, so most likely not. They could be replacing the Scanias or just be here for COVID extras

 

[Jordan Adam]

The darts are minibuses, so most likely not. They could be replacing the Scanias or just be here for COVID extras

It's possible they may be displacing Streetlites which in turn will replace the three Darts. They've already frequently been using 47xxx Streetlites on the 68. They have West Lothian vinyl's so they're definitely not replacing Scanias (all of which are at Midland), not to mention many of the L94UBs have recently been repainted.

On another note i'm surprised it hadn't already been posted here but 36023 has been repainted in to a Alexander's (Midland) heritage livery. There were photos of it posted on multiple Facebook groups however they have since been removed. Regardless it looks very smart!

 

[adrock1976]

Having found this thread, I am aware that the section of the Glasgow - Falkirk and Stirling via Kilsyth of the 24/27 between Glasgow and Kilsyth is now covered (and transferred from Larbert to Glasgow) by the 89, and Kilsyth - Falkirk is covered by the 35 (still based at Larbert, and runs to and from Condorrat via Croy).

What happened to the Kilsyth - Stirling section, as by looking both on the section of First's website and hovering a cursor on the bus stops in Kilsyth, I cannot see any Stirling buses anymore?

 

[Bluebirdscot66]

Having found this thread, I am aware that the section of the Glasgow - Falkirk and Stirling via Kilsyth of the 24/27 between Glasgow and Kilsyth is now covered (and transferred from Larbert to Glasgow) by the 89, and Kilsyth - Falkirk is covered by the 35 (still based at Larbert, and runs to and from Condorrat via Croy).

What happened to the Kilsyth - Stirling section, as by looking both on the section of First's website and hovering a cursor on the bus stops in Kilsyth, I cannot see any Stirling buses anymore?

Not direct but you would go from Kilsyth to haggs or dennyloanhead on 35 then change to an x36 to Stirling .
if wishing to do the old 24 journey from Glasgow to Stirling you would do 89 Glasgow to Kilsyth and as I say 35 for the section to haggs and x36 to Stirling .

 

[Jordan Adam]

Not direct but you would go from Kilsyth to haggs or dennyloanhead on 35 then change to an x36 to Stirling .
if wishing to do the old 24 journey from Glasgow to Stirling you would do 89 Glasgow to Kilsyth and as I say 35 for the section to haggs and x36 to Stirling .

The timings of the 35 and X36 wouldn't make this connection possible without a 45 minute wait.

It's a shame the 35 doesn't continue all the way to Cumbernauld Town Centre as the current timings would allow for interchange with the X36 to/from Stirling. However such an extension would require an extra bus which is likely not viable.

* New Post*

As mentioned previously 36023 has been repainted in to a heritage livery celebrating 60 years since the split of Alexanders in to three separate operating (Northern/Midland/Fife). Photos of it have now been posted on Flickr.

First Midland 36023 (SN05HWD)

This East Lancs-bodied Scania Omnidekka looks amazing having just been turned out in Alexander’s (Midland) livery, marking 60 years since the split of the Alexander’s empire into 3 companies (Fife, Midland & Northern). Based at Bannockburn, it was caught just outside Stirling working local...

www.flickr.com

First Midland 36023 (SN05HWD)

This East Lancs-bodied Scania Omnidekka looks amazing having just been turned out in Alexander’s (Midland) livery, marking 60 years since the split of the Alexander’s empire into 3 companies (Fife, Midland & Northern). Based at Bannockburn, it was caught just outside Stirling working local...

www.flickr.com

 

[PaulMc7]

I always wonder just how many people in Condorrat use the 35 and whether it would be better going to Cumbernauld Town Centre instead. I think it would be workable but pretty tight for time given that the full route is pretty tight as it is especially for recovery time at Condorrat.

The connectivity benefit would be solid I'd imagine but whether people would use it is another thing. Canavan Travel's 43 already operates Kilsyth to Cumbernauld Town Centre too so I guess the link is already there just not with First which is unfortunate. Just noticed too though that with the 35 route in Condorrat you can link onto both the X36 and X37 so maybe that's why it is what it is currently.

 

[Jordan Adam]

I always wonder just how many people in Condorrat use the 35 and whether it would be better going to Cumbernauld Town Centre instead. I think it would be workable but pretty tight for time given that the full route is pretty tight as it is especially for recovery time at Condorrat.

The connectivity benefit would be solid I'd imagine but whether people would use it is another thing. Canavan Travel's 43 already operates Kilsyth to Cumbernauld Town Centre too so I guess the link is already there just not with First which is unfortunate. Just noticed too though that with the 35 route in Condorrat you can link onto both the X36 and X37 so maybe that's why it is what it is currently.

The only way i could see it working without needing an extra bus is if they had the 35 interworking with another hourly route in Falkirk, perhaps the X37.

So for example a 35 getting in to Falkirk at :50 past the hour would depart on the X37 at :00 past the hour, and a X37 getting in at :20 past the hour would depart on the 35 at :30 past the hour etc.

 

[vla50]

The ukbuses fleetlist shows that 35011-12 have been withdrawn, are they actually?

 

[Jordan Adam]

The ukbuses fleetlist shows that 35011-12 have been withdrawn, are they actually?

I find it unlikely as they have both just been retaxed for another year.

 

[cnjb8]

The ukbuses fleetlist shows that 35011-12 have been withdrawn, are they actually?

That site often gets details wrong, so take it with a pinch of salt

 

[Baileygirl]

The ukbuses fleetlist shows that 35011-12 have been withdrawn, are they actually?

They are still sitting in Livingston depot.

 

[David Verity]

They are still sitting in Livingston depot.

Maybe someone speculating that they will be off to one of First's new sightseeing ventures in Southern England. With a second BrightBus Tour about to operate in Edinburgh I can't see it happening.

 

[Bus9120UK]

With a second BrightBus Tour about to operate in Edinburgh I can't see it happening.

It has already been running since May 25th (or somewhere around this date).

 

[Strathclyder]

As mentioned previously 36023 has been repainted in to a heritage livery celebrating 60 years since the split of Alexanders in to three separate operating (Northern/Midland/Fife). Photos of it have now been posted on Flickr.

First Midland 36023 (SN05HWD)

This East Lancs-bodied Scania Omnidekka looks amazing having just been turned out in Alexander’s (Midland) livery, marking 60 years since the split of the Alexander’s empire into 3 companies (Fife, Midland & Northern). Based at Bannockburn, it was caught just outside Stirling working local...

www.flickr.com

First Midland 36023 (SN05HWD)

This East Lancs-bodied Scania Omnidekka looks amazing having just been turned out in Alexander’s (Midland) livery, marking 60 years since the split of the Alexander’s empire into 3 companies (Fife, Midland & Northern). Based at Bannockburn, it was caught just outside Stirling working local...

www.flickr.com

Very smart indeed; somewhat makes up for 32657's loss a few months ago (different division of First I know lol).

 

[Graham Alexand]

Just curious to know, are there any loaned buses currently at First Scotland East in particular Livingston?

 

[Baileygirl]

Just curious to know, are there any loaned buses currently at First Scotland East in particular Livingston?

There are none at Livingston at the moment.

 

[Graham Alexand]

There are none at Livingston at the moment.

Okay, thank you .

 

[Graham Alexand]

Does anyone know if there is any upcoming service changes in particular the possibility of service 600 being extended back to Edinburgh Airport?

 

[Jordan Adam]

36028 has now been repainted in to a Midland Scottish Heritage livery, this joins 36023 which was done last month. .

 

[90sWereBetter]

36028 has now been repainted in to a Midland Scottish Heritage livery, this joins 36023 which was done last month. .

It was one of the few remaining Barbie livered Omnidekkas iirc. I think Caledonia are now swiftly repainting the last couple.