McGill’s Midland Bluebird

[SoloSR334022]

I wonder if McGills would ever extend their 'Dead-run' services to all of their dead-runs, excluding the open top runs obviously. But the X39 seems to have decent loads for an almost unknown service.

 

[mb88]

I wonder if McGills would ever extend their 'Dead-run' services to all of their dead-runs, excluding the open top runs obviously. But the X39 seems to have decent loads for an almost unknown service.

Really? Whereabouts have you seen it with decent loads? Literally never seen a single person on it.

 

[318266]

Really? Whereabouts have you seen it with decent loads? Literally never seen a single person on it.

Last day I was in Edinburgh, was leaving on a 900 and saw a good 10 or so board an X39 bound for Deans at Haymarket Station as we were waiting to pick up our own passengers (as Edinburgh passengers have a seeming tradition of not walking to the bus behind, even if it has stopped just behind a bus at the correct stance!)

 

[stevenedin]

Last day I was in Edinburgh, was leaving on a 900 and saw a good 10 or so board an X39 bound for Deans at Haymarket Station as we were waiting to pick up our own passengers (as Edinburgh passengers have a seeming tradition of not walking to the bus behind, even if it has stopped just behind a bus at the correct stance!)

It's not that Edinburgh passengers don't want to walk to the bus behind but the driver always tells them to wait at the stop and it's rare for a driver to open the doors.

 

[Siemens Trains]

Edinburgh passengers have a seeming tradition of not walking to the bus behind, even if it has stopped just behind a bus at the correct stance!

It's not that Edinburgh passengers don't want to walk to the bus behind but the driver always tells them to wait at the stop and it's rare for a driver to open the doors.

Turned the other way, non-Edinburgh drivers have a tradition of opening doors in the middle of nowhere (allowing the more able-bodied passengers to queue jump) then omitting recognised stopping points.

 

[SilentWatcher]

It's not that Edinburgh passengers don't want to walk to the bus behind but the driver always tells them to wait at the stop and it's rare for a driver to open the doors.

Sadly there are some drivers within the Lothian group who are happy to open them and let people on, despite there being a bus in front.

Turned the other way, non-Edinburgh drivers have a tradition of opening doors in the middle of nowhere (allowing the more able-bodied passengers to queue jump) then omitting recognised stopping points.

Not only do they miss recognised stopping points, but passengers who are waiting in the correct place to board the bus can (and do!) get left behind as the bus drives off when the one in front is still at the stop

 

[Spsf3232]

Sadly there are some drivers within the Lothian group who are happy to open them and let people on, despite there being a bus in front.


Not only do they miss recognised stopping points, but passengers who are waiting in the correct place to board the bus can (and do!) get left behind as the bus drives off when the one in front is still at the stop

Most effective way for bus stops to be operated is to have a bay large enough for two vehicles and the bus stop at the centre. Allows loading of two vehicles at once rather than the ineffective method of Edinburgh

 

[Stan Drews]

I wonder if McGills would ever extend their 'Dead-run' services to all of their dead-runs, excluding the open top runs obviously. But the X39 seems to have decent loads for an almost unknown service.

The vast majority of ‘dead runs’ in the original part of the Group are registered to run in services, e.g. the 801, 802, 803 at Greenock; 23D, 26A at Inchinnan; and 51A at Johnstone.

 

[stevenedin]

Looks like one of Midland Bluebird's buses involved in an accident on Leith Walk, Edinburgh

Edinburgh bus and car crash on Leith Walk as emergency services race to scene

Edinburgh emergency services were on the scene of a collision on Leith Walk on Friday afternoon involving a bus and a car, with the road blocked for some time.

www.edinburghlive.co.uk

 

[Stan Drews]

Looks like one of Midland Bluebird's buses involved in an accident on Leith Walk, Edinburgh

It was a very minor collision so not sure why it’s been made to sound like a major incident, but I suppose that’s the level of ‘journalism’ we’ve come to expect from such ‘news’ websites!!

 

[markymark2000]

I wonder if McGills would ever extend their 'Dead-run' services to all of their dead-runs, excluding the open top runs obviously. But the X39 seems to have decent loads for an almost unknown service.

They do run placement trips to replace dead runs but not to the same extent as McGills West. For example there are some trips on the 51 which start just after the A91 roundabout. X38 extends at the start/end of the day to Camelon. They aren't as obvious as McGills West though as they don't start at the depot but they do exist.

I do think there is potential for some more by running extra trips on the 56 to get buses from Bannockburn depot into Stirling (especially in the evening when the 56 drops to hourly, it could probably be half hourly but only from Stirling to Bannockburn in this direction only, just by using up dead mileage or 38 to get more buses from Larbert depot into Falkirk. It would only be a short trip but it's something for passengers on what is a core corridor.

 

[Scott mac]

I wonder how much longer it'll last? Surely it can't be making the revenue they want it to if they keep cutting the operating hours, raising the fares and trying to increase its catchment area. The stopping pattern is almost identical to the 100 now, albeit the AIRX additionally calls at Princes Street West and skips Wester Coates and Western Corner, and the fares are barely cheaper. I imagine McGill's are biding their time to see how the service performs in the summer.

Give it a other few months and the service will probably be withdrawn

 

[Lothian285]

Looks like one of Midland Bluebird's buses involved in an accident on Leith Walk, Edinburgh

Interesting to see a Lothian van responding to this, I also saw a Lothian van assisting a Borders Bus a few weeks ago.

 

[stevenedin]

The 13 and 60 are no longer tracking on bus times and the vehicles assigned to Eastern Scottish have disappeared but aren't appearing under Bright Bus. Anyone know what's going on?

 

[buslad1988]

Interesting to see a Lothian van responding to this, I also saw a Lothian van assisting a Borders Bus a few weeks ago.

They’ll purely be in attendance to ensure safety and get to get things organised so that Lothians own buses can keep moving.

 

[Lothiangem22]

They’ll purely be in attendance to ensure safety and get to get things organised so that Lothians own buses can keep moving.

I believe the Lothian van was there purely to get the vehicle moved as it was blocking the road - it left immediately after the road was opened so unfortunate that a picture was taken with it alongside.

As for borders buses… they don’t directly compete so minor issues aren’t unknown for bus companies to assist each other.

I think it’s a case of don’t help McGill’s unless it’s affecting Lothian

 

[voidwxrranty]

I believe the Lothian van was there purely to get the vehicle moved as it was blocking the road - it left immediately after the road was opened so unfortunate that a picture was taken with it alongside.

As for borders buses… they don’t directly compete so minor issues aren’t unknown for bus companies to assist each other.

I think it’s a case of don’t help McGill’s unless it’s affecting Lothian

Borders are the operator that run into Edinburgh that take no issue with the others in my eyes. same with West Coast Motors in Glasgow.

 

[Metal Mickey]

Borders are the operator that run into Edinburgh that take no issue with the others in my eyes. same with West Coast Motors in Glasgow.

I’m not sure I agree with that.

They do provide competition to First on the Maryhill to Glasgow City Centre corridor and on the Penicuik/Liberton to Edinburgh City Centre corridor against Lothian.

 

[markymark2000]

The 13 and 60 are no longer tracking on bus times and the vehicles assigned to Eastern Scottish have disappeared but aren't appearing under Bright Bus. Anyone know what's going on?

It's a technical answer but put somewhat simply, McGill's finally corrected the operator code for the Bright Bus routes and then because the E300s sometimes do both Bright Bus and the 13/60, it causes some issues with tracking. It's a similar issue that Bustimes faces with a few operators such as plymouth Citybus/Transport for Cornwall and Oxford Bus Group operators as vehicles operate services under multiple brands and vehicles don't automatically change between operators.

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

Heard a rumour that 2908 might be liveried for Big Bus now but can’t see anything about it anywhere. Anyone able to shed some light on this?

 

[Bus9120UK]

Heard a rumour that 2908 might be liveried for Big Bus now but can’t see anything about it anywhere. Anyone able to shed some light on this?

Considering that it was out in service recently, I doubt its been repainted. There is an image but it's edited, however considering the recent Aberdeen tour also used an edited image when announced I wouldn't be surprised if they used this for any announcement in due course.
I highly doubt they would use it in service in new livery before anything is confirmed. For repainting, a more realistic candidate could be 2906.

 

[Metal Mickey]

What is Big Bus?

 

[Bus9120UK]

What is Big Bus?

It's a world wide tour bus company. There are rumours suggesting that the Bright Bus tours will start to operate under the Big Bus name. No idea what would happen with the airport service.

 

[Metal Mickey]

It's a world wide tour bus company. There are rumours suggesting that the Bright Bus tours will start to operate under the Big Bus name. No idea what would happen with the airport service.

Thanks, I remember now.

 

[voidwxrranty]

Heard a rumour that 2908 might be liveried for Big Bus now but can’t see anything about it anywhere. Anyone able to shed some light on this?

the image going about is a photoshop.

 

[Stan Drews]

The latest list of ex-First disposals, is as follows:
to Clyde Metals for scrap:
Volvo B7TL - 2818, 2847, 2857, 2858, 2860, 2863
BMC - 0302
Scania L94 - 1606
Scania N94 - 1808
Dennis Trident - 9904

to Ensign:
Streetlite - 0459, 0460
Volvo B7RLE - 2283

 

[stevenedin]

The latest list of ex-First disposals, is as follows:
to Clyde Metals for scrap:
Volvo B7TL - 2818, 2847, 2857, 2858, 2860, 2863
BMC - 0302
Scania L94 - 1606
Scania N94 - 1808
Dennis Trident - 9904

to Ensign:
Streetlite - 0459, 0460
Volvo B7RLE - 2283

Thanks for the update

 

[voidwxrranty]

SG25JJU has appeared on buslistsontheweb, the only one so far.

 

[Stan Drews]

SG25JJU has appeared on buslistsontheweb, the only one so far.

The 6 new Yutong E12s are 5086-91 (SG25JJO/U/V/X/Y/JKE).

 

[voidwxrranty]

The 6 new Yutong E12s are 5086-91 (SG25JJO/U/V/X/Y/JKE).

Oh lovely. thought they would follow on from the SG23's at MSW. Ta Stan