Scottish Citylink

[Stena Galloway]

This appears to be The Citylink approach….. ‘they’ve not paid (much) so go swivel’. There are consequences on the passenger who has a reasonable right to expect passage - and what of missed ferry connections or forfeiture of B&B/Hotel payments for not turning up? In these constrained times, every penny is a prisoner. Rather than find some way to resolve the problem(s) saying ‘book in advance’ doesn’t resolve the problem.

As for the train, the last bus service to Glasgow left at 1810, and the bus was 1815 so a much safer option should my 1800 ferry arrival be slightly delayed.

If somebody is booking a hotel then surely they would have thought of booking their seat on the bus?
Capacity on Citylink services was already bursting at the seams at the weekend due to the Radio 1 Big Weekend at Dundee and Harry Styles at Edinburgh. Also a number of rail replacements coaches were running due to lines being closed for maintenance which then reduces the amount of dupes you can bring in.

 

[Buzby]

They might, but many will only book from the service origination point on the basis an intermediate stop would be less of a ‘risk’ due to (some) passengers getting off to make room.

I just noticed Citylink require concession cardholders to enter their card details on the booking yet still require a tap in on the bus despite already having the data. A youth boarded the Oban bus at Dumbarton and was ready with her 4 character booking code. When the driver said he wanted her ticket number and not the code it quickly created a stand-off, not helped by the later request for her Scotia card to tap-in, which she had packed away knowing she wouldn’t need it!

 

[Stena Galloway]

I drive Citylink buses and still don't get why the card number is needed for a booking. The card however is needed for travel so the company can get the funding off of the government.

 

[Spsf3232]

The booking secures the seat but they can't receive the reimbursement from the Scottish government unless the card is scanned on the machine. The reason it asks for the details on booking is some people tried to book that way in the hope of getting free travel without the card. Similar applies on the railway when you book using discounted methods, they must be shown.

The Citylink system has worked pretty well, all it's missing is live data to the drivers

 

[Stena Galloway]

Why does Ember not ask for the card details when you book a concession then?
The Citylink ticketing system is a farce. A driver is handed 2 loading charts to load one bus. One for Citylink and one for Megabus which are pretty much out of date the minute they are printed unless the service is fully booked from the first stop. Ember and Flix are using ticketing systems that Citylink should be using.

 

[computerSaysNo]

Why does Ember not ask for the card details when you book a concession then?
The Citylink ticketing system is a farce. A driver is handed 2 loading charts to load one bus. One for Citylink and one for Megabus which are pretty much out of date the minute they are printed unless the service is fully booked from the first stop. Ember and Flix are using ticketing systems that Citylink should be using.

It does seem a bit outdated that they still use pen and paper to tick off the pre-bookings. A better solution would be a company-issued tablet which could at least be updated closer to departure than the paper list can. Or even better, put a QR code on each ticket that the tablet can scan.

 

[Stena Galloway]

It does seem a bit outdated that they still use pen and paper to tick off the pre-bookings. A better solution would be a company-issued tablet which could at least be updated closer to departure than the paper list can. Or even better, put a QR code on each ticket that the tablet can scan.

Absolutely. A tablet was tried a number of years ago on certain Megabus services in England but nothing ever came of it.

 

[Bletchleyite]

It does seem a bit outdated that they still use pen and paper to tick off the pre-bookings. A better solution would be a company-issued tablet which could at least be updated closer to departure than the paper list can. Or even better, put a QR code on each ticket that the tablet can scan.

TBH I'm surprised they don't just put an app on the driver's mobile phone. Stops are few enough on coach routes that handbrake on, engine off to make its use legal is hardly a major issue, and it's a really cheap option.

 

[Stena Galloway]

TBH I'm surprised they don't just put an app on the driver's mobile phone. Stops are few enough on coach routes that handbrake on, engine off to make its use legal is hardly a major issue, and it's a really cheap option.

On the 900 this would never work. Its far too busy a service and there are far too many stops coming out of Edinburgh heading towards Glasgow.

 

[Bletchleyite]

On the 900 this would never work. Its far to busy a service and far to many stops coming out of Edinburgh heading towards Glasgow.

True, but most Citylink services aren't the 900.

 

[Stena Galloway]

True, but most Citylink services aren't the 900.

That is very true buts it's the most frequent and the busiest service they have.

 

[Glasgowbusguy]

True, but most Citylink services aren't the 900.

If the system can't work on the busiest route then it can't work network wide; it's that simple.

 

[Buzby]

Ember designed their own IT front end from scratch, rather than take one off-the-Shelf and panel-beat it to fit. Since they make no charge for reservations a Scotia card holder with a booking has to board 5 mins before departure and tap in - if they don’t then the seat becomes available. I do recall drivers were not encouraged to accept fares from anyone not previously booked, but this seems to have been modified by accepting contactless only (No cash). The loading on their Youtongs from Glasgow is getting much higher and mostly from walk-ups.

 

[Highland050261]

54214 has been repainted in to Citylink and been moved to Aberdeen possible for use on the new route?

 

[Jordan Adam]

54214 has been repainted in to Citylink and been moved to Aberdeen possible for use on the new route?

Its not, 54214 is allocated to Aberdeen while the M96 will be Elgin operated. 54214 is most likely for the increased M92.

Its still not clear if the M96 will actually be marketed under Citylink, the fact it's excluded from the Citylink website would suggest not.

 

[Bletchleyite]

If the system can't work on the busiest route then it can't work network wide; it's that simple.

I'd question whether the 900 needs reservations at all. It's basically a metro-style service. Does anyone book onto the Oxford Tube?

Edit: The Oxford Tube does appear to sell tickets via megabus.com but at no discount, all the fares are £12 standard singles, so you'd pay more by booking as there are returns at £18 if you go walk-up.

 

[computerSaysNo]

Its still not clear if the M96 will actually be marketed under Citylink, the fact it's excluded from the Citylink website would suggest not.

There hasn't been a public announcement for it yet though has there? So Citylink might be waiting for that before it is added to the website.

 

[Volvodart]

I thought it was a return to the previous arrangement, where some seats on the 10 used to be available on Megabus.

 

[Highland050261]

50276/9 have been withdrawn & listed for disposal on 2023 period 1 fleet card & 50278 has been Stood down for repairs.

 

[kez19]

If this has been mentioned on thread please ignore... but I spotted (from afar in Dundee) today what appeared to be a former Megabus/Citylink vinyled VanHool in Stagecoach yellow colours today going along Riverside Drive about 1130am.

 

[trei2k]

Does anyone know if you can buy the Citylink Explorer Pass in person at Buchanan Bus station or can it only be purchased online?

The site says:

Important – This product requires a delivery address.
Please allow for at least 10 days for UK delivery.

Which is a little excessive in my eyes! It would be ideal if I could purchase it in person, then make the reservations online.

 

[Stena Galloway]

Does anyone know if you can buy the Citylink Explorer Pass in person at Buchanan Bus station or can it only be purchased online?

The site says:


Which is a little excessive in my eyes! It would be ideal if I could purchase it in person, then make the reservations online.

You can buy it in the Bus Station

 

[Jordan Adam]

If this has been mentioned on thread please ignore... but I spotted (from afar in Dundee) today what appeared to be a former Megabus/Citylink vinyled VanHool in Stagecoach yellow colours today going along Riverside Drive about 1130am.

50281 and 50285 are both in the Stagecoach Long Distance livery and get used on Citylink diagrams so it was likely one of those.

 

[kez19]

50281 and 50285 are both in the Stagecoach Long Distance livery and get used on Citylink diagrams so it was likely one of those.

Thanks for clarifying, I did wonder but I had the idea that it was either going to Edinburgh or Glasgow.

 

[Jordan Adam]

Thanks for clarifying, I did wonder but I had the idea that it was either going to Edinburgh or Glasgow.

As they're both West Scotland vehicles they would've been working on the M9 between Aberdeen and Glasgow. At present all M92 diagrams (excluding the weekend extras) are done by Stagecoach Bluebird or Edinburgh Coach Lines. The only Astromega you'll generally find on the M92 is Megabus livery 50292 (edit: this looks to have swapped in the past week with 50287) as it is currently working out of Tullos Depot with Stagecoach Bluebird.

 

[fife_circle]

As they're both West Scotland vehicles they would've been working on the M9 between Aberdeen and Glasgow. At present all M92 diagrams (excluding the weekend extras) are done by Stagecoach Bluebird or Edinburgh Coach Lines. The only Astromega you'll generally find on the M92 is Megabus livery 50292 as it is currently working out of Tullos Depot with Stagecoach Bluebird.

When did parks lose their runs on the M92? One of the journeys I used to regularly take was a panorama.

 

[Jordan Adam]

When did parks lose their runs on the M92? One of the journeys I used to regularly take was a panorama.

I'd assume in November 2022 when the 6 Cites timetables were vastly increased.

Edinburgh Coach Lines (ECL) lost their Inverness runs at the same time but gained other runs through the M92 and 902. At present on the M92 there are 5 Stagecoach Bluebird duties and 3 ECL duties, this is of course excluding the weekend extras.

Another thing to note is that Simpsons Of Rosehearty very frequently cover Bluebird M92 workings due to driver shortages.

 

[fife_circle]

I'd assume in November 2022 when the 6 Cites timetables were vastly increased.

Edinburgh Coach Lines (ECL) lost their Inverness runs at the same time but gained other runs through the M92 and 902. At present on the M92 there are 5 Stagecoach Bluebird duties and 3 ECL duties, this is of course excluding the weekend extras.

Another thing to note is that Simpsons Of Rosehearty very frequently cover Bluebird M92 workings due to driver shortages.

Do Ratho coaches not have any runs on it? I’m sure I’ve had them a few times or are they covering as well?

 

[Jordan Adam]

Do Ratho coaches not have any runs on it? I’m sure I’ve had them a few times or are they covering as well?

Only on the additional services that operate Friday/Saturday/Sunday that aren't shown in the main timetables.

Ratho Coaches, Fishers Tours, Bay Travel and Hairy Haggis Tours do the weekend extra runs on the M92.

First Aberdeen, West Coast Motors, Kevin's Coaches and Hairy Haggis Tours do the weekend extra runs on the M9.

With the timetable changes on the 26th June these extra weekend runs are replaced with more frequent timetabled runs some of which will operate daily.

 

[Blindtraveler]

Nice to see CityLink acknowledging what so many others are trying to ignore in that people are definitely traveling again and the tourist season this year is going to be massive