First Bus - consultation until 1st March
Kate posted on the 21/02/2013 6:57:10 PM
I've just come across an announcement on the First Bus page that they are doing a review of bus services in Glasgow, with a view to changes in May (under the dodgy name of SimpliCITY). There is a public consultation open until Friday 1st March, so have a look at their website, or via the Evening Times. From a quick glance, it looks as if services along Alexandra Parade will all be replaced by the 38, with no direct buses going through to the West. Think this means you'll have buy 2 tickets to get through to the West End?Not sure what the situation is for Duke St services, but lots of chat about new buses and Wifi!
- 18 Replies :
#18 - Doll replied on the 8/03/2013 11:58:50 AM
I fear the worst!
#17 - The Mentalist replied on the 8/03/2013 10:55:22 AM
It looks like the 38 will serve the whole of the east of Glasgow. It will be replacing the 213 and the 42. God knows how.
#16 - Doll replied on the 7/03/2013 5:49:15 PM
Can anyone understand whats happening with the 213? i have tried to read to consultation adn it seems they are suggesting the 38 as a replacement but im unsure if it will be changing its route and going along Edinburgh Road?I use the 213 4-5 times a week and would be lost without it!
#15 - anon replied on the 6/03/2013 7:25:13 PM
I have noticed that First have systematically over the past few years been restricting any means of Dennistonians making the east-west journey. This is, it seems, the final nail in the coffin.
It didn't make sense to me (as this is surely a popular route) until I realised that by stopping through buses people had to buy two £1.85 tickets. An utter utter scandal if ever i've seen one.
They even cut back the 41 which used to terminate up at the end of Sauchiehall St. which was great for younger people going on nights out.
I used to not grudge buying the monthly pass but since they restricted the use of these tickets on evening buses I refuse to purchase them.
First are a joke and their consultation contains barely any information that matters (price, ticket conditions etc).
#14 - anon replied on the 6/03/2013 4:45:52 PM
First bus receive 150 million quid from the public purse and they cant even give us a bus to the west end.Is it just me or do others feel Dennistoun is being isolated,plus the postal service have basically deserted us.
#13 - Kate replied on the 5/03/2013 4:24:58 PM
I know I shouldn't be surprised, but I did finally get an email back from First Bus. I'd raised the issue of there being no direct buses going through to the West End from Alexandra Parade in their new plans ... Their response: "I can confirm that it will no longer be possible to travel directly by bus from Alexandra Parade to Charing Cross or the west end."
Really helpful and no mention of my question about people having to pay 2 fares. Clearly their understanding of the word 'consultation' is very different to mine!
#12 - anon replied on the 1/03/2013 5:24:41 PM
Mr Anderson,
Its the same people who own the rail. Unfortunately we don't have a choice to withold our money from First. If the buses are bad we have to use their rail. If the rail is bad we have to use their buses.
They have us over a barrel. Whats interesting though, is the rail is more heavily regulated -service seems to be slightly better. A lesson is in there somewhere.
#11 - Mr Anderson replied on the 1/03/2013 2:14:38 PM
Hi
It just so happens that the family rail card has been reduced for a short period:
www.familyandfriends-railcard.co.uk/web8
2 adults and a child from the Parade to Partick return is 5 quid with the card. Without, it's 6 quid.
You get bigger savings the further field you travel.
A return to Aberdeen to Glasgow costs 34 quid instead of 49 quid for the same number.
I might sound like a sales person for the rail companies, but it's because I hate the bus service in Glasgow so much.
#10 - Kate replied on the 1/03/2013 1:27:37 PM
Probably too late to be a reminder, but the First Bus consultation closes today (1st March).
I've sent an email, but no acknowledgement or anything, so not much faith that it will have any effect!
#9 - AJ replied on the 23/02/2013 10:15:53 PM
It is difficult for the buses to keep exactly to schedules as the traffic is unpredictable. However this is what the electronic information boards at each bus stop were supposed to help with. They were supposed to be linked to GPS type things on each bus so you could see when the next bus was actually due to arrive and they would update in real time if there were traffic delays etc. Unfortunately as far as I can see (correct me if I'm wrong) they don't work like this. They just seem to regurgitate the timetable. I have never found them to be in the least bit accurate. What a waste of money. It is a disgrace.
#8 - Bus Detester replied on the 23/02/2013 2:10:29 PM
Hi there
I stopped using the buses years ago as everytime I went on the fare seemed to have changed even though I was going to the same destination. Also you never really know when the bus is due. Whereas with the train there's plenty from Bellgrove (about every 15 mins or so), you can time them, kids go free, very quick to get into town and good if you have a pram as you'll always get on. I was 2 minutes going from Bellgrove to High Street last night then a few mins walk into the Merchant City. I used to always travel by bus but now i'm in Dennistoun it's the train for me.
#7 - AJ replied on the 23/02/2013 9:42:44 AM
Couldn't agree more about the train. Have started getting low level from Bellgrove to Queen street to and from work. Previously always got bus (40 or 41) as it is marginally closer to my work. I also had it in my head that train was much more expensive. It's been a complete revelation. So clean compared to the bus. So fast compared to sitting in traffic. So reliable. I love sitting watching the clock on the information board then seeing the train before mine shutting it's doors and sliding away at 1724 EXACTLY as scheduled. Also it's only £1.50 single. I'm so confused about bus fares. One driver told me off for asking for a £1.15 fare and that it was £1.85 while the next week a different driver told me it was definitely £1.15.
#6 - Mr Anderson replied on the 22/02/2013 10:24:27 PM
Hey Mort,
Mrs Anderson and I took our short person to the west end last weekend (actually the Kelvingrove Art Galleries as well) by train.
Granted, it's a short walk from Partick train station to Kelvingrove art gallery, but there are benefits to it as well:
You've obviously got kids and like taking them to the Gallery, so I assume you might take them to the library as well. Partick's got a much better library for kids than Dennistoun (I know we're supposed to support our local area, but you cannot argue against it. It's got far more kid's books and a great open feel to the kids section)
You travel by public transport, so I assume you don't have a car. There's a Morrisons right next to Partick train station. Get a load of shopping at the end of the trip and get the train home with it. It might not take you to your door step, but it must be pretty close.
There's an occasional farmer's market next to the old Comet store on the way to the Kelvingrove art gallery. Nothing I love more than the taste of some roasted animal that I don't usually eat.
And finally from our trip last week, best of all, I discovered a shop specialising in vintage comic books off Byres Road (what happened to the one just off Duke Street anyways?).
So in summary and in conclusion... let the train take the strain and stop paying loads to bus companies so you can subsidise the travel for the elderly who take up all the seats anyway.
#5 - Mort replied on the 22/02/2013 1:14:36 PM
If they do away with the 42 linking East and West it will be yet another slap in the face for this side of the city. We use it to take the kids to Kelvingrove art galleries and I use it to go to and visit friends so this will affect us for sure.
When you have one major company pretty much running everything, they are free to do whatever they feel like.
#4 - Mr Anderson replied on the 22/02/2013 1:12:42 PM
I'm sure I've said it before, but from the Parade/Duke Street/Bellgrove stations you can get to city centre/Partick in a matter of minutes almost.
Additionally, to that:
o kids go free (at certain times).
o it's even cheaper if you have a friends/family railcard (which at various point os of the year you can pick up for 15 quid instead of the usual 28 quid, if you keep your eyes open)
o there's more seats, cos the pensioners have to pay for it so don't use it.
o It's cleaner, more space and comfier.
o the last time I got a bus, we asked for a family day ticket (advertised as 8 quid on the first bus site). The driver didn't know about it and told us to get off. I complained to first bus and they said the ticket did exist. //
For the price compare 2 adults/2 children getting into town on a return.
By bus, as far as I know, it's [1.85 x 2 (for 2 adults) x 2 (each way)] + [1.00 x 2 (for 2 children) x 2 (each way)] comes to over 11 quid (tho you can apparently get a family ticket, but good luck with that).
By train, it's £3.60 or so for kids go free.
How can that be??!?
The only down side, as far I can tell is it's only every 30 minutes to the parade (but you can always try and time it if you're out) and it doesn't run on a Sunday.
#3 - The Mentalist replied on the 22/02/2013 10:07:50 AM
Looks like bus cuts rather than "simplifying". Anyone concerned should log on to firstbus site and make concerns known.
#2 - Orla replied on the 22/02/2013 10:06:11 AM
After reading document can see lots of people are going to be totally confused ,new routes ,new numbers etc ,and typically a reduced service on the route I use !
#1 - anon replied on the 22/02/2013 10:01:42 AM
Who cares about wifi on a 15 minute bus ride? Typical of First bus to try and detract from an appalling service with gimmicks like this.
They are also asking us for opinion without giving much detail. Eg. price, evening price, changes to routes etc.
Kate, I totally agree, it is a total con that first have changed the routes to make it as difficult as possible to travel across city to the West End from Dennistoun. Suppose in theory it helps them sell 2 tickets. In practice i now just pay a couple of pounds more and get a taxi door to door.
I have no doubt they willl completely mess up this change process.
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