918 has entered service remaining in its 50/50 scheme.

The SPD's that was sold to Impera have/will be sold to a Dealer as Impera ceased trading last week.

McGill's bus firm back in profit

McGill's is now Scotland's largest privately owned bus company
West of Scotland bus firm McGill's has moved back into profit and reported an almost doubling of turnover for 2012.

Greenock-based McGill's made a pre-tax profit on ordinary activities of £659,404 compared with a loss of more than £550,000 in 2011.

Turnover rose from £15m to £28m with the acquisition of rival Arriva Scotland West being the "main contributory factor".

Staff numbers at McGill's rose from 317 in 2011 to 589 in 2012.

McGill's Buses is now Scotland's largest privately-owned bus company, operating about 350 buses across more than 40 routes, mostly in the Inverclyde, Renfrewshire and East Renfrewshire areas.

It employs about 700 staff from the company's four depots in Greenock, Inchinnan, Johnstone and Barrhead.

McGill's said it was "constantly trying to improve efficiency of the business" and said "fluctuating fuel prices" as well as "changes to the concession payments" were among the principle risks to the company.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-sc...s-24491659

(11 Oct 2013, 4:52 pm)aureolin wrote McGill's bus firm back in profit

McGill's is now Scotland's largest privately owned bus company
West of Scotland bus firm McGill's has moved back into profit and reported an almost doubling of turnover for 2012.

Greenock-based McGill's made a pre-tax profit on ordinary activities of £659,404 compared with a loss of more than £550,000 in 2011.

Turnover rose from £15m to £28m with the acquisition of rival Arriva Scotland West being the "main contributory factor".

Staff numbers at McGill's rose from 317 in 2011 to 589 in 2012.

McGill's Buses is now Scotland's largest privately-owned bus company, operating about 350 buses across more than 40 routes, mostly in the Inverclyde, Renfrewshire and East Renfrewshire areas.

It employs about 700 staff from the company's four depots in Greenock, Inchinnan, Johnstone and Barrhead.

McGill's said it was "constantly trying to improve efficiency of the business" and said "fluctuating fuel prices" as well as "changes to the concession payments" were among the principle risks to the company.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-sc...s-24491659

Whilst glad to see an independent making inroads into the industry - those figures are shocking.
For such a massive turnover, the profit is tiny!

(08 Oct 2013, 3:14 pm)Terence Price wrote The SPD's that was sold to Impera have/will be sold to a Dealer as Impera ceased trading last week.

the SPD's have turned up with Avon Buses who are based in the same area and have got all of Imperas tendered services.

This weeks Bus and Coach reveals Lothian have ordered 20 more 7900H's due to be here in 2014 - will have Euro 6 Engine.

(24 Oct 2013, 9:26 am)Michael wrote This weeks Bus and Coach reveals Lothian have ordered 20 more 7900H's due to be here in 2014 - will have Euro 6 Engine.

http://www.volvobuses.com/bus/global/en-...mId=145019&News.Language=en-gb

(24 Oct 2013, 8:53 pm)Dan wrote http://www.volvobuses.com/bus/global/en-...mId=145019&News.Language=en-gb

, thanks, they look great i havent rode on yet

That is excellent news for Lothian Buses, Hopefully I get a trip up to Edinburgh Next Year and I wish GNE would get some of these as look like a cracking vehicle.

Fancy a change of career?

We are currently looking for trainee PCV Drivers & Qualified PCV Drivers with a CPC qualification.

http://lothianbuses.com/about-us/career/...cv-drivers

Had a ride on an Alx300 and 400 today.
They were in decent nick, but noticed the lack of the plastic guard protecting the driver.

There were a few independents knocking about with Solo's and sure I heard a Merc minibus in the near distance too.

The 400's sounded as though they had Volvo/Oly engines in - but without knowing the fleet, couldn't say if they were or not.

Hearing very strong rumours up in Scotland, of an £80m bid to takeover the company by a large passenger transport firm.

We can rule Arriva and First out, whilst the network isn't one that seems to fit the Stagecoach model either...

Do we know what happened to the Ex Arriva North West Buses that was in service here, i think most are withdrawn and gone but would be nice to know where they ended up

(08 Dec 2013, 1:41 am)Terence Price wrote Do we know what happened to the Ex Arriva North West Buses that was in service here, i think most are withdrawn and gone but would be nice to know where they ended up

No idea.
There were a few alx2/300s knocking about in Glasgow, still in Arriva livery (displaying McGills logo www.flickr.com/photos/stennybusman/6908346448/) but haven't noticed any of those vehicles for a while - whether they have been scrapped or repainted into McGills livery.
No idea whether they were from the North West either.

Lothian Tridents 683/690-98 have all received brand new LED destination and number screens like 699.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/barberbus/1...otostream/


879 is the latest to be repainted into madder:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/barberbus/1...otostream/

(17 Dec 2013, 3:20 pm)BusFanPrudhoe wrote Stagecoach in Fife is very near to where Stagecoach started, in Perth. The Satgecoach in Fife business is the former Fife Scottish company. Not sure what independants you are refering to, do you have a name? I have relatives in the area so visit a lot. The only independant I know of in that part of the world is WJC Buses.

I can't remember to be honest.
There were a few waiting in Leuchars station presumably on the St Andrews runs when we went through.

Re the two links to WJC - have they got a depot up there?
Cos Hamilton is nowhere near the Fife coast, Dundee etc.

(18 Dec 2013, 9:04 am)BusFanPrudhoe wrote Seen a plain white WJC coach heading east on A90 after SVBM Open Day (saturday), in August 2012. They did use to have 3 Leyland Leopards based at the Scottish Vintage Bus Museum, near Dunfermline.

Not able to get a list of routes operated, but it seems they actually operate more in the Glasgow area, a look on google maps shows they were based near to the M8 allowing easy access to Edinburgh and Fife. When I have more details, I will post them here.

According to that article, they were based in Hamilton, which is south of Glasgow.

The odd run out to Fife, is maybe practical - but can't see them running light and incurring the costs getting over the Forth to Dunfermline, mileage etc.

It doesn't make much sense at all.

WJC Coaches went bust earlier this year.

Lothian Buses 390 (Volvo B9TL / Wright Eclipse Gemini 2) was destroyed by fire on Monday night in the Oxgangs area of the city. The cause of the fire was suspious.

In a strange twist of fate. 390 was meant to be the vehicle that they were going to use to launch the new company logo. Instead Volvo B7RLE / Wright Eclipse 190 was used instead.

Whilst in Edinburgh today, I only noted 190 carrying the new logos.

(18 Dec 2013, 6:40 pm)GMitchelhill wrote WJC Coaches went bust earlier this year.

Yeah, BusFanPrudhoe mentioned it yesterday

There is one independent that runs bus services in the Fife area and that is Moffat & Williamson.

There is also Rennies which seems to be an independent company is actually part of Stagecoach.

WJC used to do Scottish Citylink Contracts and have sent many vehicles to the SVBM in the past.

(18 Dec 2013, 8:49 pm)GMitchelhill wrote There is one independent that runs bus services in the Fife area and that is Moffat & Williamson.

There is also Rennies which seems to be an independent company is actually part of Stagecoach.

WJC used to do Scottish Citylink Contracts and have sent many vehicles to the SVBM in the past.

The company up in Dundee I saw, seem to be part of National Express.
Moffat & Williamson appear to run services I saw from Leuchars station.
Can only presume the others must have been scholars or contract work.

Back up a few times next month, so will try and get a proper id.

Lothian 833 has received full adverts for Lothian Buses Mobile App which allows passengers to buy their tickets on their mobile before they board, check live departures from your nearest stop and to plan your journeys.

See photo here.

(18 Dec 2013, 6:43 pm)GMitchelhill wrote Lothian Buses 390 (Volvo B9TL / Wright Eclipse Gemini 2) was destroyed by fire on Monday night in the Oxgangs area of the city. The cause of the fire was suspious.

In a strange twist of fate. 390 was meant to be the vehicle that they were going to use to launch the new company logo. Instead Volvo B7RLE / Wright Eclipse 190 was used instead.

Whilst in Edinburgh today, I only noted 190 carrying the new logos.

Few shots found on Flickr of the new logo on 190. I'm hoping to get a trip to Edinburgh when I'm off work to get a few shots.


Eclipse 190 shows off Lothian 's new crest by Stuart Montgomery's Lothian Buses, on Flickr


The NEW Lothian Buses by Stuart Montgomery's Lothian Buses, on Flickr

(06 Jan 2014, 5:53 pm)Dan wrote Lothian 833 has received full adverts for Lothian Buses Mobile App which allows passengers to buy their tickets on their mobile before they board, check live departures from your nearest stop and to plan your journeys.

See photo here.

I'm not keen on that one I have to say. The big block of gold at the back doesn't blend at all with the livery. can't knock the value for money on the fares though!

Up there early next week, so will have a check if I remember on.

Looks like mcgills are intrested in expanding there operations by showing intrest in the maltease operations arriva gave up.

(20 Jan 2014, 2:01 pm)arrivaman wrote Looks like mcgills are intrested in expanding there operations by showing intrest in the maltease operations arriva gave up.

they seem a good firm, would like to see them go for it!

Wonder how their zone map will work over in Malta!

Know if the 11(?) geminis are still in the Edinburgh Zoo liveries anyone?