ScotBus.com

Saturday 7 June 2003
Trip today to Glasgow, East Kilbride etc. today. The result at Hampden (Scotland 1-1 Germany) probably helped to lift Scottish spirits after recent efforts!

	Before getting onto the West of Scotland stuff, I had to change coaches in Perth - which meant I was able to snap up SK 52 USS - a Transbus Enviro 300, which is on loan this week and next for evaluation on many Strathtay services across the area. Seen at Perth Bus Station on Service 16 back to Dundee (where the bus is based).
	Left McKindless have acquired many of these Dennis Lance SLF/Berkhofs, which were used on contract work around Heathrow Airport. These are being used in single door mode, but not sealed or barred in any way. As can be seen, the buses carry discrete window branding for new cross-city Service 75, but the bus is backing out of Buchanan Bus Station on Service 80 north to Kirkintilloch and Harestanes. Right First have repainted (partly) - or is it vinyl - Leyland Olympian LO86 into a promotional charity-based advert. Bus is seen leaving West Regent Street into Union Street.
	Left By the time I'd got onto the bus for East Kilbride, it was gone 3, so I arrived here just as the 2nd half was kicking off at Hampden. Purpose of the trip was to snap up the newly branded 16, 18, 20, 66, 201 buses - all of which serve EK. Despite seeing many 20 branded buses during my lunch in Subway, I didn't see any at all in EK! Aah well, one for next time I suppose! It's interesting to note the 16 and 18 routes are advertised on the same timetable, with a double-colour stripe, in both line colours. Anyway, LO98 is seen here at East Kilbride Bus Station. Right Whitelaws took delivery of several Volvo B6LE's over the last few years - including W673 WGG, a Wright bodied example also seen at East Kilbride Bus Station.
	Left The Volvo B6LE's used on the 201 are i a very light pink - Salmon line? - rather aptly as they pass the Salmon's Leap in Calderwood on route anyway. MV34 is seen in East Kilbride Bus Station. Right Single deckers have been chosen for the 66, partly due to a low bridge at Busby for which Strathclyde always kept some low-heights. Scania SS149 is also in EK Bus Stn at time of taking this photo.
	Left Despite not getting my lens on a chocolate-brown line (these are starting to get silly) Service 20, managed to get Volvo Citybus AH90 instead. Look carefully at the Tennants advert - this also has the window with the "DRINK" sticker damaged, like Travel Dundee 103 (now removed) - so both show (or showed) TAKE A <BLANK> BIG MAN! Hmm, take a what? Anyway... Right The Alexander Strider-bodied Volvo B10B's have been used on the 201 before, but are now back-up to the B6LE's, along with other vehicles. SV302 is in EK Bus Station (as was AH90).
	Left Route 205 (also known briefly as 214) has been one reported many times in this site since it's withdrawal by First - three times, and tendered operations by White Ribbon, Dart Buses, Coakley Bus, Western Buses, and now Irvine of Law. Mercedes L311 YDU is pictured in East Kilbride Bus Station. Right First in Glasgow VO57 shows the other half of the 16/18 branding - also at EK Bus Station. After this point, I headed north....
	After leaving East Kilbride, I hopped onto the 31 through to Battlefield, to catch the brown branded 34 buses, blue branded 5 buses, and possibily the silver branded Solos on the 89/90. Of course this meant getting caught up in the match traffic, but never mind! Left First Stop Travel operate Service 134 between Govan/Castlemilk using Mercedes minibuses, in competiton with First 34. In fact, it was the route of the 134 under the low railway bridge that (partly) prompted conversion of the 34 to minibuses. Anyway, here is K236 SFJ of First Stop, in Kings Park Road. Right Travel Greyhound/Dundee Volvo B10M/Plaxton VSR 591 coming out of Battlefield Road.
	Left Long-term surfers will recall five years ago, Arriva took over Service 96/97 on tender from Strathclyde's Buses Ltd. The service initally recieved buses in BeeLine livery - one of which went up in flames on the first day - then new Mercedes Varios, before going to MetroRiders, losing the Drumchapel end, and getting merged into the 21. However, from July, First will be taking over the service as 121 between Govan & Victoria Infirmary, using two Optare Solos. Arriva Optare MetroRider 227 is seen here in Kings Park Road. Right Optare Solos were branded in silver for the 89/90 - despite it not being an Overground route. Or is it? Anyway, here is MS8 seen pulling from Battlefield Road into Kings Park Road.
	Route 5 is branded with light-blue coloured vehicles, like Left SV452, and Right SV474. Both are seen at the junction of Kings Park Road and Battlefield Road.
	Left Mercedes Varios such as MA227 are used on the light-brown Service 34. Seen here at Battlefield Road. Right Gillens of Port Glasgow use this Alexander-bodied Mercedes L309 AUT normally on local work, but it is seen in Battlefield Road on a football related hire.
	Left Another one of McKindless Dennis Lance SLF's WIL 9207, in Kings Park Road. The company have just acquired some ex-London United Optare Excels which will no doubt be out & about soon. Right Going the other way down Kings Park Road is Mercedes S795 XUG of Sidlaw Executive, Auchterhouse. The bus did a 2nd loop of the area a few minutes later...
	Left Since the re-routing of the 34 under a low bridge, it's been all mini/midi buses - with big singles getting the odd look in. Here, Scania SS66 is seen in Battlefield Road. Right Allander of Milnagavie have purchased two Volvo B7/Plaxton Profiles. Firstly, SF 03 ACJ is seen in Kings Park Road - with the second one behind and below!
	Now, further along Battlefield Road, at the other side of Mount Florida station. Left SS139 is another to be red-branded for Service 66, seen at Battlefield post office. Right Volvo SV453 is seen here also in Battlefield Road, on the opposite side of the wedge.
	Left Optare Solo MS5 - is this the one that was famously pictured in the press a few months back flooded? - is seen at Govan interchage having ended the circle there - i.e. not going onto another 90. German football supporters saw "bus station" and thought it was headed for town - but the driver advised them accordingly. Right Another First 34-branded Mercedes Vario at Govan Interchange - with a First Stop bus on the 134 behind it.
	Left Volvo Olympian VO45 seen on the 23 at Govan Interchange. Hopped on this one, to take me to the Pollok Centre - and saw Right the next bus in the batch, VO44, in the gold advertising livery for a local curry house. VO44 seen at Pollok Centre.
	Two Mercedes minibuses seen at Pollok Centre. Left Mercedes Vario MA221 seen about to head back to town as Service 3. Right Service 3 was extended to Pinmore Street Nitshill some time ago, following withdrawl of the Riverside service 16 in the area. Ex-London Mercedes 811D/Alexander MA148 is seen at Pollok Centre.
	Left Service 56/57 are not colour-branded - at the moment - and if they ever do, the colour selected for them (on the Overground map) is a khaki green colour... in the meantime, SS96 is seen at Pollok Centre. Right As a comparison, Wright Solar bodied Scania SS123 seen on the X8 at Bothwell Street, Glasgow City Centre (after I'd just used it back into town).
	Left Stagecoach in Glasgow Leyland Olympian 14462 (C462 SSO) is a recent arrival from Stagecoach in Fife - hence showing the "D" codes from the fleetnumbers! Seen in West Regent Street. Right In West George Street is ex-Manchester LO133, heading for a trip to Easterhouse via Royston Road.
	Left Another Allander's view - this time of SF 03 ACU, the 2nd vehicle of two. Also in West George Street. Right Stagecoach in Perth 52647 has had new National Express lettering applied (sorry for quality of this shot - taken from inside BBS!) at Buchanan Bus Station.