Scottish Buses 2022 - Electric Special
This DVD programme from the cameras of independent
transport videos looks at buses operating in Scotland during the late
summer of 2022. The ‘Electric Special’
title refers to the growing number of ‘electric’ buses that are entering
service and are seen on this programme running alongside their diesel
cousins. Areas covered include
Kilmarnock, Glasgow, Dundee, Perth and Stirling.
We begin our tour in Kilmarnock. Here the main operator is Stagecoach West Scotland and our filming
locations are at the town’s busy bus station and in Green Street adjacent to
the bus station. Stagecoach are trialling
six Volvo 7900EV electric single-deckers, which are recharged through a
pantograph situated above the loading bay in the bus station. These buses are seen in service and at the
charging point in this programme. Also
in Kilmarnock Stagecoach are operating fifteen BYD 10.9m / ADL Enviro200EV
single-deckers. These battery-electric
buses are in the latest standard local bus livery whereas the Volvos are in a
green, yellow and white scheme extolling the virtues of these 100% electric
vehicles. Other Stagecoach vehicles are seen
including an ALX400 double-decker sporting the latest livery and coaches in the
latest interurban livery.
Glasgow is
next with a good variety of filming locations, including Buchannan Street Bus
Station, Killermont Street, Renfield Street, Hope Street, West George Street,
Duke Street in Dennistoun and Parkhead.
Also Gallowgate, Trongate, Glassford Street and North Hanover
Street. Here the main operator is First Glasgow with McGill’s and Stagecoach
operating a number of services in the city and beyond and coaches branded in Megabus and Scottish Citylink liveries, as well as independents Stuarts of Carluke and Glasgow Citybus – operated by West Coast Motors. First
Scotland East is also seen with their ‘Midland’
fleet names. First Glasgow, have just introduced large numbers of both double
and single-deck battery-electric buses.
The double-deckers are BYD / ADL EnviroCity400EVs and the single-deckers
are BYD / ADL Enviro200EVs and are seen operating on this programme along with
a good variety of diesel buses.
Our next
stop is Dundee. Since our last visit to
the city for filming the buses, the main bus company Xplore Dundee has been sold from its previous owner, National Express to McGill’s. Again there has
been a big investment in battery-electric buses here with a fleet of twelve BYD
/ ADL EnviroCity400EV double-deckers entering service. Recently introduced are twenty-three ADL Enviro400MMC
Smart-Hybrid double-deckers, one of which is seen at it’s launch at the Euro
Bus Expo 2018 event at the NEC. Filming
locations include Nethergate, Whitehall Street, Crichton Street, Albert Square,
Panmure Street, Seagate and along Charleston Drive at Menzieshall, Dundee. Independent operator Moffat & Williamson
are also seen during our visit.
We now
move on to Perth. Here the main operator
is Stagecoach East Scotland and they
too have introduced a fleet of nine BYD 11.6m / ADL Enviro200EV
battery-electric single-deckers which are seen operating in this
programme. Other buses and coaches are also
seen operating and are filmed in locations such as South Street, Mill Street,
Scotts Street, King Street and Canal Street.
Our final venue is Stirling.
Although as yet there are no ‘electric’ buses operating here, there is
still plenty of great interest. Since
our filming in August 2022 the main operator in the town, First Scotland East, has been sold to McGill’s. However there are
some interesting vehicles to see on our visit including Scania N94UD / East
Lancs OmniDekkas 36023 (SN05 HWD) and 36028 (SN05 HWT), painted in the heritage
liveries of Alexander Midland and Midland Scottish respectively.
Independent operators Ferguson of Stirling
and Hunters of Alloa are also seen
along with Citylink express coaches
passing through.