West Coast Motors - CityLink Change...

[WC1]

I can see your point there, but look at the amount of shops that closed down over the years with the big supermarkets coming to the area or the disappearance of the insurance man coming round every week to collect your policy dues or the boom in buying on-line. People will vote with their wallets at the end of the day.

True enough, though the supermarkets probably employ more people now than the wee shops did previously, and everybody still gets their shopping. What I'm suggesting is that there is a bigger picture when it comes to public transport than just the Glasgow run, and while it is the prerogative of each of us to vote with our wallet, before we vote we should think about the potential impact of losing of a leading local employer and service provider.

[Bonnie Lass]

Just seen a Stagecoach Bus go by, are they doing the run instead of CityLink ?? (West Coach Motors went by 10 minutes earlier).

[daftdog]

Just seen a Stagecoach Bus go by, are they doing the run instead of CityLink ?? (West Coach Motors went by 10 minutes earlier).

No, they have taken the role Westcoast had in the Citylink run, so at the normal bus times, you will see either a Citylink or a Stagecoach bus.

[EMDEE]

Just seen a Stagecoach Bus go by, are they doing the run instead of CityLink ?? (West Coach Motors went by 10 minutes earlier).

Was the Stagecoach bus empty?

[Buzz Lightyear]

heard the new bus service from the other company has ended up in machrihanish twice now...they took the wrong turn....

[the phone girl]

My daughter travels every Saturday to Glasgow for a class and has done since just before she turned 14- for the most part she travels up and back on her own. She has now turned 16. Prior to the split, the Citylink Apex fare had just gone up to £16.20 for an adult apex day return. It had to be booked by midnight on Thursday. If we forgot, we had to get the full fare alternative at about £23. You could do it on-line which was handy when I could do it from my work however our central servers now block a lot of sites and the City Link site is one so we had to try and remember to do it at home and quite often our connection is not good.

The reason I always felt happier with her going on the 1st bus out and the last bus back was that there were local drivers on the bus who knew her - she was happier with this too. Once she was on the bus she was safe - they weren't looking after her but they were in control of their buses and knew who the people to watch were. I think it will probably turn out that Stagecoach and Citylink have merged and that they have taken over the route cutting West Coast out and presumably taking all the subsidies with them. Lets face it there are times when the Glasgow bus must not break even. I have seen it run to Glasgow at various times with only 5 or 6 people the majority of the way.

I phoned West Coast and got told about the pricebuster card - its £14 a year and that allows you to travel day return for £14. You also get a discount on other West Coast buses. This will save me £2.20 a week and a lot less hassle than trying to remember to book on-line. You can get the ticket on the day on the bus for £14. I would imagine you will have to book at normal busy times like December in particular.

City Link operate a super saver on some of their bus journeys - everywhere else £5 a journey - Campbeltown £6 a journey (!!?) however you can never get it and I found out why. I phoned City Link themselves one day in the winter to be told that all the saver tickets from Campbeltown to Glasgow had been sold for that journey. When we got on the bus there was ONE other pre-booked ticket to Glasgow on the bus - we checked it out as there were only 5 people on the bus most of the way apart from my daughter and I.

We will change and get the earlier bus - which is run in competition with CIty Link - because we know them and, more importantly, we trust them. However - I do agree about the toilet. Use of the toilet facilities would make for a more relaxing trip for me anyway. I dont drive and if I have to go up the road I have to go by bus.

Thought I would add my tu'pence worth.

[lornemacd]

Maybe I could accidently direct the drivers the other way after Kennacraig and get a direct Carradale service.

The comfort of a toilet on the bus would swing it for me and I'd definately use that bus a lot more. I know there are opportunities for breaks on the afternoon bus but the morning and evening busses miss them. That can end up being over 2 1/2 hours with connecting busses or any hold ups.

Is there a reason why the toilet is not available on these services? There's one on the Oban bus.

All this talk is making me need to go!

[Kintyre Forum News]

From the Herald today.

http://www.theherald.co.uk/business/new ... _years.php

[alanjulia]

West Coast motors came to the rescue today when the 11.15 ex Campbeltown (citylink service) broke down at Ardrishaig,to show that West Coast dont have any bad feeling about Stagecoach (the operator carrying out the service for Citylink) supplied them one of there own coaches to continue the service so that no passengers were left stranded,also WCM even fixed their coach for them. If Citylink are offering cheaper fares how long would this last cause if they run WCM off the 926 route they will put their fares back up. I used to cringe when i had to ask a couple to pay £59.80 for two returns to Glasgow, as alot of people only decide the night before to go to Glasgow it was too late to get cheaper fares.With west coast motors If passengers buy a pricebuster card (available on any west coast routes even around the town ) & shows it to the driver they will receive 30% off their fare even the fares which are discounted already ie day returns & open returns. Just to answer a few previous posts 926 Glasgow services as are alot of Campbeltown services ie Town service ,half the runs to Machrihanish & Carradale are NOT subsidised they are run by WCM alone.one of the reasons the toilets were not in use were the twisty roads causing some to miss there aim but on saying that if any passenger was needing the toilet iam sure the driver will open it up for their use (i would so dont be frightened to ask)that way we know who is using it, this eliminates smoking & drinking.Also you will get the personal touch from WCM drivers from them personally putting your luggage into the lockers ( not being told 'open the lockers yourself i am busy' )phone for a taxi,keeping an eye on younger & the elderly who are put on the coach to be met at the other end and be able to tell you when you are leaving Glasgow whats been happening in the wee toon

[Brian]

I've been coming home on the 926 once or twice a month for a cupla years now, and think the online purchase from citylink is spot on, and also gives the bus company advance warning if 2 buses need to be run, plus no faffing around with money when you're boading the bus, and huge savings to be made for those who know their travel plans more than a few days in advance (i.e. £10 super-single return instead of £23.70 {excl. insurance} pay on the bus price)

Like everyone else with any allegiance, I will support WCM.

Dear WCM, please try to get your online system up and running asap and an equivalent 'super-single £10 return' for those who do know their travel plans in advance.

Thanks - see you at the weekend
Loyal customer

[alanjulia]

I've been coming home on the 926 once or twice a month for a cupla years now, and think the online purchase from citylink is spot on, and also gives the bus company advance warning if 2 buses need to be run, plus no faffing around with money when you're boading the bus, and huge savings to be made for those who know their travel plans more than a few days in advance (i.e. £10 super-single return instead of £23.70 {excl. insurance} pay on the bus price)

Like everyone else with any allegiance, I will support WCM.

Dear WCM, please try to get your online system up and running asap and an equivalent 'super-single £10 return' for those who do know their travel plans in advance.

Thanks - see you at the weekend
Loyal customer

Thanks Brian hope to see you soon travelling with us on THE NEW 926. West coast have received new switch/solo,visa and mastercard swipe machines today so passengers will be able to use them in our offices,as for booking online we are hoping to have this up and running very soon. If you buy a pricebuster card £14 (lasts one year) this will get you 30% off your ticket.

[lornemacd]

Thanks for those answers alanjulia!

I've witnessed passengers, young and old, who were clearly anxious to get to a toilet being refused access by drivers from CityLink and WCM. I understand concerns with aim, drinking and smoking - perhaps a toilets "available at driver's discression" rule would be better than a "not available on this service" one if this is the case?

[daftdog]

I'm sure there will be an invoice on the way to Citylink soon for the coach hire and mechanic charges, so i doubt it was as great a gesture as implied and Westcoast could find themselves stuck in Glasgow someday going to Citylink looking for a coach themselves, so would be churlish not to come to the aid of an other bus company.

I think the same fare rising issue can be said if Citylink pull out of the route. OR will WCM state now that they would not put the fares back up in that situation?? As i'm sure if they did state that; they would get even those customers who may be swithering on which service to use. (nothing attracts a customer more than a good deal or a price promise)

The services that are not subsidised are run on a profit basis, so if no money is made, then the service would stop. Simple business strategy. (service is run on business loyalty, not customer loyalty. Thus my point was WCM make service decisions based on WCM finances, so customers should make decisions on customer finances)

As for the toilet issue, may i suggest lowering the ceiling in the toilet cubicle a couple of feet, then everyone would have to sit down, making it nearly impossible to pee on the floor

Ps. Now that WCM are running their own service to Glasgow, will they be offering tickets between Campbeltown and Dunoon or Dunoon and Glasgow (via/change at Inveraray)

[Bonnie Lass]

Spotted West Coast Motors and Stagecoach at a village bus stop Sunday lunchtime, West Coast was 3 minutes late and Stagecoach was 7 minutes early, as they pulled into the bus stop you got the impression they were trying to "out run" each other. West Coast Motors pulled off and left the passengers to Stagecoach, whist he went up the road in a hurry to get the next lot of passengers....

What service is this for the commuter ?? Once upon a time you could set your watch by West Coach Motors passing by, now their timing is all over the place, total unreliable !!

[amron]

What service is this for the commuter ?? Once upon a time you could set your watch by West Coach Motors passing by, now their timing is all over the place, total unreliable !![/quote]

3 minutes late is not unreliable
I had visitors at the weekend and they arrived later than they thought - due to slow traffic on the roads, caravans, etc

I would much prefer to be a few minutes late rather than taking silly chances and risking my life and that of others trying to be on time.
West coast motors canna win at times.