First invests £20m in Glasgow 2014 buses

FirstBus has announced an investment of £20m for 109 new buses which will initially carry passengers at the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games. The new buses currently being delivered are Wrightbus StreetLites and ADL Enviro400s. They will sport bespoke Glasgow 2014/First Bus branding emphasising the company’s ‘Personal Best’ campaign and will form part of a 380 strong fleet that will move members of the Games Family, including athletes, officials, media and sponsors. They will also be used to operate specific shuttle and park and ride spectator services during the Games. These services are scheduled to augment First Glasgow’s network of high frequency, regular services across the city.

The first two new buses were recently unveiled at the site of First Glasgow’s £20m new headquarters and depot on Cathcart Road, Glasgow which will become partly operational for the first time during Glasgow 2014. Although not due to be officially opened until November this year, the construction schedule was planned to enable it to operate up to 280 vehicles during the Games (around 75% of the capacity of the ten acre site when fully operational). Over 700 bus drivers will travel to Glasgow to help deliver First’s shuttle, park & ride and Games Family services. Around 200 First drivers from across the company’s UK operations, including Plymouth, Bristol, Norwich, Manchester, Leeds and Livingston have volunteered to drive at the Games and will spend between one and five weeks in Glasgow. A further 500 drivers have been subcontracted from other bus and coach companies.