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McGill's have also now begun operating SPT Subsidised Service 100 (Glasgow City to Riverside Transport Museum).

McGill's operate the service using Mercedes-Benz Citaro O530Gs, which work into Glasgow as peak time X23 Journeys.

Some photos;

First day of operation a Volvo B7RLE Wright Urban Eclipse was used.

Another photo of J2232.

Mercedes-Benz Citaro O530G J3610.

Another photo of J3610.

McGill's have taken delivery of 14 Mercedes-Benz Citaro O530LEs, numbered 3320-3333. All of the batch are based at Greenock Depot for the operation of ClydeFlyer 901/906 Services.

Citaros 3302, 3303, 3304, 3305, 3308, 3309, 3311, 3312, 3313, 3314 & 3315 have been transferred from Greenock to Johnstone Depot to operate Service 7.

McGill's are also taking delivery of 20 Alexander Dennis Enviro 200s. B8013-8015 have already been delivered and have entered service. They are based at Barrhead Depot for Service 26 Operation. 10 Enviro 200s have already been delivered, numbered 8000-8010, and are based at Greenock for the operation of local services.

McGills will be operating the Fastlink service F1 from May 11th.

http://www.mcgillsbuses.co.uk/news/mcgil...w-sgh.aspx

Optare Solo PO56RPY is now here formerly Stagecoach Manchester 47775.

McGills are due to receive 26 new Enviro 200-MMCs around the end of March.
http://www.mcgillsbuses.co.uk/news/mcgil...fleet.aspx

(16/03/2019 13:14)Metroline1511 Wrote: [ -> ]McGills are due to receive 26 new Enviro 200-MMCs around the end of March.
http://www.mcgillsbuses.co.uk/news/mcgil...fleet.aspx

I passed 2 of the them on the M74 yesterday afternoon

Xplore Dundee and Xplore More sold to Greenock-based firm McGill’s Buses

https://www.eveningtelegraph.co.uk/fp/xp...lls-buses/

"Bus operator Xplore Dundee has been sold to Greenock-based firm, McGill’s Buses.

National Express, which owns Xplore Dundee for bus travel and Xplore More for coach travel, has agreed to sell its Dundee operation in a deal subject to completion by the end of the year.

The business, based at a site on East Dock Street, employs 350 people and has a fleet of 120 buses.

McGill’s, owned by brothers Sandy and James Easdale, will be licenced to operate 850 buses and have 1,200 employees, making it the biggest independent bus operator in the UK.


Ralph Roberts, CEO of McGill’s Buses, said: “We are purchasing the shares of the company and all activities will carry on as normal. There are no immediate plans to change the branding of the buses.”

Managing Director of Xplore Dundee, Christine McGlasson, said: “We have enjoyed 23 years as part of the National Express Group and under McGill’s we can continue to recover and grow our business with another Scottish operator at the helm experiencing similar conditions and under the same authorities as our own.

“Xplore Dundee is a strong, resilient business with an excellent team of people within it, and I have no doubt we will continue in our mission to provide a top class public transport service for the people of this city.”


McGill’s Buses has grown rapidly during the past decade following its purchase of Arriva Scotland West in a landmark deal in March 2012.

McGill’s chairman James Easdale said: “The Xplore acquisition is a perfect fit for us. Whilst others are shying away from investment, we are always looking for new opportunities in both construction and transport.”"

I'm not too surprised NX have divested their Dundee operations and it will be a interesting acquisition for McGills it certainly increases their presence in Scotland and could see them look at other potential takeovers north and south of the border too.

I wonder is some of the newer vehicles at Xplore Dundee will stay with them or is it part of the deal they'll stay with NX and transfer to the West Midlands operation. This might be unlikely as didn't some public money/Scottish Assembly go towards their purchase but NX may retain these for transfer to the West Midlands fleet as part of the deal and McGills may replace them with new vehicles of their own spec too. A few ex-Dundee buses have migrated to NXWM most notably the 2010 Scania OmniLink's which still have the Dundee fleet numbers and a few odds and sods have migrated either way over the years too.

I wonder if this deal is a means for NX to raise funds for future divestments from say Arriva, First etc. which might happen in the near future?

(30/12/2020 07:14)Gillmoss 0324 Wrote: [ -> ]I'm not too surprised NX have divested their Dundee operations and it will be a interesting acquisition for McGills it certainly increases their presence in Scotland and could see them look at other potential takeovers north and south of the border too.

I wonder is some of the newer vehicles at Xplore Dundee will stay with them or is it part of the deal they'll stay with NX and transfer to the West Midlands operation. This might be unlikely as didn't some public money/Scottish Assembly go towards their purchase but NX may retain these for transfer to the West Midlands fleet as part of the deal and McGills may replace them with new vehicles of their own spec too. A few ex-Dundee buses have migrated to NXWM most notably the 2010 Scania OmniLink's which still have the Dundee fleet numbers and a few odds and sods have migrated either way over the years too.

I wonder if this deal is a means for NX to raise funds for future divestments from say Arriva, First etc. which might happen in the near future?

Maybe National Express could buy Arriva Tamworth, First Worcester or Stagecoach Nuneaton for example?