First Scotland East

First Scotland East is collective name for First's operations in South East and Central Scotland, operating as First Scotland East and First Midland Bluebird.[1][2]

First Scotland East
A Wright Eclipse Gemini bodied Volvo B7TL, in the company's former corporate livery, seen on Princes Street in Edinburgh.
ParentFirst
Founded1997 (23 years ago)
HeadquartersCarmuirs House
Stirling Road
Larbert
Stirlingshire
FK5 3NJ
Service area
Service typeBus and coach
Fleet420 (as of February 2016)
Managing DirectorPaul McGowan
Websitehttps://www.firstgroup.com/south-east-and-central-scotland

The company was created in 1997, following the merger of Eastern Scottish, Lowland Scottish and Midland Scottish, to form a single operation. In 2000, the company was split into two, operating as First Edinburgh and First Midland Bluebird.

History
A Plaxton President bodied Dennis Trident 2, in the company's former corporate livery, seen on Princes Street in Edinburgh.

During 1998, First decided to reorganise their operations within the area, merging three subsidiaries: Lowland Scottish, Eastern Scottish and Midland Scottish. By doing so, operations were simplified, as some areas, including Midlothian and West Lothian being formerly served by at least two out of the three companies.

The start of the process came into effect in 1999, with many back-office functions being transferred to Larbert, and a new corporate livery introduced across the fleet. By 2002, all of the company's operations were controlled by Larbert.

The company's original name was First Edinburgh, despite operating across a much wider area, covering much of Central Scotland, the Scottish Borders and Northumberland. The company was renamed First Scotland East in 2008, to better reflect the operating area.

Fife First

In 1997, the company launched the Fife First brand, in order to compete with Stagecoach Fife – who had recently started competing with First's Glasgow operations. Competition took place, with service 56 (from Edinburgh to Dunfermline, Cowdenbeath and Ballingry), using vehicles transferred from Lowland Scottish, Midland Scottish and Rider York, and painted in allover red. A sub-depot was established in Dunfermline, with Westfield providing most of the vehicles used. Fife First ceased in July 2000, when the service was axed, and low-floor buses used were transferred to the Falkirk.

Edinburgh Bus War

In 2001, First sought to increase their market share of city services in and around Edinburgh, cutting fares and increasing traffic on certain routes, whilst cutting back on more traditional routes. This sparked a very bitter bus war between First and Lothian Buses, with fares being cut, extra vehicles drafted in, timetables altered and routes diverted.[3]

Lothian complained to the Office of Fair Trading, claiming First was engaging in anti-competitive behaviour in an effort to become the dominant operator in Edinburgh.[4] The Office of Fair Trading ruled that First's conduct represented legitimate competition, that it did not intend to drive Lothian off the streets, and that its fares were low enough in comparison to its costs.[5]

Regardless of this decision, the First network in Edinburgh was curtailed, ending the bus war, and seeing Lothian remain as the dominant city operator. Heavy losses were made, which resulted in cutbacks in many parts of their operations which included the loss of travel shops in Dalkieth, Falkirk, Edinburgh, Galashiels, Hawick and Livingston. The main depot at Westfield in Edinburgh was also closed. Many traditional routes to Bonnyrigg, Dalkeith and Penicuik that were cut back have also since been taken over by Lothian.

ScotRail

In June 2004, the ScotRail franchise was awarded to First, with the services transferring to First ScotRail in October 2004.[6] The Competition Commission placed a number of controls and undertaking, which had an effect on the company's ability to raise fares, and alter a selected number of services.[7][8] In 2009 and 2012, First were released from a number of routes which were controlled.

Restructure

In June 2012, First Scotland East closed their depot in Dalkeith, and scaled back operations in Musselburgh, with 20 routes ceasing across East Lothian and Midlothian. The company tried to sell the operations, and transfer staff to another operator, but was unsuccessful. In November 2012, the depot at Linlithgow was closed, with services moved to depots at Larbert and Livingston.[9][10][11]

A Wright Eclipse bodied Volvo B7RLE, seen at the former depot in Linlithgow.

In June 2013, route X38 (from Edinburgh to Falkirk and Stirling) was re-branded as First Bluebird, with buses painted in a dedicated blue livery.[12] Within a year, most of the buses operating in the Forth Valley area were also re-branded as First Bluebird.

First tried to improve passenger growth, with a number of revised networks in Falkirk and West Lothian, during 2012.[13][14] In January 2015, First withdrew over a dozen bus routes in and around Falkirk, citing that routes had been operating at a "considerable loss" for many years.[15][16][17]

The company made a request to the Competition and Markets Authority in October 2015, about reviewing of the undertakings given in 2002 by First. The undertakings were given following the Monopolies & Mergers Commission's conclusion that the completed acquisition by First of SB Holdings Limited, which took place in 1996, created a merger situation which may be expected to operate against the public interest.

As part of the undertaking, First had mileage floor which required to them to operate a specific number of miles, regardless of the circumstances. In April 2015, the company was released from the undertaking with all requirements dropped.[18][19]

In May 2016, First Scotland East announced that it would cease operations in East Lothian, with the closure of Musselburgh and North Berwick depots, affecting 88 jobs. In August 2016, Lothian Buses took over the operation of both depots, with all staff given the option to transfer. Services are operated under the East Coast Buses brand.[20][21][22]

Perryman's (now Borders Buses) took over several services from First Scotland East in 2016. The remainder of First's operations in the Scottish Borders, including the depot at Galashiels, as well as outstations at Hawick, Kelso and Peebles, was sold to the company in March 2017. The opening of the Borders Railway between Tweedbank and Edinburgh was cited as one of the main reasons for the sale.

Improvements

In April 2017, the company announced plans to bring "significant improvements" to their service. This resulted in additional journeys created, operating an extra 7,000 miles per week, and adding a further six vehicles to the West Lothian network. These changes also re-introduced a direct link from Bathgate, Fauldhouse and Livingston to Edinburgh Airport and The Gyle Centre.[23]

Traffic Commissioner

First Scotland East has appeared before the Traffic Commissioner on five occasions, in relation to various issues surrounding the company. Public enquiries were held regarding maintenance in 2004 and 2005, maintenance and timekeeping in 2008, and timekeeping in 2010. A formal warning was given in November 2011, regarding vehicle maintenance. In August 2012, the company appeared for the fifth time in front of the Traffic Commissioner, due to further issues regarding services in and around Falkirk.[24][25][26][27]

Fleet and operations

As of February 2016, the First Scotland East fleet consists of 420 buses and coaches.

The company currently operates from four main depots:

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References
  1. Companies House extract company no SC091923 First Scotland East Limited
  2. Companies House extract company no SC016923 Midland Blue Limited
  3. Bus firm hits back over 'fares war' BBC News 15 August 2001
  4. Bus wars to be investigated BBC News 27 September 2001
  5. First Edinburgh / Lothian Archived 21 September 2013 at the Wayback Machine Office of Fair Trading 9 June 2004
  6. FirstGroup clinches Scottish rail franchise The Daily Telegraph 12 June 2004
  7. Watchdog agrees ScotRail merger BBC News 28 June 2004
  8. FirstGroup plc and the Scottish Passenger Rail franchise Competition Commission June 2004
  9. Bus depot moves out Linlithgow Gazette
  10. Changes to Services in the East Lothian and Mid Lothian Regions of Scotland FirstGroup 2 April 2012
  11. Changes to services after closure of First Dalkeith depot Midlothian Council
  12. First brings back the Bluebird name for East Scotland bus operation Archived 21 September 2013 at the Wayback Machine The Bus People 28 June 2013
  13. Upset on Falkirk buses after timetable changes Falkirk Herald 9 November 2012
  14. Forthcoming Network Alterations - Falkirk area - Monday 29 October 2012 FirstGroup
  15. "Three bus services to be withdrawn in West Lothian". BBC News. 18 November 2014.
  16. Falkirk bus services to end in new year Central 103.1 FM 17 November 2014
  17. Barber, Stuart (23 November 2014). "Big changes on Falkirk's buses as routes are cut". Retrieved 25 May 2016.
  18. Notice of intention to release undertakings Competition & Markets Authority 15 March 2016
  19. FirstGroup undertakings review Competition & Markets Authority
  20. Lothian Buses saves First services Route One 5 July 2016
  21. "Bus company First set to end all bus services in East Lothian this summer". East Lothian Courier. 24 May 2016. Retrieved 25 May 2016.
  22. First plan to cease operations in East Lothian Route One 24 May 2016
  23. http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/local-news/new-west-lothian-bus-routes-10291203 New West Lothian bus routes to be rolled out on May 8 First bus say commuters will see "significant improvements" BY SEAN O'NEIL 25 APR 2017
  24. Falikirk bus bosses say sorry for failing Falkirk Herald 19 August 2012
  25. Decision of the Traffic Commissioner Against First Bus Archived 6 October 2011 at the Wayback Machine Traffic Commissioner 1 April 2008
  26. Tell us what's going on! Falkirk Herald 21 June 2007
  27. Buses in chaos Falkirk Herald 4 October 2007
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