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{{Short description|Bus company operator in Aberdeen, Scotland}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2016}}
{{Use British English|date=December 2016}}
{{Infobox Bus transit
|name = First Aberdeen
|logo = FirstBusFirstGroup.svg
|logo_size = 150
|image = X601 nss19Hydro.JPGjpg
|image_size = 250
|image_caption = [[Wright RenownStreetDeck Hydroliner]] bodiedin [[Volvo B10BLEPeterculter]]<br>on [[Union Street, Aberdeen|Union Street]]in 2022
|company_slogan =
|parent = [[FirstGroup]]
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|service_type = Bus services
|alliance =
|routes = 3323
|destinations =
|stops =
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|stations =
|lounge =
|fleet = 215129 (AprilJuly 20182022)
|ridership =
|fuel_type =
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'''First Aberdeen'''<ref name=companySC097420>[http://data.companieshouse.gov.uk/doc/company/SC097420 Companies House extract company no SC097420] First Aberdeen Limited formerly Grampian Regional Transport Limited</ref> is the main bus company operator in [[Aberdeen]], Scotland. It is a subsidiary of [[FirstGroup]].
 
Main Routes include "The Bridges" which operate between the Bridge of Don and the Bridge of Dee on a frequency of every 7/8 Minutes or better Monday to Saturday day time.
 
==History==
[[File:Grampian_Regional_Transport_bus_209_(ORS_209R),_Showbus_2004.jpg|thumb|Preserved [[Walter Alexander Coachbuilders|Alexander]] AL bodied [[Leyland Atlantean]] in Grampian Regional Transport livery]]
===Aberdeen Corporation===
[[Aberdeen Corporation Tramways]] was formed inon 26 August 1898. The company becamewas renamed Aberdeen Corporation Transport Department when it became solely a bus operator with trams ceasing on 3 May 1958.
 
===Grampian Regional Transport===
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To comply with the [[Transport Act 1985]], Grampian Regional Transport was incorporated in 1986,<ref name=companySC097420/> with the Grampian Regional Authority retaining ownership.
 
In January 1989 the company was privatised under an [[employee stock ownership plan]] led by its general manager [[Moir Lockhead]].<ref name=395KingSt>[https://archive.today/20080725052708/http://www.firstgroup.com/corporate/our_company/hq_history.php The History of 395 King Street] FirstGroup</ref> At the time GRT operated a fleet of 200 buses and 500 employees.<ref>[http://www.railwaypeople.com/rail-news-articles/andy-milne-talks-to-moir-lockhead-chief-executive-of-first-group-1030.html Andy Milne talks to Moir Lockhead] by www.railwaypeople.com 11 April 2006</ref>
 
Unlike future similar sales in the UK, the sale of Grampian Regional Transport was done voluntarily by the council which had no overall majority party and had no deep rooted objection to the sale. At the time, councils could negotiate privately with single buyers, rather than the later practice of competitive bidding. It was a sale of a going concern, rather than as seen in other areas in later years, a [[distress sale]], or a forced sale for political reasons.<ref>[[Buses Magazine]] issue 648 March 2009</ref>
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==Fleet==
[[File:BG58OMC First wrighteclipseAberdeen 11108 Mercedes-Benz Citaro G.jpg|right|thumb|[[WrightMercedes-Benz EclipseCitaro FusionG]] bodied [[Volvoarticulated B7LAbus]] articulated on [[Union Street, Aberdeen|Union Street]] in AugustSeptember 20112022]]
As of March 2013 the First Aberdeen fleet consisted of 173 buses and coaches.<ref name=SWhite/>{{needs update|date=October 2022}} The most common bus models as of 2023 are [[Alexander Dennis Enviro300]], [[Wright StreetLite]] and [[Yutong E12]] single-deckers, as well as [[Wright StreetDeck]] double-deckers. There are also [[Alexander Dennis Enviro400]] and [[Alexander Dennis Enviro500|Enviro500]] double-deckers and [[Mercedes-Benz Citaro]] articulated buses.
[[File:SV08 FXS.JPG|thumb|right|[[Wright Eclipse Gemini]] bodied [[Volvo B9TL]] on [[Union Street, Aberdeen|Union Street]] in March 2010]]
A mainstay of the fleet in the 1970s up to 1983 was the [[Walter Alexander Coachbuilders|Alexander]] AL Type bodied [[Leyland Atlantean]], supplemented by the [[Leyland National]] single-decker bus. In 1985 it moved to Alexander RH bodied [[Leyland Olympian]] double-deckers until 1988. From 1991 to 1997 the company steadily bought the [[Mercedes-Benz O405]] single-decker.▼
 
▲A mainstay of the Grampian Regional Transport fleet in the 1970s up to 1983 was the [[Walter Alexander Coachbuilders|Alexander]] AL Type bodied [[Leyland Atlantean]], supplemented by the [[Leyland National]] single-decker bus. In 1985 it moved to Alexander RH bodied [[Leyland Olympian]] double-deckers until 1988. From 1991 to 1997 the company steadily bought the [[Mercedes-Benz O405]] single-decker.
Grampian Regional Transport was one of the first UK users of [[articulated bus]]es. Aberdeen is one of the major locations for [[articulated buses in the United Kingdom]] with around 35 in the fleet in December 2013.<ref name=SWhite>[http://www.swhite.org.uk/ FirstGroup Fleetlist] Steve White</ref>
 
Grampian Regional Transport was one of the first UK users of [[articulated bus]]es, taking delivery of a single {{convert|17.6|m}} [[Walter Alexander Coachbuilders|Alexander]]-bodied articulated [[Mercedes-Benz O405]]G in November 1992.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Simpson |first=Richard |date=14 November 1992 |title=Merc artic makes its debut |url=https://archive.org/details/cbw-issue39/page/7/mode/1up |magazine=[[Coach & Bus Week]] |issue=39 |page=7 |location=Peterborough |publisher=Emap |access-date=20 April 2024}}</ref> Aberdeen is one of the major locations for [[articulated buses in the United Kingdom]] with around 35 in the fleet in December 2013.<ref name=SWhite>[http://www.swhite.org.uk/ FirstGroup Fleetlist] Steve White</ref>{{needs update|date=August 2023}}
As at March 2013 the fleet consisted of 173 buses and coaches.<ref name=SWhite/>
 
In 2014, First Aberdeen purchased 26 [[Wright StreetLite]] [[micro-hybrid]] buses.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2014-08-27|title=First Aberdeen welcomes 26 brand new micro-hybrid buses into fleet|url=https://www.intelligenttransport.com/transport-news/14468/first-aberdeen-welcomes-26-brand-new-micro-hybrid-buses-into-fleet/|access-date=2021-05-14|website=Intelligent Transport|language=en}}</ref>
==Daytime Services==
{{unsourced section|date=July 2018}}
[[File:First Parknride.JPG|right|thumb|[[Alexander ALX300]] bodied [[Volvo B10BLE]] in [[King Street, Aberdeen|King Street]] in August 2012]]
[[File:SV07 EHF.jpg|right|thumb|[[Wright Eclipse]] bodied [[Volvo B7RLE]] in [[Guild Street, Aberdeen|Guild Street]] in August 2012]]
 
First Aberdeen were the world's first operator of [[double-decker bus|double-decker]] [[hydrogen fuel cell bus]]es, taking delivery of 15 [[Wright StreetDeck Hydroliner]]s in January 2021.<ref>{{cite web |last=Randall |first=Chris |url=https://www.electrive.com/2019/07/24/aberdeen-orders-another-15-hydrogen-buses/ |title=Aberdeen orders another 15 hydrogen buses |date=24 July 2019 |website=electrive |access-date=27 October 2022}}</ref> These were initially taken off the road in January 2022 due to technical faults and were temporarily replaced with [[Euro VI]] diesel buses loaned from [[First Glasgow]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=2022-02-04 |title=Aberdeen's hydrogen buses taken off the road due to technical issue |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-north-east-orkney-shetland-60266199 |access-date=2022-07-29}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Peat |first=Chris |date=9 February 2022 |title=Wrightbus upgrading Aberdeen hydrogen fleet |url=https://www.busandcoachbuyer.com/wrightbus-upgrading-aberdeen-hydrogen-fleet/ |work=Bus & Coach Buyer |location=Peterborough |access-date=27 October 2022}}</ref> The first of these returned to service in April 2022.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2022-04-20 |title=Aberdeen's hydrogen buses returning to service after technical issue |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-north-east-orkney-shetland-61161763 |access-date=2022-07-29}}</ref> 10 more joined the fleet in April 2022, bringing the total fleet of Hydroliners to 25,<ref>{{cite magazine |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date=17 May 2022 |title=Hydroliners clock up first million miles |url=https://cbwmagazine.com/hydroliners-clock-up-first-million-miles/ |magazine=Coach & Bus Week |location=Peterborough |access-date=27 October 2022}}</ref> which would be joined by 24 [[Yutong E12]] [[battery electric bus]]es, entering service with First Aberdeen in July 2023.<ref>{{cite web|last=Halford |first=Paul |url=https://www.route-one.net/bus/first-aberdeen-adds-24-yutong-e12-electric-buses/ |title=First Aberdeen adds 24 Yutong E12 electric buses |work=routeone |date=12 July 2023 |access-date=13 August 2023}}</ref>
A Metro network was introduced on 13 May 2001 as a series of colour-coded high-frequency routes with the promise of no reduction in services in the following three years. In September 2004, a small number of services were withdrawn and minor revisions were made to some existing services.
 
===King Street Headquartersheadquarters===▼
Metro was later renamed the Overground network in line with other FirstGroup companies. This was a group wide initiative to rationalise route networks into high frequency colour-coded networks running on main routes, to reduce the amount of confusing overlaps and divergences of routes on minor roads.
The company has occupied a historic depot site at 395 [[King Street, Aberdeen|King Street]] at the heart of the city since 1914. It was built in 1862 and bought by Aberdeen Corporation Tramways<ref name=395KingSt/> The site has also served as global headquarters of FirstGroup since its formation in 1995. On 21 June 2007 First gained permission to redevelop the site into a new Aberdeen bus depot and global FirstGroup headquarters building. It was officially opened by [[Anne, Princess Royal]] on 15 July 2010.<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-north+east-orkney+shetland-10647620 The Princess Royal opens FirstGroup's new Aberdeen base] ''BBC News'' 15 July 2010</ref>▼
 
In 2008, First Aberdeen revamped their entire network axing little used services and focusing on the Overground routes. The required 90% of Aberdeen's timetable to be changed.{{CN|date=September 2013}}
 
On 16 September 2012 First has been introducing a network review of services which is the biggest service change since 2008. The review reduces frequency on most routes. It also removes evening and Sunday services to parts of the city.{{CN|date=September 2013}}.
 
==Revenue==
Most First Aberdeen services are operated commercially, an exception to this is the council subsidised Service 40 which operates from Guild Street to Dubford on Sundays. The company operates an exact fare policy, whereby no change is given by the driver, althoughthough they also allow [[contactless payment]] along with recentlypayment technologicalthrough enhancementsthe First AberdeenBus nowapp accepton Mobilethe ticketing,[[Android Contactless(operating Payments,system)|Android]] Appleand Pay[[iOS]] andmobile Androidoperating Paysystems. The fleet was one of two divisions in FirstBus picked to trial the new "ticketer" ticket machines at the start of 2017.
 
▲==King Street Headquarters==
▲The company has occupied a historic depot site at 395 King Street at the heart of the city since 1914. It was built in 1862 and bought by Aberdeen Corporation Tramways<ref name=395KingSt/> The site has also served as global headquarters of FirstGroup since its formation in 1995. On 21 June 2007 First gained permission to redevelop the site into a new Aberdeen bus depot and global FirstGroup headquarters building. It was officially opened by [[Anne, Princess Royal]] on 15 July 2010.<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-north+east-orkney+shetland-10647620 The Princess Royal opens FirstGroup's new Aberdeen base] ''BBC News'' 15 July 2010</ref>
 
==See also==
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==External links==
{{commons category|FirstGroup buses in the United Kingdom}}
*[http://www.firstgroup.com/ukbus/aberdeen/ Company website]
*[http://showbus.com/gallery/nscot/grt.htm Showbus gallery]
 
{{Bus operators in Scotland}}
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[[Category:Bus operators in Scotland]]
[[Category:First GroupFirstGroup companies]]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Aberdeen"