AI Powered Timetables Promise a Smoother Ride for Greater Glasgow
Punctuality on Glasgow’s buses has improved by 8.5 per cent since First Bus started handing the timetable over to artificial intelligence. That figure covers more than 60 routes tweaked using AI-powered scheduling software, which analyses live traffic data and historical patterns to build timetables that reflect how the city actually moves — or crawls — during the day. It is an approach that appears to be working, and First is betting on it again.
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| First Bus |
The fine print of the changes
While most of the adjustments are modest, a few are more noticeable:
- Service 18 split in two: Alternate trips will now run as service 18A from East Kilbride Bus Station to Gardenhall. This allows better coverage without confusing through journeys.
- Service 21 truncated: It will now only operate between East Kilbride Bus Station and Cochrane Street in the city centre, presumably to focus resources on high-demand segments.
- Service 201 extended: Now running to Lidl on Eaglesham Road and the new Hairmyres Railway Station. A small change with big implications for integrated travel.
- Extra journeys: Services like the 226, 263, 266, X4 and X11 will see more departures, which should please commuters and stretch the fleet planners a little thinner.
In total, the changes affect 25 services including local staples like the 2, 3, 6 and 16, as well as university routes such as the U1. The breadth of the update shows First Bus is not just experimenting at the edges but making AI scheduling part of its core operations.
What’s behind the AI curtain?
The software uses data on road conditions, traffic flow and previous running times to generate timetables that reflect reality rather than aspiration. No more guessing how long it takes to cross the Kingston Bridge during rush hour. The AI has seen it, measured it and decided you’re not getting across in seven minutes. Not unless you’re driving a hovercraft.
It is worth noting that AI here is not doing anything magical. It is essentially pattern recognition and statistics with a glossy name. But for an industry used to static tables and heroic optimism, even that is revolutionary.
Chris Coleman, Head of Network for First Bus in Scotland, said:
This is a significant package of improvements for our customers across Lanarkshire and Glasgow. We want to provide a service that is reliable, consistent and most importantly on time.
Congestion throughout Greater Glasgow has increased greatly in recent years and this has had a hugely negative impact on bus services in the city. We recognise the importance of building timetables that fit with the current live road conditions so our customers know when their bus will arrive.
These adjustments we are making to the timetables will achieve that while allowing us to serve as many people as possible.
Congestion is killing punctuality
One of the key motivations for the shift is Greater Glasgow's worsening congestion. Like many a thriving metropolis, the city has seen steady traffic growth, with buses bearing the brunt of delays. Unlike trains, buses must share space with cars, delivery vans, bin lorries and the occasional roadworks that pop up like wildflowers after rain.
First Bus, like many large bus operators, is under pressure to rebuild public trust and grow ridership. Its parent company, FirstGroup, carries 1.5 million passengers per day across the UK and operates more than 5,750 buses. Glasgow is a flagship network, so getting it right here is not just a regional concern but a national benchmark.
Passengers want predictability, not miracles
To the average commuter, reliability does not mean turning up on the dot every time. It means buses arriving close to when the app says they will. It means not being left behind because two trips vanished and the third is full to bursting. A solid 10-minute delay is still better than the dreaded “due” that sits on the screen until your toes go numb.
AI helps here by normalising reality. Instead of aiming for fantasy headways, it adjusts for what is actually happening on the roads. As more data comes in, the system becomes smarter and better at predicting the ebb and flow of urban traffic. In short, it learns from our collective pain.
Managing expectations
Of course, AI isn't a silver bullet. It can't clear double parked cars or summon a new bus lane by sheer logic. But it does give planners a sharper tool for matching supply to demand. For depot managers and schedulers, this may mean fewer nasty surprises. For passengers, it means a better chance of their 266 showing up before they freeze to the pavement.
That said, there will be growing pains. First Bus has admitted that updating physical timetables at every stop will take time. Customers are being encouraged to use the First Bus app, which includes real time tracking, the latest schedules and a healthy dose of hope.
Where it fits in the bigger picture
These updates support a broader strategy: nudging more people out of cars and onto buses. First Bus is aligned with wider goals across the UK to reduce emissions, ease congestion and improve air quality. With Glasgow pushing ahead on low emission zones and climate targets, getting public transport to work reliably is not just helpful — it is essential.
The company has also made a public commitment to operate a zero-emission fleet by 2035. Over 1,000 of its vehicles are expected to be zero-emission by the end of 2025. Timetable stability is part of making those cleaner buses more effective, and more appealing to would-be passengers.
The verdict?
AI-written bus timetables might sound like tech-for-tech’s-sake, but the early numbers are promising. If it helps passengers spend less time waiting and more time moving, then it is doing its job. Whether Glaswegians take to it remains to be seen, but in a city where “right on time” is often a punchline, it is at least a step in the right direction.
As always, the real test will be in the wet Tuesday morning queues. But if your 18A shows up without fuss, you might just find yourself tipping your hat to the algorithm.
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