A Perplexing Problem in Paisley (1)

A Ride via the Clyde!

Readers with well-formed and agile memories will remember that fbb caught McGills service 26 from Braehead Shopping Centre to Paisley.

A 26 timetable leaflet was one of the very incomplete set available from the Braehead bus station enquiry office.

As fbb was using the frequent (every 7/8 minutes) core service he had no need to consult the leaflet until he returned to the holiday flat in Largs.

Half the buses (every 15 minutes) continue from Breahead to Glasgow where they share a terminus with all the other McGills Glasgow routes ...

... except the 901 and 906 to Largs which run into Buchanan bus station. Effectively, this stop at the top of Renfield Street is McGills Glasgow bus station!

The next stop is close to Central Station then, after crossing the Clyde, the 26 leaves "traditional" Glasgow and makes its way via major development, including the new BBC building and the Science Museum.

On this section it shares the road with Stagecoach X19 (FarceLink) to the Hospital. Govan bus station is next, but the 26 does not deign to enter this rather splendid new bus and underground interchange ...

... all much changed from "the good old days"!!

Or changed even more from the older good old days.

Here is the map so far:-

From Govan the route leads us away from the river to join the busy Shieldhall Road, the original A8 ...

... but it is not long before we fork right off the main drag ...

... along Kings Inch Road and thus into intu Braehead. fbb waxed lyrical (?) about this location and his ride into Paisley in a previous blog; gluttons for punishment can re-read it (here).

To complete our virtual ride on the 26 we will have another bit of the map which will take us south from Paisley Town Centre.

The 26 calls at Paisley Canal Station ...

 ... then takes the B774 Neilston Road ...

... and, look, there's one coming the other way.

To the left, Aldi; to the right Morrisons ...

... before we turn right into Falside Road which begins a loop round the main Glenburn Estate. A wide mixture of housing (1930s, 1950s and more recent) ...

... take us round to Fairway Avenue, the Skye Crescent shops and associated former (?) bus terminus.

The shops are pleasantly situated adjacent to green open space, but sadly several are boarded up.

We now double back via Glenburn Road, passing the memorable Breahead Road roundabout ...

... before briefly joining the B775 Gleniffer Road. But very quickly we dive off left along Nethercraigs Road ...

... before reaching the terminus at Langcraigs Primary School; where a splendid turning circle is provided.

Here is the McGill's map again and our readers may attempt to match reality to cartography ...

... but as none of the timetable point times ...

... appears on the map - it might not be easy. And why is there an arrow on the 26 nearest to Nethercraigs? And which buses run along Caplethill Road? And where IS Gauze Street?

More on the leaflet tomorrow.

 Next Perplexing Paisley blog : Wednesday 8th May