Anyone work in Livingston and live in Glasgow?

[susanjc9]

My husband may have a chance for a job in Livingston. We live in the US currently (he is Scottish). We don't want to live in Livingston and have family in Glasgow so we would prefer that but would also consider Edinburgh because it's closer.

Does anyone commute this far? How long does it take and what part of Glasgow do you live in? He would have to drive because the office isn't near public transport. We would need to live somewhere fairly urban with good public transportation because we do not want to have two cars.

Our daughter would be going into S3 and would like a good public high school or maybe private. We originally wanted to live in the West End but realize that would be too far to Livingston. Would Shawlands be realistic or would we need to be closer to Uddingston etc.

Thanks!

[OnlyEatsToast]

I used to live near uddingston and commute close to Livingston. Sorry to say it was a nightmare and I hated it. Moved to a new job in Glasgow only a few months later as it was so exhausting. I think it's too far. You could now get train from uddingston to Livingston easily if he could arrange transport at the other end? Also the A8/M8 has just been massively improved so that could reduce journey times too.

[OnlyEatsToast]

Just south of Glasgow city centre (think govan/ibrox area) would take a hour if I left at 7. Often 1.5hrs or more on return journey leaving at 4. Slightly shorter but similar times from uddingston area

[susanjc9]

Do a lot of people commute in this direction? It seems like the traffic would be headed toward Glasgow (in the morning).

[OnlyEatsToast]

Both ways but might seem heavier going into Glasgow just due to traffic volume

[Timeandtune]

Could your husband work flexible hours? I have done this commute and it is pretty soul destroying. The new bit of the motorway might help though. If he could start at 8 and leave at 4 it might be bearable. Or start at 10 and finish at 6.
There is a fairly good train service as well.
With regards where to stay ideally you want to be near the motorway. Somewhere like Bishopbriggs or Lenzie?

[ninjapants]

If your husband works shifts the commute will be completely doable. If he's working normal office hours it will be awful. The traffic backs up before the Livingston exit on the M8 Eastbound in the mornings, heading home he'd experience heavy traffic as he gets near to Glasgow. The 'back roads' are just as bad at rush hour.

I'd suggest either living closer, East side of Glasgow if you really want to stay there, or relocating to Edinburgh if city living and good private schools are a requirement.

Also public transport links are good in central Scotland, there are two train stations in Livingston, trains to/from Glasgow/Edinburgh run every 15 mins or so during the week so he could commute by rail. Have a look at the Scotrail or Trainline websites for timetables.

[Penguinthings]

I live in the west end of glasgow and commute to edinburgh- my train stops in Livingston en route. Takes me about an hour and 10 mins plus 5 mins walking either side, so yours could be shorter.

I do sometimes drive and it's ok. The bit that's a pest is getting into Edinburgh.

I'd recommend living north of the river as that way you get straight on the M8 and don't have to battle the M74. It's a dull commute but is fine.

Something quite a few people do is keep a bike permanantly on the other side and cycle the last bit to work. Station bike storage facilities are pretty good

[prettybird]

I used to work for a company that had an office in Livingston and would regularly have to spend the day in the office there. It was do-able - but I was able to come off at Junction 3A (? - the one beside the grass pyramids and before the "proper" Livingston junction) so before the bad queues, and then work my way across to the office. (It was near the Gore-tex office) Plenty of my colleagues commuted on a daily basis. Train wasn't an option as it was too far from the station.

But like timeandtune I was usually able to adjust my hours to miss the worst of the traffic.

I live in Pollokshields, with good access to the M74/M77/M8. The new motorway link should make things a bit better - until more people think that they can drive/live further away . Good access in Pollokshields to suburban railway, bus routes and the subway. Ditto for Shawlands, with the exception of the subway.

Ds is at (the state school) Shawlands Academy (S5 - sitting his Higher at the moment) and I have been really impressed with the school and its inclusiveness (not just academically, but its social and internaiton ethos). His "worst" case scenario is 3As and 2Bs (and I trust his assessment - he says he 100% sure of the 2Bs but is still working to get As in them) - but he should get 5As . (He's currently sitting upstairs despite the glorious sunshine studying for his Chemistry Higher tomorrow).

[trixymalixy]

It's not a nice commute. I know a few people who do it and absolutely hate it.

[TheDuckSaysMoo]

I

[TheDuckSaysMoo]

I used to commute from shawlands to Livingston. It was the west side of Livingston (grass pyramids exit - per pretty's response above). On a good day it was a 50 minute drive but that was leaving at 7am and back late. On a bad day it was probably 70 mins. Very bad days were reasonably frequent - bad weather or an accident could cause chaos. Fortunately i worked there as my office had relocated and we were all doing the same commute, so there was a lot of understanding if you were late or needed to leave early. The new road must shave 10 mins off my old commute.

Good luck. It is doable as long as you enjoy driving.

[prettybird]

Theducksaysmoo - I wonder if we worked for the same company? Does the office still exist there?

[prettybird]

....or is it now housing apparently - as a former colleague who actually lives in Livingston has told me.

[TheDuckSaysMoo]

The office is still there, pretty, but I'm not

[prettybird]

Not the same company then

[susanjc9]

Thanks for all your replies. It's very helpful. I think if he ends up being offered the job we would probably choose to live in Edinburgh. I just can't see him doing a long commute everyday as he pretty much works from home right now in the states.