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Lothian Buses and ECB Discussion

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tbtc

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but the short ones aren’t even operating the 49. I hope heykeep the weekend deckers thiugh.

No, I appreciate that - I maybe didn't make myself clear - I was meaning that there are a few Lothian services where a single decker wasn't really enough and frequency increase probably not realistic (can't cram any more buses per hour down Princes Street, nothing runs via the length of George Street nowadays), so the ten metre (?) double deckers might be a half-way-house for services like the 29 or 49 where Lothian want to increase capacity but a full sized double decker isn't yet needed.

I'm maybe showing my age but routes like the 1/6 (now 1/21) were all double decker operated back in the day.
 
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ANWP Tom

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6, 24 and off peak 1s seems to be the current spread of Electrics. Way it seems to be is the electric trips become deckers from the peak. Well that seems common if what goes past the end of my street is anything to go by (live off easter road)
 

SpeedbirdA350

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I still wonder why Lothian never ordered any double decker electric Streetair buses as they are based on the Streetdeck, given that Lothian have invested in the charging stations and such. Sure, they are 10.5m in length, so similar to the ex londoners but for some routes, it would be brilliant. They also can have pantgraphs to charge with...

I'm maybe showing my age but routes like the 1/6 (now 1/21) were all double decker operated back in the day.
Not sure but I know in the early to mid 90s it was 1 one way 6 the other, but today the 1 and 21 are not connected.
 

Lothian_Bus

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I still wonder why Lothian never ordered any double decker electric Streetair buses as they are based on the Streetdeck, given that Lothian have invested in the charging stations and such. Sure, they are 10.5m in length, so similar to the ex londoners but for some routes, it would be brilliant. They also can have pantgraphs to charge with...


Not sure but I know in the early to mid 90s it was 1 one way 6 the other, but today the 1 and 21 are not connected.
Yes the 1/6 Circle operated until Spring 2000.

Whilst the 1 and 21 aren't linked now they do (for the most part) cover the areas served by the old 1/6 circle.
 

Darklord8899

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Not sure but I know in the early to mid 90s it was 1 one way 6 the other, but today the 1 and 21 are not connected.

It was a decision that was made around then to scrap all the circle services. The 1/6, 19/39, 32/52, 42/46 plus the 2/12 (which was a figure of eight, rather than a circle, but buses changed numbers at Jewel and Broomhouse) and the 34/35 (again, not a circle as such but buses changed numbers at Sighthill and Duke Street)
Also by that time the city scape had changed, Ocean Terminal had been built, the new Royal (for example) and just general changes to bus usage patterns, seem to make it the ideal time to change things.
 

Lothian_Bus

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It was a decision that was made around then to scrap all the circle services. The 1/6, 19/39, 32/52, 42/46 plus the 2/12 (which was a figure of eight, rather than a circle, but buses changed numbers at Jewel and Broomhouse) and the 34/35 (again, not a circle as such but buses changed numbers at Sighthill and Duke Street)
Also by that time the city scape had changed, Ocean Terminal had been built, the new Royal (for example) and just general changes to bus usage patterns, seem to make it the ideal time to change things.
Exactly this.

Spring 2000 was one of the most significant changes that were made to the network.

As well as the changes listed above this was when the bus numbers along the Corstorphine Road corridor were simplified.
Out went the 36/69 and 85/86 services replaced by a slight increase in the frequency of service 31 and a major increase in service 26 with 12 buses every hour, later reduced to the 8 we have now.

Also this was when the current service 22 route was introduced. The first service to use the West Approach Road since the early 80's. It's fair to say that this route proved a big success.
 

tbtc

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Not sure but I know in the early to mid 90s it was 1 one way 6 the other, but today the 1 and 21 are not connected.

Not interconnected, but the 1/6 circular was basically the current 1 from Corstorphine to Easter Road (but via Johnston Terrace and Holyrood rathe than Princes Street) then the 21 route via Ferry Road to Corstorphine - I don't remember any single deckers on the old circular - it was downgraded later on with both sides of the old circle (the stand alone services 1 and 21) both running with single deckers for periods

Exactly this.

Spring 2000 was one of the most significant changes that were made to the network.

As well as the changes listed above this was when the bus numbers along the Corstorphine Road corridor were simplified.
Out went the 36/69 and 85/86 services replaced by a slight increase in the frequency of service 31 and a major increase in service 26 with 12 buses every hour, later reduced to the 8 we have now.

Also this was when the current service 22 route was introduced. The first service to use the West Approach Road since the early 80's. It's fair to say that this route proved a big success.

Does anyone have the list of the 2000 changes? One of the biggest network changes to any city I can remember (maybe the Glasgow Overground in 1998 was bigger?).
 

overthewater

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Does anyone have the list of the 2000 changes? One of the biggest network changes to any city I can remember (maybe the Glasgow Overground in 1998 was bigger?).
YES

which one do you want? March, august or December 2000 :D
 

Lothian_Bus

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Not interconnected, but the 1/6 circular was basically the current 1 from Corstorphine to Easter Road (but via Johnston Terrace and Holyrood rathe than Princes Street) then the 21 route via Ferry Road to Corstorphine - I don't remember any single deckers on the old circular - it was downgraded later on with both sides of the old circle (the stand alone services 1 and 21) both running with single deckers for periods



Does anyone have the list of the 2000 changes? One of the biggest network changes to any city I can remember (maybe the Glasgow Overground in 1998 was bigger?).
Sadly I don't.

They followed it up in 2001 with some more changes but not on the same scale as 2000.

A significant change in 2001 was to how the 7/11 and 31/33 linked up. Central's 7 and 11 routes would link up at Captain's Road and continue on as the other service. Similarly Longstone's 31 and 33 would do the same at Ferniehill. After the changes the 7 switched to Longstone and linked with the 33 at Ferniehill. The 31 switched to Central and every 2nd 31 would connect with every second 11 at Captain's Road. Every other 31 went to Polton Mill and every other 11 to Farmilehead. As we know all of these routes have altered slightly since and the 7 is back at Central.

My memory as a regular user of the 31 at the time was older buses being used after the move from Longstone to Central.
 

route101

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6, 24 and off peak 1s seems to be the current spread of Electrics. Way it seems to be is the electric trips become deckers from the peak. Well that seems common if what goes past the end of my street is anything to go by (live off easter road)

Seen a decker on a 24 other day , peak working ?
 

overthewater

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The X77 is utter madness going to the gyle and with with the X83, there should have sent a bus down the by pass at least it had a chance to do it withn an hour.
 

Lothian_Bus

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The X77 is utter madness going to the gyle and with with the X83, there should have sent a bus down the by pass at least it had a chance to do it withn an hour.
Thank you very much for posting these.

I am pleased that my memories of the March 2000 changes are mainly correct. :)
 

overthewater

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Ill wiat a couple of day to let people discuss the 2000 changes before moving onto the 2001 changes. It wasn't until July 2003 when 1 and 32 stop being circular.
 

SpeedbirdA350

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Is the changes in 2000 when the 1/6 would stop running via the high street and Johnston Terrace? I don't suppose someone would have those old routemaps?

Overthewater - huge thanks for posting those! I can't recall us having any buses in the 50-99 range back then at all except one bus in the 80s and of course the 100 Airlink.
 

TheAlbanach_

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Does anyone know if Lothian Buses plan to let you top up your ridacard online? As much as they are great at running buses, ticketing is not moved on much. By that I mean, no online top up, their single journey smart card has no actually benefit over normal tickets and no contactless... Before anyone jumps down my throat about that! :P
 

Darklord8899

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They'd have to move the 38 from Longstone to Central for that, which I can't see happening.


Most likely just a bus needed changed and no single deck available.

I was meaning more in terms of vehicle size it seems more suited to off peak 38's
 

Darklord8899

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Is the changes in 2000 when the 1/6 would stop running via the high street and Johnston Terrace? I don't suppose someone would have those old routemaps?

Overthewater - huge thanks for posting those! I can't recall us having any buses in the 50-99 range back then at all except one bus in the 80s and of course the 100 Airlink.

I can't remember when they ran, but there was the 5/51 and some short lived "shopper services" (I think probably around the time Gyle centre opened) that were numbered in the 50's

Edited as I got over happy with the 5's (51 not 55)
 
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Darklord8899

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Ill wiat a couple of day to let people discuss the 2000 changes before moving onto the 2001 changes. It wasn't until July 2003 when 1 and 32 stop being circular.

Was it not around this time that the decision was also made to "simplify things" by dropping the use of "A" routes (Sunday 19A, 26A, 35A, 44A(which was the 43 at one point))
(I was felt that having the 26 going to both Seton Sands and Tranent more confusing than 26 Seton Sands, 26A Tranent (or whichever way round it was)

Mind you, the old Eastern/First 44 maybe did take the letter suffix a bit far
Balerno - City Centre - Wallyford (44), Tranent (44A), Pencaitland (44B), Haddington (44C), Dunbar (44D)
 
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sam120

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Was it not around this time that the decision was also made to "simplify things" by dropping the use of "A" routes (Sunday 19A, 26A, 35A, 44A(which was the 43 at one point))
(I was felt that having the 26 going to both Seton Sands and Tranent more confusing than 26 Seton Sands, 26A Tranent (or whichever way round it was)

Mind you, the old Eastern/First 44 maybe did take the letter suffix a bit far
Balerno - City Centre - Wallyford (44), can't remember where this went (44A), Pencaitland (44B), Haddington (44C), Tranent (44D)

I thought the 44D was Dunbar and the 44A was tranent? Correct me if I’m wrong
 

sam120

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I have an old first scotland easy timetable from about 2011 somewhere. I’ll find it later on
 
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