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Lothian Buses and ECB Discussion

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Bungle965

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It's believed once the new ticket machines come in this Will get sorted.
I think it's slightly unsatisfactory that they still haven't got their new ticket machines, as the principal operator in the capital city of Scotland they are certainly lagging behind the rest, even First have got contactless now.
It's made worse by the fact that they are exact change only.
Sam
 
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Darklord8899

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Is it known whether it is an issue at the Lothian end or Parkeon?
Sam

Another member on here, who seems to be "in the know", states that it is due to delays in receiving the new machines (what is causing the delays wasn't mentioned)
 

tbtc

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I can't remember when they ran, but there was the 5/55 and some short lived "shopper services" (I think probably around the time Gyle centre opened) that were numbered in the 50's

It was the 5/51 - the difference being the route from Northfield Broadway to ASDA - the 51 taking the route that the 49 takes (along the eastern end of The Jewel - avoiding Brunstane) - there were no 4s serving that end of the Jewel in those days - it terminated at Bingham.

Other daytime LRT services with numbers over forty nine included...

  • 50 (Longstone Depot - Wester Hailes, like the current 20)
  • 52 (anti-clockwise outer-circle - i.e. the 32s in reverse)
  • 55 - City - Davidsons Mains - Silverknowes
  • 58 - MaxiTaxi service from Mussleburgh to Stoneybank (attacking the Easter Scottish 138 "town service")
  • 59 - MaxiTaxi service around Wester Hailes (inc Calder Gardens, attacking the Eastern Scottish C55)
  • 60 - Holyrood - Bristol Place
  • 61 - City - Tolcross - Churchill (evolved into the current 24)
  • 62 - short lived service - City - Hillend - Penicuik like the current 15
  • 63 - ASDA - City - South Gyle - Livingston (attacking the Edinburgh Transport 333 and then various Eastern Scottish services in West Lothian - later extended to Bathgate etc)
  • 64 - City - South Gyle - Bathgate (attacking the Easter Scottish 16/17/18 corridor)
  • 65 - Herriot Watt - City - Restlerig (like the current 25 but via Abbeyhill instead of Leith Walk)
  • 66 - South Queensferry - City - Seaton Sands (possibly the most unreliable service they've ever operated, due to the length!)
  • 69 - Moredun - City - Corstorphine (attacking the Easter Scottish C11 at the southern end and the 86 at the western end)
  • 80 - East Craigs/ Silverknowes/ Pilton - City - Liberton - Polton Mill - the Polton to Pilton service had a lot of different northern termini!
  • 81 - Silverknowes - City - Penicuik (like the current 37 but an express service that avoided Loanhead)
  • 82 - East Craigs - City - Danderhall - Polton (?) - merged with the 80
  • 84 - Kings Road - Musselburgh - Dalkeith - Loanhead (similar to the Easter Scottish 140/141)
  • 85 - Corstorphine - City - Tranent (express version of the current 26)
  • 86 - Corstorphine - City - Seaton Sands (express version of the current 26)
  • 87 - Kings Road - City - Loanhead - Penicuik (now bits of the 25 and 37)
  • 89 - Eastfield - Stockbridge - City - Danderhall - Gorebridge (remnant of the old 48/49)
  • 132 - City -Danderhall - Mussleburgh
  • 100 - Airport service (obviously)
  • 200 - St Andrew Square Bus Station - Airport (short lived)

(I've said "Eastern Scottish" but it may have been SMT at times - there were a number of limited stop peak services numbered in the seventies and eighties - LRT seemed to prefer to use a higher number for express services than using an "X" prefix - e.g. I think the express 43/44 was the 83/84 - plus some irregular services like the 68 from Kings Road to Mayfield for placing journeys on the 3? but my memory isn't perfect, as I'm sure someone will point out!)
 

Darklord8899

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It was the 5/51 - the difference being the route from Northfield Broadway to ASDA - the 51 taking the route that the 49 takes (along the eastern end of The Jewel - avoiding Brunstane) - there were no 4s serving that end of the Jewel in those days - it terminated at Bingham.

Other daytime LRT services with numbers over forty nine included...

  • 50 (Longstone Depot - Wester Hailes, like the current 20)
  • 52 (anti-clockwise outer-circle - i.e. the 32s in reverse)
  • 55 - City - Davidsons Mains - Silverknowes
  • 58 - MaxiTaxi service from Mussleburgh to Stoneybank (attacking the Easter Scottish 138 "town service")
  • 59 - MaxiTaxi service around Wester Hailes (inc Calder Gardens, attacking the Eastern Scottish C55)
  • 60 - Holyrood - Bristol Place
  • 61 - City - Tolcross - Churchill (evolved into the current 24)
  • 62 - short lived service - City - Hillend - Penicuik like the current 15
  • 63 - ASDA - City - South Gyle - Livingston (attacking the Edinburgh Transport 333 and then various Eastern Scottish services in West Lothian - later extended to Bathgate etc)
  • 64 - City - South Gyle - Bathgate (attacking the Easter Scottish 16/17/18 corridor)
  • 65 - Herriot Watt - City - Restlerig (like the current 25 but via Abbeyhill instead of Leith Walk)
  • 66 - South Queensferry - City - Seaton Sands (possibly the most unreliable service they've ever operated, due to the length!)
  • 69 - Moredun - City - Corstorphine (attacking the Easter Scottish C11 at the southern end and the 86 at the western end)
  • 80 - East Craigs/ Silverknowes/ Pilton - City - Liberton - Polton Mill - the Polton to Pilton service had a lot of different northern termini!
  • 81 - Silverknowes - City - Penicuik (like the current 37 but an express service that avoided Loanhead)
  • 82 - East Craigs - City - Danderhall - Polton (?) - merged with the 80
  • 84 - Kings Road - Musselburgh - Dalkeith - Loanhead (similar to the Easter Scottish 140/141)
  • 85 - Corstorphine - City - Tranent (express version of the current 26)
  • 86 - Corstorphine - City - Seaton Sands (express version of the current 26)
  • 87 - Kings Road - City - Loanhead - Penicuik (now bits of the 25 and 37)
  • 89 - Eastfield - Stockbridge - City - Danderhall - Gorebridge (remnant of the old 48/49)
  • 132 - City -Danderhall - Mussleburgh
  • 100 - Airport service (obviously)
  • 200 - St Andrew Square Bus Station - Airport (short lived)

(I've said "Eastern Scottish" but it may have been SMT at times - there were a number of limited stop peak services numbered in the seventies and eighties - LRT seemed to prefer to use a higher number for express services than using an "X" prefix - e.g. I think the express 43/44 was the 83/84 - plus some irregular services like the 68 from Kings Road to Mayfield for placing journeys on the 3? but my memory isn't perfect, as I'm sure someone will point out!)

Thank you for pointing out my typo!
I remember the 58/59 maxi taxis!
IIRC in the early 80's the preference for the (peak time) commuter express/Limited Stop services was the 70's and didn't they have higher/different fares?
I remember around 1985/86 that the 80's were favoured for all day Limited Stop services.
Also remember South Queensferry having the 18 and 40 as well at different times
I am trying to remember what the 5x shopper services were (pretty sure there was 4 or 5 of them.....
50 Wester Hailes to Gyle (?)
53 Whitson Cresent (Balgreen) to Gyle (95% sure on this one)
54 Juniper Green (possibly Balerno) - Gyle (?)
.....help please!!!
 
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Lothian_Bus

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It was the 5/51 - the difference being the route from Northfield Broadway to ASDA - the 51 taking the route that the 49 takes (along the eastern end of The Jewel - avoiding Brunstane) - there were no 4s serving that end of the Jewel in those days - it terminated at Bingham.

Other daytime LRT services with numbers over forty nine included...

  • 50 (Longstone Depot - Wester Hailes, like the current 20)
  • 52 (anti-clockwise outer-circle - i.e. the 32s in reverse)
  • 55 - City - Davidsons Mains - Silverknowes
  • 58 - MaxiTaxi service from Mussleburgh to Stoneybank (attacking the Easter Scottish 138 "town service")
  • 59 - MaxiTaxi service around Wester Hailes (inc Calder Gardens, attacking the Eastern Scottish C55)
  • 60 - Holyrood - Bristol Place
  • 61 - City - Tolcross - Churchill (evolved into the current 24)
  • 62 - short lived service - City - Hillend - Penicuik like the current 15
  • 63 - ASDA - City - South Gyle - Livingston (attacking the Edinburgh Transport 333 and then various Eastern Scottish services in West Lothian - later extended to Bathgate etc)
  • 64 - City - South Gyle - Bathgate (attacking the Easter Scottish 16/17/18 corridor)
  • 65 - Herriot Watt - City - Restlerig (like the current 25 but via Abbeyhill instead of Leith Walk)
  • 66 - South Queensferry - City - Seaton Sands (possibly the most unreliable service they've ever operated, due to the length!)
  • 69 - Moredun - City - Corstorphine (attacking the Easter Scottish C11 at the southern end and the 86 at the western end)
  • 80 - East Craigs/ Silverknowes/ Pilton - City - Liberton - Polton Mill - the Polton to Pilton service had a lot of different northern termini!
  • 81 - Silverknowes - City - Penicuik (like the current 37 but an express service that avoided Loanhead)
  • 82 - East Craigs - City - Danderhall - Polton (?) - merged with the 80
  • 84 - Kings Road - Musselburgh - Dalkeith - Loanhead (similar to the Easter Scottish 140/141)
  • 85 - Corstorphine - City - Tranent (express version of the current 26)
  • 86 - Corstorphine - City - Seaton Sands (express version of the current 26)
  • 87 - Kings Road - City - Loanhead - Penicuik (now bits of the 25 and 37)
  • 89 - Eastfield - Stockbridge - City - Danderhall - Gorebridge (remnant of the old 48/49)
  • 132 - City -Danderhall - Mussleburgh
  • 100 - Airport service (obviously)
  • 200 - St Andrew Square Bus Station - Airport (short lived)

(I've said "Eastern Scottish" but it may have been SMT at times - there were a number of limited stop peak services numbered in the seventies and eighties - LRT seemed to prefer to use a higher number for express services than using an "X" prefix - e.g. I think the express 43/44 was the 83/84 - plus some irregular services like the 68 from Kings Road to Mayfield for placing journeys on the 3? but my memory isn't perfect, as I'm sure someone will point out!)


Very impressive set of information. Thanks for that.
If I could just be a pain and nit pick on one point.

Both the 85 and 86 routes were Clermiston to Tranent. The distinction between the 85 and 86 was the route they took to get there. After Musselburgh the 85 would go via Wallyford whilst the 86 would go via Prestonpans.
 

tbtc

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If I could just be a pain and nit pick on one point.

Both the 85 and 86 routes were Clermiston to Tranent. The distinction between the 85 and 86 was the route they took to get there. After Musselburgh the 85 would go via Wallyford whilst the 86 would go via Prestonpans.

:oops:

Yes - good point - you are absolutely correct.

Also remember South Queensferry having the 18 and 40 as well at different times

True - I remember "Burdiehouse" (the southern terminus of the 18 for a while, in the days when LRT services stayed within the city boundaries) amusing me greatly as a name!
 

Lothian_Bus

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:oops:

Yes - good point - you are absolutely correct.


True - I remember "Burdiehouse" (the southern terminus of the 18 for a while, in the days when LRT services stayed within the city boundaries) amusing me greatly as a name!
I remember that too. I was always intrigued by the name 'Burdiehouse'. :)
 

Mal

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True - I remember "Burdiehouse" (the southern terminus of the 18 for a while, in the days when LRT services stayed within the city boundaries) amusing me greatly as a name![/QUOTE]

Just slightly off-topic, wasn't Burdiehouse an Anglicised version of BordeauHouse? I know someone will correct me if I'm wrong! In 1964 there was definitely the 18 was Burdiehouse to Barnton then 41 to Greenbank. Again, apologies for being off-topic!
 
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Steamysandy

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Burdiehouse was derived from Bordeaux House which dated back to the return of Mary ,Queen of Scots from France in the 16 the century where she'd spent part of her childhood.
 

Mal

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Burdiehouse was derived from Bordeaux House which dated back to the return of Mary ,Queen of Scots from France in the 16 the century where she'd spent part of her childhood.

Thanks for that! When I was at school 60 years ago I never really paid attention to History, but looking back, the history of Edinburgh is fascinating. As Darklord says, the name is better than the scheme!
 

Steamysandy

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Thanks for that! When I was at school 60 years ago I never really paid attention to History, but looking back, the history of Edinburgh is fascinating. As Darklord says, the name is better than the scheme!
I picked up all sorts of useless information at various times - being train daft had its compensations.
Have you seen or heard the new Proclaimers song " Streets of Edinburgh" with buses at Elm Row on the video?
 

MrHopefull

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Another member on here, who seems to be "in the know", states that it is due to delays in receiving the new machines (what is causing the delays wasn't mentioned)
probably me haha
Management state they are in no hurry to add contactless at the moment and are weighting the options for install and they want to keep the cost to a minimum as they where quoted millions to get the fleet off over 800 buses fitted with it.
As for machines, it once again comes down to the size off the fleet hence why East coast buses had them all first.
hope this helps.

p.s time frame for contactless is looking to be around the end off the year so I've heard.
 

Bungle965

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probably me haha
Management state they are in no hurry to add contactless at the moment and are weighting the options for install and they want to keep the cost to a minimum as they where quoted millions to get the fleet off over 800 buses fitted with it.
As for machines, it once again comes down to the size off the fleet hence why East coast buses had them all first.
hope this helps.

p.s time frame for contactless is looking to be around the end off the year so I've heard.
Cheers for this information!
No hurry to add something that would make it more attractive to customers.:rolleyes:
Sam
 

oldman

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More over-50s ...

There was a shopper bus 57 from Oxgangs via Colinton. There were numbers on the flags and a dedicated stop uphill on Westgarth Avenue in Colinton (normally one-way downhill). No timetables of course. I don't think I ever saw one but for some reason I thought it went to Tesco at Wester Hailes. Maybe it was the Gyle.

In the early 80s before deregulation there was a joint ES/LRT 61 SAS-Sighthill-Riccarton-Balerno. Previously Riccarton had a very limited ES service 53A (via Colinton) with nothing for students evenings and weekends. I think the 45 extended to Riccarton at this time.
 

Darklord8899

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probably me haha
Management state they are in no hurry to add contactless at the moment and are weighting the options for install and they want to keep the cost to a minimum as they where quoted millions to get the fleet off over 800 buses fitted with it.
As for machines, it once again comes down to the size off the fleet hence why East coast buses had them all first.
hope this helps.

p.s time frame for contactless is looking to be around the end off the year so I've heard.

:lol:;)
 

43106

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Yet more high numbered Edinburgh CT routes...
There were a family of Limited Stop/Express services in the mid/late 1970's that ran at rush-hours. I can't remember the details. but they were all route number 7X, such as...
70 = City centre - Wester Hailes,
73 = City centre - Sighthill.
There was a 76 (to Portobello?) and also a 78 (to Gilmerton?) but I just can't remember.
 

overthewater

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Didnt realise the 44d went from Balerno to Dunbar , thats some route.

Anyone know when the 35 was extended to Gyle and Airport?

1st time or 2nd time? it was cut back to Gyle but it was reinstalled a year later. ?
 

Darklord8899

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With regards to the first 44 family of services, did they all start Balerno? I have a feeling that the 44D may have only been from Haymarket to Dunbar....
 

alexf380

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You could have been right about that. I have a feeling it was Peak times and Sundays only, with the X6 operating at all other times. The 44D was then renumbered 6 a few years later.

Whilst we're on the subject, Didn't the 35 terminate at Sighthill, before extending to the Airport? There was a photo on suzyscott.com from 2002 ish of an Olympian showing just this (it was around the time First still ran an 11 to Ocean Terminal). Also, can anyone tell me what route the 28 used to take to get to Clovenstone? There are next to no photos of it online.
 

sam120

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With regards to the first 44 family of services, did they all start Balerno? I have a feeling that the 44D may have only been from Haymarket to Dunbar....
I can’t make up my mind whether an hour and 32 mins is enough to get to Balerno? That’s what they were allowing on the timetable although it just days ‘Edinburgh’
 

oldman

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With regards to the first 44 family of services, did they all start Balerno? I have a feeling that the 44D may have only been from Haymarket to Dunbar....

Toward the end, they cut the frequency to Balerno (blamed on the tram works) so there were part routes to Haymarket, but before that there were through journeys on the 44D.
 

Darklord8899

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44D was only evenings and sundays wasn’t it? Like when LB 44 extended to Pencaitland from Tranent

IIRC The 44's didn't run Sundays, it was the 66 which ran Balerno - city centre - Seton Sands!! (Just to spice things up lol)


I can’t make up my mind whether an hour and 32 mins is enough to get to Balerno? That’s what they were allowing on the timetable although it just days ‘Edinburgh’

if a 44D journey was timetabled at 1hr 32 mins, then it wouldn't be Balerno - Dunbar, as I remember that in the days of X6/X8
X6 took 50ish mins from Haymarket to Haddington via Jewel & A1
X8 took 60ish mins from Haymarket to Haddington via Jewel, A1, Macmerry & Gladsmuir
Again, IIRC, from Balerno were departures not something like this:
44 xx00
44B xx10
44 xx30
44B xx40
Or with a 44C at xx20
With 6 bph from Haymarket to East Lothian
at peak times there may have been a 10min frequency to/from Balerno.....
Just can't quite remember all the details....
 
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