gingerheid
Established Member
- Joined
- 2 Apr 2006
- Messages
- 1,585
It's brave to start trying to run competing bus services to West Lothian when the train is so excellent at the park and ride provisions more... in existence. I don't see any realistic way a bus can try to complete with 4 trains an hour that take under 30m to get to Edinburgh in rush hour, and if you live in a place that doesn't have access to the 4 tph then park and ride etc is always going to be tempting.
Obviously competition rules would prevent an attempt to link tram services and the 275, which is a shame. I have a feeling that in the absence of that what West Lothian needs from buses is services that take you to both your nearest station with 4tph and places that the train doesn't take you to (which is not central Edinburgh). It would be far easier to operate such a service than it would be with a normal rail link because the trains being so frequent means you can turn up at any time and nobody will worry about "what if the bus is late"?
Obviously competition rules would prevent an attempt to link tram services and the 275, which is a shame. I have a feeling that in the absence of that what West Lothian needs from buses is services that take you to both your nearest station with 4tph and places that the train doesn't take you to (which is not central Edinburgh). It would be far easier to operate such a service than it would be with a normal rail link because the trains being so frequent means you can turn up at any time and nobody will worry about "what if the bus is late"?