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Lothian Buses and ECB Discussion

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Gingerbus1991

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Yea the Airlink can get really complicated at times, I'm sure at Night a discounted ticket is available in the City, still not the £1.70 fare but defo cheaper. Network DayTicket still valid tho


The new route for the 300 initially sounds terrible but it actually works. Does the 600 or 747 charge premium for the Airport out of curiosity?
I know the 747 does, ex stage driver here.
 
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overthewater

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All aiport routes which terminate there all have a premium. Only 21a didn't. I'm unsure if 909 does since it goes into Edinburgh.
 

Aictos

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I just need a open return which I believe both Edinburgh Trams and Lothian Buses offer but what's the difference between a Skylink service and a Airlink service?

Is it better using the Trams or the Airlink bearing in mind I'm travelling over a route that both provide....
 

SpeedbirdA350

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It's not the same buses as were used in 2014 either. The Airlink buses are all 17 reg B5TLs and Skylink are 15 and 67 reg. (15 reg were cascaded down from Airlink to Skylink).

As for better to use tram or bus, it depends if you're using it at peak or not and also your pocket. If you are going via rush hour then tram might be better as its mostly off road, however if not during rush hour then bus. It's also cheaper with tram costing £8.50 return (£6 one way) the bus (both Sky and Airlink) cost £7.50 return (£4.50 single) with both tram and bus giving a network wide day ticket for £9. Also, in terms of time bus v tram, it's negligible as tram is a couple of minutes faster than the bus.

Skylink v Airlink - no real difference except Airlink 100 is express whereas the Skylink 200, 300 and 400 are normal stopping service.
 

Aictos

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It's not the same buses as were used in 2014 either. The Airlink buses are all 17 reg B5TLs and Skylink are 15 and 67 reg. (15 reg were cascaded down from Airlink to Skylink).

As for better to use tram or bus, it depends if you're using it at peak or not and also your pocket. If you are going via rush hour then tram might be better as its mostly off road, however if not during rush hour then bus. It's also cheaper with tram costing £8.50 return (£6 one way) the bus (both Sky and Airlink) cost £7.50 return (£4.50 single) with both tram and bus giving a network wide day ticket for £9. Also, in terms of time bus v tram, it's negligible as tram is a couple of minutes faster than the bus.

Skylink v Airlink - no real difference except Airlink 100 is express whereas the Skylink 200, 300 and 400 are normal stopping service.

Ahh I see, well as my flight should arrive at 10:05 that should be off peak as far as tickets go so what are these newer buses like then?

Is Lothian Buses exact fare only across their entire operations these days?
 

SpeedbirdA350

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If you land at 10:05 then by the time you get through to collect luggage and out to the bus, it will be after 10:30 so yes, rush hour will be over by then. Airlink are the same as you will remember (leather style, high back seats), except newer buses and have announcements for every stop. Skylink are the same except they are blue and white (Airlink have gray). Both are comfortable and plenty of luggage racks on them all.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/134298730@N04/35826928753 - Airlink 100
https://www.flickr.com/photos/barberbus/37564579562 - Skylink 200 and 300 (400 uses same buses)

£1.70 flat fare over the city network. Only buses that cost extra are LCB and ECB (Lothian Country Buses) and (East Coast Buses) with LCB doing West Lothian, Livingston etc... but only cost extra if you go beyond the city boundary marker. Any madder and it is £1.70 single £4 day ticket.

We also have a couple of white buses but they are rare to catch (either not been painted or planning for full skin livery ie 551 which currently has a poppy skin on - this usually stays white until it needs to go to a special event livery) https://www.flickr.com/photos/stuart_montgomery/45978477814

No change given still on Lothian services, although contactless payment is available on Airlink and Skylink services. It's coming to the whole fleet but when, is a good question...
 

FlybeDash8Q400

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Airlink are the same as you will remember (leather style, high back seats), except newer buses and have announcements for every stop. Skylink are the same except they are sky blue
None of the fleet have leather seats anymore. Last bus 427 got them taken out when it got fleet livery
 

Aictos

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I usually only travel with hand luggage so no worries there but I probably have a coffee at the Costas there.
 

VioletEclipse

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Might be worth pointing out that Airlink (service 100) charges premium across the whole route, while Skylink, services 200 (North and West), 300 (South and East) and 400 (South) charges premium at the airport but normal fares across the rest of the route.
 

FlybeDash8Q400

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Might be worth pointing out that Airlink (service 100) charges premium across the whole route, while Skylink, services 200 (North and West), 300 (South and East) and 400 (South) charges premium at the airport but normal fares across the rest of the route.
Yea I'd just walk to Ingliston Park and Ride so I could pay the £1.70. Only takes 10 minutes
 

OmniCity999

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Interesting to note that the Three Bridges tour has been removed from the Edinburgh Tours Website (EdinburghTour.com). I had thought that the tour was getting refurbished buses next year, but it seems this may not be the case anymore.

Lothian may offer a deal where in potential customers for the bought tour can buy a ticket combo for the service 43.
 

Aictos

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Yea I'd just walk to Ingliston Park and Ride so I could pay the £1.70. Only takes 10 minutes

Google says 22 minutes, is the bus stop on the road that passes the park and ride or do you have to actually go into the park and ride site to get the bus?
 

FlybeDash8Q400

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Interesting to note that the Three Bridges tour has been removed from the Edinburgh Tours Website (EdinburghTour.com). I had thought that the tour was getting refurbished buses next year, but it seems this may not be the case anymore.

Lothian may offer a deal where in potential customers for the bought tour can buy a ticket combo for the service 43.
May very well be the case. From what I was told it may be that because Lothian have purchased additional ex Go Ahead B9TL's they plan to use them in WL. Presumably it's a result of them flogging a load of tridents to them

The 3 Bridges Tour was either just about full or carrying air. That's pretty much a result of it becoming hourly whereas previously when it was the Forth Bridges Tour it just met the boat and no extras were offered

Google says 22 minutes, is the bus stop on the road that passes the park and ride or do you have to actually go into the park and ride site to get the bus?
It needs to be the stop in the Park and Ride itself as the ones outside are now only served by the N22. Takes me 10 mins as I walk really quickly and google thinks everyone walks the pace of a snail so realistically 15 mins. Good way to save £2.80 though
 

Megafuss

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Interesting to note that the Three Bridges tour has been removed from the Edinburgh Tours Website (EdinburghTour.com). I had thought that the tour was getting refurbished buses next year, but it seems this may not be the case anymore.

Lothian may offer a deal where in potential customers for the bought tour can buy a ticket combo for the service 43.

Wonder if it will appear on Lothian Motorcoaches instead
 

route101

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Suppose theres nothing stopping someone staying on bus beyond Ingliston to the airport if they paid £1.70
 

route101

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Yes it appears to be made by Corethree, they provide many other companies mobile ticket platform.
They don't exactly have a great reputation either.
Sam

Few months ago they all had problems , McGills and First use it too .

Fantasy but where would a skylink 500 go?
 

OmniCity999

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Few months ago they all had problems , McGills and First use it too .

Fantasy but where would a skylink 500 go?

When first pull out, i reckon Lothian Country will offer a service from West Lothian to the Airport, but i dont think it will be a Skylink service.
 

ScotRail158725

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Dont think Go Ahead B9s will be put on it as we have 6 coming up and cant see where other 4 will go
 

OmniCity999

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Dont think Go Ahead B9s will be put on it as we have 6 coming up and cant see where other 4 will go

I'm led to believe these six examples are destined for Lothian Country to allow 591-594 to be removed from service, refurbished and added to the main Lothian fleet.
 

ScotRail158725

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I'm led to believe these six examples are destined for Lothian Country to allow 591-594 to be removed from service, refurbished and added to the main Lothian fleet.
1105-1110 Id guess. Considering that gives us a round number. WVL396/397 were bought October so they should be done in next couple of weeks. 1001/1002 were bought October 2017 and were ready in February
 

FlybeDash8Q400

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1105-1110 Id guess. Considering that gives us a round number. WVL396/397 were bought October so they should be done in next couple of weeks. 1001/1002 were bought October 2017 and were ready in February
I personally reckon they will use the 99x plus 1000 rather than use 1105 onwards
 

Driver362

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They are welcome to 591/4 back .if I'm being honest . They are ok to drive ,they pull well once I shift sorts itself out . But they are cold and let in a terrible draught brakes are reminiscent of a Dennis dart ,I appreciate they don't have same engine braking etc but I always allow extra distance.But turning circle is fantastic,I could go on ,594 is on a fresh engine too ! I was first out with new engine fitted ,but if these B9's that are coming are like the current 1001/50 they won't be without there problems ,don't get me started on B7's ,just wish they had used ex LOTHIAN stock ,but,it is what it is
 

SpeedbirdA350

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There are some large gaps in fleet numbers in Lothian fleet anyway.
51-102, 191-200 (both prob reserved for single deckers I assume?), 251-280, 511-550, 595-627, 960-990

I understand keeping 51-99 for single deckers but the others are not being used... some have became available since some of the older fleet has been retired but others have not been used in a very long time if ever.
 

VioletEclipse

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There are some large gaps in fleet numbers in Lothian fleet anyway.
51-102, 191-200 (both prob reserved for single deckers I assume?), 251-280, 511-550, 595-627, 960-990

I understand keeping 51-99 for single deckers but the others are not being used... some have became available since some of the older fleet has been retired but others have not been used in a very long time if ever.
Going by what I know 51-65 are assigned to the ECB Eclipse Threes I think, even though they display 10051-10065. 101-102 are also ECB 10101-10102 I think, same with 195-199 (10195-10199) unless ECB are now using their extra long fleet numbers as official numbers rather than just adding 10 (singe deck) or 20 (double deck) to their fleet numbers simply to show that they are part of ECB and not LothianCity as they are now calling it. 100 is vacant, along with 108-112, 115 and 124. Numbers 251-277 are presumably reserved for the trams, also 290-300 are not being used (used to be Routemasters who now have their London fleet numbers back). Most of 628-700 are now becoming vacant with Tridents heading out, although 961-1000 haven't been used for a long time, with the exception of the Scanias.

The isolated vacant numbers (200, 216, 390 and 438-440, along with any I've missed out) annoy me, but that's hardly avoidable with a fleet as big as Lothian's.

I also think that there's no harm in filling the huge gaps like 66-100, 511-550, 595-700 and 961-1000 with the new buses, although They might want to wait until the Tridents are gone before filling up 628-700.

I wonder if there's a particular reason why Lothian are going into the 1000s and 1100s with new buses now, rather than sticking to numbers 1-999.
 
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