Lothian Buses and ECB Discussion

[Darklord8899]

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.

Bigger buses, bigger numbers?

 

[VioletEclipse]

Bigger buses, bigger numbers?

Ha lol. Certainly makes sense for the huge tri-axle Enviro 400XLBs, but the ex Londons (1001-1050) are smaller than the rest of the deckers.

 

[Darklord8899]

Being serious, I suspect they won't reuse the numbers that went to to LCB at this moment (though in a few years they might) also IIRC it was 55 ex London vehicles that came up, I don't think there was a consecutive 55 number range in what wasn't being used (as i wouldnt see them spliting the fleet numbers of a batch in two number ranges) hence it was probably easier to number them with 4 digit fleet numbers.

 

[In Focus]

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.

When is this happening i'm off to Benidorm in July ?

 

[OmniCity999]

Being serious, I suspect they won't reuse the numbers that went to to LCB at this moment (though in a few years they might) also IIRC it was 55 ex London vehicles that came up, I don't think there was a consecutive 55 number range in what wasn't being used (as i wouldnt see them spliting the fleet numbers of a batch in two number ranges) hence it was probably easier to number them with 4 digit fleet numbers.

50 X Wright Gemini 2 Bodied B9TLs from London, 48 of which refurbished at Wright, 2 of which were done by Thornton Brothers. More recently, 4 Wright Gemini 2 Bodied B5LH's (hybrid) acquired from Bullocks in a deal that saw 6 Scanias go from Lothian to them, these have haven't had a refurb but have had their seat covers re covered in house by Lothian and some engine work done, all 4 are still in all over white.

6 more Wright Gemini 2 bodied B9TLs have been bought from one of the London companies, these are yet to be delivered, but are believed to be for Lothian Country to allow the 4 hybrids from Bullocks to get a full refurb into Lothian spec.

 

[Darklord8899]

50 X Wright Gemini 2 Bodied B9TLs from London, 48 of which refurbished at Wright, 2 of which were done by Thornton Brothers. More recently, 4 Wright Gemini 2 Bodied B5LH's (hybrid) acquired from Bullocks in a deal that saw 6 Scanias go from Lothian to them, these have haven't had a refurb but have had their seat covers re covered in house by Lothian and some engine work done, all 4 are still in all over white.

6 more Wright Gemini 2 bodied B9TLs have been bought from one of the London companies, these are yet to be delivered, but are believed to be for Lothian Country to allow the 4 hybrids from Bullocks to get a full refurb into Lothian spec.

Thanks for the info!

 

[OmniCity999]

04 plate B7RLE (single decker) sighted in base harlequin livery. Red around the windscreen and madder lower skirt panels.

More centenary celebrations ahead.

The event in February is said to be for the new 100 seaters with with liveries from over the yeare appearing along side the new buses.

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

04 plate B7RLE (single decker) sighted in base harlequin livery. Red around the windscreen and madder lower skirt panels.

More centenary celebrations ahead.

The event in February is said to be for the new 100 seaters with with liveries from over the yeare appearing along side the new buses.

Given the fact 115 has sat at Seafield for months I'd reckon that's the bus in question

 

[OmniCity999]

We wont know for sure for a wee while yet. The bus was running on trade plates without regestration plates.

 

[VioletEclipse]

04 plate B7RLE (single decker) sighted in base harlequin livery. Red around the windscreen and madder lower skirt panels.

More centenary celebrations ahead.

The event in February is said to be for the new 100 seaters with with liveries from over the yeare appearing along side the new buses.

Said event is only a week and a half away (3rd of February) so they don't have much time left to prepare. I'm also quite excited for it.

 

[ScotRail158725]

Given the fact 115 has sat at Seafield for months I'd reckon that's the bus in question

I heard 115 was being used for spares. 725 i think might be getting an old livery. Been ay seafield for a while also 124 is back with Lothian and has gold LEDs

 

[SpeedbirdA350]

So Lothian have confirmed it will be Sunday 3rd Feb for the launch of the B8L https://www.lothianbuses.com/news/2019/01/lothians-bus-2020-strategy-launch/

 

[VioletEclipse]

So Lothian have confirmed it will be Sunday 3rd Feb for the launch of the B8L https://www.lothianbuses.com/news/2019/01/lothians-bus-2020-strategy-launch/

Sounds good, I'm looking forward to it!

What annoys me mostly is that, while I know their environmental targets are made in good faith, and they are certainally much better than doing nothing, but with the current state of the environment and the climate crisis, being Euro 5 and above and cutting emissions by only 42% over the next two years is frankly pathetic. I know it's hardly their fault, and they are trying, but I wish they had more funding and encouragement to cut emissions by 100% by 2020, but hopefully they will receive such funding before 2022 at the very latest.

Otherwise I looking forward to them getting all the cars together, which might help in getting people to stop using their cars for journeys where they could use the bus, should also be fun to watch.

Slightly weird that they are calling them 'BUS2020' when they were mostly built in 2018 and launched in 2019, but I suppose 2020 always sounds better.

I hope the Enviro 400XLBs don't get stuck too much!

Also, this is my 200th post on railforums, is that good or bad? I've only been there since November.

 

[Jordan Adam]

I hope the Enviro 400XLBs don't get stuck too much!

Hehehe, i've got my stop watch at the ready!

 

[SpeedbirdA350]

VioletEclipse, I know the electric buses order was cut in half, and this was due to them being smaller than what was needed but I wish they had stuck with it, and even ordered larger or double decker electric buses. I know what you mean about Euro 5 but it is what it is, and as you said, it's something. Maybe in the coming years, hydrogen buses will be used and electric will be rolled out more too. I think however they need to work on getting rid of the Euro 3 which are just the B7TLs I believe but that means replacing 125 buses.

Does anyone know of any new orders that have been placed if any with ADL? I asked previously about the 300+ bus order with Wrightbus and only half the order has came but do we know for certain that the other half has been cancelled? I know Wrightbus had issues but Lothian had to be one of, if not the top customer of them?

As for the B8L getting stuck, I can't see them putting them on routes which will be narrow ie the 1 (not that the 1 needs that size) but I can see them being used on services such as 31 etc.. with little modifications to the routes if required.

I noticed that over the last couple of months even since the Fringe and Tattoo, there has been a few deckers on the 1 route during the week. I wonder if they will throw some ex Londoners on the 1 route, given they are smaller but offer more capacity in the long run and move the singles to other less popular services.

Also, does anyone know if they are going to do something special with that 1 service this year too given it is (if I am not mistaken) the 100th year for the route too (a route which has not been changed THAT much over the years?)

 

[OmniCity999]

Sounds good, I'm looking forward to it!

What annoys me mostly is that, while I know their environmental targets are made in good faith, and they are certainally much better than doing nothing, but with the current state of the environment and the climate crisis, being Euro 5 and above and cutting emissions by only 42% over the next two years is frankly pathetic. I know it's hardly their fault, and they are trying, but I wish they had more funding and encouragement to cut emissions by 100% by 2020, but hopefully they will receive such funding before 2022 at the very latest.

Otherwise I looking forward to them getting all the cars together, which might help in getting people to stop using their cars for journeys where they could use the bus, should also be fun to watch.

Slightly weird that they are calling them 'BUS2020' when they were mostly built in 2018 and launched in 2019, but I suppose 2020 always sounds better.

I hope the Enviro 400XLBs don't get stuck too much!

Also, this is my 200th post on railforums, is that good or bad? I've only been there since November.

They arent calling them BUS2020 they are part of the strategy that is BUS2020.

 

[VioletEclipse]

They arent calling them BUS2020 they are part of the strategy that is BUS2020.

Yeah thanks I noticed that after posting it, oops!

 

[VioletEclipse]

VioletEclipse, I know the electric buses order was cut in half, and this was due to them being smaller than what was needed but I wish they had stuck with it, and even ordered larger or double decker electric buses. I know what you mean about Euro 5 but it is what it is, and as you said, it's something. Maybe in the coming years, hydrogen buses will be used and electric will be rolled out more too. I think however they need to work on getting rid of the Euro 3 which are just the B7TLs I believe but that means replacing 125 buses.

I suppose that replacing all the B7TLs could take two years, but hey, slow progress is still better than no progress.

 

[ScotRail158725]

I suppose that replacing all the B7TLs could take two years, but hey, slow progress is still better than no progress.

Lothian should have got a higher number of B5s in 2014/15 to get more tridents out because now they're selling 125 14 years at youngest buses in around a 1 year period. I definately think Lothian wont sell all them i.e a number straight to scrap, a few for preservation. The preservation options are also high with the B7s with 12 B7 livery varients

 

[route101]

VioletEclipse, I know the electric buses order was cut in half, and this was due to them being smaller than what was needed but I wish they had stuck with it, and even ordered larger or double decker electric buses. I know what you mean about Euro 5 but it is what it is, and as you said, it's something. Maybe in the coming years, hydrogen buses will be used and electric will be rolled out more too. I think however they need to work on getting rid of the Euro 3 which are just the B7TLs I believe but that means replacing 125 buses.

Does anyone know of any new orders that have been placed if any with ADL? I asked previously about the 300+ bus order with Wrightbus and only half the order has came but do we know for certain that the other half has been cancelled? I know Wrightbus had issues but Lothian had to be one of, if not the top customer of them?

As for the B8L getting stuck, I can't see them putting them on routes which will be narrow ie the 1 (not that the 1 needs that size) but I can see them being used on services such as 31 etc.. with little modifications to the routes if required.

I noticed that over the last couple of months even since the Fringe and Tattoo, there has been a few deckers on the 1 route during the week. I wonder if they will throw some ex Londoners on the 1 route, given they are smaller but offer more capacity in the long run and move the singles to other less popular services.

Also, does anyone know if they are going to do something special with that 1 service this year too given it is (if I am not mistaken) the 100th year for the route too (a route which has not been changed THAT much over the years?)

Took a 1 on a Sunday it was a decker , im sure it used to be a decker route in the past.

 

[Darklord8899]

Took a 1 on a Sunday it was a decker , im sure it used to be a decker route in the past.

The old 1/6 circle was always operated by Deckers (Atlanteans in my childhood/youth)
IIRC it only became singles after LB split the circle routes into point to point routes

 

[43106]

The old 1/6 circle was always operated by Deckers (Atlanteans in my childhood/youth)
IIRC it only became singles after LB split the circle routes into point to point routes

The Dark Lord is quite right. Before the Atlanteans, the 1 (before half of it was renumbered the 6) had Titans, mostly the 1966 PD3's (EWS 826-850D). Before that, it was the domain of the Tiger Cubs (VSC 51 - 100), as the railway bridge on Abbeyhill couldn't accommodate double-deckers. I don't know when the road level was lowered, but the pavement level is higher than the road.

 

[ScotRail158725]

651 is in an all over red livery. Sat outside Marine just now

 

[VioletEclipse]

651 is in an all over red livery. Sat outside Marine just now

Plain red for the three bridges tour 2019 livery or plain red to get sold? Which is more likely

 

[OmniCity999]

Its plain red. That's all we know.

Their removing tridents from the entire Lothian Fleet which includes Lothian, East Coast, Lothian Country and Tours.

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

It was suggested that the two 11 plates bought from GAL would take over the 3BT, however given the fact more have now been added that would seem less likely to happen, With LC now rumoured as their likely destination

 

[VioletEclipse]

Its plain red. That's all we know.

They are removing tridents from the entire Lothian Fleet which includes Lothian, East Coast, Lothian Country and Tours.

AFAIK only 684, 697, 698, 699 and 700 are still used, and even so only occasionally on express services or the 21, 25 or C134, so I think it unlikely that they'll use a trident for the 3BT, so probably getting sold (sort of replying to my own post...)
Anyway, IMO Friday the 1st of February 2019 (one week today) will most likely be the last day for the remaining few Tridents, as the Enviro 400XLBs are to be launched that Sunday and enter service on Monday. I am wondering (hoping) if they will have a Trident running day on Friday or Saturday to say goodbye to them, or not.

Also, happy Burns' Night!

 

[VioletEclipse]

It was suggested that the two 11 plates bought from GAL would take over the 3BT, however given the fact more have now been added that would seem less likely to happen, With LC now rumoured as their likely destination

It's possible they will use two otherwise redundant B7TLs for the 3BT this year, just a possibility.

 

[kje7812]

Has it been confirmed which routes the 400XLBs will be used on? Or is it to be revealed next weekend?

 

[VioletEclipse]

Has it been confirmed which routes the 400XLBs will be used on? Or is it to be revealed next weekend?

Confirmed: No. (at least I haven't seen any confirmation)
Speculated: Yes. (likely routes like service 31)

Will hopefully be announced on Sunday the 3rd of February 2019, when they are launched.

(1500th post on this thread.)