Edinburgh Tour Operators: Bright Bus, Lothian (Majestic, Three Bridges) etc.

[In Focus]

So this is the much suggested hundred and fifty buses then? No, wait, it was competition on the 25 from Herriot Watt into the City Centre? Or was it a link to "north Edinburgh"? Yeah, we definitely only ever suggested that they'd be running Open Top tours

All speculation, and as suggested why compete with ridacard when there are other easier ways to get the point over?

 

[In Focus]

Will First's new hobby see proper long term commitment or will it be another one of those "nice ideas" that they lose interest in after a year or two (

It's the first phase of a few different business moves to inject revenue ,and yes I'd guess it's in retaliation to LCB aggressive move into West Lothian ,and I guess it would not be giving too much if you get the idea those in prime places within First are "irritated"

 

[CM]

Pricing will be "competitive".

So why don't you enlighten us as to what is precisley going to happen as you clearly know oh so much?

 

[In Focus]

So why don't you enlighten us as to what is precisley going to happen as you clearly know oh so much?

Dont be Mr Smartarse ,if you dont like my posts best you say nothing and move on !!
You will see how competitive it is when its announced like everyone else (me included)

 

[CM]

Dont be Mr Smartarse ,if you dont like my posts best you say nothing and move on !!
You will see how competitive it is when its announced like everyone else (me included)

Well you seem very quick to tell people they are wrong but at the same time you don't provide facts to prove otherwise. Seems to me you don't actually know what's happening but just like to make yourself look like a smart arse....

 

[In Focus]

Well you seem very quick to tell people they are wrong but at the same time you don't provide facts to prove otherwise. Seems to me you don't actually know what's happening but just like to make yourself look like a smart arse....

I know enough to be discreet ,unlike you who seems to blubber any ****e without a single ounce of proof. Yabbering about "end of life vehicles"
On another note why wouldn't it be priced "competitive " which was my original comment ?

 

[Gingerbus1991]

Pricing will be "competitive".

Competitive fares is just another way of either matching or seriously undercutting the competition, neither are guaranteed to work if the rest of the experience isn't to the same standard as the competition...

 

[In Focus]

Well you seem very quick to tell people they are wrong but at the same time you don't provide facts to prove otherwise. Seems to me you don't actually know what's happening but just like to make yourself look like a smart arse....

As for telling people they are wrong ,I replied to a post to inform the poster all his theories were wide of the mark ,not a crime as far as I know on a public forum?

 

[In Focus]

Competitive fares is just another way of either matching or seriously undercutting the competition, neither are guaranteed to work if the rest of the experience isn't to the same standard as the competition...

Correct no big statement , however seems to upset some that it is a possibility First might do it, wonder why ?

 

[CM]

I know enough to be discreet ,unlike you who seems to blubber any ****e without a single ounce of proof. Yabbering about "end of life vehicles"
On another note why wouldn't it be priced "competitive " which was my original comment ?

It was posted by others here that First were going to be using Plaxton Presidents, IIRC First's NEWEST Presidents are on 02 plates making them fairly close to end of life. It's not actually hard to work things like that using common sense.

 

[Whiteway215]

Dont think it is but it certainly explains the two open tops sitting in cally

Are we allowed to know the identity of these two open toppers (purely out of an enthusiast's interest)?

 

[lastbus]

It was posted by others here that First were going to be using Plaxton Presidents, IIRC First's NEWEST Presidents are on 02 plates making them fairly close to end of life. It's not actually hard to work things like that using common sense.

The buses being used on this are not ex-First buses.

 

[lastbus]

Are we allowed to know the identity of these two open toppers (purely out of an enthusiast's interest)?

Have posted before they are ex-City sightseeing buses from down south.

 

[CM]

The buses being used on this are not ex-First buses.

So where are they from precisley? Who were they new to? What's the registrations? Fleetnumbers?....Hmmm? The way some people and some enthusiasts act on forums like this and elsewhere would make you think they were discussing state secrets!

 

[CM]

Are we allowed to know the identity of these two open toppers (purely out of an enthusiast's interest)?

Probably not, information like that is generally kept secret by some enthusiasts because if they know and others don't they think it makes them look clever when it really just makes them look daft.

 

[lastbus]

So where are they from precisley? Who were they new to? What's the registrations? Fleetnumbers?....Hmmm? The way some people and some enthusiasts act on forums like this and elsewhere would make you think they were discussing state secrets!

Ex stagecoach

 

[smtglasgow]

If this is priced correctly, it could work. The Lothian tours are very much a premium product – good vehicles, good staff, strong marketing. But Edinburgh attracts visitors with wildly varying budgets – look at the number of hostels that have sprung up – and there isn’t really anything for the cheaper end of the market. Like everyone else, I’ve got my doubts about whether First can maintain their interest look enough, but there’s definitely a gap for a competitively priced tour. Also, have a look at Edinburgh Tours accounts to see why First fancy a slice of things.

Running it from Livingston seems ambitious – is there no coach company they could outstation a few vehicles with?

 

[Jordan Adam]

One of the deckers is Ex-Stagecoach Cambridge 17079. I'm unsure on the others but will post if i find out.

 

[CM]

One of the deckers is Ex-Stagecoach Cambridge 17079. I'm unsure on the others but will post if i find out.

Thanks for the information! Much appreciated, at least someone knows how to properly provide information on here!

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

If this is priced correctly, it could work. The Lothian tours are very much a premium product – good vehicles, good staff, strong marketing. But Edinburgh attracts visitors with wildly varying budgets – look at the number of hostels that have sprung up – and there isn’t really anything for the cheaper end of the market. Like everyone else, I’ve got my doubts about whether First can maintain their interest look enough, but there’s definitely a gap for a competitively priced tour. Also, have a look at Edinburgh Tours accounts to see why First fancy a slice of things.

Running it from Livingston seems ambitious – is there no coach company they could outstation a few vehicles with?

I’m sorry, Sir - there’s no room for such level headed, impartial posting on this thread

Given that the job advert states Edinburgh, I can’t believe that it will be run from Livi (not withstanding the dead mileage/time) - hence my wondering if there might be a sympathetic local coach firm. They might be able to provide fuelling and light repairs (though Livi would have to support heavy maintenance).

As for the competitive strategy, I’d advise people to have a serious think. Lothian are the incumbent with the readily identifiable brand which counts for a lot. Hence to gain a foothold, price is the obvious way to go. To support that, getting some fully depreciated fleet helps.

I might question the stance of posters and have they thought about the punters and the need for quality? Will many of the people know or care about the age of a vehicle that they will travel on for an hour and will never travel on again? Price may be more potent in this world of air b&bs and the like than quality!

I don’t think this is a long term bet but a way of hitting Lothian so that they ultimately question whether West Lothian is worth it?

 

[overthewater]

So this is the much suggested hundred and fifty buses then? No, wait, it was competition on the 25 from Herriot Watt into the City Centre? Or was it a link to "north Edinburgh"? Yeah, we definitely only ever suggested that they'd be running Open Top tours...

The suggestion were just that, because flooding 150 buses seemed mad. 25 would have been a good bet because it could have interlinked with 23's and gone after busy student market. Also no one suggest First operates a link to North Edinburgh that was for LCB.

There's probably a big enough market in Edinburgh for lots of different price tiers - the problem may be that there are so many different "tours" with different routes that Waverley Bridge is pretty congested at times of the day.

Will First's new hobby see proper long term commitment or will it be another one of those "nice ideas" that they lose interest in after a year or two (remember the "express" services to West Lothian, the Edinburgh Airport services, or initiatives down south like Greyhound... good luck to them but they don't have a reputation for persevering!)

There is only two City tours that leave from the Waverly, the Blue one goes of to Botanic Garden and Britannia.

I might question the stance of posters and have they thought about the punters and the need for quality? Will many of the people know or care about the age of a vehicle that they will travel on for an hour and will never travel on again? Price may be more potent in this world of air b&bs and the like than quality!

I don’t think this is a long term bet but a way of hitting Lothian so that they ultimately question whether West Lothian is worth it?

I think First will spend some pennies to do up the fleet to make them look better, however I think come the end of September the tours will disappear, with Andrew Jarvis running off to the bank, paying off Livingston depot Overdraft.

 

[AlexanderPS]

Usefull.....not.

Ex Stagecoach 17079 TSU460 (T679KPU).

 

[A330Alex]

There is only two City tours that leave from the Waverly, the Blue one goes of to Botanic Garden and Britannia.

They all start from Waverley Bridge. The bridges tour is only hourly, however.

If it was getting too congested, would the council be able to tell First to depart from elsewhere (which I'm sure wouldn't incite many a conspiracy theory here)?

 

[Jordan Adam]

They all start from Waverley Bridge. The bridges tour is only hourly, however.

If it was getting too congested, would the council be able to tell First to depart from elsewhere (which I'm sure wouldn't incite many a conspiracy theory here)?

The council probably wouldn't be able to force First to move.

 

[Stef434]

It's the first phase of a few different business moves to inject revenue ,and yes I'd guess it's in retaliation to LCB aggressive move into West Lothian ,and I guess it would not be giving too much if you get the idea those in prime places within First are "irritated"

Just to back up ,yes First are more than irate to say the least ,but for competitive reasons it would be unwise to disclose on an open forum.From experience LB have always been looking over their shoulder at FG since ...lets say one month before FG were awarded Scotrail ...posters need to realise that people may or not be employed by either Lothian or First ..and may lead to soapy bubble so ..a bit of understanding that info is being shared to an extent..

 

[Gingerbus1991]

They all start from Waverley Bridge. The bridges tour is only hourly, however.

If it was getting too congested, would the council be able to tell First to depart from elsewhere (which I'm sure wouldn't incite many a conspiracy theory here)?

Yes, the council are responsible for segregating what services can use what stops, terms and conditions of service registration can have restrictions placed on them at the time of registration hence why theres a 56 days notice period of service being introduced, if stops are too congested local authorities do have the leverage to say they can be used by further registrations, edinburgh city council will very likely be biased towards the madder & white also.

 

[Stef434]

The council probably wouldn't be able to force First to move.

Edinburgh council would refer this to the Bus stop Working Party which comprises of Lothian/First/Stagecoach/Police/Transport sub committee etc and of course the HSE therefore there would have to be a compromise as what happens now ,its not a case of just pitching up and saying we have arrived.. if no compromise is agreed then Edinburgh council will intervene ..unless Lothian are paying a premium like Edinburgh Airport for stop priority

 

[Andyh82]

All wrong but dont let the facts get in the way of dismissing something because you dont like the idea.
All I will say it's been in the planning for around a year....

All wrong?

So they will be matching Lothian's frequency and number of tour routes and using the City Sightseeing brand?

 

[In Focus]

Starts July,
Wont be just 1 vehicle.
Will be equipped as a tour bus should be .
Will be marketed properly .
In reply to a few Assumptions in previous posts.

 

[Robertj21a]

Starts July,
Wont be just 1 vehicle.
Will be equipped as a tour bus should be .
Will be marketed properly .
In reply to a few Assumptions in previous posts.

I thought it was always expected to be 2 buses ex-City Sightseeing. Presumably, with so little resources, it will just be a straight out and back trip (not a full Hop On Hop Off).