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

[In Focus]

There's it stood still Jordan old son....sorry it doesn't fit your first bus apologist agenda but it's still L20. Oh....i use specsavers...still don't have the ability to move images to the web. Come back when you've got some experience son

So a bus whilst stopped is "broken down " ?

I can assure you there was no break down during the launch !!

 

[christopherrfc]

Website now live

https://www.firstgroup.com/bright-bus-tours/where-board

 

[JamboCommuter]

Website now live

https://www.firstgroup.com/bright-bus-tours/where-board

Where is this PRINCESS Street they refer to?

How hard is it to check these things properly????

 

[alchemy]

Where is this PRINCESS Street they refer to?

How hard is it to check these things properly????

That is poor indeed!

 

[alchemy]

Wow they are leaving it late to unvile it.

Interesting choice of word.lol

 

[overthewater]

LETS NIP this in bid.........

THIS comment "Wow they are leaving it late to unveil it. " is about 4pm launch and the tour it did going around Edinburgh at Peak time.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

LETS NIP this in bid.........

THIS comment "Wow they are leaving it late to unveil it. " is about 4pm launch and the tour it did going around Edinburgh at Peak time.

I think you need to relax there - "unvile" it might have been a freudian slip, given the views of some on this forum!!

 

[Robertj21a]

Can anyone get the map to actually download ?

 

[alchemy]

LETS NIP this in bid.........

THIS comment "Wow they are leaving it late to unveil it. " is about 4pm launch and the tour it did going around Edinburgh at Peak time.

Nip what in the "bid"?
I was commenting on your word " unvile"
I made no comment on the new tour or buses

 

[CraigLockhart]

Saw 3 of the new Bright buses around 4.30 today. Decent loads on each. One especially busy.

 

[In Focus]

Bright Bus doing pretty well this far. ...Next !!

 

[Bwsbro]

From one of the photos seen on Facebook one of the vehicles for the new Open top serivice is ex Lothian.

 

[Jordan Adam]

From one of the photos seen on Facebook one of the vehicles for the new Open top serivice is ex Lothian.

Old news but yes, they have 4 Ex-Lothian President's.

 

[Gingerbus1991]

Is BBTs running from Livi depot?

 

[Jordan Adam]

Is BBTs running from Livi depot?

Yes it is.

 

[Gingerbus1991]

Yes it is.

So even if it's £10 per head, there still loosing massively on covering 40 miles per day dead mileage on several buses?

I can't see how any of First or LCB endeavours makes any sense anymore.

Lothian doesn't have that weekness regarding its tours, has a larger market saturation of tours and is already established by the airport travelers through lothian echo-system.

Recently though ed-council have established where there LEZ will look and it'll be in place for commercial vehicles for the end of 2020 in the city centre, given that lothian don't have to prepare E6 vehicles for there tours as there geminis already ar ein place, this is also gonna place more pressure on BBTs given there old trident.

The 600 is also running around on fresh equally as much as any bus other bus in WL.

Best to place caution on both ops but I'll say from previous situations that F-Group have a taste for short lived tactics...

 

[Jordan Adam]

So even if it's £10 per head, there still loosing massively on covering 40 miles per day dead mileage on several buses?

I can't see how any of First or LCB endeavours makes any sense anymore.

Lothian doesn't have that weekness regarding its tours, has a larger market saturation of tours and is already established by the airport travelers through lothian echo-system.

Recently though ed-council have established where there LEZ will look and it'll be in place for commercial vehicles for the end of 2020 in the city centre, given that lothian don't have to prepare E6 vehicles for there tours as there geminis already ar ein place, this is also gonna place more pressure on BBTs given there old trident.

The 600 is also running around on fresh equally as much as any bus other bus in WL.

Best to place caution on both ops but I'll say from previous situations that F-Group have a taste for short lived tactics...

They've probably factored in the dead mileage. I doubt it would eat in to profits too much, but we don't really know. Certainly it's probably cheaper than setting up a new depot.

I'm afraid you've totally missed the point regarding Lothian having the larger market saturation. First are not looking to oust Lothian in the tour market. There's room for them both. What First are looking to do is impact on Lothian's revenue. "If" First got 10 passengers on each bus that's Lothian already lost £960 in potential revenue per hour. Don't take offence to this as it's not directly aimed at you, but people seem to be failing to understand the logic here. It's not about ousting Lothian or beating, it's about hurting their revenue.

All of the BBT fleet bar the E400 are already compliant to Euro 4 and Jarvis has said they're in the position to get the vehicles up to Euro 6 standard if needed. So that's of no concern.

I'd agree regarding the 600, i've already states that i don't think it was the right move to make, although this is off topic for this thread so i won't dive any further. Otherwise the "forum police" might come after me.

Based on past experiments i'd agree that First have a tendency to pull out. But with each new venture we don't know if that's the case until it actually happens. First have had some successes in various areas in recent years.

 

[SpeedbirdA350]

Lothian however have not lowered prices or done anything that I can see re the buses so they must still be confident in the product. It's something I'd like to keep an eye on over the coming weeks ahead as if Lothian have to lower prices, it would to me indicate that First have taken some pax that Lothian felt uncomfortable with, but if they don't then is it head in the sand or is it that they see the figures and have no real panic on their hands? Time will tell. Edinburgh however is big enough for 2 companies, but sometimes the city centre (Waverley Bridge) is not.

 

[Jordan Adam]

Lothian however have not lowered prices or done anything that I can see re the buses so they must still be confident in the product. It's something I'd like to keep an eye on over the coming weeks ahead as if Lothian have to lower prices, it would to me indicate that First have taken some pax that Lothian felt uncomfortable with, but if they don't then is it head in the sand or is it that they see the figures and have no real panic on their hands? Time will tell. Edinburgh however is big enough for 2 companies, but sometimes the city centre (Waverley Bridge) is not.

I can't see Lothian lowering prices by much if at all. First have got them trapped in a bit of an awkward position. If Lothian were to lower their fares then First would be getting exactly what they're aiming to do. Reducing revenue at Lothian.

 

[overthewater]

I have heard talk, BBT have a depot somewhere in Edinburgh? Is this correct?

 

[SpeedbirdA350]

I can't see Lothian lowering prices by much if at all. First have got them trapped in a bit of an awkward position. If Lothian were to lower their fares then First would be getting exactly what they're aiming to do. Reducing revenue at Lothian.

No, you're right, I can't see them lowering either as it would show that they feel threatened and First might start doing other things too. However, I have seen some pictures of the First tour buses and they were not as full as I'd have thought given the prices. Maybe time of day or something but I think the next few weeks will be interesting to see what happens next. I guess it's like a game of chess. First have just made their move and put Lothian in Check, but it's not checkmate yet.

Lothian also offer a combo ticket with other things such as the castle which I assume would be as popular with tourists and so far First offer £1 discount off 3 places I think. Will First expand that offering? It's interesting to watch for sure!

 

[SpeedbirdA350]

I have heard talk, BBT have a depot somewhere in Edinburgh? Is this correct?

As far as I know, they are currently coming from Livi but a depot in Edinburgh would certainly help them massivly in terms of dead mileage and future plans too. Maybe In Focus can expand?

 

[overthewater]

No, you're right, I can't see them lowering either as it would show that they feel threatened and First might start doing other things too. However, I have seen some pictures of the First tour buses and they were not as full as I'd have thought given the prices. Maybe time of day or something but I think the next few weeks will be interesting to see what happens next. I guess it's like a game of chess. First have just made their move and put Lothian in Check, but it's not checkmate yet.

Lothian also offer a combo ticket with other things such as the castle which I assume would be as popular with tourists and so far First offer £1 discount off 3 places I think. Will First expand that offering? It's interesting to watch for sure!

I have spotted full buses of each company. First ticktet does give you some discounts on certain attractions aswell.

 

[SpeedbirdA350]

I have spotted full buses of each company. First ticktet does give you some discounts on certain attractions aswell.

I have not seen that, but it's good to hear this. First do give discounts to 3 places according to the website. £1 off Dynamic earth, £1 off at the Real Mary kings close, and £2 off at City of Edinburgh tours.

 

[Gingerbus1991]

They've probably factored in the dead mileage. I doubt it would eat in to profits too much, but we don't really know. Certainly it's probably cheaper than setting up a new depot.

I'm afraid you've totally missed the point regarding Lothian having the larger market saturation. First are not looking to oust Lothian in the tour market. There's room for them both. What First are looking to do is impact on Lothian's revenue. "If" First got 10 passengers on each bus that's Lothian already lost £960 in potential revenue per hour. Don't take offence to this as it's not directly aimed at you, but people seem to be failing to understand the logic here. It's not about ousting Lothian or beating, it's about hurting their revenue.

All of the BBT fleet bar the E400 are already compliant to Euro 4 and Jarvis has said they're in the position to get the vehicles up to Euro 6 standard if needed. So that's of no concern.

I'd agree regarding the 600, i've already states that i don't think it was the right move to make, although this is off topic for this thread so i won't dive any further. Otherwise the "forum police" might come after me.

Based on past experiments i'd agree that First have a tendency to pull out. But with each new venture we don't know if that's the case until it actually happens. First have had some successes in various areas in recent years.

Even if they say they're prepared to upgrade them they've done enough to let us know there not enthusiastic about it when it's concerning Glasgows fleet at least..

Essentially lothian are testing First longevity in WL and First are doing what they did 20 years ago..

 

[Gingerbus1991]

I have not seen that, but it's good to hear this. First do give discounts to 3 places according to the website. £1 off Dynamic earth, £1 off at the Real Mary kings close, and £2 off at City of Edinburgh tours.

Does this mean that those other attraction providers benefit too somehow?

 

[SpeedbirdA350]

Does this mean that those other attraction providers benefit too somehow?

Depends how you look at it, as they obviously will if they are getting tourists thorugh the door that would not have originally but I can't see those places being top of the list for a tourist. It's why I say that it will be interesting to see if they can add to that list.Places like Edinburgh Castle, Britannia, and the Palace are however tourist places which Lothain have as a package deal.

 

[Gingerbus1991]

Depends how you look at it, as they obviously will if they are getting tourists thorugh the door that would not have originally but I can't see those places being top of the list for a tourist. It's why I say that it will be interesting to see if they can add to that list.Places like Edinburgh Castle, Britannia, and the Palace are however tourist places which Lothain have as a package deal.

Lothian have that sort of relationship with alot of City venues, attraction etc etc.

 

[SpeedbirdA350]

Lothian have that sort of relationship with alot of City venues, attraction etc etc.

They do, which is why it has to be hard for First to start looking. With that said, £1 off places like Dyamic earth, is hardly groundbreaking and actually is not a proper discount. At the desk, £15.95, or £14.95 with discount yet book online and it's £14.50 and nothing to stop a tourist booking while in the building on their phone. It's good for First to have a bonus for customers but when you look again... Still, ticket price of tour is a big difference.

 

[In Focus]

As far as I know, they are currently coming from Livi but a depot in Edinburgh would certainly help them massivly in terms of dead mileage and future plans too. Maybe In Focus can expand?

The vehicles leave from Livingston and return , there is an office / Canteen facility for the drivers and street sellers within the City so no shuttles or change overs to rack up any additional dead mileage