Jordan Adam
Established Member
1000 LX11 CVM has had its rear doors removed unike the rest of the batch, anyone know why?
They can't make up their mind again?
1000 LX11 CVM has had its rear doors removed unike the rest of the batch, anyone know why?
I think it's simple and classy with a nod to the past
Since the tram is obviously a simple way to/from the airport, the bus needs to differentiate itself somehow - that looks a good livery to me.
Also if the bus breaks down, you don't have far to transfer to the next. If there is a problem on the tram line or overhead lines, power etc and it's off road section then it's further to walk with luggage. Plus bus is cheaper. Wins all around.Thing is though, most of the time i find the 100 more convenient and more comfortable. I'd rather sit facing forward in a double decker than sideways in a tram near a door that's opening constantly bringing in a draft. All the times i've been to the Airport/Ingliston i find the bus much faster too. So to me the bus is already much better without needing a fancy livery.
Also if the bus breaks down, you don't have far to transfer to the next. If there is a problem on the tram line or overhead lines, power etc and it's off road section then it's further to walk with luggage. Plus bus is cheaper. Wins all around.
Totally agree.Thing is though, most of the time i find the 100 more convenient and more comfortable. I'd rather sit facing forward in a double decker than sideways in a tram near a door that's opening constantly bringing in a draft. All the times i've been to the Airport/Ingliston i find the bus much faster too. So to me the bus is already much better without needing a fancy livery.
Thing is though, most of the time i find the 100 more convenient and more comfortable. I'd rather sit facing forward in a double decker than sideways in a tram near a door that's opening constantly bringing in a draft. All the times i've been to the Airport/Ingliston i find the bus much faster too. So to me the bus is already much better without needing a fancy livery.
Sure, but you're a bus enthusiast. You know your way around Edinburgh.
Put yourself in the shoes of a tourist unfamiliar with Edinburgh arriving at the Airport - new people can trust a tram - especially one with only one line - you don't have to worry you've boarded it in the wrong direction - the stops are clearly labelled - it's predictable - people don't want to land at an Airport in an unfamiliar city and take a risk - especially as a lot of people don't regularly take the bus in their own towns/cities. If it takes an extra couple of minutes then fair enough (but most of the time the tram journey time should be more consistent because it's much less reliable on road congestion).
That's why an Airport bus really requires a distinct livery, something to elevate it above the "common or garden" routes, something to give "strangers" confidence in it being the correct service - so why not make that look upmarket, especially as you're charging people a good bit more than a standard single bus fare in the city.
1000 LX11 CVM has had its rear doors removed unike the rest of the batch, anyone know why?
There’s a subtly different ticketing situation (Plusbus/day tickets are not accepted on Airlink nor the various LCB/ECB tickets that cover the city) - presumably to try and keep Airlink to airport passengers. In comparison most Skylink passengers aren’t airport bound.Having seen the photos that @OmniCity999 posted, I have to say I'm impressed with the Airlink livery. I like darker colours, and in my opinion it's quite stylish. Similar to the Lothian Motorcoaches livery in a way. What I can't get my head around is why they need separate brands for Skylink and Airlink - surely if it goes to the airport, one brand should be enough, with only the route number being sufficient to tell the difference between them!
There’s a subtly different ticketing situation (Plusbus/day tickets are not accepted on Airlink nor the various LCB/ECB tickets that cover the city) - presumably to try and keep Airlink to airport passengers. In comparison most Skylink passengers aren’t airport bound.
Thinking cynically, I wonder if the rebrand and moving away from the Lothian brand might be a way to position themselves to stop accepting Ridacards like on LCB’s Green Arrow Express...
alot of the seperately registered brands represent differences in fares, the Skylink still uses City singles for instance but has Airport zone fares also.Having seen the photos that @OmniCity999 posted, I have to say I'm impressed with the Airlink livery. I like darker colours, and in my opinion it's quite stylish. Similar to the Lothian Motorcoaches livery in a way. What I can't get my head around is why they need separate brands for Skylink and Airlink - surely if it goes to the airport, one brand should be enough, with only the route number being sufficient to tell the difference between them!
Having seen the photos that @OmniCity999 posted, I have to say I'm impressed with the Airlink livery. I like darker colours, and in my opinion it's quite stylish. Similar to the Lothian Motorcoaches livery in a way. What I can't get my head around is why they need separate brands for Skylink and Airlink - surely if it goes to the airport, one brand should be enough, with only the route number being sufficient to tell the difference between them!
Do Lothian think they have to be the mini version of London? Dual-door buses, "oyster" system...
Re ticketing. Don't airlinks accept ordinary all day savers from Mayfield inwards? Just that isn't widely advertised?
Re ticketing. Don't airlinks accept ordinary all day savers from Mayfield inwards? Just that isn't widely advertised?
The identical displays at LCB have intermediate points - wish they'd use them around the festival or big events!(I do think the new destination displays look naff. I'd have hoped that they'd have intermediate points in small text - surely possible? I did read that a higher resolution display was being tested.)
As for the new XLBs, does anyone know what the interior spec is like? I figure 100 seats would be overkill but anything vastly different might make it a pain for bringing into the city fleet later. Then again Lothian aren't shy about spending money at the moment
Re ticketing. Don't airlinks accept ordinary all day savers from Mayfield? Maybury? inwards? Just that isn't widely advertised?
As far as I am aware the official line is Day Tickets are NOT accepted on Airlink (that's not to say some drivers may "turn a blind eye" to this)
Pretty sure the Network Day Ticket is accepted on the Airlink Service.
1/3 off with a Young Scot card.On the subject of tickets & fares, do Lothian offer any discounts/incentives for young people aged between 16 and 18?
Is that only on single fares or DayTickets too?1/3 off with a Yong Scot card.
Is that only on single fares or DayTickets too?
Thanks. Shame they don't do discounted DayTickets (£3 or £3.50 perhaps). Stagecoach East Scotland offer U19 versions of the majority of their tickets, and Xplore Dundee charge child fares right up to your 19th birthday!