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Lothian Buses and ECB Discussion

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ScotRail158725

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That's exactly what I suggested, adding a Lothian bus to compliment the express 400, I was not saying make it an express and leave the rest to dry. As an airport bus it should be a faster journey end to end. The 400 simply doesn't do this, especially between the airport and Calder Road for example.
the whole point of the skylinks is to act as a normal commercial route that also goes to the airport providing links from the suburbs to the airport. making it express with shadowing normal services would be a an additional running cost which Lothian dont want not need
 
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gavin1985

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the whole point of the skylinks is to act as a normal commercial route that also goes to the airport providing links from the suburbs to the airport. making it express with shadowing normal services would be a an additional running cost which Lothian dont want not need
This is most likely the main reason why Lothian won't add a shadowing service(s) along the route.

The 100 is that express bus, but the number of shadowing buses along 90% of the route has increased over the past few years, plus with impending changes to Lothian Country between Maybury and Drumbrae that will just increase more. That being said, it does bring us back to the point that Lothian does need to invest outwith the city centre.
 

ScotRail158725

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tour buses 230-235 all at ferrymill motors, not certain why they’re there however first thing that came to my mind (due to 942 being was there) is that they could be there for full roof conversion and stuck into the stndard fleet to flush out more B7s? can anyone confirm why they’re their and while 942 is their aswell, how is it coming along?
 

OmniCity999

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tour buses 230-235 all at ferrymill motors, not certain why they’re there however first thing that came to my mind (due to 942 being was there) is that they could be there for full roof conversion and stuck into the stndard fleet to flush out more B7s? can anyone confirm why they’re their and while 942 is their aswell, how is it coming along?

240-235 recently seen still in half roof states (one of which has no roof)

Kings only offer paint services to the bus industry I believe. So they wont be getting new roofs there and I've seen them all recently as they were.

20942 is getting paint.
 

Jordan Adam

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Kings only offer paint services to the bus industry I believe. So they wont be getting new roofs there and I've seen them all recently as they were

Ferrymill offer more than just paint services. First and Stagecoach often use them if a vehicle has electrical issues or major RTC damage, they also provide lease vehicles.
 

ScotRail158725

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Kings only offer paint services to the bus industry I believe. So they wont be getting new roofs there and I've seen them all recently as they were.

20942 is getting paint.
yeah i know kings offer paint only hence why i asked since they’re at ferrymill

id assume 20942 will be out soon in that case
 

OmniCity999

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yeah i know kings offer paint only hence why i asked since they’re at ferrymill

id assume 20942 will be out soon in that case

Sorry I misread.

Believe all are getting painted, the open toppers are getting interior work done to bring them innline with the Lothian standard. All are still in first spec. 20942 is getting its finishing touches.
 

ScotRail158725

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Sorry I misread.

Believe all are getting painted, the open toppers are getting interior work done to bring them innline with the Lothian standard. All are still in first spec. 20942 is getting its finishing touches.
all good,

will be good to see the tour buses and 20942 back in service.

any idea if 1029 will follow in its footsteps since ive heard its getting fixed by one lot and that its written off by another
 

OmniCity999

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all good,

will be good to see the tour buses and 20942 back in service.

any idea if 1029 will follow in its footsteps since ive heard its getting fixed by one lot and that its written off by another

It's already been stated on here numerous times that theres around a 90% chance it wont return. The body is bent.

Wright dont make the parts anymore. I'd say it wont be back.
 

TheEastCoaster

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If this is referring to the East Coast Tours I have my doubts, which is a shame because I really enjoyed it but was clearly not a big demand for it
 

BobScott

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Sorry I misread.

Believe all are getting painted, the open toppers are getting interior work done to bring them innline with the Lothian standard. All are still in first spec. 20942 is getting its finishing touches.
230-235 are from the native buses bought brand new in 2016 and were delivered to Lothian/EBT specification. None of these is completely roofless. The ex-London City Tour buses bought last year are 251-256 and are originally First buses and are not to Lothian specification. Also one of them 256 is fully roofless. I thought the original subject here was 230-235 which are the native ones.
 

OmniCity999

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230-235 are from the native buses bought brand new in 2016 and were delivered to Lothian/EBT specification. None of these is completely roofless. The ex-London City Tour buses bought last year are 251-256 and are originally First buses and are not to Lothian specification. Also one of them 256 is fully roofless. I thought the original subject here was 230-235 which are the native ones.

Yes do apologise. Really not with it right now.
 

FlybeDash8Q400

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Some bits and pieces I’ve drawn from the timetables, notably off peak weekday frequencies:

7 - From every 12 mins to every 15 mins.

10 - From every 10 mins (every 20 mins to Bonaly or Torphin) to every 12 mins (every 24 mins to Bonaly or Torphin).

14 - From every 12 mins to every 15 mins.

23 - From every 10 mins to every 12 mins.

26 - From every 7/8 mins (every 15 mins to Seton Sands or Tranent) to every 10 mins (every 20 mins to Seton Sands or Tranent).

27 - From every 10 mins to every 12 mins.

41 - From every 15 mins to every 20 mins.

44 - From every 10 mins to every 12 mins.


N22 weekend shorts appear to have gone as well, N44’s come off/go on N3’s instead.


My guess is the last 200 will run the second N35 (not confident about this at all), the first one is currently the last Longstone 35 journey (thus renumbered and extended).

I’ve no doubt missed weekday frequencies out somewhere.
 

Bus9120UK

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Some bits and pieces I’ve drawn from the timetables, notably off peak weekday frequencies:

7 - From every 12 mins to every 15 mins.

10 - From every 10 mins (every 20 mins to Bonaly or Torphin) to every 12 mins (every 24 mins to Bonaly or Torphin).

14 - From every 12 mins to every 15 mins.

23 - From every 10 mins to every 12 mins.

26 - From every 7/8 mins (every 15 mins to Seton Sands or Tranent) to every 10 mins (every 20 mins to Seton Sands or Tranent).

27 - From every 10 mins to every 12 mins.

41 - From every 15 mins to every 20 mins.

44 - From every 10 mins to every 12 mins.


N22 weekend shorts appear to have gone as well, N44’s come off/go on N3’s instead.


My guess is the last 200 will run the second N35 (not confident about this at all), the first one is currently the last Longstone 35 journey (thus renumbered and extended).

I’ve no doubt missed weekday frequencies out somewhere.
I have had a look at the X18 & X27 timetables. I can't tell if they no longer interlink or not? Maybe you know?
 

tbtc

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26 - From every 7/8 mins (every 15 mins to Seton Sands or Tranent) to every 10 mins (every 20 mins to Seton Sands or Tranent).

Additional Lothian services along Glasgow Road in recent times (i.e. West Lothian ones), plus the 15 extended to Eastfield means this was probably inevitable - hopefully the 15/45/124 can co-ordinate to give a combined five minute service with the 26 through Portobello

41 - From every 15 mins to every 20 mins

Hopefully this can be co-ordinated with the 43 to give a Lothian service every ten minutes along Queensferry Road
 

FlybeDash8Q400

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Additional Lothian services along Glasgow Road in recent times (i.e. West Lothian ones), plus the 15 extended to Eastfield means this was probably inevitable - hopefully the 15/45/124 can co-ordinate to give a combined five minute service with the 26 through Portobello
Yea agreed seemed inevitable, frees up more buses for the diversions as well.

Hopefully this can be co-ordinated with the 43 to give a Lothian service every ten minutes along Queensferry Road
It more or less has, 41’s will depart from the West End (heading to Cramond) at 02, 22, 42 while 43’s (Queensferry bound) will be 11, 31, 51.
 
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Auld reekie

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Some bits and pieces I’ve drawn from the timetables, notably off peak weekday frequencies:

7 - From every 12 mins to every 15 mins.

10 - From every 10 mins (every 20 mins to Bonaly or Torphin) to every 12 mins (every 24 mins to Bonaly or Torphin).

14 - From every 12 mins to every 15 mins.

23 - From every 10 mins to every 12 mins.

26 - From every 7/8 mins (every 15 mins to Seton Sands or Tranent) to every 10 mins (every 20 mins to Seton Sands or Tranent).

27 - From every 10 mins to every 12 mins.

41 - From every 15 mins to every 20 mins.

44 - From every 10 mins to every 12 mins.


N22 weekend shorts appear to have gone as well, N44’s come off/go on N3’s instead.


My guess is the last 200 will run the second N35 (not confident about this at all), the first one is currently the last Longstone 35 journey (thus renumbered and extended).

I’ve no doubt missed weekday frequencies out somewhere.
What a joke re No44 from 10 to 12 minutes.
2 minutes doesn’t seem much but it’s the thin end of the wedge.
Next revue will be 15 minutes.
They’re supposed to be encouraging people to use public transport.
It’s the only service to Balerno.
They couldn’t run a bath.
 

FlybeDash8Q400

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What a joke re No44 from 10 to 12 minutes.
2 minutes doesn’t seem much but it’s the thin end of the wedge.
Next revue will be 15 minutes.
They’re supposed to be encouraging people to use public transport.
It’s the only service to Balerno.
They couldn’t run a bath.
In fairness to Lothian they have put out additional X44 journeys at the Balerno end to try and help with the peak time flows, they’ve ultimately made the decision to free up buses where the effect shouldn’t be as bad, I’m not overly happy that the 14 has been reduced but it’s often late as it is so it shouldn’t make a massive difference. Remember it’s likely most of these frequency changes will get reversed next year once Leith Walk reopens (All except 26 and 41). I think I’d be more annoyed if I was a Bonaly or Torphin resident and now have a bus a confusing every 24 minutes.
 

overthewater

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Wow that is some bad cuts, Again why are there trying to save money and resources? These can NOT all be linked to tram works, 26 is given here, it's like there want to get even more people on to the X17 and X18. Mind you why 26 was running every 15min from Tranent, when LCB provide a faster service in part of prestonpans

Lothian needs to found some extra buses to cover the revised NORTHBOUND route only, yet its near enough the same running time on some routes like the 10.... 41 tended to be late.. it has 1min extra..

The Saturday tt on the 22 is now every 12mins compared to every 10mins. How many buses have been cut from overall service? I think we will see an actually drop on PVR.

Its clear some changes have happened, but the level of cuts clearly suggest something else is afoot.
 
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tbtc

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Whilst some of the cuts are the kind of gradual reductions that have been seen in other cities (and totally understandable given the traffic congestion and bunching that Edinburgh gets), my problem with the "every twelve minutes" cuts is that it doesn't co-ordinate with anything else (other than another service every twelve minutes). So fine in the case of the 23/27 (still providing a six minute service in the "core") but you've got the situation where the Leith - Morningside service goes from the 10/16 both running every ten minutes to one every ten and the other every twelve, which is much less attractive. Same with the 44 which means that the 113 can no longer be neatly scheduled in between 44 journeys.

I could understand it if the plan was to make the 4 every twelve minutes too, so it provided a six minute service from Jocks Lodge to Slateford with the 44.

What a joke re No44 from 10 to 12 minutes.
2 minutes doesn’t seem much but it’s the thin end of the wedge.
Next revue will be 15 minutes.
They’re supposed to be encouraging people to use public transport.
It’s the only service to Balerno.
They couldn’t run a bath.

They are trying to encourage people to use public transport, but does Balerno really justify a ten minute frequency off-peak?

And at the Wallyford end, there's the much faster 104.

Wow that is some bad cuts, Again why are there trying to save money and resources? These can NOT all be linked to tram works, 26 is given here, it's like there want to get even more people on to the X17 and X18

Well, yes, if they are running these West Lothian services then why not use them to soak up some of the existing passengers along the A8 and also take the RBS flow by using contra-peak resources - perfectly sensible.

If the X17/X18 are as quiet as people on here keep saying then there will surely be some spare seats... plus it means that the 26 and 31 can be better co-ordinated on the west side (and the 15/26/45/124 can be co-ordinated on the east side).

It more or less has, 41’s will depart from the West End (heading to Cramond) at 02, 22, 42 while 43’s (Queensferry bound) will be 11, 31, 51.

Good to hear!
 

overthewater

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The problem with the 10 is, the tram is coming to replace part of its section, One would have assume, it would go down to every 20mins on the northern side but keep it every 10min on the non tram side.

Yes the X17/18 has plenty of seats going spare ( same can be said for the First bus X24/25) However neither are all stops. You have to remember the 100 has been increased in price to keep people off it aswell.

26 needs to be completely overhauled, it just feels like these changes are very half hearted, if the company are wishing to simplify its operations.
 

ScotRail158725

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They are trying to encourage people to use public transport, but does Balerno really justify a ten minute frequency off-peak?

And at the Wallyford end, there's the much faster 104.
the thing is is 12 minutes all day it doesnt go back up at peak. the 44 at balerno can get full loads off peak, ive been on them myself, ive also been on almost completely dead runs. the 44 is also a consistantly busy route at the eastern end aswell especially around musselburgh. the 26 coming down to 10 minutes isnt going to help either especially considering both can be full out of musselburgh which brings me onto the 26. Yes the X15 is coming to Eastfield and there are lothian country routes along the A8 however the 26 is a busy route throughout the day, everyday, especially the eastern side and reducing the frequency isnt going to help in the slightest
 

Auld reekie

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Whilst some of the cuts are the kind of gradual reductions that have been seen in other cities (and totally understandable given the traffic congestion and bunching that Edinburgh gets), my problem with the "every twelve minutes" cuts is that it doesn't co-ordinate with anything else (other than another service every twelve minutes). So fine in the case of the 23/27 (still providing a six minute service in the "core") but you've got the situation where the Leith - Morningside service goes from the 10/16 both running every ten minutes to one every ten and the other every twelve, which is much less attractive. Same with the 44 which means that the 113 can no longer be neatly scheduled in between 44 journeys.

I could understand it if the plan was to make the 4 every twelve minutes too, so it provided a six minute service from Jocks Lodge to Slateford with the 44.



They are trying to encourage people to use public transport, but does Balerno really justify a ten minute frequency off-peak?

And at the Wallyford end, there's the much faster 104.



Well, yes, if they are running these West Lothian services then why not use them to soak up some of the existing passengers along the A8 and also take the RBS flow by using contra-peak resources - perfectly sensible.

If the X17/X18 are as quiet as people on here keep saying then there will surely be some spare seats... plus it means that the 26 and 31 can be better co-ordinated on the west side (and the 15/26/45/124 can be co-ordinated on the east side).



Good to hear!
You’ve just said at the Wallyford end there is the 104 which is an alternative.
Well at the Balerno end there isn’t that luxury of any alternatives.
For the last 9 months I’ve contacted various councillors to try and get No63 extended to Barleno.
I was told there was a good chance funding would be available.
Nothing has materialised.
Probably just BS.
 

smtglasgow

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A reduction to Balerno isn’t great, but bus companies have never had as much real data about who is travelling where, and when. Only Lothian know, for example, the number of passengers per hour on any corridor. Their last financials included a drop of 1m passengers per annum – less than 1%, so actually not too bad – but they’ll want to match supply to demand. Look on the bright side. From over here in the west it still looks pretty good…
 
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