West Lothian buses

[Graham Alexand]

Does any one know if lothian country service X17 Is permanently serving Houstoun Industrial Estate in Pumpherston or when it gets extended back to Edinburgh will it revert back to Livingston Road A899 and Deer Park. Thanks.

 

[TheEastCoaster]

Does any one know if lothian country service X17 Is permanently serving Houstoun Industrial Estate in Pumpherston or when it gets extended back to Edinburgh will it revert back to Livingston Road A899 and Deer Park. Thanks.

it seems like such a random change to make, especially when the 275 was already brought back before that! which makes me think they will keep it in Pumpherston when the X17 goes back to Edinburgh.

honestly my wonder is when they will bring the 275 back to the Gyle already

 

[Graham Alexand]

it seems like such a random change to make, especially when the 275 was already brought back before that! which makes me think they will keep it in Pumpherston when the X17 goes back to Edinburgh.

honestly my wonder is when they will bring the 275 back to the Gyle already

I think the main reason for service X17 going through Houstoun Industrial Estate is because Grange Road didnt have any bus services but still quite random nonetheless. I think service 275 might go back to the gyle in the next 3 weeks.

 

[TheEastCoaster]

I think the main reason for service X17 going through Houstoun Industrial Estate is because Grange Road didnt have any bus services but still quite random nonetheless. I think service 275 might go back to the gyle in the next 3 weeks.

makes more sense now actually! I hope so, these buses deserve more than running part route to Broxburn anyway

 

[overthewater]

Alas x17 Has now lost the time advantage for Lothian, passenger between Livingston and Broxburn are quicker using X25 and 600. You have to wonder why this change was brought in? Are any of the offices open in Edinburgh Park or do we have to wait until mid September?

 

[Graham Alexand]

Just my opinion but i think it make better sense if the X17 went to Queensferry instead because there is too may buses that go to Edinburgh in Broxburn the X24 is empty a lot of the time, the X18 usually comes at the same time as X24 similarly with X25 and X17, or if the buses were more spaced apart like one bus every 7/8 minutes rather than 2 every 15 although Lothian Country and First bus are in Competition it would be more cost efficient for both companies just my opinion though. Im not saying cutting routes because its better to have to many than nothing.

 

[Siemens Trains]

Just my opinion but i think it make better sense if the X17 went to Queensferry instead because there is too may buses that go to Edinburgh in Broxburn the X24 is empty a lot of the time, the X18 usually comes at the same time as X24 similarly with X25 and X17, or if the buses were more spaced apart like one bus every 7/8 minutes rather than 2 every 15 although Lothian Country and First bus are in Competition it would be more cost efficient for both companies just my opinion though. Im not saying cutting routes because its better to have to many than nothing.

Compared to the Broxburn to Edinburgh market there's very little demand from bus users for a Broxburn to Queensferry link, although West Lothian Council still pay for nearly empty journeys on Horsburgh's 7. They used to pay for First's hourly 22A, again carrying virtually no passengers.
From a bus company's viewpoint they're better off with half of a healthy market than all of a tiny market. However I know it's not much help to passengers when buses run in pairs.

 

[overthewater]

Compared to the Broxburn to Edinburgh market there's very little demand from bus users for a Broxburn to Queensferry link, although West Lothian Council still pay for nearly empty journeys on Horsburgh's 7. They used to pay for First's hourly 22A, again carrying virtually no passengers.
From a bus company's viewpoint they're better off with half of a healthy market than all of a tiny market. However I know it's not much help to passengers when buses run in pairs.

West lothian council and Edinburgh City council pay for the 3 morning and 3 night journeys for the No7. Council never paid for the 22a, South Queensferry passengers can use X51 and get to livingston in 1/3 of the time instead of the crap service that used to operate.

 

[Graham Alexand]

West lothian council and Edinburgh City council pay for the 3 morning and 3 night journeys for the No7. Council never paid for the 22a, South Queensferry passengers can use X51 and get to livingston in 1/3 of the time instead of the crap service that used to operate.

Oh yeah i forgot about the X51

 

[Graham Alexand]

Compared to the Broxburn to Edinburgh market there's very little demand from bus users for a Broxburn to Queensferry link, although West Lothian Council still pay for nearly empty journeys on Horsburgh's 7. They used to pay for First's hourly 22A, again carrying virtually no passengers.
From a bus company's viewpoint they're better off with half of a healthy market than all of a tiny market. However I know it's not much help to passengers when buses run in pairs.
[/QUOTE

 

[Graham Alexand]

Eh its annoying when they show up at the same time, fair point i went to Queensferry on the 22A several times and it was very rare that it was ever full or even busy, however the 22A was busy usually up until Broxburn.

 

[Siemens Trains]

Oh yeah i forgot about the X51

And of course the well-known link offered by SD Travel's service 16. Think it "operates" between two hospitals (St John's and Western) via Broxburn and A90.

 

[Graham Alexand]

I forgot about service 16 too, i was only thinking of major operators in west lothian forgot about the minor operators. Thank You

 

[Graham Alexand]

I had a thought a few weeks back about a link from Livingston Bus Station to Ocean Terminal Edinburgh

I know there isn't a big demand for a bus to ocean terminal in livingston so i was thinking that if Hourly that Service 275 continued to ocean terminal replacing a 22 journey

It wouldnt lose money because it would basically be the 22 route after the gyle so no change in that aspect and would bring in more passengers from communites in West Lothian and provide new links in areas such as Bathgate, Livingston, Pumpherston and Broxburn .

 

[Jordan Adam]

I had a thought a few weeks back about a link from Livingston Bus Station to Ocean Terminal Edinburgh

I know there isn't a big demand for a bus to ocean terminal in livingston so i was thinking that if Hourly that Service 275 continued to ocean terminal replacing a 22 journey

It wouldnt lose money because it would basically be the 22 route after the gyle so no change in that aspect and would bring in more passengers from communites in West Lothian and provide new links in areas such as Bathgate, Livingston, Pumpherston and Broxburn .

That would likely cause reliability issues on the Gyle - Livingstion portion of the service.

 

[Graham Alexand]

That would likely cause reliability issues on the Gyle - Livingstion portion of the service.

True, but would it work if there was a waiting period of 5 mins at the gyle so it could make up any potentially lost time

 

[Jordan Adam]

True, but would it work if there was a waiting period of 5 mins at the gyle so it could make up any potentially lost time

It could be i can't really see demand being there. If anything they'd be better merging it with the 200, but again i can see that creating reliability issues.

 

[Graham Alexand]

It could be i can't really see demand being there. If anything they'd be better merging it with the 200, but again i can see that creating reliability issues.

Maybe, but the reason that i tought service 22 was because it terminated at the Gyle, but it would probably make more sense with service 200 because its slightly quicker than 22.

 

[Altnabreac]

I had a thought a few weeks back about a link from Livingston Bus Station to Ocean Terminal Edinburgh

I know there isn't a big demand for a bus to ocean terminal in livingston so i was thinking that if Hourly that Service 275 continued to ocean terminal replacing a 22 journey

It wouldnt lose money because it would basically be the 22 route after the gyle so no change in that aspect and would bring in more passengers from communites in West Lothian and provide new links in areas such as Bathgate, Livingston, Pumpherston and Broxburn .

There was a service about 12 years ago Ocean Terminal - Livingston that I caught a few times from Drylaw - Livingston. It wasn’t well used.

 

[Edirim]

Nordi travel wasn't it?

Bus companies need to move away from centre to centre routes...lots of folk live in East and Midlothian and work out Edinburgh Park Way and likewise west Lothian folk work in the Scottish executive area etc. Demand would be peak mostly but combined with councils actually enforcing and creating bus lanes it might work

 

[DunsBus]

Nordi travel wasn't it?

Bus companies need to move away from centre to centre routes...lots of folk live in East and Midlothian and work out Edinburgh Park Way and likewise west Lothian folk work in the Scottish executive area etc. Demand would be peak mostly but combined with councils actually enforcing and creating bus lanes it might work

Yes, it was Nordi. I seem to recall First and then Stagecoach both had a go at it as well.

 

[overthewater]

It was indeed Nordi travel service 631/632, which complement 651, It must be noted the 631 was rather busy, it was a meth " It wasn’t well used" However this is the sticking point, It's another one of those routes like FiG X1 or Mcgills X23. It was pretty much busy on the peak runs. So you had empty buses running about all day. ( between kirkliston and Leith) towards the end of nordis run journeys were being lost etc and when First took over they streamlined the timetable. In 2012, The trouble was brewing again, First needed to make some cut backs it was decided to merge 631 into 651 and make it hourly. The core section of the route is still in operate as No600.

One of the issues with this route over the last couple of years have been the fact the Burnshot flyover was being rebuilt so any bus would have had to go via South Queensferry going toward leith.

The majority of the traffic on the Maybury road is in fact going from Maybury up to North Edinburgh so there clearly is a demand AKA follow the car drivers.. but there has never been a proper bus service covering this route.

This is why Lothian country buses is so infuriating, they haven't really had much original ideas expect going via Wester inch ( even that would have been better if the Ex1 went via it) Its just copy First, and they dont try to be fresh. Lothian could have created bolt on to the City network generating new passenger links, interconnect to the city but not it stuck with following First chasing the little passenger there was heading to the city Centre..

If I was LCB and I had millions to waste I would have tried some Blue sky thinking:

Peak times
* Ex3 Fast service from Gyle - Sighthill - Hermiston Gait - M8 - ??
* X63 : Livingston - Craigshill - Ladywell - Fastlink - Broxburn ( connect with X17 ) - Whinchbugh - Kirkilston - Barton - Graton - Newhaven
* X17 : Livingston - Eliburn ( wrong way ) - Deans - Knightsbridge - Broxburn ( connect with X63 ) - Ratho - Edinburgh Park
* X18; Goes via two new eastes ie via Loaninghill road and Blyth road
* No200 would be revised operate every 15mins at peak times

Or anything like that, would have been waste of money.

 

[TheEastCoaster]

If I was LCB and I had millions to waste I would have tried some Blue sky thinking:

Peak times
* Ex3 Fast service from Gyle - Sighthill - Hermiston Gait - M8 - ??
* X63 : Livingston - Craigshill - Ladywell - Fastlink - Broxburn ( connect with X17 ) - Whinchbugh - Kirkilston - Barton - Graton - Newhaven
* X17 : Livingston - Eliburn ( wrong way ) - Deans - Knightsbridge - Broxburn ( connect with X63 ) - Ratho - Edinburgh Park
* X18; Goes via two new eastes ie via Loaninghill road and Blyth road
* No200 would be revised operate every 15mins at peak times

Or anything like that, would have been waste of money.

If LCB took the 20 and 63 instead of First they could of made some good incarnations of the precious predecessor, along with the 40/X40.

Ratho is going to lose out on any Lothian service after August and once folk who dont bother to research realise this they are gonna cause a storm on social media like always

But anyway linking other parts of Edinburgh besides the centre with West Lothian makes sense, they do it with Midlothian enough and even East Lothian with the 113 (Granton-Pencaitland)

Heres a suggestion on my part because I was bored

X4 - Livingston (St Johns) - Royal Infirmary
Via Livingston Centre, Dedridge, A71, Kirknewton, Balerno, Currie, Slateford, West Approach Road, Tollcross, The Meadows, Causewayside, Cameron Toll

285 - Livingston Centre - Ocean Terminal
via A71, Wilkieston, Bonnington, Ratho, Ingilston. Maybury Road, Barnton, Davidson Mains, Crewe Toll, Granton, Newhaven

46 - Queensferry - Seton Sands
via Ferrymuir, A90, Burnshot, Barnton, Crewe Toll, Ferry Road, Leith, Seafield, Northfield, Brunstane, Musselburgh, Port Seton

 

[OmniCity999]

If LCB took the 20 and 63 instead of First they could of made some good incarnations of the precious predecessor, along with the 40/X40.

Ratho is going to lose out on any Lothian service after August and once folk who dont bother to research realise this they are gonna cause a storm on social media like always

But anyway linking other parts of Edinburgh besides the centre with West Lothian makes sense, they do it with Midlothian enough and even East Lothian with the 113 (Granton-Pencaitland)

Heres a suggestion on my part because I was bored

X4 - Livingston (St Johns) - Royal Infirmary
Via Livingston Centre, Dedridge, A71, Kirknewton, Balerno, Currie, Slateford, West Approach Road, Tollcross, The Meadows, Causewayside, Cameron Toll

285 - Livingston Centre - Ocean Terminal
via A71, Wilkieston, Bonnington, Ratho, Ingilston. Maybury Road, Barnton, Davidson Mains, Crewe Toll, Granton, Newhaven

46 - Queensferry - Seton Sands
via Ferrymuir, A90, Burnshot, Barnton, Crewe Toll, Ferry Road, Leith, Seafield, Northfield, Brunstane, Musselburgh, Port Seton

As useful as the 285 would be, LCB wont go any further into Edinburgh. Thats one of their big issues. This wouldnt be an issue if Ridacard was available in LCB territory or if capping was stronger.

The idea behind LCB and its not a good one, is point to point journeys, not complete journeys.

They'd certainly never go to Seaton Sands.

Joining the 200 on to something into West Lothian would be a good idea though.

 

[overthewater]

Little steps need to be take, North Edinburgh is given, but going via your 285 idea wouldnt provide the speed needed. However the X4 idea is pretty much what the council tender X40 does, again LCB should have gone after this route, its a PREFECT bolt on..

If LCB took the 20 and 63 instead of First they could of made some good incarnations of the precious predecessor, along with the 40/X40.

Ratho is going to lose out on any Lothian service after August and once folk who dont bother to research realise this they are gonna cause a storm on social media like always

But anyway linking other parts of Edinburgh besides the centre with West Lothian makes sense, they do it with Midlothian enough and even East Lothian with the 113 (Granton-Pencaitland)

Heres a suggestion on my part because I was bored

X4 - Livingston (St Johns) - Royal Infirmary
Via Livingston Centre, Dedridge, A71, Kirknewton, Balerno, Currie, Slateford, West Approach Road, Tollcross, The Meadows, Causewayside, Cameron Toll

285 - Livingston Centre - Ocean Terminal
via A71, Wilkieston, Bonnington, Ratho, Ingilston. Maybury Road, Barnton, Davidson Mains, Crewe Toll, Granton, Newhaven

46 - Queensferry - Seton Sands
via Ferrymuir, A90, Burnshot, Barnton, Crewe Toll, Ferry Road, Leith, Seafield, Northfield, Brunstane, Musselburgh, Port Seton

 

[Graham Alexand]

I think first has transfered some 14 plate Streetlites to the west lothian depot, the reason is that on bustimes.org it says that in the fleet list, is this a mistake or has First transfered buses up to Scotland.

Little side note why do so many enthusiasts hate streetlites the seem to be fine and do a great job in WestLothian.

Thanks

Link: To First Scotland East fleet list

Fleet list – McGill’s Scotland East – bustimes.org

 

[Jordan Adam]

I think first has transfered some 14 plate Streetlites to the west lothian depot, the reason is that on bustimes.org it says that in the fleet list, is this a mistake or has First transfered buses up to Scotland.

Little side note why do so many enthusiasts hate streetlites the seem to be fine and do a great job in WestLothian.

Thanks

Link: To First Scotland East fleet list

Fleet list – McGill’s Scotland East – bustimes.org

Indeed they have. The vehicles listed there are the recent transfers coming in to allow for the PVR increases.

 

[fgwrich]

Indeed they have. The vehicles listed there are the recent transfers coming in to allow for the PVR increases.

I'm surprised to see some of the Weymouth vehicles moving up. Some of my relatives might raise a smile at some of our Hampshire vehicles moving up too with those B7RLEs coming up from Southampton too.

 

[Observer]

Little side note why do so many enthusiasts hate streetlites the seem to be fine and do a great job in WestLothian.

When they get purchased for routes that need heavy duty vehicles rather than lightweights, it's a big problem.

 

[PaulMc7]

When they get purchased for routes that need heavy duty vehicles rather than lightweights, it's a big problem.

Excellent point plus from a passenger perspective I've only ever experienced ones that have a constant rattling noise. Never been on a bus in West Lothian tbh. Only Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Stirling and Falkirk a few times and Edinburgh twice