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Lothian Group discussion (Lothian City, Lothian Country Bus and East Coast Buses)

CN04NRJ

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This is the last YouTube video I'll put up here in regards to this for now.

An video of two of Lothian's MCV eVoRa's on service 36 at Glenlockhart, the video is filmed by "BlazeClone's YT Vidz" including SJ70 HNE (70) and SJ70 HNF (71).

I have put a link to the YouTube video below

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Don't know if it's just me, but I think it's almost pointless filming modern buses as they're so quiet and all sound practically the same. Apart from Cummins, i'd say the Mercedes/Volvo/Scania Euro 6 engines all sound very similar and the ZF Ecolife gearbox fitted to most of them is almost virtually silent.
 
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RomeoCharlie71

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Don't know if it's just me, but I think it's almost pointless filming modern buses as they're so quiet and all sound practically the same. Apart from Cummins, i'd say the Mercedes/Volvo/Scania Euro 6 engines all sound very similar and the ZF Ecolife gearbox fitted to most of them is almost virtually silent.
You'd be surprised at the sound differences between our 2015 batch of B5LHs. Quite a significant number of them have been fitted with new components (turbos, gearboxes, engines, etc.) over time and I can almost identify which one I'm on without looking at the fleet number. I suppose it's much like how drivers will notice different driving "physics" as it were when driving them, as the buses get older.

But on the whole I agree, there's very little sound difference between modern buses especially when brand new, but as time goes on that'll likely change.
 

CN04NRJ

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You'd be surprised at the sound differences between our 2015 batch of B5LHs. Quite a significant number of them have been fitted with new components (turbos, gearboxes, engines, etc.) over time and I can almost identify which one I'm on without looking at the fleet number. I suppose it's much like how drivers will notice different driving "physics" as it were when driving them, as the buses get older.

But on the whole I agree, there's very little sound difference between modern buses especially when brand new, but as time goes on that'll likely change.

I suppose you're right, back when I was at Central during the last lockdown and 551-570 were the regular buses on the 24/48 I could tell the difference between individual buses. I think it was 561 or 562 that has a very loud hybrid system sound (hard to describe) on tickover.

Over time as vehicles age I suppose they start to sound and drive alot different, i've had a few of the 351-400 batch recently and every bus sounded/drove a little bit differently from the other.

Although on the other hand I suppose in the future it'll be interesting to look back on these videos in a historical sense, as it'd be a shame if nobody documented them. I do enjoy watching old videos of buses in Edinburgh/Cardiff etc that at the time probably wouldn't have been of any interest to many people.
 
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Bus9120UK

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I notice theres an issue with the tracker right now, I also noticed 186/187 are part of this bunch
(image below shows screenshot of the tracker)
1613401026521.png
 

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CN04NRJ

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I don’t see any issues with it. Livi buses normally show up here as was said previously regarding the tracker systems locations.

186 and 187 are possibly there as cover for vehicles being upgraded. Give them a good run as well.

I'm led to believe they are actually there /intended for use there.
 
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Does anyone know (or know where I could find) the daytime weekday, Saturday and Sunday service frequencies of routes 2, 29, 100, 200 and 400 from before the pandemic? I've checked the Lothian website and the bustimes website using the Wayback Machine but it doesn't have any of the relevant pages archived.
I found this news page but it doesn't have the timetables for the above routes.
(I've put the ones I've already got below for information, numbers meaning "a bus from every ... minutes").

1613511994459.png
 

FlybeDash8Q400

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Does anyone know (or know where I could find) the daytime weekday, Saturday and Sunday service frequencies of routes 2, 29, 100, 200 and 400 from before the pandemic? I've checked the Lothian website and the bustimes website using the Wayback Machine but it doesn't have any of the relevant pages archived.
I found this news page but it doesn't have the timetables for the above routes.
(I've put the ones I've already got below for information, numbers meaning "a bus from every ... minutes").

View attachment 90846
100 I think was every 9 mins Monday to Saturday (possibly every 10 on a Sunday), 200 and 400 every 30 mins every day.

2 I’m 90% sure was every 15 mins Monday to Friday, every 20 mins Saturday, every 30 mins Sunday.

29 I think was every 20 mins Monday to Saturday, every 30 mins Sunday.
 

ScotRail158725

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Does anyone know (or know where I could find) the daytime weekday, Saturday and Sunday service frequencies of routes 2, 29, 100, 200 and 400 from before the pandemic? I've checked the Lothian website and the bustimes website using the Wayback Machine but it doesn't have any of the relevant pages archived.
I found this news page but it doesn't have the timetables for the above routes.
(I've put the ones I've already got below for information, numbers meaning "a bus from every ... minutes").

View attachment 90846
as said in the above response the 2 was 15 M-F, 20 Saturday, 30 Sunday
29 was 20 mins Monday-Satuday, 30 Mins Sunday
200 & 400 were half hourly throughout the whole week

(Sidenote) The 22 was 10 mins on a Saturday not 12
 
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100 I think was every 9 mins Monday to Saturday (possibly every 10 on a Sunday), 200 and 400 every 30 mins every day.

2 I’m 90% sure was every 15 mins Monday to Friday, every 20 mins Saturday, every 30 mins Sunday.

29 I think was every 20 mins Monday to Saturday, every 30 mins Sunday.

as said in the above response the 2 was 15 M-F, 20 Saturday, 30 Sunday
29 was 20 mins Monday-Satuday, 30 Mins Sunday
200 & 400 were half hourly throughout the whole week

(Sidenote) The 22 was 10 mins on a Saturday not 12
Thanks both. :)
100 I think was every 9 mins Monday to Saturday
That's interesting, so it was on a 3 hour repeating timetable then? (As 9 doesn't divide equally by 60 or 120, but does by 180.)
The 22 was 10 mins on a Saturday not 12
Which timetable are you referring to? The one in the link I posted said every 12 minutes (for all I know that could just be a typo in the PDF though, or a temporary reduction which was quickly reversed or something).
Thanks again.
 

M-Train

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From Coruscant-upon-Pearl to North Acton....
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So up to 90 B8Ls, wow! That'll be quite the significant portion of the fleet being tri axle by the end of next year then.

As for the unmentionable rumour, they do already body the B8L do they not for Hong Kong and other markets? I was impressed by the build quality of MCV B5LHs I've traveled on in London so maybe it might not be such a bad thing if it comes to that.
The enthusiast community in HK begs to differ—the seats on the KMB ones are spoken of the way the ironing boards of the 700’s are!
 

Bus9120UK

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Lothian are rerouting the 200, 300 and 400 from Sunday to serve the Highland Centre Vaccination centre.
Lothian Buses has today (19 February) announced its intention to introduce new daily transport links to the NHS Lothian Vaccination Centre located at the west of the city at the Royal Highland Centre, Ingliston which opened to the public on 3 February.
From Sunday 21 February, Skylink services 200, 300 and 400 will be rerouted to provide vital links direct to the Royal Highland Centre from across Edinburgh and will assist thousands of individuals as they make the essential and important journey to the Vaccination Centre located within the grounds. Services will stop at the Ingliston Road stop every day between approximately 07:45 hours and 21:00 hours.
The company has launched a dedicated Vaccination Centre journey planning webpage where locals can find information on how to travel to NHS Lothian Vaccination Centres across Edinburgh and the Lothians.
Nigel Serafini, Interim Managing Director at Lothian Buses, said:

“We are delighted to be able to support NHS Lothian with the rollout of the Covid-19 Vaccination programme by making it as easy as possible for residents across Edinburgh and the Lothians to travel to their appointments, as well as offering vital transport links for those keyworkers and volunteers helping within the centre.

“Our teams have worked hard over the last 12 months to ensure our buses are clean, safe and accessible for those that require to make essential journeys.”
 

ScotRail158725

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All of the main fleet batch of 831-872 (minus 856) now debranded in Marine car park, on a side note does anyone know what colour 856 was under its most recent wrap? it was still pink under the one prior. 763 has also dissapeared from Seafield (assuming its inside now) and has been replaced by 5 airlink XLBs and 101-106
 

alexf380

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763 is now elsewhere. It was being towed along the City bypass earlier this week (Wednesday I think) so I'd imagine its off to scrap/storage at Newbridge/pastures new.
 

OmniCity999

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All of the main fleet batch of 831-872 (minus 856) now debranded in Marine car park, on a side note does anyone know what colour 856 was under its most recent wrap? it was still pink under the one prior. 763 has also dissapeared from Seafield (assuming its inside now) and has been replaced by 5 airlink XLBs and 101-106
856 is pink.
 
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856 is pink.
I thought it was tartan.

Edit: never mind I've just realised that was a wrap.

All of the main fleet batch of 831-872 (minus 856) now debranded in Marine car park, on a side note does anyone know what colour 856 was under its most recent wrap? it was still pink under the one prior. 763 has also dissapeared from Seafield (assuming its inside now) and has been replaced by 5 airlink XLBs and 101-106
Is 101-106 the training fleet?
 

Bus9120UK

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Yes 101-6 is the training fleet

Probably being withdrawn

Do you guys have any ideas as to why 101-106 are at seafield or do you think they are just being withdrawn?.
TB107-108 are also part of the training fleet. I imagine it is for a withdrawal or temporary parking
 

OmniCity999

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I thought it was tartan.

Edit: never mind I've just realised that was a wrap.


Is 101-106 the training fleet?
The Tartan wasn't painted on... :rolleyes: It was previously the Breast cancer awareness bus, so it was pink. There was no need to repaint it if it was going straight into a wrap. Doing so would mean after the wrap it would need painted again.

After the tartan wrap, it was wrapped in Edinburgh City Centre promotional branding.

Some panels have been repainted, so its actual colour depends on what panel you loom at, but its main body is pink.
Yes 101-6 is the training fleet

Probably being withdrawn

Do you guys have any ideas as to why 101-106 are at seafield or do you think they are just being withdrawn?.
TB107-108 are also part of the training fleet. I imagine it is for a withdrawal or temporary parking
TB101-108 are for sale, with some already sold i believe. They were offered for use as mobile vaccine units, but it was quickly decided against.
 

GusB

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And there was me thinking that Lothian had its own special blend of Tartan paint... ;)
 
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And there was me thinking that Lothian had its own special blend of Tartan paint... ;)
Yeah :lol: I wasn't thinking right before i posted that, i realised the minute i pressed reply.

Anyway, wouldn't it make sense to have the B9TL's out on service the now and increase capacity enhance social distancing on single deck routes (I realise some of these routes could not be operated with double deckers due to low bridges ect...)

Also on bustimes.org some of the Volvo7900's haven't been used since January and one is of the tracker.
 

OmniCity999

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And there was me thinking that Lothian had its own special blend of Tartan paint... ;)
kept on the shelf next to the long weights and the spirit level bubbles, of course.

Yeah :lol: I wasn't thinking right before i posted that, i realised the minute i pressed reply.

Anyway, wouldn't it make sense to have the B9TL's out on service the now and increase capacity enhance social distancing on single deck routes (I realise some of these routes could not be operated with double deckers due to low bridges ect...)

Also on bustimes.org some of the Volvo7900's haven't been used since January and one is of the tracker.

Service levels are continuously monitored and adjusted where required - the fact it hasn't happened explains itself. Some single deck routes have deckers allocated at certain times to cover this. It doesn't warrant a full conversion to double deck operation - to allow single deckers to remain in the fleet.

If need be, this could still be achieved. Enough surplus B9's and B8's are in service ready condition to accommodate this - its all been thought out.

Some 7900's are in deep storage. i.e long term decommissioned. (not withdrawn for sale, yet at least)

There is talk of one of the early batches (1-10) being converted to standard B5 powertrain, but im led to believe its a rather large job. Nothing is confirmed so don't get too excited.
 

scosutsut

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I find it interesting as companies like First have made bold claims not to buy diesel from 2022 I think it is, you look at Lothian's experience over the years and the only hybrid/non diesel vehicle type that appears to have been close to satisfactory has been the B5LH deckers which I'm sure are prone to their own issues too.

The 2011 hybrids obviously aren't anymore. The 7900s have diminished in popularity somewhat and let's not talk about the Streetairs!

Hopefully the incoming E400 EVs will be better?
 

CN04NRJ

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Yeah :lol: I wasn't thinking right before i posted that, i realised the minute i pressed reply.

Anyway, wouldn't it make sense to have the B9TL's out on service the now and increase capacity enhance social distancing on single deck routes (I realise some of these routes could not be operated with double deckers due to low bridges ect...)

Also on bustimes.org some of the Volvo7900's haven't been used since January and one is of the tracker.

When the bustimes.org database crashes it wipes the history of all vehicles, last time that happened was August 2020ish I believe. You can use the lvf.io history tool to find the history of each vehicle, you'll find that one that's 'off the tracker' has been used this year.

The only single deck route without a low bridge that isn't operated by double decks at the moment is the 36 - and a baby solo would probably be sufficient for that at the moment if Lothian had any except for the section between Longstone and the Gyle. Same for the 12/42. The 38 is allocated the MCVs so that's the capacity problem solved there.
 
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Mal

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kept on the shelf next to the long weights and the spirit level bubbles, of course.



Service levels are continuously monitored and adjusted where required - the fact it hasn't happened explains itself. Some single deck routes have deckers allocated at certain times to cover this. It doesn't warrant a full conversion to double deck operation - to allow single deckers to remain in the fleet.

If need be, this could still be achieved. Enough surplus B9's and B8's are in service ready condition to accommodate this - its all been thought out.

Some 7900's are in deep storage. i.e long term decommissioned. (not withdrawn for sale, yet at least)

There is talk of one of the early batches (1-10) being converted to standard B5 powertrain, but im led to believe its a rather large job. Nothing is confirmed so don't get too excited.
Omni, I need to know where the glass hammers, rubber nails and hammerfors are. Any help would be appreciated!
 

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