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

CN04NRJ

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28 Nov 2019
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1,711
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UK
Fantastic to see Lothian expanding into these new technologies! Wonder how bus drivers will think about the camera mirrors: Hopefully they are successful and we could see a possible "new normal" with these mirrors.

I've sat in (but didn't drive) the BYD E200 MMC demo when it was in Cardiff. I didn't personally like it but I'm sure I'd get used to it if I ever get to drive one of these.
 
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cnjb8

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26 Feb 2019
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Nottingham
Fantastic to see Lothian expanding into these new technologies! Wonder how bus drivers will think about the camera mirrors: Hopefully they are successful and we could see a possible "new normal" with these mirrors.
Down here in Nottingham, TrentBarton got a mirrorless bus and it took a lot of driver training before it could be used properly. However that was two and a half years ago so it’ll probably be different
 

scosutsut

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1 Jan 2019
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932
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scosutsut

Just seen this photo, posted to the Edinburgh Trams & Buses' group, of the remains of 1029 being dismantled in a scrapyard somewhere.

[CANOFWORMS]Ha ha can't believe I'm doing this but it looks like it's rear axle lives on... [/CANOFWORMS]
 

Swanny200

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Joined
18 Sep 2010
Messages
665
Cameras take a bit of getting used to, I must admit, they are better for blind spots etc... especially for Lorries as the new Daf and Mercedes have them, and they are right in your eyeline, but you still have to train yourself to not look out of the window, Audi had them as an option for their new electric car and I drove one, to have to look down rather than out I thought was more of a distraction than anything else and if you have to make your passenger aware that they can block the screen too, it is new technology, but maybe one that will take in future
 

ect76

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19 Feb 2019
Messages
6
1011 is having a bit of a bad morning. It broke down straddling both lanes at Fountainbridge (image below).
 

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Joined
27 Apr 2021
Messages
20
Location
Edinburgh
Cameras take a bit of getting used to, I must admit, they are better for blind spots etc... especially for Lorries as the new Daf and Mercedes have them, and they are right in your eyeline, but you still have to train yourself to not look out of the window, Audi had them as an option for their new electric car and I drove one, to have to look down rather than out I thought was more of a distraction than anything else and if you have to make your passenger aware that they can block the screen too, it is new technology, but maybe one that will take in future
Aye, I can imagine that they do, they have their pro's and con's but they seem quite good
 

Jordan Adam

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12 Sep 2017
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5,514
Location
Aberdeen
You know Gemini 3's have awful build quality when the seat padding on one of the rear seats comes off after going over a speed bump! Bus 448.
View attachment 98055
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Major credits to @FP transport v who allowed me to post this message with full permission!
I wouldn't put that down to poor built quality, the seat may have been replaced before and not refitted correctly. These things happen and it's no big issue.
 

317 forever

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21 Aug 2010
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North West
I made it to Edinburgh on Friday as planned. Just 7 bus rides and a tram, as follows:

Tram 265

84 (30)
346 (19) - probably my final one with these blue seats
423 (14)
502 (400)
629 (44)
1133 (100)
1145 (21) - planned an ex-GA London one and pleased to locate it
 

Lothian_Bus

Member
Joined
29 Jan 2018
Messages
382
I made it to Edinburgh on Friday as planned. Just 7 bus rides and a tram, as follows:

Tram 265

84 (30)
346 (19) - probably my final one with these blue seats
423 (14)
502 (400)
629 (44)
1133 (100)
1145 (21) - planned an ex-GA London one and pleased to locate it
A good mix there.
 

Ricky Kane

Member
Joined
15 Jul 2019
Messages
179
I see 301 & 302 as well as 303 are currently VOR and have not been in service since the 4th. Have these been withdrawn or are they awaiting repair?
 
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VioletEclipse

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10 Nov 2018
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714
Location
Dùn Èideann
I see 301 & 302 as well as 303 and are currently VOR and have not been in service since the 4th have these been withdrawn or awaiting repair.
As very few Gemini 1s are still in service and there are still 70 new buses to enter service in the next few months, I doubt that the original batch of Gemini 2s (301-329) have long left.
 

Ricky Kane

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15 Jul 2019
Messages
179
As very few Gemini 1s are still in service and there are still 70 new buses to enter service in the next few months, I doubt that the original batch of Gemini 2s (301-329) have long left
I didn't think they would go so soon. I wonder if 926 and 927 will follow suit.
 
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317 forever

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21 Aug 2010
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North West
A good mix there.
Thanks. I sometimes look at doing vehicles in descending order of importance or jumping on a bus where I am not confident of tracking down the same type later quickly.

Some changes that may well have been reported here did still surprise me. These were the conversion of routes 1 & 24 to double-deck, the transfer of early Volvo B5LHs from route 3 to Central garage, and the absence of any Eclipses - even the later models.
 

Lothian_Bus

Member
Joined
29 Jan 2018
Messages
382
Thanks. I sometimes look at doing vehicles in descending order of importance or jumping on a bus where I am not confident of tracking down the same type later quickly.

Some changes that may well have been reported here did still surprise me. These were the conversion of routes 1 & 24 to double-deck, the transfer of early Volvo B5LHs from route 3 to Central garage, and the absence of any Eclipses - even the later models.
Yes double deckers would sometimes appear on these routes but since Covid these routes (and service 2) became fully double deck operated. For several months Central was the only depot operating all services and 401-425, 551-570 and 441-465 were all transferred to Central from Longstone. When Longstone reopened only 551-570 returned to their original depot but others (such as the Central ex London buses) moved to Longstone. Service 22 (which was the main bus that used 441-465 at Longstone) has also remained at Central for the time being.
 

FlybeDash8Q400

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26 Jun 2018
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1,698
Location
Edinburgh
I wonder what will replace, my theory (sorry if I already said) is that some of Lothian Buses ex London B9TL's will get transferred to Lothian Country and new buses would be bought for Lothian Buses instead.
Other than pure guesswork do you have any evidence to back this up?

In a budget restricted environment I doubt they’ll be wanting to repaint unnecessarily. Repaints generally happen on average around every 5 years - although 361 among others despite being 10 years old have still never had a full respray - but obviously have had partial/minimal resprays as is the norm. 361 is one of many delayed as a result of COVID though. Had this not happened I find it more than likely that all 59 of those Gemini2’s new in 2011 would have been repainted by now, there’s not many left to do in any case though.
 
Joined
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741
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West Lothian
Other than pure guesswork do you have any evidence to back this up?

In a budget restricted environment I doubt they’ll be wanting to repaint unnecessarily. Repaints generally happen on average around every 5 years - although 361 among others despite being 10 years old have still never had a full respray - but obviously have had partial/minimal resprays as is the norm. 361 is one of many delayed as a result of COVID though. Had this not happened I find it more than likely that all 59 of those Gemini2’s new in 2011 would have been repainted by now, there’s not many left to do in any case though.
It was a theory, no evidence:).

Talking about repaints, are the 13plate ex Lothian Buses Wright Eclipse 2's going to be getting repainted into Lothian Country livery?
 

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