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

[scosutsut]

And I can confirm with my picture.

The picture shows the rear of repainted 585 just about to turn into Seafield in the green and white livery.

The Lothian decal in the back glass is a curve ball! Neither ECB nor LCB carry that normally!

 

[CN04NRJ]

The Lothian decal in the back glass is a curve ball! Neither ECB nor LCB carry that normally!

Almost certainly left on during the prep/paint process.

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

The Lothian decal in the back glass is a curve ball! Neither ECB nor LCB carry that normally!

Any old decals are always left on until after if they are not affected by the repaint. They’ll be changed afterwords.

As an example 938 went for repaint still carrying its 20938 fleet numbers as they were on the glass.

 

[LothianBusesPh]

Any old decals are always left on until after if they are not affected by the repaint. They’ll be changed afterwords.

As an example 938 went for repaint still carrying its 20938 fleet numbers as they were on the glass.

Yes, that's just normal, It would be nice to see LC get these buses but with the new service update, it's becoming less likely! (Maybe I'm just manifesting it being from East Lothian!)

 

[Bus9120UK]

Yes, that's just normal, It would be nice to see LC get these buses but with the new service update, it's becoming less likely! (Maybe I'm just manifesting it being from East Lothian!)

I think it's more likely. What if all the 09 plates are withdrawn, B7RLE's are moved to city (or reserve), and 1003/4, 1013 & 1028 go to EastCoast (in replacement of the 09's there, which would also be withdrawn).
This would leave the LC fleet as 1030-1049 + 571-590 which is 40 buses. Perhaps that's just a tad too much?

 

[LothianBusesPh]

I think it's more likely. What if all the 09 plates are withdrawn, B7RLE's are moved to city (or reserve), and 1003/4, 1013 & 1028 go to EastCoast (in replacement of the 09's there, which would also be withdrawn).
This would leave the LC fleet as 1030-1049 + 571-590 which is 40 buses. Perhaps that's just a tad too much?

40 buses is too much, that's why I think they'll go to East Coast Buses.

 

[scosutsut]

Almost certainly left on during the prep/paint process.

Any old decals are always left on until after if they are not affected by the repaint. They’ll be changed afterwords.

As an example 938 went for repaint still carrying its 20938 fleet numbers as they were on the glass.

My bad, I forgot it was already in madder and not Skylink before!

 

[Avenger20]

My OCD mind would be only too happy if 1003/1004/1013/1028 moved to City services, never understood the gap in the sequence with the ex-Londoners. I'd maybe make it a little easy and swap the numbers of 1028 and 1050 which would neaten the Fleet up a bit. This is all daft conjecture mind you and all to make a spotter a little happier.

 

[Bus9120UK]

40 buses is too much, that's why I think they'll go to East Coast Buses.

About 27/8/9 different buses (includes peak buses, buses that have replaced others, and buses that have been out all day) have been out alone on the routes that should remain from November Today. I know there will be changes to frequency, timings, etc so this figure won't remain, but also counting buses used at night & maintenance, I think it should be good.

Edit: this figure may be as high as 32 now I look at it again.

 

[Graham Alexand]

My OCD mind would be only too happy if 1003/1004/1013/1028 moved to City services, never understood the gap in the sequence with the ex-Londoners. I'd maybe make it a little easy and swap the numbers of 1028 and 1050 which would neaten the Fleet up a bit. This is all daft conjecture mind you and all to make a spotter a little happier.

I was always confused on why there was the gaps, like how Lothian has a massive gap between 1027 and 1050.

The gap between 1028 and 1030 wasn't always there, 1029 filled the space until its withdrawal in 2019.

 

[ScotRail158725]

Lothian Country could probably get away with just the Ex London B9s they currently have with the service changes.

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

40 buses is too much, that's why I think they'll go to East Coast Buses.

About 27/8/9 different buses (includes peak buses, buses that have replaced others, and buses that have been out all day) have been out alone on the routes that should remain from November Today. I know there will be changes to frequency, timings, etc so this figure won't remain, but also counting buses used at night & maintenance, I think it should be good.

Edit: this figure may be as high as 32 now I look at it again.

I still think LC’s ultimate fleet will consist of just 571-590 and 1030-1049.

The revised X27/X28 should have around 14 buses on it. The X18 I suspect will have anything up to maybe 12 (this is to factor in those extra peak buses). The 43 will keep its 7-8 (potentially rising to 10 depending on how the peak buses get allocated). So that’s what around 35 overall, admittedly this could be overestimated.

So I’d say the suggestion of 571-590 and 1030-1049 is about right. But they could easily keep 1003-1004, 1013 and 1028 for flexibility as well. I can’t currently see a scenario where 930-934 and the Eclipse2’s are needed.

 

[Stan Drews]

Based on the new registrations, the revised WEST LOTHIAN routes (X18, X27/28) will have a Peak Vehicle Requirement (PVR) of 22 buses.
You‘ll then need to add the 43 to get the total requirement for LC at Deans.

 

[computerSaysNo]

I think consistency is key.
I've just looked it up, are there only twenty 67-plate hybrids (out of all the fleets)? I thought there were more than that. I was going to suggest all of the 67-plate hybrids to Country to let them say "Look at all our shiny new (to us) hybrid buses!", while McGill's are still deliberating what to do with their fleet, but if there are only 20 that wouldn't be enough. Even adding in all eight of 20001-20008 is only 28 which is too tight (according to the above estimates the new PVR is around 28 so all the 67s plus 20001-20008 would meet but not exceed the PVR, but then there's no room for maintenance and spares).
If Country got [all twenty 67-plates plus] 496-510, that's then 35, which would be plenty but then I don't know if that's too many.

Just trying to think how to transfer the newest buses which are still needing/are away for a repaint, and keep as many from the same batch together.

 

[LothianBusesPh]

I think consistency is key.
I've just looked it up, are there only twenty 67-plate hybrids (out of all the fleets)? I thought there were more than that. I was going to suggest all of the 67-plate hybrids to Country to let them say "Look at all our shiny new (to us) hybrid buses!", while McGill's are still deliberating what to do with their fleet, but if there are only 20 that wouldn't be enough. Even adding in all eight of 20001-20008 is only 28 which is too tight (according to the above estimates the new PVR is around 28 so all the 67s plus 20001-20008 would meet but not exceed the PVR, but then there's no room for maintenance and spares).
If Country got [all twenty 67-plates plus] 496-510, that's then 35, which would be plenty but then I don't know if that's too many.

Just trying to think how to transfer the newest buses which are still needing/are away for a repaint, and keep as many from the same batch together.

No, just no. They will not dramatically decrease the ECB fleet age, maybe the Hybrids go to ECB and B5TL's to Lothian Country, that's the only way they'll get 20001-8.

 

[Bus9120UK]

No, just no. They will not dramatically decrease the ECB fleet age, maybe the Hybrids go to ECB and B5TL's to Lothian Country, that's the only way they'll get 20001-8.

Again seems like too much movement. 12 for 8 doesn't work out perfectly either.

 

[LothianBusesPh]

Again seems like too much movement. 12 for 8 doesn't work out perfectly either.

Exactly what I was thinking, I don't think any of these absurd suggestions will work out. Why can't we just wait and see what happens instead of throwing random transfers around?

Also, who has noticed a massacre of unusual allocations? It feels like a crisis in my mind.

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

I think consistency is key.
I've just looked it up, are there only twenty 67-plate hybrids (out of all the fleets)? I thought there were more than that. I was going to suggest all of the 67-plate hybrids to Country to let them say "Look at all our shiny new (to us) hybrid buses!", while McGill's are still deliberating what to do with their fleet, but if there are only 20 that wouldn't be enough. Even adding in all eight of 20001-20008 is only 28 which is too tight (according to the above estimates the new PVR is around 28 so all the 67s plus 20001-20008 would meet but not exceed the PVR, but then there's no room for maintenance and spares).
If Country got [all twenty 67-plates plus] 496-510, that's then 35, which would be plenty but then I don't know if that's too many.

Just trying to think how to transfer the newest buses which are still needing/are away for a repaint, and keep as many from the same batch together.

496-497 are for Lothian; 497 is already in madder and white, while 496 is at Seafield and has been ready to leave for Ferrymill for a week or so now.

498-510 will not be moving anytime soon, and will likely move onto city routes after being displaced from Skylink. It’s been suggested that Airlink spec XLB’s 1126-1140 could move to Skylink, I wouldn’t expect all of them to move if they did as they don’t need 15 buses.

20001-20008 are unlikely to leave ECB, despite previous suggestions that they might. The key for all of this is as less movement (and therefore as less expense) than is necessary.


5 buses are currently parked outside at Seafield awaiting departure for repaint. These are, 496, 583, 588, 590 and 950. It is still not known where 586 actually is.

 

[CN04NRJ]

496-497 are for Lothian; 497 is already in madder and white, while 496 is at Seafield and has been ready to leave for Ferrymill for a week or so now.

498-510 will not be moving anytime soon, and will likely move onto city routes after being displaced from Skylink. It’s been suggested that Airlink spec XLB’s 1126-1140 could move to Skylink, I wouldn’t expect all of them to move if they did as they don’t need 15 buses.

20001-20008 are unlikely to leave ECB, despite previous suggestions that they might. The key for all of this is as less movement (and therefore as less expense) than is necessary.


5 buses are currently parked outside at Seafield awaiting departure for repaint. These are, 496, 583, 588, 590 and 950. It is still not known where 586 actually is.

I'm guessing more XLBs to replace? They most certainly need the capacity and if they went for "normal" buses they'd have to increase the frequency.

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

I'm guessing more XLBs to replace? They most certainly need the capacity and if they went for "normal" buses they'd have to increase the frequency.

Possibly. It’s whether or not the product will still be on offer by then. I’d assume it will be, but with a relatively low uptake in the UK who knows?

I wonder how 1126-1140 compare (seats wise) to 496-510.

 

[stevenedin]

Possibly. It’s whether or not the product will still be on offer by then. I’d assume it will be, but with a relatively low uptake in the UK who knows?

I wonder how 1126-1140 compare (seats wise) to 496-510.

The seat on those airlink XLBs are horrible. So uncomfortable and you can’t see anything. Also some of the seats seem to be at a tilt with the back up straight and are not pleasant at all.

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

The seat on those airlink XLBs are horrible. So uncomfortable and you can’t see anything. Also some of the seats seem to be at a tilt with the back up straight and are not pleasant at all.

I think they’re the same seats that are the in ECB Eclipse3’s. I don’t mind them, I’m just not a fan of the single seats at the front of the top deck.

 

[stevenedin]

I think they’re the same seats that are the in ECB Eclipse3’s. I don’t mind them, I’m just not a fan of the single seats at the front of the top deck.

They are chunkier and taller. Downstairs the seats almost touch the ceiling near the back and it feels a bit claustrophobic as the windows are tinted as well and worse when it dark outside.

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

They are chunkier and taller. Downstairs the seats almost touch the ceiling near the back and it feels a bit claustrophobic as the windows are tinted as well and worse when it dark outside.

Not to mention the ambient lighting which generally makes it darker inside as well. With hindsight I don’t think this has been one of Lothian’s best spec’s for the Airlink. The best for me is still 937-950.

 

[stevenedin]

Not to mention the ambient lighting which generally makes it darker inside as well. With hindsight I don’t think this has been one of Lothian’s best spec’s for the Airlink. The best for me is still 937-950.

I agree when new they looked great and the colour scheme was like luxury. I do like the current colour scheme on the buses since 2016 though.

 

[Bus9120UK]

I think the current interiors look and feel luxurious. Despite the dark lighting downstairs, it feels like a luxurious VIP lounge. Shame some of the XLBs do have rattle issues, 1136 having a large squeak near the front.

 

[Graeme Duncan]

So there is a possibility of an order for new airlinks in the coming months.

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

So there is a possibility of an order for new airlinks in the coming months.

I’m not sure if it’ll be the coming months, but I’d like to think the current XLB’s are over half way through their cycle on the Airlink.

 

[Lothiangem22]

I don’t see the XLB’s on the airlink being put on skylink any time soon… if anything 1112-1125 painted blue and airport services all in tandem fleet wise.
The current airlink XLB’s (love them or hate them) are coach spec inside and not nessecarily meant for service work.
XLB’s will be coming to longstone in coming months but not confirmed from those “in the know” if this is for the skylink replacements or for the currently overcrowded route 25 which often leaves Heriot watt with a full standing load.
It’s no secret the current skylinks are struggling for reliability.
496/7 should be in service with fleet livery, removed luggage racks and blue seating within the next few weeks.

 

[Bus9120UK]

XLB’s will be coming to longstone in coming months but not confirmed from those “in the know” if this is for the skylink replacements or for the currently overcrowded route 25 which often leaves Heriot watt with a full standing load.

I personally think that the 44 and maybe even the 3 at times could do with the XLB's at Longstone too. Hopefully the routes are confirmed in due course.