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

[LothianBusesPh]

Unless it's the last route of the day going back to the depot, then there is no point. I don't think confusing passengers on where the bus is going would help much either, as people may think it doesn't go through Queensferry etc.

I would leave the Lothian Country NightBus services as they are for the current moment.

 

[Baileygirl]

Unless it's the last route of the day going back to the depot, then there is no point. I don't think confusing passengers on where the bus is going would help much either, as people may think it doesn't go through Queensferry etc.

I would leave the Lothian Country NightBus services as they are for the current moment.

The last late 43s which First ran had Dechmont as a destination and that did not confuse the customers. You occasionally got local customers between South Queensferry/Kirkliston/Winchburgh.

 

[tattyseal]

Well done on taking the plunge! Have you any precious experience driving in Edinburgh or with large vehicles? Even something like a transit van would be beneficial, but by no means essential.
What garage would you like to go to?

The first thing you'll do is sit the short psychometric test, and one to one interview. This is just to make sure that you can read and retain information quickly - just like you'll have to do when your bus is suddenly diverted! Pass those and you're into the training school. They'll send you a link to the online theory test revision site and invite you back to take the theory tests.

Training is four weeks. The first day is an induction to the company and garage walk round briefing. From there, you're on the bus more or less all day every day, initially getting a feel for the vehicle around Wester Hailes and then onto the driving test routes, with an ideal scenario of sitting your test on day 10. I know that seems like no time at all but you do actually get a decent bit of driving with the instructor. After that, you're learning the routes specific to your garage.
Towards the end of the last week you should get a visit to the control room at Central, and a CPC training course and then you're off to your garage ready to drive in service. You'll be out with a buddy for the first few days, but if you don't feel ready to go it alone immediately then just ask for more time, they want you to succeed.

Give it a good couple of months to get fully comfortable. I remember I was so anxious when I was out by myself at first, but I guess that's the same in every job.

Got an invite for the assesment centre! With the psychometric test what type of information do they throw at you? I think I'll be okay because my information retention is pretty good. what type of questions do you get in the interview?

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

I travelled on 458 yesterday and for a while I’ve noticed it’s making unusual sounds when it’s accelerating/decelerating. I’ve often wondered what it is, if anyone knows what it may be?

 

[computerSaysNo]

Got an invite for the assesment centre! With the psychometric test what type of information do they throw at you? I think I'll be okay because my information retention is pretty good. what type of questions do you get in the interview?

You just have to read a few pages of information on a particular topic in the given time, then the information gets taken away and you have to answer written questions about it.
I think the interview was just the standard "why do you want this job" and "how would you react in [insert stressful situation]" type questions. If you have little or no practical experience of driving large vehicles they may offer you the opportunity to drive one of the training buses round the garage a few times.

 

[CN04NRJ]

I travelled on 458 yesterday and for a while I’ve noticed it’s making unusual sounds when it’s accelerating/decelerating. I’ve often wondered what it is, if anyone knows what it may be?

Worn differential, it's been getting steadily louder for a few months now.

 

[ScotRail158725]

I travelled on 458 yesterday and for a while I’ve noticed it’s making unusual sounds when it’s accelerating/decelerating. I’ve often wondered what it is, if anyone knows what it may be?

Its been like that since March/April. It’s the Diff

 

[Bus9120UK]

Its been like that since March/April. It’s the Diff

Much longer. Someone I speak to first mentioned it back in November 2021.

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

Worn differential, it's been getting steadily louder for a few months now.

It’s been like that since March/April. It’s the Diff

Much longer. Someone I speak to first mentioned it back in November 2021.

Thanks everyone. I’m inclined to agree with @Bus9120UK I do think it’s been doing it for quite some time, possibly nearly a couple of years or so now. I doubt it’ll be fixed anytime soon though.

I remember now withdrawn Gemini’s 818 and 825 being like this for many years. So long in fact that I suspect they’re probably still like that new with their new operators.

 

[InOban]

How many electric deckers do they have? I glimpsed two green machines on the 23 this afternoon.

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

How many electric deckers do they have? I glimpsed two green machines on the 23 this afternoon.

There are 4 BYD Enviro400 EV’s in the fleet, numbered 291-294.

 

[InOban]

Thanks.

 

[Graeme Duncan]

1126 is now painted in standard livery - will 1127-1130 be following suit?

 

[eh1]

I think 2/3 may go blue, as Airlink has returned to a ten minute frequency and often has one or two white buses on it.

 

[Bus9120UK]

1126 is now painted in standard livery - will 1127-1130 be following suit?

1127/8 continue to see use, usually on the 22, which allows for easy movement to the 100 should a vehicle fail. This happened recently with 1128 coming off the 22 to cover for broken down 1132. I think 1129/30 would be better of painting into Airlink colours and 1127/8 remaining white.

 

[LothianBusesPh]

1127/8 continue to see use, usually on the 22, which allows for easy movement to the 100 should a vehicle fail. This happened recently with 1128 coming off the 22 to cover for broken down 1132. I think 1129/30 would be better of painting into Airlink colours and 1127/8 remaining white.

That view does depend if there will be a new Airlink XLB (Or other buses?) order in 2023, which is still unknown if it's happening or not. I think keeping them all white and focusing on Lothian Country then East Coast Buses is the best option.

 

[elmogrouchland]

East Coast desperately need some new deckers.

 

[CN04NRJ]

East Coast desperately need some new deckers.

How so?

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

1127/8 continue to see use, usually on the 22, which allows for easy movement to the 100 should a vehicle fail. This happened recently with 1128 coming off the 22 to cover for broken down 1132. I think 1129/30 would be better of painting into Airlink colours and 1127/8 remaining white.

I’d say put 1127 into the same spec as 1126. Paint 1128 into Madder and White but leave the luggage racks, and put 1129-1130 back into Airlink Blue.

I think there was one day last week where all 4 made it out onto the 100 in the same day, that’s not that common.

East Coast desperately need some new deckers.

How so?

I think ECB are in need of some replacements for 937-950 now. They’re getting very tired internally and are all close to having done 1 million miles (excluding 942). They’ve lived a hard life have those 14 Gemini2’s.

 

[stevenedin]

I’d say put 1127 into the same spec as 1126. Paint 1128 into Madder and White but leave the luggage racks, and put 1129-1130 back into Airlink Blue.

I think there was one day last week where all 4 made it out onto the 100 in the same day, that’s not that common.


I think ECB are in need of some replacements for 937-950 now. They’re getting very tired internally and are all close to having done 1 million miles (excluding 942). They’ve lived a hard life have those 14 Gemini2’s.

I think that 401-425 would be nice replacements for them if Lothian got new buses to replace them.

 

[eh1]

I think that 401-425 would be nice replacements for them if Lothian got new buses to replace them.

I think they need to start buying new for ECB! Time to stop recycling buses to what are pretty busy and important routes.

 

[scosutsut]

For a long time it seemed to be public thought that ECB were getting part of the B5TL/E400 MMC order which never materialised to be true, so stranger things have happened.

They were racing through the ECB repaints then it slowed to a trickle, whereas they've found another gear with the LCB repaints (made easier with more float vehicles I guess, or is there more to it?)

I think Airlink replacement will be fairly imminent, and that is just a case of is that all that comes in on one order (B8Ls, presumably) just for that, or will there be more, and if so what and for whom?

That said Lothian historically like to announce orders in advance and also manufacturers like to boast about them - but it's radio silence so far as far as I can tell?

 

[LothianBusesPh]

401-425 replacing Gemini 1's and 2's would be a good idea, That is the one I'd personally go for because all of these buses are in good nick for their ages and have shown no signs of slowing down any time soon (from my experiences on them.)

If they were to buy new MMCs for ECB, I think this would be in 2024, not just because of the repainting process but because the buses can hold for another year longer, and the 841-850 and 937-950 can be replaced in one go together, which would probably be better from a business point of view (Although I'm not a business man and I could be completely wrong on this.)

The priority at the moment should be Airlink with the Edinburgh Airport contract. (For bus orders.) I don't think we should be going on about buses being repainted into Airlink any time soon because ones that are already painted can be used as spares if they order new buses because of contracts etc. At this time we can't predict what is going to happen.

I think they need to start buying new for ECB! Time to stop recycling buses to what are pretty busy and important routes.

The last 23 buses given to ECB (Except 841-850 and 591-594) have been ordered specially for ECB with custom interiors, you have to remember that the buses that they've been given (maybe not 591-594 as such) have been in excellent condition, they're not getting tired buses anymore.

You can argue that 937-950 were very worn when they got them, and that's correct, although the buses have been in East Lothian being thrashed on country routes for all of their lives after being on Airlinks for 12 hours + a day. They're worn out, I think Lothian will replace them all in one go though.

Update: 186 is on its way back from somewhere to Seafield. (Last message posted 22:46 yesterday.)

It tracked at Newbridge. (It's 11:30.)

 

[Bus9120UK]

401-425 replacing Gemini 1's and 2's would be a good idea, That is the one I'd personally go for because all of these buses are in good nick for their ages and have shown no signs of slowing down any time soon (from my experiences on them.)

If they were to buy new MMCs for ECB, I think this would be in 2024, not just because of the repainting process but because the buses can hold for another year longer, and the 841-850 and 937-950 can be replaced in one go together, which would probably be better from a business point of view (Although I'm not a business man and I could be completely wrong on this.)

The priority at the moment should be Airlink with the Edinburgh Airport contract. (For bus orders.) I don't think we should be going on about buses being repainted into Airlink any time soon because ones that are already painted can be used as spares if they order new buses because of contracts etc. At this time we can't predict what is going to happen.

The last 23 buses given to ECB (Except 841-850 and 591-594) have been ordered specially for ECB with custom interiors, you have to remember that the buses that they've been given (maybe not 591-594 as such) have been in excellent condition, they're not getting tired buses anymore.

You can argue that 937-950 were very worn when they got them, and that's correct, although the buses have been in East Lothian being thrashed on country routes for all of their lives after being on Airlinks for 12 hours + a day. They're worn out, I think Lothian will replace them all in one go though.

Update: 186 is on its way back from somewhere to Seafield. (Last message posted 22:46 yesterday.)

It tracked at Newbridge. (It's 11:30.)

Yes, it was left at Newbridge when the rest moved to Seafield. It's finally moving now.

1042 is returning from paint but has broken down. 1035 went away, and 1044 is at Seafield for prep.

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

401-425 replacing Gemini 1's and 2's would be a good idea, That is the one I'd personally go for because all of these buses are in good nick for their ages and have shown no signs of slowing down any time soon (from my experiences on them.)

If they were to buy new MMCs for ECB, I think this would be in 2024, not just because of the repainting process but because the buses can hold for another year longer, and the 841-850 and 937-950 can be replaced in one go together, which would probably be better from a business point of view (Although I'm not a business man and I could be completely wrong on this.)

The priority at the moment should be Airlink with the Edinburgh Airport contract. (For bus orders.) I don't think we should be going on about buses being repainted into Airlink any time soon because ones that are already painted can be used as spares if they order new buses because of contracts etc. At this time we can't predict what is going to happen.

The last 23 buses given to ECB (Except 841-850 and 591-594) have been ordered specially for ECB with custom interiors, you have to remember that the buses that they've been given (maybe not 591-594 as such) have been in excellent condition, they're not getting tired buses anymore.

You can argue that 937-950 were very worn when they got them, and that's correct, although the buses have been in East Lothian being thrashed on country routes for all of their lives after being on Airlinks for 12 hours + a day. They're worn out, I think Lothian will replace them all in one go though.

Update: 186 is on its way back from somewhere to Seafield. (Last message posted 22:46 yesterday.)

It tracked at Newbridge. (It's 11:30.)

To me sending across 401-404, 406-425 is a sideways step. It’s too many older buses for a start. Ideally you’d want about 20 brand new buses for the normal runs plus another 6 older examples for the school runs. That would replace 841-850 and 935-950.

186 was the odd one out as that never left Newbridge in the first place. It’s always been there from when it left Livingston until today, and it’s finally moved to Seafield. That means only 171 is left at Newbridge now.

I can see the Airlink XLB’s lasting until 2025 now. Given the fact 1126 has been turned into a completely standard XLB, I can also see 1127-1140 going the same way eventually. I’d personally like to see a zero emission product replace them, if a suitable one is available by then.

 

[LothianBusesPh]

To me sending across 401-404, 406-425 is a sideways step. It’s too many older buses for a start. Ideally you’d want about 20 brand new buses for the normal runs plus another 6 older examples for the school runs. That would replace 841-850 and 935-950.

186 was the odd one out as that never left Newbridge in the first place. It’s always been there from when it left Livingston until today, and it’s finally moved to Seafield. That means only 171 is left at Newbridge now.

I can see the Airlink XLB’s lasting until 2025 now. Given the fact 1126 has been turned into a completely standard XLB, I can also see 1127-1140 going the same way eventually. I’d personally like to see a zero emission product replace them, if a suitable one is available by then.

That's another 2 years not following the contract, bringing the total to 5 years, I think new buses will be ordered before then. I hope it's hydrogen buses and not electric buses.

 

[CN04NRJ]

I can see the Airlink XLB’s lasting until 2025 now. Given the fact 1126 has been turned into a completely standard XLB, I can also see 1127-1140 going the same way eventually. I’d personally like to see a zero emission product replace them, if a suitable one is available by then.

There would need to be a big leap in technology for an electric DD to be a viable replacement for what is very demanding work on the Airlink vehicles (the BYDs can just about manage 11 hours on the 23 and are woefully low capacity). I think Euro VII (whenever they're released) diesels are probably more likely - hydrogen is interesting but not possible at Central as it stands.

 

[ScotRail158725]

I’d personally like to see a zero emission product replace them, if a suitable one is available by then.

The XLBs are the perfect vehicle for Airlink if you ask me; high capacity, capable vehicles. There’s not an electric bus on the market that would handle the work on the 100. Not only that, remember that luggage space is needed as well.

 

[computerSaysNo]

the BYDs can just about manage 11 hours on the 23 and are woefully low capacity

What's the difference between these and the electric vehicles in Greater Glasgow? Electric range is always the issue when discussed in this thread but I haven't particularly noticed Lanarkshire and Inverclyde having the same issue? Maybe I'm just not reading the right threads though.

 

[eh1]

The Airlink is a heavy load (full buses and luggage) on an intense route (lots of fast running, a few inclines including the sliproad, leaving the airport and gyle underpass) and buses do a lot of miles a day. I'm not sure if electric vehicles would keep up with it YET, unless the charging tech was in place at either end to top up the charge. The XLBs aren't showing any wear yet and passengers still find the 'wow' factor in them, so I don't think the company will change them unless a suitable alternatives comes onto the market.