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

[Blindtraveler]

ADL being better is I would say very questionable. But the standalone byd integral could be interesting

 

[Lothianbus703]

The BZL's aren't shaping up to be very highly regarded in comparison to every other decker Lothian has bought.
I thought the Gemini 3's were the most disliked!
The BZL's don't seem to be a great model to standardise on in their current state with capacity and build quality in mind, in my opinion they also do not look good.
I was told on the Seafield works tour eventually 98 would come.

 

[Bus9120UK]

Having seen photographs of 510, it looks like the whole interior was given a small refurbishment, with all panels and mouldings which were blue now green.

 

[AndrewTaylor95]

Having seen photographs of 510, it looks like the whole interior was given a small refurbishment, with all panels and mouldings which were blue now green.

Green seats on that blue interior would look horrific makes sense they've done them green

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

Having seen photographs of 510, it looks like the whole interior was given a small refurbishment, with all panels and mouldings which were blue now green.

Given 1051-1062 were kept with madder, it seems a tad strange they didn’t opt to do that with 510 here.

 

[ScotRail158725]

Having seen photographs of 510, it looks like the whole interior was given a small refurbishment, with all panels and mouldings which were blue now green.

Makes sebse blue trimmings with green seats would look odd

Given 1051-1062 were kept with madder, it seems a tad strange they didn’t opt to do that with 510 here.

Likewise with 441-446. I would have thought they would have put the interior into madder instead of green to keep everything uniform its more practical and would save them having to retrim whole interiors if it were to end up back in the main fleet

 

[VioletEclipse]

I know that one or two of 721-730 have been spotted although I don't know if they've been delivered or not. Time is running out for them to enter service before the end of the month, and if they don't enter serrvice until February then it means that the pattern of roughly 10 entering service every 2 months won't continue which doesn't bode that well. Am hoping it doesn't end up with the last entering service a full two years since they were initally ordered, but it could be heading that way.

 

[ScotRail158725]

I know that one or two of 721-730 have been spotted although I don't know if they've been delivered or not. Time is running out for them to enter service before the end of the month, and if they don't enter serrvice until February then it means that the pattern of roughly 10 entering service every 2 months won't continue which doesn't bode that well. Am hoping it doesn't end up with the last entering service a full two years since they were initally ordered, but it could be heading that way.

Terrible buses hopefully they dont show up at all, id rather any of the current fleet over them and i think most people here would too

 

[Blindtraveler]

I've only ever ridden the demonstrator that Lothian had and some of the London ones, the London vehicles don't seem to be having the same issues and so I wonder if some of the issues are down to mass introduction of new technology to a fleet of engineers who have been accustomed to diesel? Although I acknowledge the issues on build quality

 

[Lothianbus703]

Terrible buses hopefully they dont show up at all, id rather any of the current fleet over them and i think most people here would too

The fact is eventually they will all show at up at Central and all 98 of them will eventually have to all be allocated. Unfortunately becoming a common vehicle in service.

 

[paul0762]

Its more than rattles im yet to get on one thats been warm, which is less than ideal at this time of year. Terrible buses


when the BZLs all arrive there will be enough spare elsewhere to do that. Those b9s dont need ran into the ground anymore than they already have been

The reason they are freezing is to save the battery to make it look like they are efficient enough to stay out all day.

 

[ScotRail158725]

The reason they are freezing is to save the battery to make it look like they are efficient enough to stay out all day.

I know thats why and it shows they’re not fit for service. Heating in winter shouldn’t come below keeping the bus on the road for as long as possible

 

[scosutsut]

It sounds like the boards need to be reworked to factor the fact that electrics can't be treated exactly the same as diesels.

All part of the bedding in period I'm sure.

 

[CN04NRJ]

It sounds like the boards need to be reworked to factor the fact that electrics can't be treated exactly the same as diesels.

All part of the bedding in period I'm sure.

Apparently the heating issues have been improved, and future production will have a large number of issues addressed.

Deliveries will resume soon because of this.

 

[scosutsut]

Apparently the heating issues have been improved, and future production will have a large number of issues addressed.

Deliveries will resume soon because of this.

Good to hear!

 

[Sussexscot]

I know thats why and it shows they’re not fit for service. Heating in winter shouldn’t come below keeping the bus on the road for as long as possible

People are too soft these days. I remember when they started fitting "heaters" to Edinburgh's buses. They were so effective that frost could usually be found on the inside of the windows until late in the day.

 

[computerSaysNo]

Apparently the heating issues have been improved, and future production will have a large number of issues addressed.

That just raises the question of why these issues weren't detected on the trial vehicle, or on service vehicles used in other cities?

 

[CSB0241]

The London BYD was doing a run by the Meadows about 7pm tonight with not in service on the display.

Much better looking than in photos

Maybe a stupid question but could we maybe see this trialed on something like the 8 or 23 or will they do what they did with the U11DD?

Will 937-50 leave or be redeployed elsewhere?

There are still a few older vehicles than them in service elsewhere in the group.

They’ll probably leave the Lothian fleet - I’m guessing they’ll maybe get scrapped, but who knows, someone like Birmingham Busworks might want to get their grubby hands on them.

It would be nice if Lothian Country got some of the 937-950 batch to increase the frequency and expand further.

They’re already getting all the 66 plates to replace 841-850 (& maybe 926-936?), I don’t think they’ll need more.

Green seats on that blue interior would look horrific makes sense they've done them green

Yeah, wouldn’t be the nicest on the eyes.

Given 1051-1062 were kept with madder, it seems a tad strange they didn’t opt to do that with 510 here.

They’d have to reupholster 496-510 from the old Skylink moquette anyway, if they have the ECB/LCB fabric then they might aswell use it instead of letting it collect dust.

I know thats why and it shows they’re not fit for service. Heating in winter shouldn’t come below keeping the bus on the road for as long as possible

I think “not fit for service” is a mild stretch. They might not be the greatest buses Lothian have (they have much more buses on their fleet that I’d rather ride than them), but I think as long as they can run in service, there isn’t a problem. Besides, they’re still noticeably warmer than just sitting outside.

That just raises the question of why these issues weren't detected on the trial vehicle, or on service vehicles used in other cities?

I did wonder this. I haven’t heard any problems with the ones with Stagecoach Cambridge or Warrington’s Own Buses, so why the Lothian ones have come out worse, I don’t know.

 

[318266]

They’ll probably leave the Lothian fleet - I’m guessing they’ll maybe get scrapped, but who knows, someone like Birmingham Busworks might want to get their grubby hands on them.

Ex-Lothian double deckers (and to an extent their single deckers) are known for their long lives in a variety of mostly academic work after leaving Lothian. I doubt these will be any different - sent down south, fitted with seatbelts and left to ferry the same gaggle of schoolchildren every day.

 

[LothianBusesPh]

Maybe a stupid question but could we maybe see this trialed on something like the 8 or 23 or will they do what they did with the U11DD?

The BYD and Enviro400EV aren’t going to be used in service. They’re doing driver training and familiarisation like what they did with the Yutong.

They’ll probably leave the Lothian fleet - I’m guessing they’ll maybe get scrapped, but who knows, someone like Birmingham Busworks might want to get their grubby hands on them

They’re not getting scrapped.

They’re already getting all the 66 plates to replace 841-850 (& maybe 926-936?), I don’t think they’ll need more.

I assume he meant as a short term solution for the desperately needed changes to happen sooner before being displaced after the rest move.

They’d have to reupholster 496-510 from the old Skylink moquette anyway, if they have the ECB/LCB fabric then they might aswell use it instead of letting it collect dust.

The moquette has never been used with Lothian Country, which uses Lothian stickers inside as well. The whole interior has been renovated, including all of the blue painted green.

Apparently the heating issues have been improved, and future production will have a large number of issues addressed.

Deliveries will resume soon because of this.

The batch from July are meant to have these improvements.

 

[VioletEclipse]

They’ll probably leave the Lothian fleet - I’m guessing they’ll maybe get scrapped, but who knows, someone like Birmingham Busworks might want to get their grubby hands on them.

Lothian buses going straight to scrap after being withdrawn by Lothian has been very rare for a number of decades now. Usually buses are sold on unless for some reason (ie a fire or crash damage) they aren't worth selling and instead get scrapped.

 

[ScotRail158725]

They’ll probably leave the Lothian fleet - I’m guessing they’ll maybe get scrapped, but who knows, someone like Birmingham Busworks might want to get their grubby hands on them.

Scrap? Thats a bold claim considering other than 779 (a parts donor here) not a single one of Lothians B7 or B9 Geminis were sent for scrap. B9TLs especially euro 6 are very desirable products at the minute its a naive claim to say they’ll most likely be scrapped

 

[AndrewTaylor95]

They’ll probably leave the Lothian fleet - I’m guessing they’ll maybe get scrapped, but who knows, someone like Birmingham Busworks might want to get their grubby hands on them

Suggesting them being scrapped are bonkers they are Euro 6 and have loads of life left in them, they've been well looked after, Bus companies are screaming out for Deckers for school work for capacity

 

[Graeme Duncan]

All 50 BZL'S are now listed on the Lothian Buses tracker many without registration numbers.

 

[VioletEclipse]

All 50 BZL'S are now listed on the Lothian Buses tracker many without registration numbers.

at this rate it's quite possible that a number will end up with 25 plates.

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

All 50 BZL'S are now listed on the Lothian Buses tracker many without registration numbers.

Of the ones tracking without fleet numbers, only 4 are actually confirmed as delivered - 735, 739, 741 and 746. The rest have simply been switched on by the control room and are unknown at this stage.

722 is finally at Central while 715-717 remain at Ferrymill.

 

[stevenedin]

So is the plan still for 447-465 to go to Livingston?

 

[Glasgowbusguy]

I did wonder this. I haven’t heard any problems with the ones with Stagecoach Cambridge or Warrington’s Own Buses, so why the Lothian ones have come out worse, I don’t know.

Edinburgh is markedly colder in the winter than both Cambridge and Warrington especially near the beach

 

[paul0762]

So is the plan still for 447-465 to go to Livingston?

I hope so never heard rattles like it from these buses. Really really poorly built

 

[Bus9120UK]

I hope so never heard rattles like it from these buses. Really really poorly built

Its certainly a shame, as they were not like this when new, and in fact were the fleet that got me interested in Lothian and buses in the first place!
However, I travel on them regularly on the 31 now and they never rattle as much as some suggest they do. That being said, no rattles would be much preferred.