West Lothian buses

PaulMc7 · 12 Nov 2019

overthewater said:
Kirkliston is doubling in Size, Winchburgh it x4 in size over the next couple of years: 1000s of new homes are being built or about to be built: https://www.winchburghdevelopments.com/
https://www.falkirkherald.co.uk/news/winchburgh-masterplan-will-create-3-450-homes-by-2025-1-4939352

Linlithgow is also planned to get more new housing including right on the 38/X38 bus route, with more to come so plenty of new passengers for everyone, unless you think an extra 5000 houses is nothing much to shout home about?

Doesn't necessarily mean bus usage will fly upwards. Still a good while for everything to be built too so plenty of pain for both companies to endure first

RailUK Forums

Bus Lightyear · 12 Nov 2019

overthewater said:
Kirkliston is doubling in Size, Winchburgh it x4 in size over the next couple of years: 1000s of new homes are being built or about to be built: https://www.winchburghdevelopments.com/
https://www.falkirkherald.co.uk/news/winchburgh-masterplan-will-create-3-450-homes-by-2025-1-4939352

Linlithgow is also planned to get more new housing including right on the 38/X38 bus route, with more to come so plenty of new passengers for everyone, unless you think an extra 5000 houses is nothing much to shout home about?

New houses doesn't necessarily result in more bus passengers. Over years there have been areas, and I can think of a few in Greater Glasgow, which have been regenerated or expanded but the residents have decided that the car is best and have rejected public transport.

overthewater · 12 Nov 2019

Like its been highlighted in this thread, the current road network will not coup with all these cars.

90019 · 13 Nov 2019

Jordan Adam said:
On another note is there any reason why the wheels on LCB vehicles don't get alloy treatment or painted green? I ask this because it seems to be standard on LothianCity vehicles - with the exception of the Ex-London stock.

There's quite a few city buses with silver steel wheels now - it seems like there's a very gradual move away from coloured wheels which has been going on for a while.
I wonder if it's so there's a smaller difference compared to the buses with alloys.

A330Alex · 13 Nov 2019

The upcoming low emission zone as well as a potential workplace parking levy and further controlled parking zones in Edinburgh will all likely lead to more people using public transport. I imagine Lothian are willing to play the long game in the hope these extra passengers do appear.

Train368 · 13 Nov 2019

TheEastCoaster said:
I mean I would hope so, considering there’s no mention of the green arrow fares on the booklet, maybe the special X38 return ticket could be valid on the EX2! Also noticed it now stops at Edinburgh Zoo

And at least we know what’s happening to the extra coaches

Maybe already been mentioned but where are the extra coaches going?

TheEastCoaster · 13 Nov 2019

Train368 said:
Maybe already been mentioned but where are the extra coaches going?

There’s extra peak journeys on the Ex2 route during the week

overthewater · 13 Nov 2019

Plus the route has been extended to St Andrew Sq. I still think in the long run Lothian will have to do the following:

37/38 Every 15min Edinburgh - Winchburgh - Every 30mins to Linlithgow OR Broxburn - fastlink - St Johns - bus stations.

TheEastCoaster · 13 Nov 2019

So after the X38 launches, the next question I suppose we are wondering is what are the chances LCB will be running services this festive season?

Baileygirl · 14 Nov 2019

the rumour is that they are running a commercial service and the council has cancelled the contract with first

TheEastCoaster said:
So after the X38 launches, the next question I suppose we are wondering is what are the chances LCB will be running services this festive season?

Weemidi135 · 14 Nov 2019

TheEastCoaster said:
So after the X38 launches, the next question I suppose we are wondering is what are the chances LCB will be running services this festive season?

you will have to wait and see won’t you

Jordan Adam · 14 Nov 2019

TheEastCoaster said:
So after the X38 launches, the next question I suppose we are wondering is what are the chances LCB will be running services this festive season?

I suspect this year they probably will, it would be odd for them not to.

Stopper · 14 Nov 2019

The EX2 will be fine, it’s currently very busy in the mornings right now. People from Linlithgow-Edinburgh won’t want to move to a slower, likely less comfy service for the same price. People on here desperate for it to fail but it’s doing anything but that.

I’d imagine the X38 will take a lot of First’s 38 intermediate passengers (Linlithgow-Winchburgh, Winchburgh-Kirkliston, Winchburgh/Kirkliston-Edinburgh) as well as attracting new ones as many people in these areas just flat out avoid First due to unreliability.

overthewater · 14 Nov 2019

Baileygirl said:
the rumour is that they are running a commercial service and the council has cancelled the contract with first

Has the council cancelled the contract with first? While LCB have special fares?

Weemidi135 said:
you will have to wait and see won’t you

Lets hope its not like the current changes and people only find out with a week or two to go. People Shift patterns are taken place the now.

Stopper said:
The EX2 will be fine, it’s currently very busy in the mornings right now. People from Linlithgow-Edinburgh won’t want to move to a slower, likely less comfy service for the same price. People on here desperate for it to fail but it’s doing anything but that.

I’d imagine the X38 will take a lot of First’s 38 intermediate passengers (Linlithgow-Winchburgh, Winchburgh-Kirkliston, Winchburgh/Kirkliston-Edinburgh) as well as attracting new ones as many people in these areas just flat out avoid First due to unreliability.

Ex2 seems to be getting nearly all the Linlithgow-Edinburgh passengers, as you say as its faster. I agree X38 will get most of Kirkliston-Edinburgh city passengers, However its very much up for debate about the
Winchburgh-Edinburgh passengers.

Jordan Adam · 14 Nov 2019

Stopper said:
The EX2 will be fine, it’s currently very busy in the mornings right now. People from Linlithgow-Edinburgh won’t want to move to a slower, likely less comfy service for the same price. People on here desperate for it to fail but it’s doing anything but that.

I’d imagine the X38 will take a lot of First’s 38 intermediate passengers (Linlithgow-Winchburgh, Winchburgh-Kirkliston, Winchburgh/Kirkliston-Edinburgh) as well as attracting new ones as many people in these areas just flat out avoid First due to unreliability.

I agree that the X38 will no doubt take passengers from the awful 38, however i'm certain it will also take passengers from the EX2, yes the peak runs may do decent, but the offpeak runs are dire. I wouldn't be surprised if in the future the EX2 gets cut back to just a peak time service. The bulk of the offpeak market are pass holders (OAPs) to them the X38 will be far more attractive as it uses far more accessible vehicles that offer much of the same features, the Civic V3 seats in the refurbished B7RLEs are comfy, so it's not as if the X38 is using uncomfortable buses. To the average punter it's just a bus, provided there's nothing negative they won't care if it only has DP seats. Besides most people will be on the bus for well under an hour.

oldman · 14 Nov 2019

Jordan Adam said:
The bulk of the offpeak market are pass holders (OAPs) to them the X38 will be far more attractive as it uses far more accessible vehicles

Believe it or not, many people over 60 can still just about manage steps

. I would say the EX2 coaches are smoother and more spacious than buses. Other things being equal, I would choose them.

I assume the extension in Edinburgh is partly aimed at improving off-peak numbers though not using the same stops in the City Centre means that people have to make a conscious choice to use it.

Jordan Adam · 14 Nov 2019

oldman said:
Believe it or not, many people over 60 can still just about manage steps . I would say the EX2 coaches are smoother and more spacious than buses. Other things being equal, I would choose them.

I assume the extension in Edinburgh is partly aimed at improving off-peak numbers though not using the same stops in the City Centre means that people have to make a conscious choice to use it.

That's somewhat my point though, the B7RLEs are still comfy buses and to the average punter it won't matter if the coaches are slightly smoother and more spacious. With the main off peak marketing being generally pass holders having low floor vehicles is more attractive.

The extended route in Edinburgh should've been there from day one, but at least they've realised the mistake on this occasion and sorted it, a major put off for users on the EX1/EX2 at present would be the fact that it doesn't serve the city centre properly. If you compare the EX1 to the X18 for example, yes the EX1 may be 10 minutes faster, but it's more expensive (irrelevant to pass users), uses step entry vehicles and doesn't serve the centre properly. So even if it is 10 minutes faster once you add in the additional time of swapping buses at Haymarket the X18 just becomes the more attractive service. This is part of the reason why i've said since day one the EX1 was bound to fail and it seems i was right. The EX2 has done better because there's no real alternative besides the train and the poor 38, but with the X38 starting it'll be interesting to see how things progress.

overthewater · 14 Nov 2019

Does the company have any plans to go to Winchburgh? with its roadshow.

Baileygirl · 14 Nov 2019

I notice First are extending their L zone to include Linlithgow so bringing down the price of their day and weekly tickets in the area and to Edinburgh and Falkirk

Bluebirdscot66 · 14 Nov 2019

Baileygirl said:
I notice First are extending their L zone to include Linlithgow so bringing down the price of their day and weekly tickets in the area and to Edinburgh and Falkirk

So it’s a case of I see your return and raise you a day /weekly ticket .

TheEastCoaster · 14 Nov 2019

Weemidi135 said:
you will have to wait and see won’t you

Well looks like I got my wish

A330Alex · 14 Nov 2019

https://lothiancountry.co.uk/lothia...GxIgcpSjgh1ojYTcWE2yx8EZCfeD_psZUTFc0f2eX_qZ0

A total of seven services will run across Christmas Day including Services 217, 280, 287, X18, X27/X28 and X38. These services will operate on special timetables, providing vital links around the local area, as well as to and from Edinburgh city centre.

On Boxing Day, increased services will operate providing links to and from The Centre, Livingston and Livingston Designer Outlet. Additionally, service 43 will also run on 26th December, running an hourly service from Queensferry to St Andrew Square.

On New Year’s Day, services will be available from Edinburgh to West Lothian, with an increased volume of service 43, running every 10 minutes from Queensferry to the city centre during the ‘Loony Dook.’

Looking forward to hearing more about this 217

overthewater · 14 Nov 2019

Baileygirl said:
I notice First are extending their L zone to include Linlithgow so bringing down the price of their day and weekly tickets in the area and to Edinburgh and Falkirk

It where First should have had Linlithgow in the first place. There should just get rid C and D and have new falkirk and Forth valley ticket.

TheEastCoaster said:
Well looks like I got my wish

Indeed: and its seems there is more buses than ever before on xmas day... it's nice to see there making even better effort on No43 on New years day even since they forgot about Loony dook.

https://lothiancountry.co.uk/lothiancountry-launches-christmas-services/

Lothiancountry has today (14 November) announced its Christmas network provision including the introduction of special services in partnership with West Lothian Council for customers in the West Lothian area.

A total of seven services will run across Christmas Day including Services 217, 280, 287, X18, X27/X28 and X38. These services will operate on special timetables, providing vital links around the local area, as well as to and from Edinburgh city centre.

On Boxing Day, increased services will operate providing links to and from The Centre, Livingston and Livingston Designer Outlet. Additionally, service 43 will also run on 26th December, running an hourly service from Queensferry to St Andrew Square.

On New Year’s Day, services will be available from Edinburgh to West Lothian, with an increased volume of service 43, running every 10 minutes from Queensferry to the city centre during the ‘Loony Dook.’

Nigel Serafini, Commercial Director for Lothiancountry said:

“We are delighted to be working in partnership with West Lothian Council to offer special services across the festive period.

“We are fully committed to delivering a great bus service for the residents and visitors of West Lothian and thanks to our increased connections to and from Edinburgh and throughout the local community, we hope we can make travel easier for our customers at a busy time of year.”

Cathy Muldoon, Executive councillor for development and transport, West Lothian Council said:

“It’s important that West Lothian residents have access to public transport over the festive holidays to allow them to visit loved ones or get to work, so we are delighted to be able to offer support to ensure bus services are available on these days.”

Timetables will be available to download from www.lothiancountry.co.uk from Monday 25th November and paper timetables will be available from the Travelhub within The Centre, Livingston from Monday 2nd December.

Information on services for Hogmanay will be announced next week.

Jordan Adam · 14 Nov 2019

Hourly service on boxing day for the 43? Seems rather poor if you ask me!

FlybeDash8Q400 · 14 Nov 2019

217 I’m guessing will be Fauldhouse to Livi, what the X17 normally does

TheEastCoaster · 14 Nov 2019

FlybeDash8Q400 said:
217 I’m guessing will be Fauldhouse to Livi, what the X17 normally does

Cue the angry commuters on Facebook that will complain about the bus stopping at all stops that they can’t get on :lol:

Surprised that the X17 is getting a non express equivalent (217) and not the other LCB services they run to Edinburgh!

Bus9120UK · 14 Nov 2019

FlybeDash8Q400 said:
217 I’m guessing will be Fauldhouse to Livi, what the X17 normally does

No. It still runs to Edinburgh, as seen on the Lothian Buses website. https://www.lothianbuses.com/news/2019/11/lothian-announces-services-for-festive-period/

TheEastCoaster · 14 Nov 2019

Hang on a second!! It says the X18 is serving Fauldhouse on the festive period.. :idea:

A330Alex · 14 Nov 2019

I assume we won't be seeing Christmas Day services from First now?

oldman · 14 Nov 2019

Jordan Adam said:
Hourly service on boxing day for the 43? Seems rather poor if you ask me!

Same as last year - probably adequate.

I guess the 217 will follow a different route from the X17 so has a new number to avoid confusion - or create a different sort of confusion.

West Lothian buses

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