scotrail158713
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Looks like a fairly comprehensive network throughout Edinburgh and the Lothians - well done LB and subsidiaries. (Apart from my one grievance - I’ve posted that on the other thread though)
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West Lothian buses
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https://www.flickr.com/photos/122507681@N02/49099777793/in/pool-3426208@N20/ 103 doesn't look to good. As seen in comments of photos, the front green panel looks awful & there is no fleet number on the front.
Weemidi135
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can’t please everyone have you looked at some first buses
Bluebirdscot66
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It’s probably had a wee bump and it’s the only panel they had in a hurry . Sure it’ll be painted in time
Jordan Adam
Established Member
Thing is First and Stagecoach would get "roasted" all over the internet by enthusiasts for doing something like that, yet Lothian are typically treated different - as if they're superior. Which isn't really the case.
SpeedbirdA350
Member
Unless it effects the safety, ride comfort or disrupts the passanger experiance, (which it does none of those) then it's not a big deal. It's a panel. I'd agree if it were missing a panel or running with a damaged one but not due to it being a different tone/colour. Yes, it looks out of place but it will be painted/swapped soon. Better than having a bus out of service due to a missing panel. I think folk would moan more about that.
TheEastCoaster
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Christmas timetables have been released!
So 217 is actually limited stopping in Edinburgh, Buuut it covers the 275 route between Broxburn and Livingston Centre before continuing to Fauldhouse
The X18 runs its route to Whitburn then turns back to go via Longridge to Fauldhouse
The X38 will serve Bridgend village over Christmas, and terminate at the cross
On the 25th Dec/1st Jan
So 217 is actually limited stopping in Edinburgh, Buuut it covers the 275 route between Broxburn and Livingston Centre before continuing to Fauldhouse
The X18 runs its route to Whitburn then turns back to go via Longridge to Fauldhouse
The X38 will serve Bridgend village over Christmas, and terminate at the cross
On the 25th Dec/1st Jan
Siemens Trains
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Quite possibly, but buses aren't run for the benefit of enthusiasts.
As a business decision, fitting trim in a contrasting colour like the one in the picture really isn't going to make the slightest bit of difference to the passenger experience and won't impact the company's image.
Perhaps a different story if it was a beige wing fitted to a rusty old mauve Ford Escort.
Bus companies need to know where to draw the line when making these choices, and my experience of First and Stagecoach operators in my home area (Edinburgh) over the past 20 years has been that they don't get it right as often as the main Lothian depots. For me, the jury is still out on Lothian Country and East Coast though. Time, and passenger usage, will tell.
Jordan Adam
Established Member
But you're exactly proving my point, a certain group of people will totally ignore this sort of thing if Lothian do it yet would be the first to spam all over social media if it were First or Stagecoach!
My view quite simply is that it's unprofessional and untidy, but a panel is better than no panel.
Weemidi135
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no it’s not got it’s go faster stripes yet
Jordan Adam
Established Member
Surely it's well known by now that putting Lothian in bad light is a total no-no among "some" enthusiasts. I'm surprised they haven't asked for that photo to be deleted so there is no record of a Lothian bus running around with a couple of dodgy panels...
No doubt said Lothian "enthusiasts" exploded in a fit of rage when that photo was put on Flickr.
OmniCity999
Established Member
I'm very much on your side with this, so dont take this the wrong way, I've also worked for stagey before.
Difference here is they've used a brand new panel that has been painted - what just so happens to be the wrong colour, better that than a panel in primer or one from another brand within the company.
Thing with first or stagey (or any other of the large ops) is generally when they replace a damaged panel for short term, it's an old scruffy panel and not one in good condition. That is of course, speaking generally.
Jordan Adam
Established Member
I see your point and agree, i just don't think the double standard is all that fair regardless. At the end of the day it doesn't put the vehicle at any safety risk so it's not a huge issue. A bus with a pit of primer or a panel in the wrong colour is better than no bus. But obviously i'd expect and hope that it gets corrected asap - this is where some of the bigger ops can be quite lacklustre. For example one of our 65 plate E200MMCs (67090) gained accident repairs along it's nearside when a few months old at the start of 2016, it took them until August this year (over 3 years) to paint it properly, and it's still not gained the vinyls!
Probably... I could give a list of names of certain enthusiasts who'd go off on one about that photo being posted and start harassing the poster! But i wont.
Siemens Trains
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Ah, I see what you're getting at. You mean there's a band of enthusiasts who virtually worship Lothian, taking great exception to any imaginable criticism but quick to point out minor defects affecting in other operators' fleets.
Can't say I'd noticed that, but I'm just a humble passenger coming here for snippets of information about possible changes. It seems such a waste of effort that could be put to much better use if these 'experts' adopted a more positive nature.
It's at a point where at least one of said "enthusiasts" won't even mention First by name, instead calling them "a n other operator"......bit petty if you ask.
Jordan Adam
Established Member
Yes pretty much. To be fair this forum is by far one of the better places, but the "Book Of Faces" and Flickr is ripe with them! Just as a random example lately Lothian have had a number of buses in service in dealer white (primarily because the vehicle was either just a short term transfer or due to gain a all over wrap), said people were ranting and raving about how smart they looked, however a number of years back when first had a dealer white vehicle the same group of people were saying it was a "joke" and that you'd never see Lothian do something like that.
In all fairness said person you reference pretty much calls every Non-Lothian company not by their name, bit petty if you ask me but ohh well. They've started referred to Richard Hall as "Richard The Great"...
Weemidi135
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Does the magic orange stop thermal incidents?
It would seem so but it was a good drive so I think it should be ok with or without
Yes pretty much. To be fair this forum is by far one of the better places, but the "Book Of Faces" and Flickr is ripe with them! Just as a random example lately Lothian have had a number of buses in service in dealer white (primarily because the vehicle was either just a short term transfer or due to gain a all over wrap), said people were ranting and raving about how smart they looked, however a number of years back when first had a dealer white vehicle the same group of people were saying it was a "joke" and that you'd never see Lothian do something like that.
In all fairness said person you reference pretty much calls every Non-Lothian company not by their name, bit petty if you ask me but ohh well. They've started referred to Richard Hall as "Richard The Great"...
There's a word missing after "Great"...
Jordan Adam
Established Member
Good good. They're nice vehicles those to be fair, always liked the B7RLEs.
Supreme Leader?
90019
Established Member
Will they be copies of the other tour routes, or will they do something original this time?
Jordan Adam
Established Member
I mean they've both played that game. The X18 was a X20 copy, X27/X28 were a 27/28 copy, X38 a 38 copy, 280 a 25 copy, 281 a 26 copy and so on.
SpeedbirdA350
Member
Seriously??! That is quite sad. It's a bus company, and unless you have a vested interest in said company, ie share holder or something, then why would you pledge your 100% loyalty and devotion to said company over another let alone be scared to even say the name of another bus company? I assume he (or she) does not use CityLink services to leave Edinburgh and never used Scotrail services between October 2004 and March 2015 (First Scotrail...)
I know I am being pedantic here but it is not a direct carbon copy for the X27.X28 as LC goes via West Approach Road wheras First went Gorgie & Dalry and was often held up in traffic there. But I am being pedantic. Plus, First did axe the route 4 weeks prior so it needed to happen anyway. However, there is nothing wrong with copying, IF it works. Looking at some, it is, and looking at others, it is not. So if BBT want to copy another tour route, then if it works for them then good for them and if it does not then it's not then it's helpful info for Lothian. Of course, if it does work and is even more popular, then I am sure they won't be doing it solo...
Jordan Adam
Established Member
Never said there was anything wrong with it, i was simply stating the fact that both companies have been "inspired" by others current/previous routes not just the one.
56131 EllColl
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First and Lothian both ran 44 to Balerno remember.
Siemens Trains
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That's going back a few decades. At deregulation, LRT extended their 44 from Juniper Green to Balerno and used numbers 83 and 84 for most journeys, which were limited stop - generally confined to the orange coloured fare stage stops. Eastern re-routed the existing 66 etc within the city centre to operate via Princes St. The history of depot locations is quite complicated too.
But although the route and number can play a significant part, there's more to a service attracting passengers and turning a profit than these things alone. Will be interesting to see what Bright Bus contribute to the choice for tourists during 2020.
The 44 is one of the prime examples of why First failed in Edinburgh when they could have easily wiped the floor with Lothian. Whilst Lothian upgraded the fleet twice on the 44, first with Tridents and then with B7TL/Geminis, First didn't bother and continued to run an assortment of Olympians, Darts, Scanias and I'm guessing whatever else they could get going in the morning and people simply voted with their feet. It's almost as if First were deliberately trying to fail in Edinburgh.
I'm not one for blowing Lothian's trumpet, nor do I like doing it but sometimes you just can't ignore the fact that in Edinburgh, First made an absolute hash of it.
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NorthClyde320
Member
Couldn't agree more, I used to look at and saw some of the buses First used in Edinburgh and think to myself "are you doing this on purpose to bring a bad name on yourself?". First New St closed, then Westfield then Dalkeith, First just didn't help themselfs.
In my opinion I also think Lothian have been alowed to get to much of a monopoly in Edinburgh now what with East Coast Buses then Lothian Country now Lothian Motorcoaches, but I guess who else were going to replace First in East Lothian or Stagecoach in Queensferry.
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