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Lothian Buses and ECB Discussion

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scotrail158713

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Yeah that's where I looked all X7s listed start in Dunbar no shorts listed.

I've emailed them, will see what I get back once they get back to it over the next few days.
Just seen that now that you’ve mentioned that. I’m trying to work out when it was ditched - I’m sure I saw one in November.
 

Q_Okolo12

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Hello there. Just another bus enthusiast! :D

Just out of curiosity, now that we've entered 2020, does anyone have an idea of how well Lothian is doing fleetwise? If there's any more Euro 3/4 buses they have to weed out or convert to Euro 6 (possibly hybrid?) and if there's gonna be any new stock coming?

Thanks!
 

ScotRail158725

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Hello there. Just another bus enthusiast! :D

Just out of curiosity, now that we've entered 2020, does anyone have an idea of how well Lothian is doing fleetwise? If there's any more Euro 3/4 buses they have to weed out or convert to Euro 6 (possibly hybrid?) and if there's gonna be any new stock coming?

Thanks!
only euro 3/4 left is the B7s, not sure about upcoming stock
 

OmniCity999

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Hello there. Just another bus enthusiast! :D

Just out of curiosity, now that we've entered 2020, does anyone have an idea of how well Lothian is doing fleetwise? If there's any more Euro 3/4 buses they have to weed out or convert to Euro 6 (possibly hybrid?) and if there's gonna be any new stock coming?

Thanks!


Plenty of euro 3/4 stuff still around. New toys this year will wipe them all out.
 

Q_Okolo12

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Thanks for your responses. With the emission targets round the corner, I wonder what the next steps are for Lothian. Time will tell!

Another question. This is completely hypothetical but, with the chances of Wrightbus returning to full production line later on in the year, is there a chance Lothian could return to them? Somewhere in the distant future?
 

Jordan Adam

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Thanks for your responses. With the emission targets round the corner, I wonder what the next steps are for Lothian. Time will tell!

Another question. This is completely hypothetical but, with the chances of Wrightbus returning to full production line later on in the year, is there a chance Lothian could return to them? Somewhere in the distant future?

I wouldn't rule it out in a few years as products develop etc, however for the moment i can't see Lothian going for Wright. The entire reason they switched to ADL was due to issues with build quality and poor aftermarket treatment - something which has plagued Wright and bus operators with newer Wright's for a few years now.
 
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There were rumours about an order of ADL E200's on the B8RLE chassis last year. Haven't seen anything of yet but hopefully something materialises.

All the Euro 3s that need replaced are deckers though, surley they wouldn't replace a whole lot of deckers with the single-deck E200?

Also I presume it would be the E200 MMC? I've never been on these before, are they any better than the E200 Non-MMC? Would they be similar to the E400 MMCs that Lothian has?
 

Volvodart

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Another question. This is completely hypothetical but, with the chances of Wrightbus returning to full production line later on in the year, is there a chance Lothian could return to them? Somewhere in the distant future?

They will be concentrating on hydrogen and battery electric buses, the former would be unlikely for Lothian, and the lead time for a diesel order, if they will build them, will be very long, the rest of First's current order is reportedly months away from delivery.
 

Jordan Adam

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All the Euro 3s that need replaced are deckers though, surley they wouldn't replace a whole lot of deckers with the single-deck E200?

Also I presume it would be the E200 MMC? I've never been on these before, are they any better than the E200 Non-MMC? Would they be similar to the E400 MMCs that Lothian has?

E200MMCs are a huge step up from the old E200s and E300s imo. I speak as someone who's had them on their local route for over 4 years.
 
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E200MMCs are a huge step up from the old E200s and E300s imo. I speak as someone who's had them on their local route for over 4 years.

Ah really, that's good then.
I'm just thinking back to the old E200s Stagecoach run in my home area, I suppose even if it had been the old E200s Lothian was getting, it would be to Lothian spec, which seems to be a lot higher quality than Stagecoach.
 

CN04NRJ

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E200MMCs are a huge step up from the old E200s and E300s imo. I speak as someone who's had them on their local route for over 4 years.

I currently drive several generations of ADL buses (2002-2017) and the MMCs are streets ahead in terms of build quality and driver comfort/ergonomics. They really are a major change on the old models as the name suggests. I'd go as far as to say I *hate* driving the old shape E200s, particularly ones with Voith gearboxes.
 

ANWP Tom

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First off happy new year. Not checked in on here over Christmas.

Talk on the 30:
Options seem to be:
1, Artics
2, Split it at the Fort. Deckers ex centre and higher frequency ex Musselburgh
3, Extend the 4 round to the Fort. (gives princes st connections vice 5 off the bridges)

Or more outside the box
4, Re-extend the X15 (but to the Fort rather than Prestonpans)
5, 45 rerouting between Piershill and QMU to run via the Fort.
6, Extended/rerouted 19s



Question.

Haven't seen 552 & 564 out in service in a long while and wondering why.
 

ScotRail158725

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First off happy new year. Not checked in on here over Christmas.

Talk on the 30:
Options seem to be:
1, Artics
2, Split it at the Fort. Deckers ex centre and higher frequency ex Musselburgh
3, Extend the 4 round to the Fort. (gives princes st connections vice 5 off the bridges)

Or more outside the box
4, Re-extend the X15 (but to the Fort rather than Prestonpans)
5, 45 rerouting between Piershill and QMU to run via the Fort.
6, Extended/rerouted 19s



Question.

Haven't seen 552 & 564 out in service in a long while and wondering why.
552 is currently out and hasn’t been off the road, 564 has been out of service since 11th December id assume due to crash damage
 

Q_Okolo12

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So while at the moment there's no definitive answer, it seems that Lothian's new fleet will most likely be ADL Volvos (Volvo because I know Lothain want a uniform fleet plus it'll make it easier for maintenance etc). I do wonder though if Lothain would consider MCV bodied B5TLs/B8RLEs. How did 299 (BV19 LND) peformed during trial run? That is if anyone here can provide knowledge on this.

Thanks! :)
 

OmniCity999

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So while at the moment there's no definitive answer, it seems that Lothian's new fleet will most likely be ADL Volvos (Volvo because I know Lothain want a uniform fleet plus it'll make it easier for maintenance etc). I do wonder though if Lothain would consider MCV bodied B5TLs/B8RLEs. How did 299 (BV19 LND) peformed during trial run? That is if anyone here can provide knowledge on this.

Thanks! :)

Build quality was considered lacking
 

mde

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Lothian are increasing their fares again
The singles are going up by 10p… not the end of the world.

the Edinburgh Evening News already have an article, featuring some councillors expressing a dissenting view.

Lothian Buses to hike fares for adults, children and Ridacard on Edinburgh, east coast and country services
Bus fares across Edinburgh and the Lothians will rise from next month.
By David Bol
Thursday, 9th January 2020, 3:50 pm
Updated19 minutes ago
Lothian Buses will increase fares from next month
Lothian Buses has announced that the rise will take place on its Lothian, Lothiancountry and EastCoastbuses services from Sunday 2 February.

The cost of an adult single ticket will increase by six per cent from next month from £1.70 to £1.80. However, the cost of child tickets will increase by 12.5 per cent from 80p to 90p and the cost of family day tickets will increase by 12 per cent from £8.50 to £9.50. Lothian’s season ticket Ridacard, which was last increased in 2018 will also see an increase. Airport fares will remain the same.


Nigel Serafini, commercial director at Lothian, said: “Lothian is committed to providing environmentally sustainable, best value travel. As our operating costs continue to rise and we continue to invest in fleet, people, training and our customer offering, we will be making changes to fares from 2 February.

“Ninety-eight pence of every £1 we receive in fares goes directly back into the running of our business and provision of services. Across the last decade we have invested heavily in cleaner, greener buses for the benefit of all our customers and our capital city, lessening the impact on the environment, while continuing to develop and provide a comprehensive network of services across the Edinburgh city region.

“As well as continuing our investment in new environmentally friendly vehicles across 2020, Lothian is currently in the process of renewing its Real Time Customer Information system. This system plays a vital role in helping us monitor and control services, as well as allowing customers to track bus arrivals.

“Our revised fares continue to represent excellent value for money and remain amongst the lowest in the UK.”

But Liberal Democrats have slammed the increase.

Liberal Democrat transport spokesperson, Cllr Kevin Lang, “You have to wonder whether Lothian Buses actually want families on its buses.


“First we had problems with a lack of buggy space on Lothian’s new fleet of buses. Then we had the company’s failure to allow contactless family tickets. Now we have inflation busting increases in fares which will see families bearing the brunt.

“It is all further evidence of a system that is not working and shows why the council should have greater powers to set bus routes, frequencies and fares.”
 
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Here's the official release from Lothian:

https://www.lothianbuses.com/news/2020/01/lothian-fare-review-2020/

We have today (January 9) announced that fares will be revised on services across Lothian from Sunday February 2, 2020.

The fare review will see some fares on our services increase for the first time in two years, with Adult single fares increased by 10p. Adult Daytickets, which offer unlimited travel on date of purchase, will increase by 50p. Customers who use our daily capping contactless system will only see a 40p increase in their Adult Dayticket price.

Child Single fares will also increase 10p, with Child Daytickets increasing by 20p for the first time since 2004. Airport fares will remain the same on Airlink and Skylink services.



tap tap cap, get the cheapest Adult fare using the same contactless card or device all day. A daily price cap of £4.40 will apply to customers using a contactless card or device.
More details on the website, I haven't quoted the whole release as it includes tables and images.
 

oldman

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26 Nov 2013
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They have reversed policy on ridacards - previously the direct debit was best value for 12 months, now the annual is cheaper. And anyone wanting to travel around all night will have to pay an extra £1.
 
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