Lothian Buses and ECB Discussion

Jordan Adam · 11 Aug 2020

Blindtraveler said:
Also I wasn't aware the 63 and 20 were changing hands, I have to say hey pretty vias usage in the early part of this year of the 63 demonstrated a lot of late running and other reliability problems so this could be interesting. Who has got it?

First, they've also won the 68 off Waverley Travel. There's going to be some route changes with the 20 serving Ingliston P&R iirc.

RailUK Forums

Baileygirl · 11 Aug 2020

Jordan Adam said:
First, they've also won the 68 off Waverley Travel. There's going to be some route changes with the 20 serving Ingliston P&R iirc.

the 63 is also being extended to Balerno

ScotRail158725 · 11 Aug 2020

GregA said:
Is there a difference mechanically in how the two gearboxes work?
I was on a Gemini 1 (B7) recently and I noticed that, from idle, the engine had to increase revs for a couple of seconds before the bus started accelerating, whereas I remember on the Gemini 3 (B5) the bus accelerates as soon as the engine revs (with no delay); is this to do with the gearbox or something else?

the B5s and B7s both have voiths so its nothing gearbox related

RomeoCharlie71 · 11 Aug 2020

B5TLs are ZF Ecolife, B5LHs are Volvo i-Shift

Jordan Adam · 11 Aug 2020

GregA said:
Is there a difference mechanically in how the two gearboxes work?
I was on a Gemini 1 (B7) recently and I noticed that, from idle, the engine had to increase revs for a couple of seconds before the bus started accelerating, whereas I remember on the Gemini 3 (B5) the bus accelerates as soon as the engine revs (with no delay); is this to do with the gearbox or something else?

ZF Boxes tend to get more torque out of the engine at lower RPMs, Voiths typically produce the most torque at higher RPM.

scotrail158713 · 11 Aug 2020

Baileygirl said:
the 63 is also being extended to Balerno

That could provide a useful link, especially at the weekend, between HWU area and Currie. It’s something that’s missing just now as the 45 doesn’t run on weekends. (I will admit I’m not sure how many it would carry though - it might not be the busiest route)

Blindtraveler · 11 Aug 2020

I also await the loadings and performance of this with interest. I do hope that the council have been a little specific on quality of vehicle used on the services, but very much doubt they have.

Jordan Adam · 11 Aug 2020

Blindtraveler said:
I also await the loadings and performance of this with interest. I do hope that the council have been a little specific on quality of vehicle used on the services, but very much doubt they have.

Theoretically it should be the 09 plate B7RLEs from Southampton that FSE acquired a few months back.

CN04NRJ · 11 Aug 2020

Jordan Adam said:
Theoretically it should be the 09 plate B7RLEs from Southampton that FSE acquired a few months back.

An upgrade from the 07 plate B7RLEs allocated before then! :lol:

ScotRail158725 · 11 Aug 2020

CN04NRJ said:
An upgrade from the 07 plate B7RLEs allocated before then!

oh no you cant say that, the lothian brigade will be after your head. How dare you say first is an upgrade

computerSaysNo · 11 Aug 2020

ScotRail158725 said:
the B5s and B7s both have voiths so its nothing gearbox related

ross4122 said:
B5TLs are ZF Ecolife, B5LHs are Volvo i-Shift

You can't both be correct!

To clarify though, I was referring to the B5TL in my earlier post, not the hybrid.

OmniCity999 · 11 Aug 2020

ScotRail158725 said:
the B5s and B7s both have voiths so its nothing gearbox related

To confirm. B5TL's are ZF. B5LH's are Volvo i-Shift.

Some London B9's are ZF, native B9's and B7's are Voith.

ScotRail158725 · 12 Aug 2020

OmniCity999 said:
To confirm. B5TL's are ZF. B5LH's are Volvo i-Shift.

Some London B9's are ZF, native B9's and B7's are Voith.

apologies. i was thinking about the B9 when i said that for some reason lol

stantheman · 12 Aug 2020

Will the 63 be First when it extends to Balerno ? First competed with Lothian in Balerno a few years back on the 44

OmniCity999 · 12 Aug 2020

stantheman said:
Will the 63 be First when it extends to Balerno ? First competed with Lothian in Balerno a few years back on the 44

Yes the 63 will be run by First, yes they intend to extend it to Balerno.

Auld reekie · 12 Aug 2020

stantheman said:
Will the 63 be First when it extends to Balerno ? First competed with Lothian in Balerno a few years back on the 44

Yes it will be.
I emailed FB and asked them when they intend to start on this route.
Keep checking their website was the reply.
What a lot of cobblers.

CN04NRJ · 12 Aug 2020

Auld reekie said:
Yes it will be.
I emailed FB and asked them when they intend to start on this route.
Keep checking their website was the reply.
What a lot of cobblers.

My guess is it'll be when we move into phase 4 of lockdown - with Lothian continuing to run it as it is on a temporary basis.

Auld reekie · 12 Aug 2020

CN04NRJ said:
My guess is it'll be when we move into phase 4 of lockdown - with Lothian continuing to run it as it is on a temporary basis.

That sounds feasible.

overthewater · 12 Aug 2020

If that is the case it could be well into 2021 if that is the case.

Auld reekie · 12 Aug 2020

overthewater said:
If that is the case it could be well into 2021 if that is the case.

That would please LB.

ScotRail158725 · 13 Aug 2020

373 back on the road after its crash down in stockbridge the other week, has been repainted at the front and along the skirt to the front axle

FlybeDash8Q400 · 13 Aug 2020

I see Leith St is closed from tomorrow for a few days. Fair enough. What make me chuckle was the reason it’s closed. Apparently for a big crane to lift another big crane.

www.lothianbuses.com/live-travel-info/service-update/?alert_id=dc378b8720d7862d35cb13a39fafb6c7

To allow for a big crane to lift another big crane, Leith Street will be closed northbound from 00:00 Friday 14 August until 06:00 Monday 17 August. It will also be closed southbound from 08:00 Saturday 15 August until end of service Sunday 16 August.

Oh I love working with the public at times, they just make things so simple!

CN04NRJ · 13 Aug 2020

Seeing posts on Facebook suggesting the new single decks are at Seafield with someone claiming to have seen them in Cambridge recently. Assuming they're MCV then, whatever they are I'm excited to find out!

OmniCity999 · 13 Aug 2020

CN04NRJ said:
Seeing posts on Facebook suggesting the new single decks are at Seafield with someone claiming to have seen them in Cambridge recently. Assuming they're MCV then, whatever they are I'm excited to find out!

Remember, new types of body on Volvo Chassis are usually delivered to a main dealer before delivery, just to check everything over.

CN04NRJ · 13 Aug 2020

OmniCity999 said:
Remember, new types of body on Volvo Chassis are usually delivered to a main dealer before delivery, just to check everything over.

The mystery deepens :lol:

Jordan Adam · 13 Aug 2020

CN04NRJ said:
The mystery deepens

Definitely Optare Solo bodied Volvo B5LHs.

OmniCity999 · 13 Aug 2020

Jordan Adam said:
Definitely Optare Solo bodied Volvo B5LHs.

They were only ordered last year, if it was through Optare we'd expect to see them sometime in the 2030's!

Jordan Adam · 13 Aug 2020

OmniCity999 said:
They were only ordered last year, if it was through Optare we'd expect to see them sometime in the 2030's!

Built by Mellor on behalf of Optare then!

scosutsut · 13 Aug 2020

Jordan Adam said:
Built by Mellor on behalf of Optare then!

Not the official launch party for Wrightare Streetsolo body then. Proper shame.

Graeme Duncan · 13 Aug 2020

Surprised to see 373 back on the road so soon.

Lothian Buses and ECB Discussion

Established Member

RailUK Forums

Member

Established Member

Established Member

Established Member

Established Member

Established Member

Established Member

Established Member

Established Member

Member

Established Member

Established Member

On Moderation

Established Member

Member

Established Member

Member

Established Member

Member

Established Member

Established Member

Established Member

Established Member

Established Member

Established Member

Established Member

Established Member

Member

Member