Edinburgh & the Lothians bus network speculations & ideas

[FlybeDash8Q400]

AIUI all 30s terminate at QMU, I assumed they used the A1. Do they still go through Newcraighall and then loop back across the railway line?

Yes, amazingly they still do. I’m told the 30 is a fresh air express most of the time within that section though.

 

[LothianBusesPh]

Yes, amazingly they still do. I’m told the 30 is a fresh air express most of the time within that section though.

Most buses are to be fair though, even the 46/48. The last time I was on a bus sthat stopped at Newcraighall was back when the 30 came to Musselburgh.

 

[DespacitoPlayz]

Why would it? That is exactly what is happening at the moment and most buses don't even stop in Newcraighall, though it's still important to keep a link alive.

This is, as it said in my previous reply, would be if Service 46 was chopped back to Fort Kinnaird.

 

[CSB0241]

I hope Lothian do manage to take the 20 & 63 back. Lothian Buses' Longstone Depot is positioned well for them and generally speaking they provide a nicer vehicle for their services.

The dead mileage from Livingstone to The Gyle or Balerno isn’t great. The mileage to South Queensferry from Livingston probably isn’t much longer than that from Longstone and I’m also guessing there is more chance of Longstone having more drivers than Lothian Country.

I’ve no idea about there Newbridge Depot.

If I’m not mistaken, I think that Newbridge is Lothian Motor Coaches only, not Lothian Buses or Lothian Country Buses.

I think that junction between Princes Street, Waterloo Place, Leith Street, and North Bridge, needs modification. Leith Street to Princes Street can effectively only take one bus per traffic light cycle because of the timings, and the whole junction is just a mess. Thinking about it for 30 seconds I'd probably make it "across only" i.e. you can cross it between Princes Street and Waterloo Place, and between Leith Street and North Bridge, but you can't turn i.e. you can't do Leith Street to Princes Street. That would at least reduce the traffic lights to two phases plus pedestrians. Buses from Elm Row to Princes Street can all go via York Place. Buses from the east to Princes Street can all go via Waterloo Place. Buses from North Bridge to Princes Street can either take George IV bridge instead or go Leith Street then York Place.


Regardless, I think there's only room for at most one bus stop outside Waverley Steps in each direction. If the junction doesn't change, I think

• Buses to/from Waterloo Place should stop on Waterloo Place and Scott Monument only
• Buses to/from North Bridge should stop at North Bridge and Scott Monument only
• Buses to/from Leith Street should stop at Leith Street and Scott Monument only.

Until North Bridge reopens for stopping, services usually stopping on North Bridge should stop at Waverley Steps instead. After that, you could say long distance services only should stop at Waverley Steps, or something like that.

I think the only turns that should be permitted here are North Bridge to Princes Street (& vice versa). Thinking back to the North Bridge closure, I think we can all recall it being a nightmare to get up. Maybe it can be allowed to make the turns allowed currently only between 0000 & 0430 for the night buses.

With Buses 841-6 coming to Livingston could there be a possibility of a needed service like the 280 returning?

Oh I hope so, more of an excuse to go out & do some new West Lothian RVs/FRVs

I would like to see the x17 back. The x18 is busy between Uphall and Edinburgh, but not so much to Bathgate. If they could get timing right could the x17 x18 run a 15min frequency between Edinburgh and Uphall then split there so x17 goes to Livingston and x18 carries on the existing route?

Maybe, but I think it’d be better if McGill's Scotland East & LCB could co-operate & get the X24 & X18 to correlate with one another, & since it’d be quieter on Sundays, the X24 not operating isn’t really a problem.

Service 40/X40 could be doing with a better operator and better vehicles because these buses E&M are running aren't all that great.

A mate of mine called the Dennis Darts “The P!$$mobiles”

The Dennis dart on the 40 journey I took to Livingston was alright and could be better but the bus on the X40 journey back is what I hate about the service.
I took the photo.

Yeah, that’s a Volkswagen Transporter

I would like to see a new route running along the coast, something like;

RIE > Wisp > Dunddingston Park > Brighton place, Portobello > Seafield Road > Salamander St > Commercial St > Starbank Rd. > West Granton Rd. > Cramon Village > Maybury Rd. > Gyle shopping centre

A lot of these sections are rural/light loadings, but it would likely be a faster way of getting around the

this would ideally match with a better 400, which cuts out Colinton Mains and travels along Redford Rd. to make one big orbital thingie.

This is like an altered 21, so I’m not sure (granted, I’d love to see a version of it like this, so I’m not complaining)

 

[LothianBusesPh]

This is, as it said in my previous reply, would be if Service 46 was chopped back to Fort Kinnaird.

Newcraighall wouldn't stress the Service 46, it would be Musselburgh. If any service was to be chopped back it would be the Service 48, not the 46.

 

[CSB0241]

If any Lothian route should be made a circular, it should be the Service 49. I would do it that the bus does a clockwise circle, then anticlockwise, etc. Other one could be numbered the Service 50 or 42.

This has been what I’ve been saying since the 46’s introduction. I’ve also been saying that the 49 should be the 46 & vice versa

Replying to the post on the Lothian Group thread, thinking about future orders, could Lothian possibly go with Enviro 500EVs for capacity? I noticed that they have just launched in Hong Kong and they would be ideal for services that are busier.

I think that some E500EVs would be so incredibly useful for Lothian. Maybe if they could replace the E400XLBs, but I think we all don’t think that’s a grand idea, since the E400XLBs are only 4.5yrs old

Is there any likelihood that there will further route changes this year?

They happened, & oh boy, were they mediocre & underwhelming

Honestly this is how I would see the peak West Lothian network!

EDINBURGH EXPRESS SERVICES
X17 - Edinburgh to Livingston
X18 - Edinburgh to Fauldhouse
X27 - Edinburgh to Whitburn
X28 - Edinburgh to Blackridge

WEST LOTHIAN SERVICES

40 - St John's Hospital to Royal Infirmary via Ratho (no X40)

231 - Bathgate to Livingston via Linlithgow
275 - Whitburn to Gyle Centre via Kirkliston/Winnchburgh

276 - Fauldhouse to Gyle Centre via Loganlea/Livingston

Other Services
20 - Ratho to Chesser via Wester Hailes
43 - Queensferry to Edinburgh
63 - Queensferry to Balerno via Kirkliston

N43 Edinburgh to Kirkliston (one way loop before returning via Queensferry)

I think that the 276 could be combined with the X17 between Livingston & Fauldhouse like the old one. Connections to the Gyle Centre include the 20, 63, & 275. Here, I’ve moved all E&M services to LCB & some services have been renumbered to fit in with the WL numbering system;

Lothian Country Buses;
14 - Echline Avenue to Kirkton Campus
X17 - Waterloo Place to Fauldhouse Station
X18 - Waterloo Place to Polmokket Road End
19 - Borrowman Square to Cockburn Crescent
20 - Chesser Asda to Halcroft Park
X27 - Waterloo Place to Polmokket Road End
X28 - Waterloo Place - Blackridge Turning Circle
31 - Livingston Shopping Centre to Bathgate Station
32 - Waterloo Place to Borrowman Square
40 - Edinburgh Royal Infirmary - St. John’s Hospital
41 - Gyle Centre to Polmokket Road End

SD Travel;
15 - Livingston Town Service
16 - Western General Hospital to Livingston Shopping Centre
33 - Bathgate Town Service
34 - Linmill Road to Whitburn Cross
35 - Limefield Place to Dykeside Road
36 - Limefield Place to Falside Crescent
37 - Limefield Place to Harthill Main Street
38 - Bo’Ness Bus Station to Bathgate Tesco
39 - Linlithgow Town Service

Instead of a fantasy network, more logical thinking would suggest if McGill's where able to they could improve existing services in the area, the best changes could be to extend the 25 to Blackridge and have the 21 terminate at Bathgate or Armadale, then for services 23, 25, 26, X22 & X24 a later evening timetable would benefit people alot aswell as having a Sunday Service for those services are a realistic solution to West Lothain.

Thank you!

Would changing the terminus of the 9 from King's Buildings to Cameron Toll be a good idea? I can imagine more people would want to go to/from a shopping centre with a large Sainsbury's than to a university campus at night time/at weekends/during university vacations. It could still serve the bus stops on West Mains Road currently used by the 38 for people who do want to go to/from King's Buildings and would actually be closer to some University buildings than the current stop is.

I thought about a one-way route via Liberton Brae, Liberton Drive, & Alnwickhill Road (terminating just after the crossroads next to Liberton Cemetery) would work well. I wouldn’t want it to come into play until May 2024 though due to the fact that diverting a bus from Mayfield Road is a pain (makes me glad the 67 doesn’t exist right now).

Honestly I think it would be more likely to extend to Royal Infirmary than Cameron Toll but since the 24/38 already offer the connection on this route I don't see it being worth the trouble, but it our be happy to be proven wrong.

Yeah, the Blackfordians would be annoyed if as well as their 3 bus services terminating less than a mile away from each other on the other side of the city, they’d all go to the same place on their side of the urban jungle.

the 24 and 45 are mostly decker operated these days, but neither services are usually busy outwith rush hour so could probably go back to single deck operation without too much issue. I'm less sure about the 22, but I can imagine it happening.

I agree, but the 24 would have to be every 15 minutes Mon-Fri for it to work (I want it to be made more frequent as is anyway)

What are CT and RIE?

Cameron Toll & Royal Infirmary

Well it's not as big as most folk are expecting! The 9 change via Hanover was pretty predictable but the route via The Waterfront is a nice surprise!

As someone who finds themselves in Craigleith & Blackford more times than I probably should (the latter especially, since I am the least posh person in the entire city), Every time I bring up the buses, everyone within 10 yards of me goes into a tyrant about them wanting the old links the 41 had to either Cramond (Blackford) or KB (Craigleith)

What if No2 was extended from Hermiston Gait to Hermiston Park & Ride? Would only take a few mins.

I’d rather it was extended to Edinburgh Park Turning Bay, it feels more fitting

Hopefully the X17 comes back in the near future to give a Lothian Country link from Corstorphine to Livingston!

God, I hope so

That's good! Really makes you wonder why it's still called the X40 then? (Except of course it's non stop section on the City Bypass)

Also I'm going to assume it's running on Wester Hailes Road in both directions and not pulling a 30/33 and running via Harvesters Way! Bus stops may be needed on the other side of the road for access to Baberton

Yeah, I think it’d be better not to, I think the only bus that has an excuse to serve Harvesters Way is the 33, but even then, it could just be moved to Clovenstone Gardens to terminate (same with the 21). I know it’s odd to have 4 buses down there (3 of which are at least every 15 minutes Mon-Sat), but considering residents have to walk 5 minutes if they live right in the centre of the estate, frequent services wouldn’t hurt. If not, the 33 could be moved to the pre-2019 Route where it curtailed at Baberton, the 21 could reroute via Sighthill Avenue & Parkhead Drive & operate a one way terminating at Parkhead Crescent, & the 3 could be curtailed at Longstone. If not, it could remain unchanged & the 30 could terminate somewhere in Drumbryden Industrial Estate.

Now, I’m starting to grow somewhat infamous for idiotic ideas, & this might be my boldest idea, but who’s surprised?

AIUI all 30s terminate at QMU, I assumed they used the A1. Do they still go through Newcraighall and then loop back across the railway line?

Yeah!

So, one thing I’ve been working on for the past month or so (hence why I’ve been offline so long) is because I’ve been working on a custom bus service that’d serve the areas of Edinburgh that don’t have as many buses as they should (Alnwickhill, Fettes, Trinity, etc), & I’ve decided on it being called Service 17. Also yes I made the timetable on Apple Notes instead of Excel.

Service 17;
• Burdiehouse
• Kaimes Crossroads
• Alnwickhill
• Liberton
• Kings Buildings
• Blackford Toll
• Astley Ainslie Hospital
• Greenhill
• Holy Corner
• Bruntsfield Links
• Tollcross
• Charlotte Square
• Dean Bridge
• Dean Park
• Fettes
• Ainslie Park Leisure Centre
• Boswall
• Trinity
• Newhaven Peir
• The Shore
• Leith Docks
• Seafield

Notes - Apple iCloud

View, edit, create and share your notes with Notes on the web. Changes will sync across your devices with iCloud.

www.icloud.com

Also, sorry I’ve sent so many messages, I went offline for a month & wanted to catch up with everything

 

[DespacitoPlayz]

So, one thing I’ve been working on for the past month or so (hence why I’ve been offline so long) is because I’ve been working on a custom bus service that’d serve the areas of Edinburgh that don’t have as many buses as they should (Alnwickhill, Fettes, Trinity, etc), & I’ve decided on it being called Service 17. Also yes I made the timetable on Apple Notes instead of Excel.

Generally a good thought idea and really well planned, but I would like to add a couple tweaks.

• Liberton
• Kings Buildings

Would it run via Mayfield Road and West Mains Road or Liberton Road and Esslemont Road?

• Seafield

Would something change with Service 1? What I would do is extend it right to Marine via the A199 to give that area a bus service, and also curtail the 45 to Wakefield Avenue, or reroute the 12 to Wakefield Avenue, not serving Marine.

Besides that, really good! I'd love to see this come out into the real world, and maybe see some RV/FRV's for it!

 

[stevenedin]

This has been what I’ve been saying since the 46’s introduction. I’ve also been saying that the 49 should be the 46 & vice versa


I think that some E500EVs would be so incredibly useful for Lothian. Maybe if they could replace the E400XLBs, but I think we all don’t think that’s a grand idea, since the E400XLBs are only 4.5yrs old


They happened, & oh boy, were they mediocre & underwhelming


I think that the 276 could be combined with the X17 between Livingston & Fauldhouse like the old one. Connections to the Gyle Centre include the 20, 63, & 275. Here, I’ve moved all E&M services to LCB & some services have been renumbered to fit in with the WL numbering system;

Lothian Country Buses;
14 - Echline Avenue to Kirkton Campus
X17 - Waterloo Place to Fauldhouse Station
X18 - Waterloo Place to Polmokket Road End
19 - Borrowman Square to Cockburn Crescent
20 - Chesser Asda to Halcroft Park
X27 - Waterloo Place to Polmokket Road End
X28 - Waterloo Place - Blackridge Turning Circle
31 - Livingston Shopping Centre to Bathgate Station
32 - Waterloo Place to Borrowman Square
40 - Edinburgh Royal Infirmary - St. John’s Hospital
41 - Gyle Centre to Polmokket Road End

SD Travel;
15 - Livingston Town Service
16 - Western General Hospital to Livingston Shopping Centre
33 - Bathgate Town Service
34 - Linmill Road to Whitburn Cross
35 - Limefield Place to Dykeside Road
36 - Limefield Place to Falside Crescent
37 - Limefield Place to Harthill Main Street
38 - Bo’Ness Bus Station to Bathgate Tesco
39 - Linlithgow Town Service


Thank you!


I thought about a one-way route via Liberton Brae, Liberton Drive, & Alnwickhill Road (terminating just after the crossroads next to Liberton Cemetery) would work well. I wouldn’t want it to come into play until May 2024 though due to the fact that diverting a bus from Mayfield Road is a pain (makes me glad the 67 doesn’t exist right now).


Yeah, the Blackfordians would be annoyed if as well as their 3 bus services terminating less than a mile away from each other on the other side of the city, they’d all go to the same place on their side of the urban jungle.


I agree, but the 24 would have to be every 15 minutes Mon-Fri for it to work (I want it to be made more frequent as is anyway)


Cameron Toll & Royal Infirmary


As someone who finds themselves in Craigleith & Blackford more times than I probably should (the latter especially, since I am the least posh person in the entire city), Every time I bring up the buses, everyone within 10 yards of me goes into a tyrant about them wanting the old links the 41 had to either Cramond (Blackford) or KB (Craigleith)


I’d rather it was extended to Edinburgh Park Turning Bay, it feels more fitting


God, I hope so


Yeah, I think it’d be better not to, I think the only bus that has an excuse to serve Harvesters Way is the 33, but even then, it could just be moved to Clovenstone Gardens to terminate (same with the 21). I know it’s odd to have 4 buses down there (3 of which are at least every 15 minutes Mon-Sat), but considering residents have to walk 5 minutes if they live right in the centre of the estate, frequent services wouldn’t hurt. If not, the 33 could be moved to the pre-2019 Route where it curtailed at Baberton, the 21 could reroute via Sighthill Avenue & Parkhead Drive & operate a one way terminating at Parkhead Crescent, & the 3 could be curtailed at Longstone. If not, it could remain unchanged & the 30 could terminate somewhere in Drumbryden Industrial Estate.

Now, I’m starting to grow somewhat infamous for idiotic ideas, & this might be my boldest idea, but who’s surprised?


Yeah!

So, one thing I’ve been working on for the past month or so (hence why I’ve been offline so long) is because I’ve been working on a custom bus service that’d serve the areas of Edinburgh that don’t have as many buses as they should (Alnwickhill, Fettes, Trinity, etc), & I’ve decided on it being called Service 17. Also yes I made the timetable on Apple Notes instead of Excel.

Service 17;
• Burdiehouse
• Kaimes Crossroads
• Alnwickhill
• Liberton
• Kings Buildings
• Blackford Toll
• Astley Ainslie Hospital
• Greenhill
• Holy Corner
• Bruntsfield Links
• Tollcross
• Charlotte Square
• Dean Bridge
• Dean Park
• Fettes
• Ainslie Park Leisure Centre
• Boswall
• Trinity
• Newhaven Peir
• The Shore
• Leith Docks
• Seafield

Notes - Apple iCloud

View, edit, create and share your notes with Notes on the web. Changes will sync across your devices with iCloud.

www.icloud.com

Also, sorry I’ve sent so many messages, I went offline for a month & wanted to catch up with everything

Sounds like a great idea. Maybe suggest it to Lothian they may take some of it onboard for future ideas.

 

[LothianBusesPh]

I’d rather it was extended to Edinburgh Park Turning Bay, it feels more fitting

Route reliability. The current terminus works fine and it also reduces time waiting on the barriers and that loop, it would be quicker getting off the bus at Hermiston Gait and then walking to Edinburgh Park.

If the route is running late, it also reduces the amount of time that would need to catch up too.

 

[TheEastCoaster]

Service 17;
• Burdiehouse
• Kaimes Crossroads
• Alnwickhill
• Liberton
• Kings Buildings
• Blackford Toll
• Astley Ainslie Hospital
• Greenhill
• Holy Corner
• Bruntsfield Links
• Tollcross
• Charlotte Square
• Dean Bridge
• Dean Park
• Fettes
• Ainslie Park Leisure Centre
• Boswall
• Trinity
• Newhaven Peir
• The Shore
• Leith Docks
• Seafield

Good suggestions here! Although when putting down the Astley Ainslie Hospital I'm assuming the bus will be running the 9 route around Blackford, unless you actually meant it would be serving the Hospital grounds?
I would maybe have the bus run to Granton personally before heading to Newhaven and extend it further to Eastfield or Musselburgh.


I was working on new routes myself recently, It's an idea I had on the back burner for a while but finally got around to putting it together, it's two rural routes.

Service 52
* Ocean Terminal
* Constitution Street
* Seafield
* Portobello
* Eastfield
* Edinburgh College (Milton Road)
* ASDA The Jewel "Peak Times"
* Fort Kinnaird
* The Wisp
* Royal Infirmary
* Cameron Toll
* Alnwickhill
* Braid Hills (via Braid Hills Drive)
* Buckstone
* Fairmilehead
* Swanson
* Dreghorn
* Colinton Village
* Juniper Green
* Currie
* Balerno

Service 52 would provide Portobello a link to Ocean Terminal and a direct link to Brunstane, Brunstane a link to Fort Kinnaird and Royal Infirmary, Cameron Toll a faster bus to Fort Kinnaird, a direct bus journey along Braid Hills with wonderful views! and a link for Colinton for Balerno, so there is a potential use for this route..

Here is Service 54, which much like Service 52 is a rural route but goes the complete opposite direction, I was debating between having it run via Ferry Road instead of Newhaven and Granton since the 200 already runs that way but i made my final decision to go via the Coastal way, I was also on two minds between having it run beyond Balerno to West Lothian because having it curtail to Balerno could mean 52/54 could be interworked easier, but again I made my choice at the end of the day!

Service 54
* Ocean Terminal
* Newhaven
* Granton (via Waterfront)
* West Granton Access
* Ferry Road
* Blackhall
* Drum Brae North
* Carrick Knowe
* Saughton (via Whin Park)
* Longstone
* Murrayburn Road (direct to Westside Plaza)
* Westside Plaza
* Juniper Green
* Currie
* Balerno
* Kirknewton
* A71
* Fastlink
* Livingston Centre
* Alderstone Road
* St Johns Hospital.

The link between Ocean Terminal and Granton Square is nothing new, however, i made the decision to run it via The Waterfront to make it different from the 200, along with running it along West Granton Access, Ferry Road, and Telford Road, just trying to make the service unique!

The service on Drum Brae North would be fully restored (i'm aware the 68 still runs down this way). it would give Carrick Knowe another bus service, running direct up Saughton Road to Longstone would give Corstorphine a direct link, running it direct along Murrayburn Road like the part route 400's to Westside Plaza would save time, and also giving Wester Hailes a link to Currie and Balerno, along with restoring the link between Balerno and West Lothian!

Let me know what you all think! i have a few more of these stored away somewhere and I'm open to honest feedback, I know most of these ideas are definitely farfetched but hey that's the whole point of this forum!

 

[JKP]

Good suggestions here! Although when putting down the Astley Ainslie Hospital I'm assuming the bus will be running the 9 route around Blackford, unless you actually meant it would be serving the Hospital grounds?
I would maybe have the bus run to Granton personally before heading to Newhaven and extend it further to Eastfield or Musselburgh.


I was working on new routes myself recently, It's an idea I had on the back burner for a while but finally got around to putting it together, it's two rural routes.

Service 52
* Ocean Terminal
* Constitution Street
* Seafield
* Portobello
* Eastfield
* Edinburgh College (Milton Road)
* ASDA The Jewel "Peak Times"
* Fort Kinnaird
* The Wisp
* Royal Infirmary
* Cameron Toll
* Alnwickhill
* Braid Hills (via Braid Hills Drive)
* Buckstone
* Fairmilehead
* Swanson
* Dreghorn
* Colinton Village
* Juniper Green
* Currie
* Balerno

Service 52 would provide Portobello a link to Ocean Terminal and a direct link to Brunstane, Brunstane a link to Fort Kinnaird and Royal Infirmary, Cameron Toll a faster bus to Fort Kinnaird, a direct bus journey along Braid Hills with wonderful views! and a link for Colinton for Balerno, so there is a potential use for this route..

Here is Service 54, which much like Service 52 is a rural route but goes the complete opposite direction, I was debating between having it run via Ferry Road instead of Newhaven and Granton since the 200 already runs that way but i made my final decision to go via the Coastal way, I was also on two minds between having it run beyond Balerno to West Lothian because having it curtail to Balerno could mean 52/54 could be interworked easier, but again I made my choice at the end of the day!

Service 54
* Ocean Terminal
* Newhaven
* Granton (via Waterfront)
* West Granton Access
* Ferry Road
* Blackhall
* Drum Brae North
* Carrick Knowe
* Saughton (via Whin Park)
* Longstone
* Murrayburn Road (direct to Westside Plaza)
* Westside Plaza
* Juniper Green
* Currie
* Balerno
* Kirknewton
* A71
* Fastlink
* Livingston Centre
* Alderstone Road
* St Johns Hospital.

The link between Ocean Terminal and Granton Square is nothing new, however, i made the decision to run it via The Waterfront to make it different from the 200, along with running it along West Granton Access, Ferry Road, and Telford Road, just trying to make the service unique!

The service on Drum Brae North would be fully restored (i'm aware the 68 still runs down this way). it would give Carrick Knowe another bus service, running direct up Saughton Road to Longstone would give Corstorphine a direct link, running it direct along Murrayburn Road like the part route 400's to Westside Plaza would save time, and also giving Wester Hailes a link to Currie and Balerno, along with restoring the link between Balerno and West Lothian!

Let me know what you all think! i have a few more of these stored away somewhere and I'm open to honest feedback, I know most of these ideas are definitely farfetched but hey that's the whole point of this forum!

You cannot have route number 52. This is Kelso to Edinburgh which whilst not operating at present, hopefully will return soon. Why can the number not be 53 or 55?

 

[stevenedin]

You cannot have route number 52. This is Kelso to Edinburgh which whilst not operating at present, hopefully will return soon. Why can the number not be 53 or 55?

You can have the same route number as another operator. It is just not wise. Also I’ve heard that the 51 may be disappearing so I doubt that the 52 comes back.

 

[TheEastCoaster]

You cannot have route number 52. This is Kelso to Edinburgh which whilst not operating at present, hopefully will return soon. Why can the number not be 53 or 55?

Okay well.. take the route number aside for a second then please, any other feedback?

For future reference service 52 will now become service 53!

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

You cannot have route number 52. This is Kelso to Edinburgh which whilst not operating at present, hopefully will return soon. Why can the number not be 53 or 55?

I don’t really see why not. Also wouldn’t a 55 potentially be mixed up with the busy X55? Unlikely, but possible.

Like @stevenedin says, the future of the 51 is in doubt due to subsidy problems, so it remains to be seen if the 51/52 registration will even survive much longer.

 

[DunsBus]

I don’t really see why not. Also wouldn’t a 55 potentially be mixed up with the busy X55? Unlikely, but possible.

Like @stevenedin says, the future of the 51 is in doubt due to subsidy problems, so it remains to be seen if the 51/52 registration will even survive much longer.

The 51 is a Scottish Borders Council contract. Midlothian Council makes a small contribution, which pays for the section via Edgehead.

It is Midlothian's contribution which is under threat from subsidy cuts, not the entire service.

 

[Auld reekie]

Good suggestions here! Although when putting down the Astley Ainslie Hospital I'm assuming the bus will be running the 9 route around Blackford, unless you actually meant it would be serving the Hospital grounds?
I would maybe have the bus run to Granton personally before heading to Newhaven and extend it further to Eastfield or Musselburgh.


I was working on new routes myself recently, It's an idea I had on the back burner for a while but finally got around to putting it together, it's two rural routes.

Service 52
* Ocean Terminal
* Constitution Street
* Seafield
* Portobello
* Eastfield
* Edinburgh College (Milton Road)
* ASDA The Jewel "Peak Times"
* Fort Kinnaird
* The Wisp
* Royal Infirmary
* Cameron Toll
* Alnwickhill
* Braid Hills (via Braid Hills Drive)
* Buckstone
* Fairmilehead
* Swanson
* Dreghorn
* Colinton Village
* Juniper Green
* Currie
* Balerno

Service 52 would provide Portobello a link to Ocean Terminal and a direct link to Brunstane, Brunstane a link to Fort Kinnaird and Royal Infirmary, Cameron Toll a faster bus to Fort Kinnaird, a direct bus journey along Braid Hills with wonderful views! and a link for Colinton for Balerno, so there is a potential use for this route..

Here is Service 54, which much like Service 52 is a rural route but goes the complete opposite direction, I was debating between having it run via Ferry Road instead of Newhaven and Granton since the 200 already runs that way but i made my final decision to go via the Coastal way, I was also on two minds between having it run beyond Balerno to West Lothian because having it curtail to Balerno could mean 52/54 could be interworked easier, but again I made my choice at the end of the day!

Service 54
* Ocean Terminal
* Newhaven
* Granton (via Waterfront)
* West Granton Access
* Ferry Road
* Blackhall
* Drum Brae North
* Carrick Knowe
* Saughton (via Whin Park)
* Longstone
* Murrayburn Road (direct to Westside Plaza)
* Westside Plaza
* Juniper Green
* Currie
* Balerno
* Kirknewton
* A71
* Fastlink
* Livingston Centre
* Alderstone Road
* St Johns Hospital.

The link between Ocean Terminal and Granton Square is nothing new, however, i made the decision to run it via The Waterfront to make it different from the 200, along with running it along West Granton Access, Ferry Road, and Telford Road, just trying to make the service unique!

The service on Drum Brae North would be fully restored (i'm aware the 68 still runs down this way). it would give Carrick Knowe another bus service, running direct up Saughton Road to Longstone would give Corstorphine a direct link, running it direct along Murrayburn Road like the part route 400's to Westside Plaza would save time, and also giving Wester Hailes a link to Currie and Balerno, along with restoring the link between Balerno and West Lothian!

Let me know what you all think! i have a few more of these stored away somewhere and I'm open to honest feedback, I know most of these ideas are definitely farfetched but hey that's the whole point of this forum!

Excellent suggestions.

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

The 51 is a Scottish Borders Council contract. Midlothian Council makes a small contribution, which pays for the section via Edgehead.

It is Midlothian's contribution which is under threat from subsidy cuts, not the entire service.

I was told a few months back Scottish Borders Council are undertaking a review of the 51, as they are likely to have to up their subsidy. This was supposedly due to the fact Midlothian’s chunk was sizeable and without it the route is no longer viable.

 

[DunsBus]

I was told a few months back Scottish Borders Council are undertaking a review of the 51, as they are likely to have to up their subsidy. This was supposedly due to the fact Midlothian’s chunk was sizeable and without it the route is no longer viable.

I believe all of Scottish Borders Council's subsided services are up for review. It'll be interesting to see what happens but I suspect that without Midlothian"s contribution, the 51 may disappear north of Soutra (as happened during lockdown).

 

[TheEastCoaster]

Excellent suggestions.

Thank you! Glad someone was able to acknowledge the actual routes I've suggested rather than the number I choose being the same as an old Border Buses route!

By popular demand i did have a few more service suggestions to compliment my Service 52 *cough* 53 and 54!

Service 56 (Dumbiedykes to Ashley Ainsley)

*Dumbiedykes (Viewcraig Street)
*Pleasance
*St Leonard's Street
*Bernard Terrace
*Melville Drive
*Marchmont Road
*Ashley Ainsley Hospital
*Newbattle Terrace
*Churchhill
*Whitehouse Loan
*Warrender Park Road
*Marchmont Road
(Then reverse route to Dumbiedykes Terminus)


Service 57 (Davidson Mains to Bingham)

*Davidson Mains (Tesco)
*Blackhall
*Ravelston Dykes
*Belford Road
*Morrison Link
*Lothian Road
*Tollcross
*Bruntsfield
*Morningside
*Blackford
*Kings Building
*Cameron Toll
*Craigmillar
*Niddrie
*The Jewel
*Bingham

Service 59 (Wallyford to Heriot Watt)

*Wallyford
*Musselburgh
*Eastfield
*Portobello
*Seafield
*The Shore
*Ferry Road
*Crewe Toll
*Blackhall
*Barnton
*Maybury
*Gyle Centre
*South Gyle
*Sighthill
*Hermiston P&R
*Heriot Watt

Let me know what you think and please! If I have somehow duplicated another service number by accident please don't fixate on that! Thank you

 

[VioletEclipse]

Thank you! Glad someone was able to acknowledge the actual routes I've suggested rather than the number I choose being the same as an old Border Buses route!

By popular demand i did have a few more service suggestions to compliment my Service 52 *cough* 53 and 54!

Service 56 (Dumbiedykes to Ashley Ainsley)

*Dumbiedykes (Viewcraig Street)
*Pleasance
*St Leonard's Street
*Bernard Terrace
*Melville Drive
*Marchmont Road
*Ashley Ainsley Hospital
*Newbattle Terrace
*Churchhill
*Whitehouse Loan
*Warrender Park Road
*Marchmont Road
(Then reverse route to Dumbiedykes Terminus)


Service 57 (Davidson Mains to Bingham)

*Davidson Mains (Tesco)
*Blackhall
*Ravelston Dykes
*Belford Road
*Morrison Link
*Lothian Road
*Tollcross
*Bruntsfield
*Morningside
*Blackford
*Kings Building
*Cameron Toll
*Craigmillar
*Niddrie
*The Jewel
*Bingham

Service 59 (Wallyford to Heriot Watt)

*Wallyford
*Musselburgh
*Eastfield
*Portobello
*Seafield
*The Shore
*Ferry Road
*Crewe Toll
*Blackhall
*Barnton
*Maybury
*Gyle Centre
*South Gyle
*Sighthill
*Hermiston P&R
*Heriot Watt

Let me know what you think and please! If I have somehow duplicated another service number by accident please don't fixate on that! Thank you

That's a load of new links which could be very useful, some which I would have been glad too have at some point. a few things that come to mind;

1: I've often wondered if Viewcraig Street is large enough to turn and terminate a bus on. Would be nice if Lothian looked into it, but they currently don't really seem to care about serving Dumbiedykes or Holyrood sadly.
2: I assume it's a one-way loop around Marchmont - Astley Ainslie - Churchill - Thirlestane Road that the 56 does, it would be rather confusing otherwise.
3: I assume the 59 would go along Seafield Road which would be fab, but could cause issues with delays at rush hour.
4: A link between Pilton area and Sighthill exists in the form of the 21, but another route would be very welcome, the 21 is the only bus for so many connections and can be quite unreliable at times.

 

[LothianBusesPh]

Service 59 (Wallyford to Heriot Watt)

*Wallyford
*Musselburgh
*Eastfield
*Portobello
*Seafield
*The Shore
*Ferry Road
*Crewe Toll
*Blackhall
*Barnton
*Maybury
*Gyle Centre
*South Gyle
*Sighthill
*Hermiston P&R
*Heriot Watt

Would this service be interlinked with the Service 44?

 

[DunsBus]

That's a load of new links which could be very useful, some which I would have been glad too have at some point. a few things that come to mind;

1: I've often wondered if Viewcraig Street is large enough to turn and terminate a bus on. Would be nice if Lothian looked into it, but they currently don't really seem to care about serving Dumbiedykes or Holyrood sadly.
2: I assume it's a one-way loop around Marchmont - Astley Ainslie - Churchill - Thirlestane Road that the 56 does, it would be rather confusing otherwise.
3: I assume the 59 would go along Seafield Road which would be fab, but could cause issues with delays at rush hour.
4: A link between Pilton area and Sighthill exists in the form of the 21, but another route would be very welcome, the 21 is the only bus for so many connections and can be quite unreliable at times.

Viewcraig Street can accommodate smaller buses, for example E200s and Solo SRs. There is a central "island" halfway along where buses can turn and indeed this was the case with service 60 in both its ECT (Edinburgh Corporation Transport) and Mac Tours forms.

I wouldn't like to attempt Viewcraig Street with a full size bus, though.

 

[DespacitoPlayz]

Thank you! Glad someone was able to acknowledge the actual routes I've suggested rather than the number I choose being the same as an old Border Buses route!

By popular demand i did have a few more service suggestions to compliment my Service 52 *cough* 53 and 54!

The 52 has actually been covered recently around city bus stops, like St Patrick Sq and Newington Road, so I don't think the 52 is coming back. If Lothian does see these ideas, they probably would do Service 53 though!

Service 56 (Dumbiedykes to Ashley Ainsley)

*Dumbiedykes (Viewcraig Street)
*Pleasance
*St Leonard's Street
*Bernard Terrace
*Melville Drive
*Marchmont Road
*Ashley Ainsley Hospital
*Newbattle Terrace
*Churchhill
*Whitehouse Loan
*Warrender Park Road
*Marchmont Road
(Then reverse route to Dumbiedykes Terminus)

So it would be a half-loop? But I like the idea of this service, and bringing a route to Dumbiedykes, which Lothian (evidently) isn't a fan of!
My version of the 56 (its the same, almost)

Service 56 (Towards King's Buildings Campus)

*Dumbiedykes (Viewcraig Street)
*Pleasance
*St Leonard's Street
*Bernard Terrace
*Melville Drive
*Marchmont Road
*Ashley Ainsley Hospital
*Grange Loan
*Blackford Toll
*King's Buildings Campus

(Service 56 will run to Cameron Toll after rest at Campus)

Service 56 (Towards Viewcraig Street)

*King's Buildings Campus
*Cameron Toll (see details above)
*Royal Observatory
*Grange Loan (and Blackford Toll)
*Ashley Ainsley Hospital
*Marchmont Road
*Melville Drive
*Bernard Terrace
*St Leonard's Street
*Pleasance
*Dumbiedykes (Viewcraig Street)

Let me know what you think!

Service 57 (Davidson Mains to Bingham)

*Davidson Mains (Tesco)
*Blackhall
*Ravelston Dykes
*Belford Road
*Morrison Link
*Lothian Road
*Tollcross
*Bruntsfield
*Morningside
*Blackford
*King's Buildings
*Cameron Toll
*Craigmillar
*Niddrie
*The Jewel
*Bingham

This is a route polished to perfection! I would maybe run it where it dips into the Jewel like what the 4 did before 28th May at Bingham, where it dipped in and went back. Then it would continue to Bingham.

Service 59 (Wallyford to Heriot Watt)

*Wallyford
*Musselburgh
*Eastfield
*Portobello
*Seafield
*The Shore
*Ferry Road
*Crewe Toll
*Blackhall
*Barnton
*Maybury
*Gyle Centre
*South Gyle
*Sighthill
*Hermiston P&R
*Heriot Watt

I would add a few changes to modern Lothian routes if this were to happen, listed below:

Service 26 - Timetable changes, to work with Service 59 in the Portobello/Musselburgh areas.

Service 34 - Curtailed to Hermiston Park and Ride. During necessary student hours, buses will continue to serve Heriot-Watt.

Service 44 - Now terminates at Eastfield. at Olive Bank Road, Service 44 will turn onto Eastfield and end at the terminus. Wallyford will now be served by Service 59. Some peak services will continue to serve Musselburgh, turning at the TESCO.

Even if, this service could really work well with Service 21 in its northern sector, relieving it of many passengers, and also linking all of Maybury Road by bus!

 

[danielhogg2005]

I've had this route in the works for a while and chopping and changing it where I can and I would like to hear feedback for my own service that Lothian could do.

Service 64
route: Balerno - West Granton
via:
Currie
Heriot-Watt University
Hermiston Park & Ride
Sighthill
Hermiston Gait & Edinburgh Park Station
Gyle Centre
Maybury
Cammo
Cramond
Davidson's Mains
Ferry Road*
Crewe Road North*

* = Roads where added for clarity of where the route will go

Service 64's timetable would be combined with Service 63 between Balerno and Gyle Centre (which in this scenario is operated by Lothian Country). At Every 40 minutes per service (every 20 minutes combined) Monday to Friday and Hourly on weekends (Every 30 minutes combined).

Also since the announcement of Lothian Country introducing the 72 I've been working on a West Lothian Network and I would like to know if there is any route changes to the current Eastern Scottish network that everyone would like to see that could help me with the project.

 

[Auld reekie]

I've had this route in the works for a while and chopping and changing it where I can and I would like to hear feedback for my own service that Lothian could do.

Service 64
route: Balerno - West Granton
via:
Currie
Heriot-Watt University
Hermiston Park & Ride
Sighthill
Hermiston Gait & Edinburgh Park Station
Gyle Centre
Maybury
Cammo
Cramond
Davidson's Mains
Ferry Road*
Crewe Road North*

* = Roads where added for clarity of where the route will go

Service 64's timetable would be combined with Service 63 between Balerno and Gyle Centre (which in this scenario is operated by Lothian Country). At Every 40 minutes per service (every 20 minutes combined) Monday to Friday and Hourly on weekends (Every 30 minutes combined).

Also since the announcement of Lothian Country introducing the 72 I've been working on a West Lothian Network and I would like to know if there is any route changes to the current Eastern Scottish network that everyone would like to see that could help me with the project.

Excellent suggestion.

 

[roadierway77]

I've had this route in the works for a while and chopping and changing it where I can and I would like to hear feedback for my own service that Lothian could do.

Service 64
route: Balerno - West Granton
via:
Currie
Heriot-Watt University
Hermiston Park & Ride
Sighthill
Hermiston Gait & Edinburgh Park Station
Gyle Centre
Maybury
Cammo
Cramond
Davidson's Mains
Ferry Road*
Crewe Road North*

* = Roads where added for clarity of where the route will go

Service 64's timetable would be combined with Service 63 between Balerno and Gyle Centre (which in this scenario is operated by Lothian Country). At Every 40 minutes per service (every 20 minutes combined) Monday to Friday and Hourly on weekends (Every 30 minutes combined).

Also since the announcement of Lothian Country introducing the 72 I've been working on a West Lothian Network and I would like to know if there is any route changes to the current Eastern Scottish network that everyone would like to see that could help me with the project.

This is mostly likely the route that the upcoming Cramond-Gyle tender will take, in my opinion, though I'd cut the 63 back to Riccarton as I don't think there's enough demand for a 20 or 30min service between Balerno and the Gyle, whereas Heriot Watt will always be a popular destination. I think that it is perhaps more likely for Lothian to increase the 63 to hourly and launch the 64 also at an hourly frequency initially, with an increase to a 45 or 40min frequency in the future.

I also think there could an increased effort into marketing the orbital routes in this scenario (21, 38, 63, 64 etc).

 

[Bus9120UK]

I am reading suggestions that the 47B is the 'most pointless Lothian service' and should be discontinued with all buses running as 47 as supposedly there is no demand for Bush - I'd however argue there is no truth to this if XLBs are being used and the service has continued for a few years, but would prefer if someone more local to the area or a frequent user of the service would be able to confirm. How well is the 47B used to/from Bush?

 

[ScotRail158725]

I am reading suggestions that the 47B is the 'most pointless Lothian service' and should be discontinued with all buses running as 47 as supposedly there is no demand for Bush - I'd however argue there is no truth to this if XLBs are being used and the service has continued for a few years, but would prefer if someone more local to the area or a frequent user of the service would be able to confirm. How well is the 47B used to/from Bush?

XLBs are used because the 47B is just a variation of the 47 so they use the same allocation. The 47B isnt an extra service

Edit: Ive noticed on all the flags that the SD Travel 16 has been covered over. I don't remember seeing anything about the service stopping in the coming changes to West Lothian tenders, unless I've missed something?

 

[Bus9120UK]

XLBs are used because the 47B is just a variation of the 47 so they use the same allocation. The 47B isnt an extra service

Edit: Ive noticed on all the flags that the SD Travel 16 has been covered over, i dont remember seeing anything about the service stopping in the coming changes to West Lothian tenders unless ive missed something?

I am aware - however my understanding is the 47 is almost never busy enough for XLBs which is why you often find suggestions to move them elsewhere. I was assuming the only reason the 47 is allocated to them is because the peak time 47B runs may be busy enough to justify them, among the other few runs that operate during the day that are busy.

 

[stevenedin]

XLBs are used because the 47B is just a variation of the 47 so they use the same allocation. The 47B isnt an extra service

Edit: Ive noticed on all the flags that the SD Travel 16 has been covered over, i dont remember seeing anything about the service stopping in the coming changes to West Lothian tenders unless ive missed something?

There has been no further updates from West Lothian Council since this update

https://www.westlothian.gov.uk/article/79089/Subsidised-bus-network-changes-agreedSubsidised

Changes to the West Lothian Council-funded bus services have been agreed.
16 August

Following a review of local bus services and competitive tendering process, Council Executive have approved proposals to significantly revise the bus services for the first time since 2016, after a three-year delay due to covid.

This will see the majority of the current 18 council-subsided services continue to operate, with some revisions. This includes maintaining the service 21 Blackridge to Armadale and continuing the funding for the 23 Greenrigg to Whitburn service put in place after commercial changes left Blackridge and Greenrigg without bus services.

Six services will no longer be provided from October 2023 and these are: Service 449 Bo'ness to Bathgate; Service 50 Boghall to Harthill; Service 7 Livingston to South Queensferry; Service 31S Bathgate to Linlithgow (Sundays only); and Service 8 Boghall to Bathgate. Funding for Service F45 Linlithgow to Bo'ness service, which is contracted by Falkirk Council, will also end at this time.
Bus fares will also rise for the first time since 2016 in line with rising costs, with an increase of between 10p and 30p per journey and a flat fare of £2 for town centre services. The majority of bus travellers use concessionary cards, so would not be affected.

Full details of all changes will be published on the council's website shortly, once the contract process has been concluded with the bus operators.

Executive councillor for the environment and sustainability Tom Conn said: "The West Lothian bus network has changed hugely since 2016, and the changes to our subsidised services reflect what is happening with commercial services across Scotland.

"Less bus users, increasing costs and driver shortages has led to West Lothian's commercial bus network being reduced significantly in recent years.

"The council has maintained funding for bus services despite a predicted £39 million budget gap over the next five years to keep our communities.

"However, we do not have the resources to backfill commercial service reductions, and it would cost an additional £500,000 per year just to maintain the current like-for-like services.

"We believe the redesigned contracts are sustainable, prioritises key services and ensures the majority of local residents have access bus services for work, leisure and access essential services. It also offers scope for future contract changes, if all the tenders can be agreed within the existing budget."

Currently around 80% of the bus network in West Lothian is commercial, with 20% of services subsidised by the council.

The council aims to support public transport where possible to ensure 90% of local residents have access to an hourly or better service daytime service Monday to Saturday. However, the council is legally not allowed to take action that would inhibit competition in the internal market.