TheGrandWazoo
Veteran Member
It may be that preparation is being performed in more than one place? Either way, seems rather harsh language to say someone is an idiot or a liar?
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Edinburgh Tour Operators: Bright Bus, Lothian (Majestic, Three Bridges) etc.
- Thread starter overthewater
- Start date
It may be that preparation is being performed in more than one place? Either way, seems rather harsh language to say someone is an idiot or a liar?
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some of them are yes
overthewater
Established Member
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- 8,172
So the other lot are still in Glasgow? Are there getting sorted in Glasgow?
The ones that are in larbert were also in Glasgow for a while. Caley does all the painting etc
smtglasgow
Member
The Scotsman’s transport correspondent has form for lifting material from forums, including this one. Perhaps the ‘industry insiders’ are the people posting on here? If they only knew…
Bluebirdscot66
Member
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- 19 Jun 2018
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- 224
There are 3 in Larbert undergoing prep. 1 ex ratp group London .caught a glimpse as I passed yesterday.
Fifescottish
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- Joined
- 14 Oct 2015
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- 276
Seems that First have acquired 14 open top buses for their Edinburgh venture
https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman....ng-term-as-new-tour-service-planned-1-4933584
"THE boss of First Bus has warned the cost of the bus wars which has broken out in Edinburgh is not sustainable in the long term.
Confirming his company’s plans to launch a new open-top bus tour operation, in direct competition with Lothian buses, Andrew Jarvis said he was sure the Capital’s booming tourism market could support more than one operator.
But he made clear the wider battle – which has seen the two companies encroach on each other’s traditional territory – could not go on indefinitely.
First Bus plans to launch its hop-on-hop-off open-top bus tours on July 1, under-cutting the £16 day ticket offered by Lothian buses.
Mr Jarvis, managing director of First Bus in Scotland, said: “Both in overall look and feel ours will be quite different – and quite a different set of price points as well.
“The growth in the tourism market in Edinburgh hasn’t gone unnoticed so we’ve decided to launch a new operation.”
Lothian runs three distinct tours. Mr Jarvis said: “We will just be concentrating on one route that takes in all the main tourist attractions.”
He said First Bus had acquired 14 buses for the all-year-round operation. “They’ve nearly all been retro-fitted with updated Euro 4 engines to keep emissions as low as we can for a start-up business. but the vast majority can be upgraded to full Euro 6 compliance for the Low Emission Zone.”
Last summer council-owned Lothian buses launched new Lothiancountry routes in West Lothian, traditionally First Bus territory. In March, Mr Jarvis retaliated with plans for new services into Edinburgh. And this week Lothian announced new express coach routes from West Lothian to the Capital.
It is seen as an echo of the bus wars which raged between the two companies for 18 months around 2001 – before Mr Jarvis was involved in the industry in Scotland. He said: “It’s a deregulated market – operators can operate wherever they choose so long as they operate reliably.
“It’s good for the passenger because they are getting a lot more choice of service. Whether it’s sustainable in the long term – I do have my thoughts on that.
“How sustainable is it for two large businesses to sustain ongoing losses? Two big businesses can afford to do it for a period of time.
“In terms of the new operation – any start-up business is going to incur initial losses. We’re spending money on refurbishing vehicles and we’ve got no revenue to pay for it.”
But he insisted: “I’m more than confident the Edinburgh tourism market can cope with more than one operator operating services, absolutely convinced.”
https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman....ng-term-as-new-tour-service-planned-1-4933584
"THE boss of First Bus has warned the cost of the bus wars which has broken out in Edinburgh is not sustainable in the long term.
Confirming his company’s plans to launch a new open-top bus tour operation, in direct competition with Lothian buses, Andrew Jarvis said he was sure the Capital’s booming tourism market could support more than one operator.
But he made clear the wider battle – which has seen the two companies encroach on each other’s traditional territory – could not go on indefinitely.
First Bus plans to launch its hop-on-hop-off open-top bus tours on July 1, under-cutting the £16 day ticket offered by Lothian buses.
Mr Jarvis, managing director of First Bus in Scotland, said: “Both in overall look and feel ours will be quite different – and quite a different set of price points as well.
“The growth in the tourism market in Edinburgh hasn’t gone unnoticed so we’ve decided to launch a new operation.”
Lothian runs three distinct tours. Mr Jarvis said: “We will just be concentrating on one route that takes in all the main tourist attractions.”
He said First Bus had acquired 14 buses for the all-year-round operation. “They’ve nearly all been retro-fitted with updated Euro 4 engines to keep emissions as low as we can for a start-up business. but the vast majority can be upgraded to full Euro 6 compliance for the Low Emission Zone.”
Last summer council-owned Lothian buses launched new Lothiancountry routes in West Lothian, traditionally First Bus territory. In March, Mr Jarvis retaliated with plans for new services into Edinburgh. And this week Lothian announced new express coach routes from West Lothian to the Capital.
It is seen as an echo of the bus wars which raged between the two companies for 18 months around 2001 – before Mr Jarvis was involved in the industry in Scotland. He said: “It’s a deregulated market – operators can operate wherever they choose so long as they operate reliably.
“It’s good for the passenger because they are getting a lot more choice of service. Whether it’s sustainable in the long term – I do have my thoughts on that.
“How sustainable is it for two large businesses to sustain ongoing losses? Two big businesses can afford to do it for a period of time.
“In terms of the new operation – any start-up business is going to incur initial losses. We’re spending money on refurbishing vehicles and we’ve got no revenue to pay for it.”
But he insisted: “I’m more than confident the Edinburgh tourism market can cope with more than one operator operating services, absolutely convinced.”
Theirs 2 still in Glasgow seen them today
Jordan Adam
Established Member
Surprised to hear of them acquiring 14 vehicles for it, it's still not that magical 150 number i heard from busmaddy however!
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Be interesting to see what frequency they are going to run then if it’s only one route with say 10-12 buses PVR as they will need to keep a couple as spares.
It was not him, he said 15 to 20!!!
Robertj21a
On Moderation
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- 22 Sep 2013
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- 7,520
Possibly not all open top ? - keep a couple back for winter/poor weather ?
Jordan Adam
Established Member
My memory must be going, i'm sure it was him.
Edit... Found the post! It wasn't infocus who said it, my bad.
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The rest will come in the future on another venture
.Pretty sure I never said 150 though.....
Be careful ,slander can be a costly business in courtMy memory must be going, i'm sure it was him.
Edit... Found the post! It wasn't infocus who said it, my bad.
(just joking before other pounce) !
Jordan Adam
Established Member
Be careful ,slander can be a costly business in court
Well at least unlike a unnamed member of the forum I realise my mistake, own up to it and correct myself.
15 and 150 are close enough anyway.
Only a mere 0 of a difference my friend ...Well at least unlike a unnamed member of the forum I realise my mistake, own up to it and correct myself.
15 and 150 are close enough anyway.
TheGrandWazoo
Veteran Member
Now now, can we stop this civility and reasoned discussion - the mods will have nothing to do
Wondering - are these all O/T deckers incoming from outside First (e.g. Stagecoach, RATP)?
Wondering - are these all O/T deckers incoming from outside First (e.g. Stagecoach, RATP)?
Bluebirdscot66
Member
- Joined
- 19 Jun 2018
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- 224
T212XBV is one I got a glimpse of when passing Larbert the other day and I’ve seen V526/8 ESC in there too ,no others yet
Some are ex west coast motors I believeNow now, can we stop this civility and reasoned discussion - the mods will have nothing to do
Wondering - are these all O/T deckers incoming from outside First (e.g. Stagecoach, RATP)?
Jordan Adam
Established Member
Those will be V526/8 ESC mentioned in post #139.
And these are ex lothian
I'm fairly certain that there will be enough "cherished" plates within the group to apply these vehicles without having to blow any money.
Jordan Adam
Established Member
Indeed, Aberdeen alone still have a load of disused PSU/WSU/LSK/HSK (etc) plates on retention.
I’d be surprised if they bother. If the main target audience is foreign visitors on a budget they’re not going to notice the reg. From what I’ve seen in the US, Big Bus just leave UK age related plates on when they export vehicles as it’s meaningless abroad. There’s definitely a certain irony in ex-Lothian Tridents being used against them though.
There's still a cost for each registration change even if you don't have to buy the new registration.
Cesarcollie
Member
- Joined
- 5 Jun 2016
- Messages
- 540
Yes but only £80 per vehicle......