Lothian Buses and ECB Discussion

[Scott mac]

East Coast said on Facebook they are already out. I’ve noticed paticarly yesterday night that it was all double deckers on the 124, i get that it’s the festival but if they are planning to launch them soon they are remaining very quiet about it.

thought they would wait untill September for the new reg

 

[ANWP Tom]

Logical guess would be from 21063 onwards for fleet numbers

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

Went to Seafield today. Seen a few things:

ECB Gemini3 (Body number AQ434) was seen with fleet number 20002

Also seen was 115 with most of its front missing, LMC 843, All white 571, 1 Scania and ex Bullocks Volvo B5LH Gemini2 LP11 YBA

 

[Edirim]

I spotted one at Seafield which had 20002 as Fleet number

 

[Lothian_Bus]

I notice 1062 has been at Seafield for a few days. Also Marine 469 (26 branded) is operating on Central's service 31 today.

 

[Auld reekie]

Saw a Lothian Country Bus not in service with Irish registration number plates.
Is this unusual?

 

[overthewater]

It's not irish, there private plates.

 

[smtglasgow]

How many buses does the X99 require? Was in Edinburgh yesterday and there seemed to be a line of them in St Andrews Square – all carrying full loads and with a queue at the stop. Just wondering how Lothian manage to resource this in the middle of the festival season.

 

[Lothian_Bus]

Saw a Lothian Country Bus not in service with Irish registration number plates.
Is this unusual?

That will be one of the refurbished London buses which will be operating on the new West Lothian routes.

 

[Lothian_Bus]

How many buses does the X99 require? Was in Edinburgh yesterday and there seemed to be a line of them in St Andrews Square – all carrying full loads and with a queue at the stop. Just wondering how Lothian manage to resource this in the middle of the festival season.

Tends to be at least six at a time. The buses operating on that are usually taken from all three depots. Usually 2 each from Longstone and Marine with Central making up the rest.

 

[smtglasgow]

Thanks. Definitely worth their while doing it - every bus I saw was rammed full of kagool-wearing pensioners, presumably all paying full fare.

 

[SpeedbirdA350]

Thanks. Definitely worth their while doing it - every bus I saw was rammed full of kagool-wearing pensioners, presumably all paying full fare.

Yes £4 single or £6 return. Given they are probably tourists they would not have a conc pass anyway but even if they did, the X99 is exempt from the conc pass scheme. https://www.lothianbuses.com/news/2018/04/new-service-x99/

 

[Darklord8899]

Aye, the X99 was definitely a good idea!! Raking in the dosh..... probably paying for the new LCB routes

 

[Darklord8899]

Saw a Lothian Country Bus not in service with Irish registration number plates.
Is this unusual?

..... as far as I am aware of the 1000 series fleet numbers the following have (Northern) Irish plates....
1001 - LXZ 5383
1002 - LXZ 5384
1003 - LXZ 5385
1004 - LXZ 5386
1005 - LXZ 5387
1006 - LXZ 5388

1028 - LXZ 5413

..... I am sure someone with more knowledge can confirm/add to/correct this list.

1028 is in LCB colours for new West Lothian services, not sure how many of the ex London stock are for LCB

Have also seen 1022 (in LB colours) on the 29's today.

 

[CM]

They are Irish plates. Coach companies for years have been using Northern Irish plates to hide the age of vehicles.

 

[Darklord8899]

They are Irish plates. Coach companies for years have been using Northern Irish plates to hide the age of vehicles.

Yes, thank you, have amended my post accordingly, I knew they were not "Irish" (as in from the South).

 

[CM]

Yes, thank you, have amended my post accordingly, I knew they were not "Irish" (as in from the South).

Sorry, my reply was directed at "overthewater", not you. Sorry for the confusion.

 

[Darklord8899]

Sorry, my reply was directed at "overthewater", not you. Sorry for the confusion.

No worries, but it did make me re-check my post and i had mistakenly said they were private (instead of NI) plates (brain fart after long day at work)

 

[Kilmux]

..... as far as I am aware of the 1000 series fleet numbers the following have (Northern) Irish plates....
1001 - LXZ 5383
1002 - LXZ 5384
1003 - LXZ 5385
1004 - LXZ 5386
1005 - LXZ 5387
1006 - LXZ 5388

1028 - LXZ 5413

..... I am sure someone with more knowledge can confirm/add to/correct this list.

1028 is in LCB colours for new West Lothian services, not sure how many of the ex London stock are for LCB

Have also seen 1022 (in LB colours) on the 29's today.

The 41s seem to be particularly blessed(?) with a number of the ex Londons with the Armagh plates. Speaking to a driver on a sardine-packed service his comments were: 'Not good at all. Short and slow'. How many seats are they short of the standard BT9Ls?

 

[alexf380]

They're 10.4m, compared to our native 11.3m buses. That's at least one row of seats from the upper and lower decks, 8 seats total plus the associated standing space. They also have a different gearbox which means they are a lot slower off the mark. Time shall tell how they fare in Edinburgh.

 

[Lothian_Bus]

The 41s seem to be particularly blessed(?) with a number of the ex Londons with the Armagh plates. Speaking to a driver on a sardine-packed service his comments were: 'Not good at all. Short and slow'. How many seats are they short of the standard BT9Ls?

Yes the 29 is run almost exclusively with these buses as well.

 

[MrHopefull]

New Bus at ECB depot
20002

According to depot staff, only the 124 will be running on these

 

[sam120]

New Bus at ECB depot
20002

According to depot staff, only the 124 will be running on these

20001 is out this morning.

 

[overthewater]

They're 10.4m, compared to our native 11.3m buses. That's at least one row of seats from the upper and lower decks, 8 seats total plus the associated standing space. They also have a different gearbox which means they are a lot slower off the mark. Time shall tell how they fare in Edinburgh.

They should do fine pottering around Edinburgh. But a few have gone to lcb... Will they be able to deal with fast country roads etc?

 

[Steamysandy]

My son was on 20001 this afternoon between Preston pans and Longniddry

 

[sam120]

My son was on 20001 this afternoon between Preston pans and Longniddry

And what did he think of it?

 

[Steamysandy]

My son said he quite liked it.To me it has a family resemblance to the single deckers previously delivered.
I haven't been on a bus for years due to mobility problems

 

[sam120]

My son said he quite liked it.To me it has a family resemblance to the single deckers previously delivered.
I haven't been on a bus for years due to mobility problems

Well 10051-10065 give EastCoast something to be proud of. I think those buses are absolutely brilliant and I’m really looking forward to when they eventually come onto my local route (the 140)

 

[Steamysandy]

Yes 10051 to 10065 were a huge step up from the previous First offerings.

 

[GaryMcEwan]

They're 10.4m, compared to our native 11.3m buses. That's at least one row of seats from the upper and lower decks, 8 seats total plus the associated standing space. They also have a different gearbox which means they are a lot slower off the mark. Time shall tell how they fare in Edinburgh.

Would have thought they've got the ZF gearboxes instead of Voith which Lothian usually go for. The ZF in my opinion are ludicrously jerky when travelling at low speeds.