computerSaysNo
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I thought Lothian was going for only Volvo products from now on for ease of maintenance ect.?Volvo B5LH chassis with an ADL body.
I thought Lothian was going for only Volvo products from now on for ease of maintenance ect.?Volvo B5LH chassis with an ADL body.
Yeah they have for years, B5LH are quite numerous in the fleet, but Alexander Dennis are the new favourite in terms of bodywork.I thought Lothian was going for only Volvo products from now on for ease of maintenance ect.?
I thought Lothian was going for only Volvo products from now on for ease of maintenance ect.?
basically are dual door versions of Stagecoach East Scotlands 73 branded vehiclesDual doored Enviro400MMC bodied B5LH's.
basically are dual door versions of Stagecoach East Scotlands 73 branded vehicles
any idea how many?Correct, but at 11.5m (or 11.3m, cant quite remember)
any idea how many?
17 new buses for East Coast I'm lead to believe. Although all of this is hearsay, it's from a relatively reputable source. No word on weather their singles or doubles but I presume mostly doubles.
More XLB's for the main fleet and some regular ENVIRO400 B5TL's plus some B5LH's. With major fleet movements imminent. B7'S should be gone by August. The entire single deck fleet is already Euro5 or better (except the Ex-Arriva stuff). But I believe some singles may be due too.
Would be nice to see some short Enviro200'a for 61, 69 and other low demand routes but believe this probably wont come to fruition as we're aiming to be 100% Volvo - the short Enviros are Cummins arent they?
It is a Volvo product, it's a Volvo chassis with a ADL body, just like how the XLBs are a Volvo chassis with a ADL body.
What routes will the new XLBs be going on?17 new buses for East Coast I'm lead to believe. Although all of this is hearsay, it's from a relatively reputable source. No word on weather their singles or doubles but I presume mostly doubles.
More XLB's for the main fleet and some regular ENVIRO400 B5TL's plus some B5LH's. With major fleet movements imminent. B7'S should be gone by August. The entire single deck fleet is already Euro5 or better (except the Ex-Arriva stuff). But I believe some singles may be due too.
Would be nice to see some short Enviro200'a for 61, 69 and other low demand routes but believe this probably wont come to fruition as we're aiming to be 100% Volvo - the short Enviros are Cummins arent they?
What routes will the new XLBs be going on?
Also why some hybrid buses and some just diesel?
Thanks.
Nothing confirmed to staff yet either so wait and see... a lot could change! My reputable source says they aren’t receiving any XLB’s this year.The buses haven't even arrived yet so information as to what routes they will be used on probably won't be released until later on.
The buses haven't even arrived yet so information as to what routes they will be used on probably won't be released until later on.
Ah fair. At a guess, when they arrive they could be going on the routes which have XLBs at the weekend? So that would be 27, 37/47(?), maybe for the 25 or 44 too? Just at a guess though.Nothing confirmed to staff yet either so wait and see... a lot could change! My reputable source says they aren’t receiving any XLB’s this year.
Also major service changes at the end of March.
Ah fair. At a guess, when they arrive they could be going on the routes which have XLBs at the weekend? So that would be 27, 37/47(?), maybe for the 25 or 44 too? Just at a guess though.
Maybe the 44 then.As far as I'm aware XLB's are too large to get around the turning circle at Heriot Watt, so I don't think any can be used on the 25
Their really not...Buses can be so confusing .
was my thoughts aswell, doubt it in the near future considering they’re currently getting repaintsAre the Enviro 400s due to leave at some point if Lothian are aiming for a 100% Volvo fleet?
Their really not...
Lightweight products tend to be an all in one product. That is to say 1 manufacturer builds the chassis and everything pretty much everything else, except the engine, gearbox and some small parts. For example, Enviro200's, Enviro400's, Wright Streedecks and Streetlites and the vast majority of the Optare range.
Whereas with heavy duty products, the Chassis and engine is generally provided by one company and the gearbox by another. The axles are also provided by a third party, as the rear axle generally holds the gearbox. Then the body is added by another company.
Lightweight products are cheaper and generally dont last as long.
Heavy duty products are generally rather expensive, but also a better quality product.
Lothian buy heavy duty products whereas the big bus companies in the UK generally* buy the lightweight products.
*I say generally because sometimes they buy the heavy duty products.
Agree with what you say but imo the difference between "light weight" and "heavy weights" isn't that much these days in terms of quality. The only real difference is axle positioning, wheel diameter and sometimes engine size. We need to remember when the B7RLE was launched it was marketed as Volvos "light weight" option. Pretty much all buses now regardless of classification are built to be as light weight as possible. Also while theoretically lightweights don't last as long in reality that isn't really the case anymore, many Darts for example (as rancid as i think they are) have outlived full size buses from the same era.
I wouldn't really regard the B5TL as a heavy duty product either, it's got an undersized engine and the body is identical to the Streetdeck. It's a shame Volvo don't offer a B8TL 4x2.
Agreed, however the difference is the lightweight means generally integral and heavy duty means generally a chassis by another manufacturer, which is likely to last longer than an integral.
Volvo's product comes direct from Volvo with the engine mated to the chassis as they specified. Integrals are designed then the engine is bolted on.
Off topic but yes the B5TL is underpowered, where I personally feel it works is the way the power is delivered through the box. Plenty oomph for what is needed and providing the required reduction in emissions. The B5TL isnt necessarily designed for long, power runs (X44 east or express), like the B7, B8 or B9, but rather the long city stop start work which is largely what Lothian do.
As a whole, especially in Scotland, it's not necessarily that powerful engines have gone out of fashion it's that emissions and city stop start work is taking precedence over long term expresses, where coaches are generally used.
I guess what I'm saying is bus companies based in cities go for smaller engines in city buses, due to emissions and fuel efficiency and those that go further afield, generally coaches or singles with bigger engines have just that, bigger engines.
This can be demonstrated with the use of the East Coast Eclipse 3's on B8RLE's and on the Green Arrow coaches. Not really the same with the XLBs, but this is more to do with weight.
I suppose a better comparison is Stagecoach who do just as I've said above. Smaller engines buses in cities and towns and coaches to connect them.
The bus industry is going through an interesting and very quick change and its genuinely fascinating to watch how companies are dealing with it. I'm of the belief theres no point in slagging companies off, especially just now with all the changes. You now all the big companies have their ups and downs just as much as companies like Lothian and even independents. It's the way of the industry and it's what makes it interesting.
I think that’s a good shout as they’ve already made a couple of one off appearances on the 44Maybe the 44 then.
I would also suggest the 26 for XLBs as it always seems very busy, but I think some of the corners in Prestonpans would be too tight?I think that’s a good shout as they’ve already made a couple of one off appearances on the 44
XLB's operate on the N26 every night to Seton Sands so that part of the route should be fine. I understand that the Tranent route is tighter at certain points.I would also suggest the 26 for XLBs as it always seems very busy, but I think some of the corners in Prestonpans would be too tight?
That's what I suspected. Do the Seton Sands and Tranent services interwork? Even if they don't, having XLBs on the Seton service and B5s on the Tranent service would loose them operational flexability.XLB's operate on the N26 every night to Seton Sands so that part of the route should be fine. I understand that the Tranent route is tighter at certain points.
The 26 is one of the routes rumoured to be having major changes next month... Tranent no more! The current 26 fleet is also branded so unlikely to be replaced.That's what I suspected. Do the Seton Sands and Tranent services interwork? Even if they don't, having XLBs on the Seton service and B5s on the Tranent service would loose them operational flexability.
26s have no route branding what so ever... they could easily be displaced considering they’re just zoo advertsThe 26 is one of the routes rumoured to be having major changes next month... Tranent no more! The current 26 fleet is also branded so unlikely to be replaced.
I’ll reiterate supposedly no XLB’s this year anyway so wait and see!
The zoo vinyls are effectively route branding; many tourists will avoid getting on 12’s/31’s and wait for 26’s for this reason. The 31’s have XLB’s already and 12 is single deck so there is no where for them to be displaced too.26s have no route branding what so ever... they could easily be displaced considering they’re just zoo adverts
26 might be a good choice but since the route got new buses 3 years ago, all branded, I wonder if Lothian wants to invest in replacing all of them since they'd probably have to repaint them.
I feel like the 44 is the best route for XLB's. As far as I know the route is suitable for them and it would solve the capacity problem on the buses. Can't think of any other major Longstone routes that would need XLB's that can take them. Maybe the 300, but I bet LS will get the current XLB's for the 100 when they get refreshed in a year and a half's time. Honestly might be a good idea to give them to Central for the 27/37/47 and cascade stuff down as neccesary.