Lothian Group discussion (Lothian City, Lothian Country Bus and East Coast Buses)

[FlybeDash8Q400]

307 seems to have gone at last
951 to 960 seem to have spent their life on the 5 and wonder if they will survive the new Marine influx ?

They should do. There are 24 09/59 plate B9TL’s left in service at Marine (323-324, 329-350) - who should be getting around 20 buses in (409-410, 412-425 from Central plus a few ex London B9TL’s from Longstone). The reduction in service from Sunday could very well see the 5 or so (from the 24) remaining 59 plate B9TL’s withdrawn as a result as well. As was suggested by a few some or all of 330-350 may be kept in a stored condition incase of an increase in service rather than sold, but I’d expect 951-960 to stay put.

None of 412-415 are out just now and so could possibly be heading for Marine soon, provided that 676 upwards start to enter service shortly. I imagine familiarisation for Central drivers is currently taking place at the minute.

 

[Graeme Duncan]

Correct me if I am wrong is 327 still at Marine.

 

[ScotRail158725]

Correct me if I am wrong is 327 still at Marine.

no its with Ensign now

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

181 and 946 revealed in an almost identical livery for Lothiancountry and EastCoastbuses. Essentially just different names. Surely only a matter of time before the two become one legal entity?

Lothian Country Tweet

We have a new look for Lothian Country & EastCoastbuses!

A refreshed livery will gradually be rolled out across our buses & will allow for vehicle flexibility across both fleets.

If you spot one of these newly-painted buses, be sure to tag us in any pics

#WeAreLothian

Looks to be Lothian Country green with white replacing the cream.

 

[TheEastCoaster]

181 and 946 revealed in an almost identical livery for Lothiancountry and EastCoastbuses. Essentially just different names. Surely only a matter of time before the two become one legal entity?

Lothian Country Tweet

Looks to be Lothian Country green with white replacing the cream.

I will admit it was quite a surprise when I saw this, if ECB was to be merged with LCB then it would no doubt make things less confusing so to speak, although I did miss the green and cream colours in East Lothian

 

[Bus9120UK]

181 and 946 revealed in an almost identical livery for Lothiancountry and EastCoastbuses. Essentially just different names. Surely only a matter of time before the two become one legal entity?

Lothian Country Tweet

Looks to be Lothian Country green with white replacing the cream.

Looks great, will take time to get used to though! Love the new EastCoast logo with the gold. Not sure about the white fleet numbers, however.

 

[Graham Alexand]

Always wondered what the Lothian Country livery would look like with white, it looks pretty nice. I'm guessing this os so buses can be swapped about with little confusion?

 

[Bus9120UK]

Always wondered what the Lothian Country livery would look like with white, it looks pretty nice. I'm guessing this os so buses can be swapped about with little confusion?

I'd presume so, seeing this is in the tweet:

A refreshed livery will gradually be rolled out across our buses & will allow for vehicle flexibility across both fleets.

 

[Graham Alexand]

I'd presume so, seeing this is in the tweet:

Yeah, I had thought as much but was just making sure

 

[VioletEclipse]

At this point is this the 5th livery that Lothian's East Lothian services have had? Starting from EastLothianBuses.

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

My question now is, does this mean 691-698 will feature the standard Lothian interior with this revised livery and the slightly changed ECB logo? Would be in common with the Lothiancountry spec.

At this point is this the 5th livery that Lothian's East Lothian services have had? Starting from EastLothianBuses.

Not to mention the fact that many of the two fleets will have been repainted at least twice (some even more). Meanwhile a number of 11 plate Gemini2’s in the main Lothian fleet are yet to have received a repaint after 10 years of service.

 

[TheEastCoaster]

At this point is this the 5th livery that Lothian's East Lothian services have had? Starting from EastLothianBuses.

If I’m not correct this might be the 4th? ELB launched in 2012 as a solo service to Pencaitland then became LCB in 2014 with the 104, then ECB in 2016/2017 after taking over First and merging with LCB and now finally East Coast Country Buses?!

Honestly props to them for doing this, Now to top this off is an overly ambitious West Lothian to East Lothian direct service!

*cough* Livingston to Haddington
(this is obviously a joke but stranger thing’s have happened)

 

[alexf380]

It does look nice, I must say. Much better with the white than the creamy yellow.

 

[ScotRail158725]

181 and 946 revealed in an almost identical livery for Lothiancountry and EastCoastbuses. Essentially just different names. Surely only a matter of time before the two become one legal entity?

Lothian Country Tweet

Looks to be Lothian Country green with white replacing the cream.

Awful decision replacing the Cream with white as now ECB/LCB share the same colours as that rancid football team from Leith

 

[stevenedin]

I am pleased with this. Hopefully it will mean that more buses will move around

It’s nothing to do with football. You could argue the same as the Lothian livery as a football colour.

 

[CN04NRJ]

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My question now is, does this mean 691-698 will feature the standard Lothian interior with this revised livery and the slightly changed ECB logo? Would be in common with the Lothiancountry spec.


Not to mention the fact that many of the two fleets will have been repainted at least twice (some even more). Meanwhile a number of 11 plate Gemini2’s in the main Lothian fleet are yet to have received a repaint after 10 years of service.

Supposedly ECB is getting cascaded buses from the main fleet with all the E400s for the main fleet. My guess would be Gemini 3s of some description?

 

[Avenger20]

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Supposedly ECB is getting cascaded buses from the main fleet with all the E400s for the main fleet. My guess would be Gemini 3s of some description?

I would hope that if this were indeed the case, they would receive a light internal refurbishment prior to service with ECB. Plenty of life left in them for sure, but it would just be nice.

 

[Graham Alexand]

I have on and of wondered this for about a year now, does anyone know the reason that 929 (SN09 CVP) retained the original Lothian Country logo?

 

[CN04NRJ]

I have on and of wondered this for about a year now, does anyone know the reason that 929 (SN09 CVP) retained the original Lothian Country logo?

Replacement panel? Oversight? Either way it performs it's intended function.

 

[Graham Alexand]

Replacement panel? Oversight? Either way it performs it's intended function.

Fair point, was just out of curiosity

 

[CN04NRJ]

I would hope that if this were indeed the case, they would receive a light internal refurbishment prior to service with ECB. Plenty of life left in them for sure, but it would just be nice.

Just surmising but maybe 421-425 and those other Skylinks are still away for refurb/repaint?

 

[Lothianbus703]

Did lothian have Dennis dart SPD or SLF

 

[CN04NRJ]

Did lothian have Dennis dart SPD or SLF

SPD 11.2m, 6 cylinder for the Euro 3 ones.

 

[Lothianbus703]

SPD 11.2m, 6 cylinder for the Euro 3 ones.

Ok, there is a twitter post by plaxton saying some were SLF, were some SLF and some SPD?

I have a certain enthusiast trying to tell me Lothian used to be partly owned by stagecoach, is this true,their only evidence was the floor on blue interiors, not very likely to be honest... (I don't think so just checking)

 

[CN04NRJ]

Ok, there is a twitter post by plaxton saying some were SLF, were some SLF and some SPD?

Technically they're all Super Low Floor (SLF). I think the only real distinction is that the Dart SLF was introduced to differentiate from the older step entrance Darts - SPD refers to the bodywork (Plaxton Super Pointer Dart).

I have a certain enthusiast trying to tell me Lothian used to be partly owned by stagecoach, is this true,their only evidence was the floor on blue interiors, not very likely to be honest... (I don't think so just checking)

If it's who I think it is then don't bother answering, if they say the sky is pink just nod and move on

What is the actual reason for the Stagecoach (minus seats) interiors? I'm sure I read somewhere it was the only way Plaxton or Alexander would build a trial batch of B7TL or Tridents?

I know other operators specified part Stagecoach interiors as it lowered the cost of a new vehicle rather than having a custom spec.

 

[GusB]

I have a certain enthusiast trying to tell me Lothian used to be partly owned by stagecoach, is this true,their only evidence was the floor on blue interiors, not very likely to be honest... (I don't think so just checking)

No, it's not true that they were partly owned by Stagecoach, but the idea is not as far-fetched as it may seem. I recall from the dim and distant depths of my memories that there was talk of Stagecoach possibly bidding for Lothian if it was ever put up for sale. We're going back nearly 20 years, so please don't ask me where I saw or heard it. I do remember mentioning it to a friend who lived in Edinburgh at the time and the thought of Madder and White being replaced by Stagecoach Stripes horrified him!

 

[Strathclyder]

SPD 11.2m, 6 cylinder for the Euro 3 ones.

Aye, 6-cylinder Cummins with a Voith box; vocal machines to say the least. Lothian were the most notable customer for Darts of such specifications, but far from the only one; Cardiff took a not insignificant number.

As for what SLF & SPD respectively stood for...

• SLF - Super Low Floor (assigned mainly to distinguish it from the original step-entrance Dart, which colloquially became known as the 'steppie' or 'steppy' Dart).
• SPD - Super Pointer Dart (assigned to the longest - re full-size - Pointer bodies on the Dart chassis; the shortest Pointer body available on the Dart chassis was known as the MPD or Mini Pointer Dart).

In short, Lothians' Pointer Darts (prefix and year suffix-registered examples) were both SLFs & SPDs.

 

[CN04NRJ]

Aye, 6-cylinder Cummins with a Voith box; vocal machines to say the least. Lothian were the most notable customer for Darts of such specifications, but far from the only one; Cardiff took a not insignificant number.

Indeed! 80 of them to Cardiff (and one of the very last companies still operating them. I believe JMB still use some ex Lothian SPDs?

It's a shame Transbus collapsed as I believe that was the main reason Lothian switched to Wright/Volvo?

 

[GusB]

I remember the Lothian Drats quite well. When I lived in Edinburgh I'd usually catch the 31, get off just before North Bridge and then walk to Princes Street to catch the bus down to Leith. I think it was the 21, but I may be wrong. It had a duplicate First route at the time. The first Drat SLFs that I experienced were those that First Aberdeen had and they were awful in comparison.

 

[Blindtraveler]

Those six-cylinder darts were fantastic machines, I remember when seafield got a load of them for the 21 when I was living at the other end of the 21 from the one I now live at and they were great fun. Wish we still had some now, would love to ride one again