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

[FlybeDash8Q400]

That’s more of the new ones now out. 679 is the only one tracking though. 686 is on the 47. There’s probably others as well.

 

[computerSaysNo]

695 has now appeared on the tracker, so much for 691-698 being 'cancelled'

695 - SJ71 HLP

Volvo B5TL ADL Enviro400 MMC

bustimes.org

Has it been confirmed that it (along with the rest of 691-698) is in Lothian (City) colours? The BusTimes says it is, but I know it's not 100% reliable.
If 691-698 are in City colours then I might suggest that some of the short B9s from Lothian Country could be transferred to Musselburgh to work the 104 once they've been repainted into the new "shared" green livery.

 

[CN04NRJ]

Has it been confirmed that it (along with the rest of 691-698) is in Lothian (City) colours? The BusTimes says it is, but I know it's not 100% reliable.
If 691-698 are in City colours then I might suggest that some of the short B9s from Lothian Country could be transferred to Musselburgh to work the 104 once they've been repainted into the new "shared" green livery.

201-207 are now at Marine along with quite a number of 7900s. 691-698 are for Central. Only 425 remains (remained?) at Central out of 401-425.

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

201-207 are now at Marine along with quite a number of 7900s. 691-698 are for Central. Only 425 remains (remained?) at Central out of 401-425.

420-421 are now in service at Marine already. 422-424 appear to have moved to Marine as well but have yet to enter service there. 425 is showing at Central, but hasn’t been out today.

926-927 aren’t out today either, but that could just be a coincidence.

436 is now also back out so that’s all of the 15 plate ex Skylinks had the refit and repaint. With 436-437 both now back out that could mean 926-927 are no longer required, and thus are not part of this 679-698 equation.

To be honest for myself it’s hard to tell what exactly will move while not all of the AVL’s are working, as I’m not 100% which ones are out. I can see more AVL’s are now working which wasn’t the case a few hours ago. However I’m sure more will work in the coming days.

With 12 buses having moved to elsewhere (201-207, 420-424) that suggests that up to 12 more new B5TL’s could be at Central. But there’s a good chance that’s not correct.

 

[backontrack]

By the way, the 35 has since reverted to its former route, along the Royal Mile and Canongate. Bit of a shame really.

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

By the way, the 35 has since reverted to its former route, along the Royal Mile and Canongate. Bit of a shame really.

It’s temporary. Was mentioned a few pages back.

 

[Graeme Duncan]

680 and 687 are on the 10 today.

 

[CN04NRJ]

420-421 are now in service at Marine already. 422-424 appear to have moved to Marine as well but have yet to enter service there. 425 is showing at Central, but hasn’t been out today.

926-927 aren’t out today either, but that could just be a coincidence.

436 is now also back out so that’s all of the 15 plate ex Skylinks had the refit and repaint. With 436-437 both now back out that could mean 926-927 are no longer required, and thus are not part of this 679-698 equation.

To be honest for myself it’s hard to tell what exactly will move while not all of the AVL’s are working, as I’m not 100% which ones are out. I can see more AVL’s are now working which wasn’t the case a few hours ago. However I’m sure more will work in the coming days.

With 12 buses having moved to elsewhere (201-207, 420-424) that suggests that up to 12 more new B5TL’s could be at Central. But there’s a good chance that’s not correct.

All of the new deckers this year aren't fitted with AVLs yet. It's strange doing things the old fashioned way using the time board again.

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

All of the new deckers this year aren't fitted with AVLs yet. It's strange doing things the old fashioned way using the time board again.

Yea I wasn’t sure what they’re called hence why I wrongly just referred to them as AVL’s, which I get they’re not.

Speaking of those I’ve seen a fair few new buses depart stops more than 3 mins early, not drivers fault as the technology isn’t there. 5 mins early was the most though. It’s something the drivers can’t be blamed for but for Lothian it’s something you wouldn’t want to keep happening. Hopefully the ‘proper’ technology isn’t too far away.

 

[RomeoCharlie71]

Speaking of those I’ve seen a fair few new buses depart stops more than 3 mins early, not drivers fault as the technology isn’t there. 5 mins early was the most though. It’s something the drivers can’t be blamed for but for Lothian it’s something you wouldn’t want to keep happening. Hopefully the ‘proper’ technology isn’t too far away.

It is the fault of the driver if they leave a timing point early. If the traffic commissioner found out this was happening regularly I don't imagine they'd be too pleased, and blaming it on lack of "technology" is hardly a valid excuse.

What happened to a clock and running board?

 

[Edirim]

Yea I wasn’t sure what they’re called hence why I wrongly just referred to them as AVL’s, which I get they’re not.

Speaking of those I’ve seen a fair few new buses depart stops more than 3 mins early, not drivers fault as the technology isn’t there. 5 mins early was the most though. It’s something the drivers can’t be blamed for but for Lothian it’s something you wouldn’t want to keep happening. Hopefully the ‘proper’ technology isn’t too far away.

Definitely won't be early!
More likely late, I've yet to be on a bus in the last few week sthat's not at least ten mins late

 

[CN04NRJ]

What happened to a clock and running board?

Nothing , ticket machine has the correct time and all buses carry running boards.

 

[RomeoCharlie71]

Nothing , ticket machine has the correct time and all buses carry running boards.

Exactly as I suspected!

So there is no excuse for drivers leaving timing points early, if what @FlybeDash8Q400 is saying is correct.

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

Exactly as I suspected!

So there is no excuse for drivers leaving timing points early, if what @FlybeDash8Q400 is saying is correct.

It’s happened at least twice in the last 2 weeks for me. One example was that bus should depart bus stop at 20.08 - actually departed 20.04, and this was in the city centre too where the times between stops at night can be quite generous.

Second one I can’t remember the exact timings but it was between 4 and 5 mins early. It was near the end of the route though and the bus was light to depot afterwords so that’s probably not helped, it might have even been that same journey. There was another though which I’m now thinking was in the opposite direction, but that was borderline 3 mins roughly.

Definitely won't be early!
More likely late, I've yet to be on a bus in the last few week sthat's not at least ten mins late

It was definitely 100% early.

 

[mb88]

It’s happened at least twice in the last 2 weeks for me. One example was that bus should depart bus stop at 20.08 - actually departed 20.04, and this was in the city centre too where the times between stops at night can be quite generous.

Second one I can’t remember the exact timings but it was between 4 and 5 mins early. It was near the end of the route though and the bus was light to depot afterwords so that’s probably not helped, it might have even been that same journey. There was another though which I’m now thinking was in the opposite direction, but that was borderline 3 mins roughly.


It was definitely 100% early.

Yes, but were the stops in question timing points?

 

[Siemens Trains]

It’s happened at least twice in the last 2 weeks for me. One example was that bus should depart bus stop at 20.08 - actually departed 20.04, and this was in the city centre too where the times between stops at night can be quite generous.

Second one I can’t remember the exact timings but it was between 4 and 5 mins early. It was near the end of the route though and the bus was light to depot afterwords so that’s probably not helped, it might have even been that same journey. There was another though which I’m now thinking was in the opposite direction, but that was borderline 3 mins roughly.


It was definitely 100% early.

Probably understandable in these situations. Most passengers are grateful for being sharp immediately before the terminus. But early running is usually considered as being within the driver's control and shouldn't really need a tracking and alarm systems.

 

[ScotRail158725]

Nothing from Lothian to Ensign this month however there were a few onward movements

SN59BFO/BFX/BGE: Als Coaches, Liverpool
SN09CUC/CUG: Stantons of Stoke
SN59BFU/BFV: York Pullman
SK07CFX/CGG: Sanders Coaches, Holt

 

[route101]

Yes, but were the stops in question timing points?

I had it down a bus can be early at stops between timing points. Not too early of course

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

592-593 now back in service, now with ECB. 592 certainly was on a 104, might still be.

I had it down a bus can be early at stops between timing points. Not too early of course

I was originally told up to 3 mins for non timing points and that you couldn’t leave a timing point early at all some years ago. Surely it’s different to that? I’ve never fully believed the timing points rule I was told, but the 3 mins I do.

 

[Graham Alexand]

592-593 now back in service, now with ECB. 592 certainly was on a 104, might still be.

I believe 591 was out on the 140 yesterday too.

 

[Vectron383]

Managed to catch 847 on the 113 today and saw a rather unusual feature at the back of the bus on the top deck - perhaps someone familiar with the buses can enlighten me? Also some images of 592 on the 104 today. Pictures all my own.

 

[Bus9120UK]

Managed to catch 847 on the 113 today and saw a rather unusual feature at the back of the bus on the top deck - perhaps someone familiar with the buses can enlighten me? Also some images of 592 on the 104 today. Pictures all my own.

This was put in place for luggage I believe, when the bus was still Lothian Motorcoaches operated.

 

[Vectron383]

Ah thanks- this makes sense!

 

[Cesarcollie]

592-593 now back in service, now with ECB. 592 certainly was on a 104, might still be.

I was originally told up to 3 mins for non timing points and that you couldn’t leave a timing point early at all some years ago. Surely it’s different to that? I’ve never fully believed the timing points rule I was told, but the 3 mins I do.

The TC expectation is that for timing points, 95% of journeys will be no more than 5 mins late or 1 minute early. There is no rule at all for stops that aren’t timing points - as they’re not on the registration and therefore can’t be measured.

 

[stantheman]

I stay west of Balerno on the A70 and on two evenings last weekend saw single deck unlit buses heading west on the A70 in the dark . They were too late for the 63 returning to Livingston and from the shape looked like 7900s
Any ideas anyone ?

 

[Dfatcontroller]

I stay west of Balerno on the A70 and on two evenings last weekend saw single deck unlit buses heading west on the A70 in the dark . They were too late for the 63 returning to Livingston and from the shape looked like 7900s
Any ideas anyone ?

7900s have been heading to Volvo in Cardonald.

 

[backontrack]

It’s temporary. Was mentioned a few pages back.

Ah. Cheers.

 

[stantheman]

7900s have been heading to Volvo in Cardonald.

Have they been sold or what ? Which numbers ? Thanks

 

[Scotrail88]

Why are the E400 ex hybrids being parked up?
Seems a waste of converting time to E6 diesel and then not using.

 

[Bus9120UK]

Why are the E400 ex hybrids being parked up?
Seems a waste of converting time to E6 diesel and then not using.

It is believed the buses will be withdrawn from service soon. Waste of time? Some of the ones converted to diesel have been in this state for 4 years!