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

[Lothiangem22]

Have Lothian closed the Newbridge depot for Lothian Motorcoaches? I have driven past Longstone a couple of times recently and a number of Coaches are parked out back. I know they go to Longstone for maintenance etc, bit it's just weird that they seem to be there all the time.

Motorcoaches have had an extremely successful year, despite the pandemic. Newbridge is still very much used and needed, however Longstone currently has surplus space and full engineering capability.
This may also ease pressure on driving hours for some services, for example the NHS shuttles, with drivers starting and finishing at Longstone rather than Newbridge.

 

[Lothian Buses]

What hybrids have been liveried?

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

It would appear that 207 and 215 have returned to Central from Marine during the night.

 

[Bus9120UK]

What hybrids have been liveried?

551-561/3/4, 566-568/70 are in Maroon and White FOTF (Fleet of the Future). 568 is at Ferrymill right now.
562/5/9 are get to be painted, and remain in either swoops or a subway wrap (569)
571-578 remain in Lothiancountry's older colours.
All of 579-590 are in the process of paint. 579/80/1/2/5/7 are away, the rest are at Seafield, bar 586 which may be there, but there is no proof if it is. Bare in mind the colours are unknown and will hopefully be confirmed once the first one returns.

 

[CN04NRJ]

It would appear that 207 and 215 have returned to Central from Marine during the night.

Wonderful!!!

Appears the rumours about them were true after all then.

 

[Bus9120UK]

497 is now confirmed to be in Madder and White. It was spotted returning from repaint.

 

[LothianBusesPh]

497 is now confirmed to be in Madder and White. It was spotted returning from repaint.

Do you have any proof of this? A photo? I will choose to believe you unless I have proof otherwise.

 

[Bus9120UK]

Do you have any proof of this? A photo? I will choose to believe you unless I have proof otherwise.

Credits to @FlybeDash8Q400 .

 

[CN04NRJ]

497 is now confirmed to be in Madder and White. It was spotted returning from repaint.

Any idea what's been done (if anything) with the interior? Can't tell from that photo.

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

Any idea what's been done (if anything) with the interior? Can't tell from that photo.

It looked the same when I saw it but the weather was atrocious. Definitely still had the blue seats though.

I always expected it to return in madder and white. This is why I always suggest to be patient as sometimes it comes back not as it was expected to look, and I know other colours had been suggested for 496/7.

 

[LothianBusesPh]

Credits to @FlybeDash8Q400 .

Thanks!

 

[Bus9120UK]

Any idea what's been done (if anything) with the interior? Can't tell from that photo.

I've just seen a better image. The racks are certainly no longer there. Could 926/7 withdrawal be imminent?

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

I've just seen a better image. The racks are certainly no longer there. Could 926/7 withdrawal be imminent?

I would suggest 496/7 are to replace 926/7 at Longstone, but that 926/7 will be kept until 562, 565 and 569 have been repainted maybe?

 

[CN04NRJ]

I would suggest 496/7 are to replace 926/7 at Longstone, but that 926/7 will be kept until 562, 565 and 569 have been repainted maybe?

They've been upgraded to Euro 6, had manual ramps fitted, LED destinations... I wouldn't (hopefully) write them off just yet. Would be nice to have them back at Central again, certainly need more DDs with SD hybrids regularly making it out onto PM rush buses.

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

They've been upgraded to Euro 6, had manual ramps fitted, LED destinations... I wouldn't (hopefully) write them off just yet. Would be nice to have them back at Central again, certainly need more DDs with SD hybrids regularly making it out onto PM rush buses.

I’m not saying they’ll definitely leave the fleet, but at the very least I suspect their time at Longstone will likely be coming to an end fairly soon. They could of course see use elsewhere, or indeed end up in reserve or sold.

There’s obviously the rumour going around that 579-590 are replacing 928-936 as well. Although it’s clear that would require a fair amount of shuffling for that to work as I don’t think the B5LH’s are particularly suited to the X18/X27/X28; ECB would seem more likely if they are indeed going green and white, with perhaps 571-578 transferring over as well (via repaint)? Again it probably won’t be clear for a while what the plan is with these B5LH’s.

 

[dt]

I drove past Seafield earlier today and noticed a blue and white (akin to original skylink) bus sandwiched between its madder siblings.

 

[Bus9120UK]

drove past seafield earlier today and noticed a blue and white (akin to original skylink) bus sandwiched between its madder siblings ….

That will have been 584, aka what was the pride bus. It had always kept it's blue livery under the wrap.

 

[LothianBusesPh]

I’m not saying they’ll definitely leave the fleet, but at the very least I suspect their time at Longstone will likely be coming to an end fairly soon. They could of course see use elsewhere, or indeed end up in reserve or sold.

There’s obviously the rumour going around that 579-590 are replacing 928-936 as well. Although it’s clear that would require a fair amount of shuffling for that to work as I don’t think the B5LH’s are particularly suited to the X18/X27/X28; ECB would seem more likely if they are indeed going green and white, with perhaps 571-578 transferring over as well (via repaint)? Again it probably won’t be clear for a while what the plan is with these B5LH’s.

I think it's probably going Green and White but Skylink does remain likely...

 

[CN04NRJ]

I’m not saying they’ll definitely leave the fleet, but at the very least I suspect their time at Longstone will likely be coming to an end fairly soon. They could of course see use elsewhere, or indeed end up in reserve or sold.

There’s obviously the rumour going around that 579-590 are replacing 928-936 as well. Although it’s clear that would require a fair amount of shuffling for that to work as I don’t think the B5LH’s are particularly suited to the X18/X27/X28; ECB would seem more likely if they are indeed going green and white, with perhaps 571-578 transferring over as well (via repaint)? Again it probably won’t be clear for a while what the plan is with these B5LH’s.

B5LHs would be perfect for the 29/31/37, could send some of the 400s or even 300s out west. Wishful thinking.

I also think that 926-936 may be on their way out, the lack of repaints or internal refurbishment is probably telling along with 201-215 appearing to be coming back into service.

 

[LothianBusesPh]

B5LHs would be perfect for the 29/31/37, could send some of the 400s or even 300s out west. Wishful thinking.

Why would they all be getting a new livery then, they wouldn't modernise the old livery on buses that are 5 years old, if they were to stay with Lothian they'd still stay in service.

 

[CR33PxRR]

So does this mean Lothian won't have a pride bus or something?

 

[LothianBusesPh]

I see it says wishful thinking, but wishful thinking that doesn't make sense is what confused me.

So does this mean Lothian won't have a pride bus or something?

No, because it's not mandatory.

 

[Bus9120UK]

So does this mean Lothian won't have a pride bus or something?

They don't have one at the current moment. It's not a requirement to have a pride bus. Whether they do wrap a new one in future is not known.

I think it's probably going Green and White but Skylink does remain likely...

Skylink needs 11 buses at their PVR, and there's only 12 buses in 579-590. That's not enough, when considering that buses will always be off the road at times for maintenance purposes, etc. Why paint hybrids back into Skylink, and then paint 498-510 into whatever livery? Surely that's too much movement.

 

[LothianBusesPh]

Skylink needs 11 buses at their PVR, and there's only 12 buses in 579-590. That's not enough, when considering that buses will always be off the road at times for maintenance purposes, etc. Why paint hybrids back into Skylink, and then paint 498-510 into whatever livery? Surely that's too much movement.

It is, that's why I firmly believe they will go Green and White, on which side though, I remain unbiased.

 

[CN04NRJ]

So does this mean Lothian won't have a pride bus or something?

Pride month isn't until next June, and i'd imagine they'd go for the progress flag style livery like (almost?) every other bus company or organisation that participates in pride month. Plenty of time for a bus to receive a new livery.

 

[LothianBusesPh]

Pride month isn't until next June, and i'd imagine they'd go for the progress flag style livery like (almost?) every other bus company or organisation that participates in pride month. Plenty of time for a bus to receive a new livery.

Exactly, at this stage I wouldn't be surprised if the Poppy Scotland livery didn't get announced soon, If they are participating.*

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

It is, that's why I firmly believe they will go Green and White, on which side though, I remain unbiased.

I want to suggest 579-590 all end up at Lothiancountry. So 12 buses gained there. As for what happens next it could look something like this:

LC loses 931-934 (4 buses), which are withdrawn.

1003/4, 1013 and 1028 move to ECB to replace 928-929 and 935-936 which would be withdrawn. LC loses 4, ECB gains 4, and then ECB also loses 4. These 4 ex London’s would be surplus once ECB’s repaints are done (that’s why 928-929, 935-936 are there) and could perhaps move to Lothian after that? Therefore there’s no point repainting them into green and white if that was the case.

The extra 4 buses gained by LC would allow them to finally start their repaint program. That’s 12 in and 8 out, which all of this ties in with an improvement for LC whilst McGill’s have just started, whom I expect to improve their fleet as well. Adding in 579-590 would drastically improve the average vehicle age. My concerns are still that the B5LH’s are not the best option for LC though. However I think ECB would find good use for them on the 113, 124 and 140/141.

Assuming 496-497 are replacing 926-927 then that’s the remaining 09 plates no longer required very easily.

 

[LothianBusesPh]

I want to suggest 579-590 all end up at Lothiancountry. So 12 buses gained there. As for what happens next it could look something like this:

LC loses 931-934 (4 buses), which are withdrawn.

1003/4, 1013 and 1028 move to ECB to replace 928-929 and 935-936 which would be withdrawn. LC loses 4, ECB gains 4, and then ECB also loses 4. These 4 ex London’s would be surplus once ECB’s repaints are done (that’s why 928-929, 935-936 are there) and could perhaps move to Lothian after that? Therefore there’s no point repainting them into green and white if that was the case.

The extra 4 buses gained by LC would allow them to finally start their repaint program. That’s 12 in and 8 out, which all of this ties in with an improvement for LC whilst McGill’s have just started, whom I expect to improve their fleet as well. Adding in 579-590 would drastically improve the average vehicle age. My concerns are still that the B5LH’s are not the best option for LC though. However I think ECB would find good use for them on the 113, 124 and 140/141.

Assuming 496-497 are replacing 926-927 then that’s the remaining 09 plates no longer required very easily.

That does make sense, although I didn't expect the Ex-Londons to be involved. Why can't they just keep 928/9 and 935/6 until repaints are complete?

 

[Lothianbus703]

It's interesting how long 926/927 have lasted compared to 301-350 and 826-925

I am aware that 841-850, 905/906 and 928-936 all exist

 

[LothianBusesPh]

It's interesting how long 926/927 have lasted compared to 301-350 and 826-925

I am aware that 841-850, 905/906 and 928-936 all exist

You have to remember that 905/6 are not really in the fleet. All they are doing is summer routes back and forth to the Firth of Forth, and that 841-850 have been renovated. 928-936 are in bad nick compared to 926/7 which are not in the best condition themselves, although they are still usable. I've heard from a few drivers that the Gemini 2's are a bit sluggish in that range.