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

[FlybeDash8Q400]

576 now on its way to Seafield aswell

572 went down earlier too. So it’s just 571 and 575 left in service, with 577 still at Livingston.

 

[TheEastCoaster]

I think they should've made it cheaper with McGill's competition. I hope there isn't too much outrage, obviously there will be complaints.

I imagine they would try and keep it consistent like with ECB’s fare zone, personally while I do think it’s unfortunate that Whitburn has a solo fare zone now, I think it was at least a good step forward for Broxburn,Kirknewton and East Calder to pay less to travel into Edinburgh, it’s little things sure but at least it’s not all doom and gloom! and Livingston is big enough to justify being in a different fare zone, personally I thought charging 1.80 between Tesco Distribution and Burnwynd was very generous giving the time on an X28 is over an hour long! and if regular residents use M-Tickets or Tap, Tap Cap then it should work out fine eitherway!

I’m assuming if LCB do decide to go back to Blackridge in the future (or Fauldhouse for the 100th time) it would be in the new Zone D?

Also guessing Ridacards are still only valid as far as CityWest? and then £1.80 to travel into Kirknewton? and now £2.80 for Livingston! makes you wonder if Ridacard sales would shoot up if they offered you free travel into CountryWest A? sure it would be a heavy gamble but you gotta wonder surely!

Let’s hope these tough changes work out in the future!

 

[LothianBusesPh]

Why don't they extend the 31 to Cammo?

Would benefit lots of places I presume along with Cammo having a close link to the Zoo etc.

 

[TheEastCoaster]

Why don't they extend the 31 to Cammo?

Would benefit lots of places I presume along with Cammo having a close link to the Zoo etc.

To be honest I think I see the 41 being extended to the Gyle before the 31 being extended to Cammo, never say never though but the 41 being extended gives you the chance to connect with a 31 or X18 at Maybury or any bus at the Gyle to wherever!

 

[computerSaysNo]

To be honest I think I see the 41 being extended to the Gyle before the 31 being extended to Cammo, never say never though but the 41 being extended gives you the chance to connect with a 31 or X18 at Maybury or any bus at the Gyle to wherever!

Good point about the connections at the Gyle.
I was going to suggest splitting the 31 into two routes, one each for Bonnyrigg and Polton Mill, and extending the least frequent of the two to Cammo so as not to send too many buses down there.
But if anything happens then I think your suggestion with the 41 would be better.

 

[LothianBusesPh]

The one that goes to Cammo would probably follow the 12 at Haymarket though and a few other differences to the 31.

Apologies for the bad drawing but it'd look something like this, following the 12 & 38 in some areas. (Image shows a sketch of proposed route over Lothian route map)

 

[ScotRail158725]

The one that goes to Cammo would probably follow the 12 at Haymarket though and a few other differences to the 31.

Apologies for the bad drawing but it'd look something like this, following the 12 & 38 in some areas.
View attachment 122981

Why would they take half the 31s away from Princes Street?

 

[A330Alex]

The 31 will be extended into the West Craigs development once it’s more advanced and the new junction at Maybury Road/Craigs Road is finished. I believe the developers are required to initially subsidise the route.

 

[ScotRail158725]

The 31 will be extended into the West Craigs development once it’s more advanced and the new junction at Maybury Road/Craigs Road is finished. I believe the developers are required to initially subsidise the route.

it makes sense alternating the 31 between East Craigs and West Craigs like it is at the south end. Makes more sense than Cammo which is already served by the 41

 

[Siemens Trains]

further changes are being made next month, with the evening service going up to every 30mins until 11pm?

This is the claim made by Lothian Country about changes from middle of November on the 43 service. Although actually they say introducing half hourly Mon-Sat evening departures up to 22:30. But it's stated as if this is an enhancement.
However at present there are already half hourly departures from the city centre up to 22:30 on Mon-Sat evenings. The 22:30 is followed by another at 23:30 then an N43 at 00:30, so dropping to hourly after half past 10. From what I can make out there's no real change to the evening service in their new timetable. I could understand if they boasted half hourly departures from city centre up to 23:30, meaning an extra bus at 23:00. Initially I thought a typo but the linked 43 timetable suggests no change either. Maybe I've missed something here.

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

1126 is away for repaint, which will more than likely rule out the possibility of it becoming the Poppy Bus.

I’d expect it to go into standard colours, and I’d be surprised if it hasn’t had the racks removed if that is the case.

 

[computerSaysNo]

1126 is away for repaint, which will more than likely rule out the possibility of it becoming the Poppy Bus.

I’d expect it to go into standard colours, and I’d be surprised if it hasn’t had the racks removed if that is the case.

Really? I'd have thought it would be going back into Airlink now that flights are picking back up. Didn't someone above comment that the white ex-Airlink B8s are now common on the 100 with the current timetable?

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

Really? I'd have thought it would be going back into Airlink now that flights are picking back up. Didn't someone above comment that the white ex-Airlink B8s are now common on the 100 with the current timetable?

Yes, but it’s usually 1129 and 1130 that go on the 100. 1126-1128 are far less common and are normally on the 22.

 

[Graeme Duncan]

How many are left of the 937-950 batch to be repainted.

 

[Bus9120UK]

How many are left of the 937-950 batch to be repainted.

937/9/42/44/45/48 if I recall correctly.

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

How many are left of the 937-950 batch to be repainted.

20937
20939
942
20944
20945
20948

Total: 6.

950 is currently undergoing repaint.

 

[Lothiangem22]

1126 is away for repaint, which will more than likely rule out the possibility of it becoming the Poppy Bus.

I’d expect it to go into standard colours, and I’d be surprised if it hasn’t had the racks removed if that is the case.

Skylinks seem to still be struggling for reliability and due upgrades soon….

I’ll leave that there

 

[JurassicMan]

Lothian have now confirmed they will also be changing fare zones in West Lothian.

New Zones: (Click for larger view)
View attachment 122914
Compared to previous:
View attachment 122915

Clear change is the addition of zone between West of East Calder & border of existing country WEST a zone.
Travelling in two or three zones will cost the same, and journeys between four+ zones will be £1 cheaper. However, journeys from e.g. Edinburgh to Whitburn will cost the same due to the added zone.
Journeys from Edinburgh city zone to the new country WEST a zone will be £1 cheaper.
Journeys from East Calder, Calderwood and Kirknewton to Livingston increase to £2.80 according to the article. Journeys from Whitburn to Bathgate & Armadale have also increased to £2.80. For such a short distance, is it worth paying that extra £1?

That looks like a risky move East Calder to Livingston rising by £1 from £1.80 to £2.80 considering McGills is only £1.80.

 

[stevenedin]

That looks like a risky move East Calder to Livingston rising by £1 from £1.80 to £2.80 considering McGills is only £1.80.

I guess this is designed to catch people out who live on East Calder Main Street or Calderwood as they have no alternative competition.

 

[Lothianbus703]

How much does it cost to fit a bus with a euro 6 exhaust trap?

(the same one that was fitted to a lot of the B9TLs)

 

[CN04NRJ]

1126 is away for repaint, which will more than likely rule out the possibility of it becoming the Poppy Bus.

I’d expect it to go into standard colours, and I’d be surprised if it hasn’t had the racks removed if that is the case.

Skylink maybe?

 

[LothianBusesPh]

I think 5 Skylink XLB's would be perfect, A full XLB fleet feels a bit too far as the Gemini 3's are good enough most times anyway.

 

[Bus9120UK]

I think 5 Skylink XLB's would be perfect, A full XLB fleet feels a bit too far as the Gemini 3's are good enough most times anyway.

The problem with this is that Airlink needs 12 to meet it's peak vehicle requirement + spares, so there would only be at least three for now should they be going to Skylink as has been hinted. If so, perhaps new buses for Airlink again could allow the rest of the batch to cascade down to Skylink?

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

Skylinks seem to still be struggling for reliability and due upgrades soon….

I’ll leave that there

Skylink maybe?

While certainly possible, 1126 did spend a lot of time at Seafield. Something that is probably comparable to that of 496-497; both of which lost their luggage racks.

Time will tell what is the case but at the minute is Skylink worth it if they’re only going to get 1126-1128 for now? After all 1129–1140 need to remain at Central for the Airlink.

 

[Jordan Adam]

Isn't Airlink due new vehicles fairly soon anyway? I recall there was an agreement with the Airport to replace the fleet every two years prior to Covid.

 

[scosutsut]

Isn't Airlink due new vehicles fairly soon anyway? I recall there was an agreement with the Airport to replace the fleet every two years prior to Covid.

That rings a bell. The XLBs replaced B5TLs that were 2 years old and are now 3 themselves - although an extension to that timeline due to COVID would be understandable due to the reduced mileage / patronage.

It would also make sense to regularly cascade from Airlink to Skylink to remove the need to rip luggage racks out just to need to fit some to something else. But it sounds like a full XLB fleet on Skylink doesn't quite make sense.

 

[Japrods]

That rings a bell. The XLBs replaced B5TLs that were 2 years old and are now 3 themselves - although an extension to that timeline due to COVID would be understandable due to the reduced mileage / patronage.

It would also make sense to regularly cascade from Airlink to Skylink to remove the need to rip luggage racks out just to need to fit some to something else. But it sounds like a full XLB fleet on Skylink doesn't quite make sense.

XLBs would have a problem with the turn off Queensferry Rd on the 200 route. It’s tight for two axles.

 

[TheEastCoaster]

XLBs would have a problem with the turn off Queensferry Rd on the 200 route. It’s tight for two axles.

Then maybe it should be time to take it up Drum Brae North!

 

[90019]

XLBs would have a problem with the turn off Queensferry Rd on the 200 route. It’s tight for two axles.

They don't, I've taken an XLB round that corner a couple of times and it's fine.

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

Then maybe it should be time to take it up Drum Brae North!

And as has been said before that serves little to no benefit whatsoever, and takes it away from a busy core market. The 200 is fine up Drum Brae Drive, absolutely no reason to change it.