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

[SpeedbirdA350]

I was thinking that a lot of Services wouldn't run because people eont be allowed to visit people on Christmas.

While this might be the case, what about hospital staff, nurses, doctors, porters, cleaners, how about those who work at the airport, police station, etc... They can't just walk, so need a bus.

We also don't know for sure, what the plans for Christmas will be. It might be limited to 6 people, and thus we're going through this Level 3 restrictions now, perhaps even L4 soon to lower the R down enough. No one knows, we can't tell the future (or we'd all have opted to bypass 2020 and a chunk of 2021)

So there will be a bus service of some sorts running, but I would guess it would be a little less than what we usually have each year.

 

[ScotRail158725]

I was thinking that a lot of Services wouldn't run because people eont be allowed to visit people on Christmas.

There are still others who would need to work and travel for various reasons.

 

[CN04NRJ]

Precisely. There will be a city service. Volunteer drivers are being sought for Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Years Day at the moment.

That's why it's a topic for speculation and discussion. Of course if there's firm evidence that anyone can present, this would be an interesting contribution too.

Given it's already been posted they're looking for drivers to work the 25th, 26th Dec and 1st/2nd January I'd say that's pretty firm evidence they're running a service on those days. I've volunteered for them all except Christmas day.

What level of service and which routes is open to speculation though.

 

[TheEastCoaster]

Is Lothian Country going to have a service change at a later date or are these of are these timetables for the rest of the year?
(Excluding 24th, 25th, 26th, 27th and 31st December)
⅜

I think that is sadly it, no 275 going back to the Gyle which still baffles me and with the green arrows being debranded that’s the EX2 officially gone, X38 should of been back by now but no luck, even to help with the loads between Edinburgh and Linlithgow that forced First to split their service in two!

Someone asked if it wasn’t for Covid would the X38 and EX2 still be running? I would think the smart thing would they would focus more on the X38 and try and bring in more Kirkliston residents, the EX2 probably would of been withdrawn anyway

 

[Bus9120UK]

A Video has been released on youtube with the route for the Amazon Contract between Edinburgh and Halbeath:

Lothian Buses Driver Training
Amazon Edinburgh to Halbeath

 

[RomeoCharlie71]

It has been reported on one of the East Scotland Facebook groups that Lothian will be starting additional contract runs between Leven and Halbeath (for Amazon) on Monday. Lothian will have vehicles parked at Aberhill depot throughout the day.

 

[TheEastCoaster]

A Video has been released on youtube with the route for the Amazon Contract between Edinburgh and Halbeath:

so it’a Sighthill-A720/M8-Newbridge-M9/M90-Forth Road Bridge and then nonstop to Halbeath

Random route, suprised it dosnt come up on the Edinburgh bus tracker

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

Re service change next week, I wonder if the 21 frequency increase might mean the 42 returns in some form to Single Deck operation (using 167-170 - if they’re coming back and then 186-190).

I was on the 36 yesterday and I can see why most of the time the 7900 is good enough, it had maybe 5 people on it max at one time (this was during the peak hours).

19 West End short I’m assuming is coming off the X29 or X37 (terminating at West End makes me think Longstone operated X29 but then it is starting at Granton Sq though).

Anyone know what the PVR might be for this enhanced 30? I thought at least 25 (maybe even 30 haha). I agree with others about the 12 running with singles too as most of the time it’s dead. 1-3 could stay at Central to do this and then Double deck is there if absolutely necessary.

 

[OmniCity999]

so it’a Sighthill-A720/M8-Newbridge-M9/M90-Forth Road Bridge and then nonstop to Halbeath

Random route, suprised it dosnt come up on the Edinburgh bus tracker

Tracker coordinates are set to the extremities of the Lothian network.

This is done to maintain reliability.

They can be set to 0 which is off the coast of Africa. Its very rare the coordinates are opened up to a larger area. But not uncommon.

 

[Bus9120UK]

Buses 171 to 174 all in service on the 2 right now.

 

[computerSaysNo]

Buses 171 to 174 all in service on the 2 right now.

The majority of vehicles on the 2 today are single decks, looks like this is the start of it going back to single deck only operation.

 

[route101]

Are these Lothian Amazon services to the Amazon warehouse in Fife?

I suppose these warehouses are hard to get to without car, ones around Glasgow are, misleading job advertisments too

 

[RomeoCharlie71]

Are these Lothian Amazon services to the Amazon warehouse in Fife?

I suppose these warehouses are hard to get to without car, ones around Glasgow are, misleading job advertisments too

AFAIK they operate to Halbeath P&R, where employees then transfer to a shuttle service which operates between Halbeath P&R and the Amazon Warehouse on Sandpiper Drive.

 

[CN04NRJ]

The majority of vehicles on the 2 today are single decks, looks like this is the start of it going back to single deck only operation.

I thought deckers would come off the 45 before the 2, but the 2 will probably be easily cope with B7RLEs on it as only the odd trip really needs a decker.

 

[OmniCity999]

EvoRa deliveries are starting to ramp up. Deliveries are planned to be carried out in threes.

 

[Graham Alexand]

EvoRa deliveries are starting to ramp up. Deliveries are planned to be carried out in threes.

Do you know when they'll hit the road?

 

[CN04NRJ]

EvoRa deliveries are starting to ramp up. Deliveries are planned to be carried out in threes.

Are they all in the UK now do you know?

 

[OmniCity999]

Do you know when they'll hit the road?

When they are ready, unfortunately I dont have an answer for you.

Are they all in the UK now do you know?

Not all of them but a good amount!

 

[computerSaysNo]

I thought deckers would come off the 45 before the 2, but the 2 will probably be easily cope with B7RLEs on it as only the odd trip really needs a decker.

The 45 is running with the Skylink vehicles just now; they seem to be reluctant to use those on any routes that are not the 200/300/400/45 at the moment, so I'm wondering if those vehicles wouldn't have anywhere to go if the 45 went back to singles. Whereas the 2 just uses standard deckers which can be used elsewhere.

I can't see the airport services needing to pick up again any time soon though*, so perhaps we will start seeing the Skylink vehicles on other decker routes if the 45 goes back to singles.
*Bar possibly the 300 going to half hourly. Seeing how quiet the 100 is though, I'm wondering if it's even worth running every 200/300/400 to the airport. The 400 needs to exist anyway so they could run them terminating at the Gyle with every second one (1 an hour) going to the Airport. 200 could run to the Gyle too. Would the 300 be more useful running ERI to Gyle, rather than Surgeons' Hall to Airport?

 

[ScotRail158725]

The 400 needs to exist anyway so they could run them terminating at the Gyle with every second one (1 an hour) going to the Airport. 200 could run to the Gyle too.

Extending every other 400 to the Airport would mean a 40 minute wait at either the Airport or Gyle

Would the 300 be more useful running ERI to Gyle, rather than Surgeons' Hall to Airport?

Ever since the 300 was rerouted to Cameron Toll everyone has though that that is the correct thing to do with it

 

[computerSaysNo]

Extending every other 400 to the Airport would mean a 40 minute wait at either the Airport or Gyle

Ahh. I don't know how staff breaks work but could the driver have their break at the airport? There's loos and cafes for coffee etc?

 

[ScotRail158725]

Ahh. I don't know how staff breaks work but could the driver have their break at the airport? There's loos and cafes for coffee etc?

Doesn’t matter, its very much more cost effective to run all to one or the other. That bus sat at the terminus for 40 minutes to make what can be covered by another vehicle is unneeded when it could be not using fuel sat in the depot or used elsewhere

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

Doesn’t matter, its very much more cost effective to run all to one or the other. That bus sat at the terminus for 40 minutes to make what can be covered by another vehicle is unneeded when it could be not using fuel sat in the depot or used elsewhere

Not got the timetables in front of me but could those short 300/400’s possibly interwork out of the Gyle thus reduce the layover slightly? Agreed no chance of a 40 min layover at the Gyle.

 

[CN04NRJ]

Links to pictures of 3 on delivery yesterday, not sure why the author has listed them as registered with their trade plates though.

Volvo eVoRa 74323

Volvo eVoRa on delivery to Lothian Buses, heading north up the M5 2020-11-04

flic.kr

Volvo eVoRa B6377

Volvo eVoRa on delivery to Lothian Buses, heading north up the M5 2020-11-04 For some unknown reason, this bus has shinier wheels than the other two I saw

flic.kr

Volvo eVoRa C1537

Volvo eVoRa on delivery to Lothian Buses, heading north up the M5 2020-11-04

flic.kr

 

[Bus9120UK]

Links to pictures of 3 on delivery yesterday, not sure why the author has listed them as registered with their trade plates though.

Volvo eVoRa 74323

Volvo eVoRa on delivery to Lothian Buses, heading north up the M5 2020-11-04

flic.kr

Volvo eVoRa B6377

Volvo eVoRa on delivery to Lothian Buses, heading north up the M5 2020-11-04 For some unknown reason, this bus has shinier wheels than the other two I saw

flic.kr

Volvo eVoRa C1537

Volvo eVoRa on delivery to Lothian Buses, heading north up the M5 2020-11-04

flic.kr

If you look closely, the back of the seats are light grey, which isn't a big problem but seems to really annoy me for some reason.

so it’a Sighthill-A720/M8-Newbridge-M9/M90-Forth Road Bridge and then nonstop to Halbeath

Random route, suprised it dosnt come up on the Edinburgh bus tracker

A picture has come up with an LMC coach at Waterloo Place, not sure what the Sighthill route is about.

Lothian Motorcoaches 9002 at Waterloo place about to start the Amazon Shuttle buses

Lothian Motorcoaches 9002 at Waterloo place about to start the Amazon Shuttle buses

www.flickr.com

 

[CN04NRJ]

If you look closely, the back of the seats are light grey, which isn't a big problem but seems to really annoy me for some reason.

They look to me to be the same type as this (the bus I'm on now incidentally - 185 on the 281). I think they look OK myself - certainly suit the darker interior on the new buses compared to these 13 plates.

 

[Graham Alexand]

When they are ready, unfortunately I dont have an answer for you.


Not all of them but a good amount!

Ok thank you, hopefully they hit the road soon.

Links to pictures of 3 on delivery yesterday, not sure why the author has listed them as registered with their trade plates though.

Volvo eVoRa 74323

Volvo eVoRa on delivery to Lothian Buses, heading north up the M5 2020-11-04

flic.kr

Volvo eVoRa B6377

Volvo eVoRa on delivery to Lothian Buses, heading north up the M5 2020-11-04 For some unknown reason, this bus has shinier wheels than the other two I saw

flic.kr

Volvo eVoRa C1537

Volvo eVoRa on delivery to Lothian Buses, heading north up the M5 2020-11-04

flic.kr

They're looking good, i know lothian adds the Fleeting and logos but does Lothian add the gold strip or are they scrapping it?

 

[Bus9120UK]

Ok thank you, hopefully they hit the road soon.


They're looking good, i know lothian adds the Fleeting and logos but does Lothian add the gold strip or are they scrapping it?

There is a fully branded bus in Seafield with the stripe, so I believe for MCV buses Lothian adds it.

 

[SpeedbirdA350]

1130 is currently in Dunfermline, and 1123, 1124 and 1125 are having fun in Leven. It's strange seeing them outside of Edinburgh but it's also good that Lothian (family) are getting these contracts.

EDIT: I was mistaken with 1128. It was at Abercorn for a short period then off to Dunfermline.

 

[route101]

AFAIK they operate to Halbeath P&R, where employees then transfer to a shuttle service which operates between Halbeath P&R and the Amazon Warehouse on Sandpiper Drive.

I see, are they not allowed to run straight to Amazon?