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

[stevenedin]

The X27 and X28 could become X77 and X79 and the X18 and X19 could become X75 and X76

 

[overthewater]

To be fair X28 started life as the 281 did it not? back in the Eastern Scottish days?

 

[ScotRail158725]

Great news, 937-950 aren’t in great condition, so having them replaced by some of Lothian’s best buses is spectacular to hear.

And 498-510 are better how? They’re hideously unreliable infact probably worse than 937-950 which are holding up well despite their age and mileage

I agree. The 400 struggles with capacity a lot in my experience (especially between Oxgangs & The Gyle), so getting rid of a majority (or maybe even all) of them would make sense.

Not really, other than at school time theres always double seats free. Its not by any means a quiet route but its not one that struggles capacity wise

I do think the X18/19/27/28 should be renumbered out of the 1-50 range, since I have seen tons of people getting on the X27 at rush hour thinking it was an express version of the 27

Might be the biggest lie ive ever seen, if i was a gambling man id have put my house on this never happening before

 

[Siemens Trains]

I have seen tons of people getting on the X27 at rush hour thinking it was an express version of the 27

This really defies credibility.
Were these people waiting on Princes Street aiming to catch a southbound 4 or 10 and they suddenly catch sight of a green X27 screened for West Lothian which they think will take them to Polwarth or Oxgangs?

 

[EdinRH]

This really defies credibility.
Were these people waiting on Princes Street aiming to catch a southbound 4 or 10 and they suddenly catch sight of a green X27 screened for West Lothian which they think will take them to Polwarth or Oxgangs?

I have heard (via a driver) of someone asking on an eastbound 12 in Princes Street if it went via Livingston. This was when the destination was Seafield. The person had apparently confused the Seafield district of Edinburgh with the Seafield near Bathgate.

 

[Baileygirl]

This really defies credibility.
Were these people waiting on Princes Street aiming to catch a southbound 4 or 10 and they suddenly catch sight of a green X27 screened for West Lothian which they think will take them to Polwarth or Oxgangs?

I have experienced that. I once had a group who got on my X27 in Princes Street and asked for the caravan park, but they did Know where it was, and said they got this number in, I presumed it was the one outside East Calder and let them off there, only to find out they took a 27 from Silverknowes

 

[CN04NRJ]

I have heard (via a driver) of someone asking on an eastbound 12 in Princes Street if it went via Livingston. This was when the destination was Seafield. The person had apparently confused the Seafield district of Edinburgh with the Seafield near Bathgate.

I've also taken someone to Seafield Road (Midlothian) on a 47, that wanted the one in Edinburgh. I can well believe people catching the X27 thinking it was a fast 27, you can't idiot proof public transport unfortunately!

 

[Samsanbor]

I've also taken someone to Seafield Road (Midlothian) on a 47, that wanted the one in Edinburgh. I can well believe people catching the X27 thinking it was a fast 27, you can't idiot proof public transport unfortunately!

I believe is even more idiotic whoever decided to number it as X27, considering all the other alpha-numeric options available.
Elderly, kids, impaired and so on can very easily make the wrong assumption.

 

[paul0762]

It is also a different coloured bus which you’d think would help differentiate between the 2 services, common sense just isn’t common anymore

 

[EdinRH]

I believe is even more idiotic whoever decided to number it as X27, considering all the other alpha-numeric options available.
Elderly, kids, impaired and so on can very easily make the wrong assumption.

The same thing could well occur with services with split termini. The Clovenstone and Gyle buses are both numbered 21. Bush and Penicuik services are both numbered 37. Either separate numbers or a letter suffix would be useful here.

It is also a different coloured bus which you’d think would help differentiate between the 2 services, common sense just isn’t common anymore

It's not out of the question that a different coloured bus could be on the route due to a breakdown and any spare bus being used as a replacement. I have seen city buses used on Lothian Country and airport routes and airport branded buses used on city routes numerous times.

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

The same thing could well occur with services with split termini. The Clovenstone and Gyle buses are both numbered 21. Bush and Penicuik services are both numbered 37. Either separate numbers or a letter suffix would be useful here.

Another scenario as well being when people jump on Elm Row terminators and are confused when they get chucked off or worse (if it’s an ex Bridges-Princes Street service) completely off the main route. Happens constantly.

 

[stevenedin]

People just don’t seem to read. They see a number and just jump on. I have made the mistake of getting an express bus and have been left standing (embarrassing to admit). That was years ago but you only make that mistake once (well usually lol).

 

[LBObserver]

It is also a different coloured bus which you’d think would help differentiate between the 2 services, common sense just isn’t common anymore

I once experienced this many years ago while waiting at the bus stop in Forrest Road. An American couple asked me if the number 27 listed on the bus stop took them to Dalmahoy.

They had travelled into Princes Street on the X27 (First Bus days) and spent the day at the various tourist spots, ending up at the museum on Chambers Street. They took the 27 to Hanover Street (I hope!) to then go for the X27.

Being American they openly admitted that coming from a town with no local buses, they had no idea about different public transport options.

I imagine it happens very occasionally on the few different routes with similar numbers.

 

[Jonathan Lynch]

lots of tourists heading to roslin chapel get the Easter Bush 37.

 

[Auld reekie]

What year did One Man Operated buses start in Edinburgh?

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

lots of tourists heading to roslin chapel get the Easter Bush 37.

That’s quite an understandable one. Though with the 37 I have never understood why it runs to Penicuik more frequently on a Saturday than it does during the week? I know before covid it was to do with the 15, but now it just seems rather strange.

 

[TheEastCoaster]

That’s quite an understandable one. Though with the 37 I have never understood why it runs to Penicuik more frequently on a Saturday than it does during the week? I know before covid it was to do with the 15, but now it just seems rather strange.

Somehow either Lothian don't realise that, or it's because the 47 and 140/141 also run to Pencuik so they left it as they are other options.

 

[Baileygirl]

What year did One Man Operated buses start in Edinburgh?

1970. They trialed them on the 13 before the main launch. If I remember they had new two door buses.

 

[JKP]

That’s quite an understandable one. Though with the 37 I have never understood why it runs to Penicuik more frequently on a Saturday than it does during the week? I know before covid it was to do with the 15, but now it just seems rather strange.

The Penicuik routes should have a replan anyway. There is a lot of new housing around Mauricewood which is only served by the infrequent Houston 101. Could the 37 say run via Belwood Road and Mauricewood Road to provide a more frequent service to this area?

 

[Edirim]

The Penicuik routes should have a replan anyway. There is a lot of new housing around Mauricewood which is only served by the infrequent Houston 101. Could the 37 say run via Belwood Road and Mauricewood Road to provide a more frequent service to this area?

They could just extend the 15 back out to penicuik

 

[VioletEclipse]

They could just extend the 15 back out to penicuik

been hoping for the 15 to be returened to its former glory for years. thankfully after a while of it being shortened every time reduced to almost nothing, the recent extension to Eastfield is quite promising.

 

[TheEastCoaster]

been hoping for the 15 to be returened to its former glory for years. thankfully after a while of it being shortened every time reduced to almost nothing, the recent extension to Eastfield is quite promising.

The 15 hasent returned to Eastfield? Unless I'm missing something.

I do agree they should do something about the 15 in Midlothian, it's been curtailed to Easter Bush for far too long, I'm sure there is some demand, despite Lothian saying otherwise.

 

[VioletEclipse]

The 15 hasent returned to Eastfield? Unless I'm missing something.

I do agree they should do something about the 15 in Midlothian, it's been curtailed to Easter Bush for far too long, I'm sure there is some demand, despite Lothian saying otherwise.

my mistake, I got the March 2020 proposed extension to Eastfield confused with the current route to Marine.

 

[TheEastCoaster]

my mistake, I got the March 2020 proposed extension to Eastfield confused with the current route to Marine.

Ah I gotcha! To be honest, maybe we will see the 15 return to Eastfield at some point? The 19 extension has proven popular, so it could be possible, maybe that or extend that and the 45 both to QMU?

 

[Auld reekie]

1970. They trialed them on the 13 before the main launch. If I remember they had new two door buses.

Thanks.

1970. They trialed them on the 13 before the main launch. If I remember they had new two door buses.

Thanks.

 

[CSB0241]

The X27 and X28 could become X77 and X79 and the X18 and X19 could become X75 and X76

Why not the X77 & X78?

Not really, other than at school time theres always double seats free.

Not in my experience, I find it to be quite bad, especially on weekends. Then again, I don’t use it all that frequently, so I don’t think I’ll have the best opinion on it.

Might be the biggest lie ive ever seen

The “tons” is definitely an exaggeration, but I have taken the occasional peak X27 to places like Balgreen or Hermiston & I can count several times where somebody has gotten on & said “single to Livingston” or “single to Knightsridge” or whatever. I do think people just see “oh, 27, nice,” & just assume it’ll get them to somewhere on the 27 route.

Were these people waiting on Princes Street aiming to catch a southbound 4 or 10 and they suddenly catch sight of a green X27 screened for West Lothian which they think will take them to Polwarth or Oxgangs?

To play devils advocate here (& I am aware that this just sounds like I’m making excuses), most of these peak X27s have been in the dark, but there has been one or two times where I’ve seen it in broad daylight. How people will see Bathgate X27 & assume that it’ll serve Craiglockhart & Oxgangs is inexplicable to me, but hey, it really must just be a thing of just seeing the 27 & just getting on it.

I have heard (via a driver) of someone asking on an eastbound 12 in Princes Street if it went via Livingston. This was when the destination was Seafield. The person had apparently confused the Seafield district of Edinburgh with the Seafield near Bathgate.

Okay, I was genuinely at a loss until I saw the last sentence. Still… interesting though.

I've also taken someone to Seafield Road (Midlothian) on a 47, that wanted the one in Edinburgh.

Okay, this makes a bit more sense than the 27/X27 situation (since Lothian serve both of those Seafields), but that’s still a bit odd.

I can well believe people catching the X27 thinking it was a fast 27, you can't idiot proof public transport unfortunately!

Unfortunately not, no.

It is also a different coloured bus which you’d think would help differentiate between the 2 services, common sense just isn’t common anymore

That & the fact that Bathgate & Oxgangs are like, what, 20 miles apart?

I imagine it happens very occasionally on the few different routes with similar numbers.

I’ve heard a few stories from family in Glasgow about people taking the McGills 3 all the way to the terminus in Neilston & wondering why they hadn’t reached Crookston yet (obviously intending on getting the First 3), so probably more frequent than one would assume.

The Penicuik routes should have a replan anyway. There is a lot of new housing around Mauricewood which is only served by the infrequent Houston 101. Could the 37 say run via Belwood Road and Mauricewood Road to provide a more frequent service to this area?

They could just extend the 15 back out to penicuik

been hoping for the 15 to be returened to its former glory for years. thankfully after a while of it being shortened every time reduced to almost nothing, the recent extension to Eastfield is quite promising.

I do agree that Penicuik’s buses could do with a slight reworking. Not entirely sure how I’d do it though.

The 19 extension has proven popular, so it could be possible, maybe that or extend that and the 45 both to QMU?

I do think it’s unlikely, every 45 I took east of Peirshill before the cut to Marine tended to have no more than 3 people on board, so having it, at it’s current service level, along with the 15, running such a quiet corridor would probably be a waste of resources, especially now that it has the 19 every 15min Mon-Sat & every 20min on Sundays between Portobello & Eastfield.

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

Ah I gotcha! To be honest, maybe we will see the 15 return to Eastfield at some point? The 19 extension has proven popular, so it could be possible, maybe that or extend that and the 45 both to QMU?

I really don’t see why the 15 needs to run beyond the City Centre. The only reason it runs down to King’s Road is to swap drivers at Marine, nothing else. It’s rarely busy on this section as well, plus numerous alternatives exist. The 45 I think is more to do with student housing, but again it’s got a lot to do with the depot it runs from.

The 124 replaced what the 15/X15 used to offer, and I think that idea of it going beyond the city needs to really belong in the past if I’m honest. Until suitable housing may allow something, it’s pointless.

In an ideal world they could move the 1 to Marine and curtail the 15 back at Regent Road with it rightly returning to Central.

 

[ScotRail158725]

The Penicuik routes should have a replan anyway. There is a lot of new housing around Mauricewood which is only served by the infrequent Houston 101. Could the 37 say run via Belwood Road and Mauricewood Road to provide a more frequent service to this area?

Considering it already does a tour of Roslin and loanhead it would add more running time on. Perhaps a better idea is Belwood road onto Silurian road then run via Deanburn in reverse and terminate in the town centre?

I really don’t see why the 15 needs to run beyond the City Centre. The only reason it runs down to King’s Road is to swap drivers at Marine, nothing else. It’s rarely busy on this section as well, plus numerous alternatives exist. The 45 I think is more to do with student housing, but again it’s got a lot to do with the depot it runs from.

The 124 replaced what the 15/X15 used to offer, and I think that idea of it going beyond the city needs to really belong in the past if I’m honest. Until suitable housing may allow something, it’s pointless.

Agreed theres not enough demand for 1 extra bus an hour down the corridor. The only way i see an extension of the 15 working is sending it down Willowbrae road onto the A1 and into the new housing at Old Craighall once its all built? Mind you theres plenty other routes that seem future proofed for this already such as the 4 and 30

 

[Siemens Trains]

1970. They trialed them on the 13 before the main launch. If I remember they had new two door buses.

Was that pre-decimalisation? In later years I thought the hoppers automatically separated coin types by width when dropped in, at least between copper and silver. But setting up for the short life of old coins might be rather wasteful. Or maybe I'm imagining this level of sophistication.
Out of interest, what was the 13 bus route? I have an old map showing a 13 tram from Granton to Holy Corner via Leith Walk, but no reason to expect bus numbers to follow suit.

 

[computerSaysNo]

That’s quite an understandable one. Though with the 37 I have never understood why it runs to Penicuik more frequently on a Saturday than it does during the week? I know before covid it was to do with the 15, but now it just seems rather strange.

The Easter Bush services don't run on a Saturday. With them completely removed it causes the Silverknowes - City - Bilston section to go from every 15 minutes to every 30 which I guess Lothian sees as not frequent enough, so it's brought up to every 20 minutes with every bus going to Penicuik.