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

[Baileygirl]

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.

The Edinburgh Corporation route 13 was roughly the same route as now being run by Mcgills but terminated in Ravenston Dykes.

 

[Siemens Trains]

The Edinburgh Corporation route 13 was roughly the same route as now being run by Mcgills but terminated in Ravenston Dykes.

Ah yes, I remember that 13 route. Maybe quite a good choice for the trial if it had very few passengers.

 

[stevenedin]

Why not the X77 & X78?


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.


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.


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.


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


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.


Unfortunately not, no.


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


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.




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


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.

Sorry I meant X77 and X78. I made a typo.

 

[LothianBusesPh]

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.

It’s unlikely but your reason is flawed. Of course there’s only going to be three people travelling that way if it’s only going to King’s Road. If the 31 only went to Drum Brae you’re not going to have as much passengers than if it went to East Craigs. That’s not how you measure demand for an extension.

 

[Lothianbus703]

I got on the first BZL, 701e, to do the 45 on the peak run on Friday. Was a contrast to the usual 2011 B9TL's which in my opinion have a much more spacious interior.
I dont know why the images appear upside down.

 

[Lothiangem22]

The new next stop announcement system is being worked on and is directly linked to the control room system.

The ability to show diversions, temp and inoperative bus stops is there.

I think once this is live across the fleet the benefit will be huge.

This has been a major project for the team and it’s nearing completion soon.

 

[LothianLover88]

The new next stop announcement system is being worked on and is directly linked to the control room system.

The ones on the BZLs are okay.. besides the absence of Lato font.

 

[Blindtraveler]

I look forward to seeing what this new system is like, but sincerely hope that it's announcements are minimal in terms of wording, I'm becoming increasingly frustrated at endless verbal diarrhoea from announcement systems across the public transport network and favour a more minimalist approach

 

[LothianLover88]

I look forward to seeing what this new system is like, but sincerely hope that it's announcements are minimal in terms of wording, I'm becoming increasingly frustrated at endless verbal diarrhoea from announcement systems across the public transport network and favour a more minimalist approach

"Interchange with interchange with.." it's a bit too much. But I have got high hopes for this new announcement system, here's hoping!

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

"Interchange with interchange with.." it's a bit too much. But I have got high hopes for this new announcement system, here's hoping!

That’s been switched off for weeks…

 

[Bungle965]

Reminder that anything speculative can be discussed in this thread

Lothian group (Network/Route Speculation)

This forum is ideally for route speculation, ideas for route improvements, route ideas and how you would personally make the Lothian network better. Where would you take the bus and how frequent would you run it etc?

www.railforums.co.uk

Gentle reminder…

 

[SoloSR334022]

Gentle reminder…

It's a shame we in the speculative thread had been forgotten

 

[computerSaysNo]

Vehicle 687 (B5/E400MMC) is currently on service 100 to the airport, which is very unusual.
Source: I saw it.

 

[Bus9120UK]

Vehicle 687 (B5/E400MMC) is currently on service 100 to the airport, which is very unusual.
Source: I saw it.

I can confirm. I've also seen it (right behind a Bright Bus Enviro 400MMC) and the driver has put up an image on flickr - https://flickr.com/photos/gfwlothia...feed-108045545-1736783924-1-72157721749202435 . Not a great look for the Airlink fleet.

On another note, 66 departed for repaint earlier, the first of the eVoRa's just four years into service.

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

Vehicle 687 (B5/E400MMC) is currently on service 100 to the airport, which is very unusual.
Source: I saw it.

I’m curious what Lothian’s plans are long term. Perhaps this is just a one off and we shouldn’t read much into it, but if it keeps happening again and again, it will just further ask questions as to why the Airlink fleet is seemingly not being replaced at the moment.

 

[CN04NRJ]

Vehicle 687 (B5/E400MMC) is currently on service 100 to the airport, which is very unusual.
Source: I saw it.

Changed for 1126. The mind boggles as to why it has to be a 100 seat XLB, as there's no luggage space and far less space than a 600.

Seating capacity isn't a priority, it's luggage space - especially at this time of year when there's so many returning students.

I’m curious what Lothian’s plans are long term. Perhaps this is just a one off and we shouldn’t read much into it, but if it keeps happening again and again, it will just further ask questions as to why the Airlink fleet is seemingly not being replaced at the moment.

The highest mileage ones are north of 310-315k at the moment, and they feel like they've done every one of those miles.

 

[Blindtraveler]

Can't see them being overly popular fleetmates for the other xlb once replaced and cascaded with suitable refurbishment. Not if they're that unreliable or feeling the age

Are most of their troubles mechanical or are there many other problems as well

Lothian are probably shopping around frantically for a suitable vehicle. Electric certainly won't be the answer this time and they have no wish possibly to go down the full ADL integral root for which I don't blame them myself, but others I'm sure will disagree here but their alternatives are I would have said limited.

 

[Lothian285]

A photo has been posted on Flickr of Olympian 667: https://flic.kr/p/2qFdXUB

First time it has been seen since 2019 I think.

 

[computerSaysNo]

The highest mileage ones are north of 310-315k at the moment, and they feel like they've done every one of those miles.

That sounds high considering the 11-plate B9s are eight years older and are only at 500-600k:

The 10 plates are around 700-800k and the 11 plate B9s mostly in the 500k range some are still only on 400k

 

[Auld reekie]

A photo has been posted on Flickr of Olympian 667: https://flic.kr/p/2qFdXUB

First time it has been seen since 2019 I think.

It must have done some mileage.

 

[CN04NRJ]

That sounds high considering the 11-plate B9s are eight years older and are only at 500-600k:

If I recall correctly 1137 is the highest, currently on 316k - 1138 isn't far behind. Sometimes they're out for over 24 hours as they go straight onto night bus (after a quick clean, not necessarily fuel either if there's half a tank left)!

 

[stevenedin]

I managed to catch 687 earlier as well.

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

If I recall correctly 1137 is the highest, currently on 316k - 1138 isn't far behind. Sometimes they're out for over 24 hours as they go straight onto night bus (after a quick clean, not necessarily fuel either if there's half a tank left)!

A thought regarding replacements. If senior management and the council are that intent that it must be zero emission buses only that are purchased, might MMC’s be moved onto the routes? They’re not perfect but surely would be an improvement. Of course they would need refurbishments too.

 

[DunsBus]

It must have done some mileage.

667 definitely has some history, it has carried the front of ill-fated sister 666 since 1988.

666 had already been condemned after the fire which wrote it off the previous year and had yielded its engine, gearbox and back axle to a couple of the ECW Olympians. Just as its remains were put outside at Shrubhill ready for collection by Stephen Dalton, 667 was brought in with front-end accident damage and 666's front was used to repair it before what was left was then collected for scrap.
Everything that you see on 667 ahead of the front axle came from 666.

 

[Auld reekie]

667 definitely has some history, it has carried the front of ill-fated sister 666 since 1988.

666 had already been condemned after the fire which wrote it off the previous year and had yielded its engine, gearbox and back axle to a couple of the ECW Olympians. Just as its remains were put outside at Shrubhill ready for collection by Stephen Dalton, 667 was brought in with front-end accident damage and 666's front was used to repair it before what was left was then collected for scrap.
Everything that you see on 667 ahead of the front axle came from 666.

I appreciate that information on it.

 

[VioletEclipse]

A photo has been posted on Flickr of Olympian 667: https://flic.kr/p/2qFdXUB

First time it has been seen since 2019 I think.

This is a very promising sign that the rest of the Lothian-owned heritage fleet might get back on the road again. Although I don't think that any of them provide a solution for the current fleet shortage.

 

[Avenger20]

This is a very promising sign that the rest of the Lothian-owned heritage fleet might get back on the road again. Although I don't think that any of them provide a solution for the current fleet shortage.

Hypothetically, X572 would be legal to use wouldn't it? It fits the requirements for access by wheelchair users.

 

[VioletEclipse]

Hypothetically, X572 would be legal to use wouldn't it? It fits the requirements for access by wheelchair users.

indeed, however I doubt it meets the emissions criteria for the LEZ.

 

[Avenger20]

indeed, however I doubt it meets the emissions criteria for the LEZ.

So again, hypothetically it could be used on a route that avoided the city centre? Like 21 for example.

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

So again, hypothetically it could be used on a route that avoided the city centre? Like 21 for example.

Not in its current state no. It’s not PSVAR compliant either.