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

[Grumpyscot]

It is still used, all 8 buses are used Monday to Friday. 3 singles on the X5, one for an X7 that starts and finishes in Dunbar, and four doubles for 124s. The 06:57 departure is also a NB turn. On Saturdays the X7 board doesn't run so there is one spare, and on Sundays none of the singles are out.

Surprised that they don't store Dunbar routes at Eve's, since its all Lothian now.

 

[R Scandle]

Does that mean they are sold? Keeper change to who bought them?

Surplus to requirements I expect. Maybe Ensignbus now?

 

[Lothiangem22]

Surplus to requirements I expect. Maybe Ensignbus now?

572 and 667 are both at Longstone just now

 

[CSB0241]

a Lohtian directional sign seems to have appeared at the Turnhouse Road/Craigs Road junction, unless it's somehow an old one that's been there for a while?

Likely new as 31 due to be routed along there shortly i believe

Do we have a source for the 31 thing? I know it’s to be expected but surprised they’re putting stuff up before changes come out.

Does ECB still use the small depot at North Berwick?

I walked past there today & saw 3 Eclipse 3s stationed there - guessing the X5’s primary ran from there?

 

[R Scandle]

572 and 667 are both at Longstone just now

Definitely going away then.

 

[LothianBusesPh]

They are going to Scottish Vintage Bus Museum. They will still attend Doors Open Days with the bonus of being at the Open Weekend as well.

A few vehicles have actually moved up today.

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

They are going to Scottish Vintage Bus Museum. They will still attend Doors Open Days with the bonus of being at the Open Weekend as well.

A few vehicles have actually moved up today.

So basically they’ve undone what Richard Hall did about 8 years ago. They’ll need the space for Electric charging in the long term I think. Anything unnecessarily in depots will be moved I suspect.

 

[ScotRail158725]

So basically they’ve undone what Richard Hall did about 8 years ago.

Which in all fairness he actually made good use out of them so it wasnt that bad a decision

 

[CN04NRJ]

ADL E400EV demonstrator is at Central.

 

[ScotRail158725]

ADL E400EV demonstrator is at Central.

Spotted this on Princes street about midday
Also seen one of those new BYD deckers at Haymarket just after it im not sure what the vehicles models called yet

 

[CN04NRJ]

Spotted this on Princes street about midday
Also seen one of those new BYD deckers at Haymarket just after it im not sure what the vehicles models called yet

That's there too!

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

That's there too!

More data analysis I would suspect for both.

 

[buslad1988]

More data analysis I would suspect for both.

My theory would be they'll be wanting to stick with a Volvo electric chassis but looking at alternative options for bodywork.

Rumour has it they won’t be touching MCV again after the fiasco they’ve had with the BZL’s.

For a lucrative customer like Lothian I’m sure it’ll be in Volvo’s best interests to try partnering with ADL again… however with range/capacity still being an issue it shows there still isn’t really a viable solution for Lothians electric needs.

 

[ScotRail158725]

That's there too!

LF74 something in all over red, didnt catch much more other than the bizzare look and its BYD badge

 

[Resuwen]

Would Sandy build on Volvo chassis any more or is it now exclusively an integral provider?

 

[CN04NRJ]

LF74 something in all over red, didnt catch much more other than the bizzare look and its BYD badge

LF74UHY

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

My theory would be they'll be wanting to stick with a Volvo electric chassis but looking at alternative options for bodywork.

Rumour has it they won’t be touching MCV again after the fiasco they’ve had with the BZL’s.

For a lucrative customer like Lothian I’m sure it’ll be in Volvo’s best interests to try partnering with ADL again… however with range/capacity still being an issue it shows there still isn’t really a viable solution for Lothians electric needs.

MCV have simply had way more orders than they can handle. Crazy as that sounds. So by the looks of things some corners have been cut to speed things up. They looked smart on delivery but now they look as if they’ve been out a year never mind four months.

I was on 708 earlier and it had at least three plastic panels where the clips on the inside were totally snapped, thus rattling like crazy. Most of the screens are broken in some capacity as well.

The thing is, ADL’s B5TL batch aren’t much better. Admittedly built to a somewhat basic spec, but are they much better than the BZL’s? Not really and I don’t think we need to say anything about Wrightbus. That speaks for itself. Both manufacturers have made it pretty clear they’re only interested in their own integral products so it would have to be a major u-turn on that.

So really who else could supply the body? Unless Volvo themselves do it I fear there is no option.

 

[Dfatcontroller]

MCV have simply had way more orders than they can handle. Crazy as that sounds. So by the looks of things some corners have been cut to speed things up. They looked smart on delivery but now they look as if they’ve been out a year never mind four months.

I was on 708 earlier and it had at least three plastic panels where the clips on the inside were totally snapped, thus rattling like crazy. Most of the screens are broken in some capacity as well.

The thing is, ADL’s B5TL batch aren’t much better. Admittedly built to a somewhat basic spec, but are they much better than the BZL’s? Not really and I don’t think we need to say anything about Wrightbus. That speaks for itself. Both manufacturers have made it pretty clear they’re only interested in their own integral products so it would have to be a major u-turn on that.

So really who else could supply the body? Unless Volvo themselves do it I fear there is no option.

But MCV bodying the BZL *is* in effect, Volvo doing it themselves.
Volvo don't want to body buses or coaches themselves it would seem.

 

[Lothianbus703]

But MCV bodying the BZL *is* in effect, Volvo doing it themselves.
Volvo don't want to body buses or coaches themselves it would seem.

Volvo closed the factory in Poland that made integral bodies, it is now outsourced with MCV being one of them. The former volvo factory is where the 7900s were produced.

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

But MCV bodying the BZL *is* in effect, Volvo doing it themselves.
Volvo don't want to body buses or coaches themselves it would seem.

I get what you’re saying, but it’s not the same thing. As you say Volvo don’t want to make the bodies, but cleverly market it up in such a way to make it seem as if it is. Even the 9700 changed to be bodied by Sunsundegui through a similar style of license to that of MCV with the BZL. Though I do think there are some examples of the 9700 bodies actually being done by Volvo.

Tricky one for Lothian this.

 

[GusB]

Would Sandy build on Volvo chassis any more or is it now exclusively an integral provider?

What do you mean by "Sandy"? I'm not aware of any body-building firm that goes by that name.

 

[CSB0241]

ADL E400EV demonstrator is at Central.

Spotted this on Princes street about midday
Also seen one of those new BYD deckers at Haymarket just after it im not sure what the vehicles models called yet

I’m assuming the BYD is a BD11 (see image attached). It’ll be interesting to see if they attempt to find a way to get these on the BZL chassis so that they don’t have to deal with MCV again (what with the Evoras being somewhat subpar to other ones I’ve tested, & the BZLs… well, we know what happened there). It’s unlikely, but would be interesting.

 

[Resuwen]

What do you mean by "Sandy"? I'm not aware of any body-building firm that goes by that name.

Alexander.

Sandy is a Scottish nickname for Alexander among those of us of a certain vintage.

 

[CN04NRJ]

I’m assuming the BYD is a BD11 (see image attached). It’ll be interesting to see if they attempt to find a way to get these on the BZL chassis so that they don’t have to deal with MCV again (what with the Evoras being somewhat subpar to other ones I’ve tested, & the BZLs… well, we know what happened there). It’s unlikely, but would be interesting.

It is indeed, in London red and I think it's dual door.

 

[GusB]

Alexander.

Sandy is a Scottish nickname for Alexander among those of us of a certain vintage.

I'm well aware that Sandy is a shortened form of Alexander, thank you. However, referring to the manufacturer by that name is rather silly and potentially liable to cause confusion.

 

[DunsBus]

I'm well aware that Sandy is a shortened form of Alexander, thank you. However, referring to the manufacturer by that name is rather silly and potentially liable to cause confusion.

I can see it now. "Watty Sandy & Co."

Sandy is only used if Alexander is a forename. In this case, it was a surname (of the family who started the original business) so calling the manufacturer "Sandy" simply does not work.

 

[Siemens Trains]

I can see it now. "Watty Sandy & Co."

Sandy is only used if Alexander is a forename. In this case, it was a surname (of the family who started the original business) so calling the manufacturer "Sandy" simply does not work.

Not the forename of Mr Dennis then? You learn something new every day.

 

[computerSaysNo]

I suspect I know the answer to this already but I'm hoping I'm wrong.
Does anyone know if the interior of vehicle 510 and the other ex-Skylinks going to East Coast or Country will be getting changed?
I really hate the current colour, it's just far too bright and (colour) saturated, both in daylight and at night with the interior lights. It would also mean a third interior colour scheme being introduced to East Coast.

 

[CN04NRJ]

I suspect I know the answer to this already but I'm hoping I'm wrong.
Does anyone know if the interior of vehicle 510 and the other ex-Skylinks going to East Coast or Country will be getting changed?
I really hate the current colour, it's just far too bright and (colour) saturated, both in daylight and at night with the interior lights. It would also mean a third interior colour scheme being introduced to East Coast.

I think 510 has been given green upholstery?

 

[stevenedin]

It depends on whether or not it needs a retrim and they have spare matching moquette for the seats. 496 and 497 both retained their blue interiors when transferring to Lothian.