stevenedin
Established Member
935 is on the 33 today
-
Our new ticketing site is now live! Using either this or the original site (both powered by TrainSplit) helps support the running of the forum with every ticket purchase! Find out more and ask any questions/give us feedback in this thread!
Lothian Group discussion (Lothian City, Lothian Country Bus and East Coast Buses)
- Thread starter GusB
- Start date
Sponsor Post - registered members do not see these adverts; click here to register, or click here to log in
R
RailUK Forums
Graeme Duncan
Member
- Joined
- 3 Mar 2018
- Messages
- 178
Have any of the remaining 16 BXL'S arrived at Marine or at Ferryhill.
stevenedin
Established Member
935 has a Lothian logo at the back but no logo on the front or sides. It's just blank. Sorry no picture saw it earlier.
354 is on the X27
354 is on the X27
Last edited:
LothianBusesPh
Member
Keep an eye on 842... 
VioletEclipse
Member
seems so normal seeing it on the 100, and after more than 7 and a half years of going to the airport almost every year, it will likely be heading east in the next months.
it seems to be at seafield the now, are you implying that you've seen it havng something done to it?Keep an eye on 842...
stevenedin
Established Member
According to bustimes 842 is returning to East Coast Buses presumably due to the delay in the BZLs entering service and to allow the Skylink vehicles to be repainted I'd imagine.
VioletEclipse
Member
if this is true then it truly refuses to die, thanks for saying.
stevenedin
Established Member
No worries. These are pretty decent buses and have served Lothian well over the last 18 years. I'm sure that they have more than paid for themselves and the interior refurbishment. I'm sure that they will have many years ahead too after being sold.
It also looks like 935 is on the 25 today
Last edited:
Rumour has it that these are the Airlink replacements later this year.
en.yutong.com
Yutong’s New Generation U12DD Battery Electric Double Decker Wows the Audience!_Corporate News-Yutong
On May 6, the roll-off ceremony of Yutong’s new generation U12DD battery electric double decker was held at Yutong Electric Bus Intelligent Manufacturing Factory, Zhengzhou City, China. This model will establish new benchmarks for high-end electric double-deckers, elevating public transportation...
stevenedin
Established Member
This shall be interesting.Rumour has it that these are the Airlink replacements later this year.
Yutong’s New Generation U12DD Battery Electric Double Decker Wows the Audience!_Corporate News-Yutong
On May 6, the roll-off ceremony of Yutong’s new generation U12DD battery electric double decker was held at Yutong Electric Bus Intelligent Manufacturing Factory, Zhengzhou City, China. This model will establish new benchmarks for high-end electric double-deckers, elevating public transportation...
View attachment 179543
Also on another note, 934 has moved to Longstone and 842 has been in operation with East Coast Buses on the 106 yesterday and the X4 today.
FlybeDash8Q400
Established Member
Certainly is a game changer, but I do think Lothian would prefer a Volvo offering if they could, if the issues were ironed out too. Is it confirmed that an order for Airlink replacements have even been confirmed though? Nothing prior to now, just suggestions.Rumour has it that these are the Airlink replacements later this year.
Yutong’s New Generation U12DD Battery Electric Double Decker Wows the Audience!_Corporate News-Yutong
On May 6, the roll-off ceremony of Yutong’s new generation U12DD battery electric double decker was held at Yutong Electric Bus Intelligent Manufacturing Factory, Zhengzhou City, China. This model will establish new benchmarks for high-end electric double-deckers, elevating public transportation...
View attachment 179543
That aside, the issues from Volvo with the BZL’s are pretty unforgivable. A painfully slow delivery process where vehicles have needed several months to have mods. Not withstanding the visibly poor quality of build from MCV.
I have considered the possibility of Lothian abandoning Volvo after this. Pelican with Yutong have consistently put everyone to shame with efficiency here. They’re miles ahead of the rest.
VioletEclipse
Member
I am very much of the opinion of 'I'll believe it when I see it' however, as other people have said - Volvo MCV have taken so long to deliver the BZLs that it could be almost 2 years between them being ordered and all 50 being in service, so moving to a different manufacurer wouldn't be without good reason.Rumour has it that these are the Airlink replacements later this year.
Yutong’s New Generation U12DD Battery Electric Double Decker Wows the Audience!_Corporate News-Yutong
On May 6, the roll-off ceremony of Yutong’s new generation U12DD battery electric double decker was held at Yutong Electric Bus Intelligent Manufacturing Factory, Zhengzhou City, China. This model will establish new benchmarks for high-end electric double-deckers, elevating public transportation...
View attachment 179543
I was told that the BZL doesn't have the structure to support drilling (and supporting) luggage racks, plus they're far too small anyway and capacity would be a major issue. It's just a rumour, but from reliable sources and would make perfect sense. They have a claimed range of 670km and the article states they're designed for intensive usage, and have dual gun charging that can be done in 2 hours so they're the perfect replacement for the XLBs.
As above, i'll believe it when I see it but i'm fairly confident on this.
Resuwen
Member
I suspect if Lothian do take a batch of Yutongs (hopefully dual door) then they will go in that direction for future orders too
danielhogg2005
Member
If Lothian do switch to Yutong, I belive that it will be a better decision as they seem to be very reliable and their buses that McGill's and Ember have are good quality products.
VioletEclipse
Member
I would fully understand if Lothian are wary of going for a fairly new product given their experience with doing so in certain cases. However, it has now been a few years of Yutong buses running in service with other operators, and it's not as though Lothian really have a lot of good options compared to a decade ago.
They'll have to be dual door with luggage racks fitted.
FlybeDash8Q400
Established Member
Surely the Airlink can get away with being single door again? It’s not like there’s high loading and unloading at the same stops.
Resuwen
Member
That length of vehicle being single door would be ridiculous.
The boarding and departing the XLBs is so much better than anything else in the Lothian fleet (bar the DD ex-Londons)
The boarding and departing the XLBs is so much better than anything else in the Lothian fleet (bar the DD ex-Londons)
It may be worth adding considering long term usage beyond Airlink once the next lot of buses arrive however in the context of the Airlink service I've always found the middle door very silly as it rarely serves its purpose.
I'm curious if its possible to remove the second staircase from that Yutong model.
Last edited:
The emergency exit would have to be fitted on the offside, which is in the middle on these (and many other current production buses) so it's not possible with a luggage rack. The middle door negates that problem.
I really hope lothian aren’t planning on replacing XLB‘s 1 for 1 with E12DD‘s.
To match capacity would require 3 E12DD‘s for every E400XLB.
The E12DD seats 68 while the E400xlb has 100 seats. While the airline configs have less seats, that will scale for both, especially with only 55 seats on the top deck of the E12DD
To match capacity would require 3 E12DD‘s for every E400XLB.
The E12DD seats 68 while the E400xlb has 100 seats. While the airline configs have less seats, that will scale for both, especially with only 55 seats on the top deck of the E12DD
I believe the issue with electric Airlink replacements is axle weight, with the batteries being so heavy a third axle is required to be able to carry the extra luggage weight. Not much room at the airport or Waverley for extra buses if they were to go for Wright Electroliners like in Glasgow, so a hard compromise in deciding what buses to get.
FlybeDash8Q400
Established Member
True, but I’m sure there’s work arounds too. Moving the rack further back, ie wheelchair spaces, then the emergency door and then the rack. Starting after the door and finishing over the first rear axle, could be an option. There’s potential for wanting 2 wheelchair spaces too. The current racks are never filled efficiently so you could definitely get away with something slightly smaller. I’m not sure if the rack at the front of the vehicle could still be there though. The rack ultimately has 3 ‘rows’ as it were as you have 2 shelves and the floor as the 3rd. The floor is rarely used and is effectively wasted space.
ScotRail158725
Established Member
- Joined
- 27 Nov 2018
- Messages
- 2,423
On the basis of what? that you dont find them as ugly?
NorthEastern
Member
That’s a long way to walk up the bus to stow luggage. Isn’t it better to stow it near the entrance /exit doors then have the seats towards the rear, as now? Otherwise seated and standing passengers are going to be conflicting with people collecting or stowing luggage. Even worse when people come downstairs to get their luggage then alight. It’s not good flow IMHO.
And consistency of bodywork?
Just the front, however it is my personal opinion. As in someone who has driven Yutongs (Airside coaches) they are fantastic bits of kit that are well built.
From a fleet managers perspective, the ADL E500ev has at least been built and is in service in Hong Kong so it is not a model they are buying off the drawing board which a 3 axle BZL would be.
FlybeDash8Q400
Established Member
I’m sure it’s a product Volvo will make though given how lucrative the Asian market is. It’s just whether or not they see a market for UK offering.