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

[CN04NRJ]

Bus 190 was in service yesterday and bus 169 is in service today, surely they'd use a 7900 instead of an Eclipse 2 to save the batteries, or is there a reason behind this?

They took quite a few MCVs off the 30 yesterday and replaced them with 7900s, presumably to give them a run out unless anyone knows different.

I don't presume to know the exact reason, but I know the 7900s aren't favored vehicles - you can see that by how few of the 50 are out on any day. Two of the three original buses on the 12 have been changed already today.

 

[Graham Alexand]

They took quite a few MCVs off the 30 yesterday and replaced them with 7900s, presumably to give them a run out unless anyone knows different.

I don't presume to know the exact reason, but I know the 7900s aren't favored vehicles - you can see that by how few of the 50 are out on any day. Two of the three original buses on the 12 have been changed already today.

What is the main problems about the Volvo 7900H apart from concrete seats?

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

What is the main problems about the Volvo 7900H apart from concrete seats?

This has been mentioned a few times before, if you have a search through previous pages you should be able to find the answer.

 

[mb88]

I don't know what the route is like now though.

It's now identical to the daytime X28 including serving Kirknewton, St John's Hospital and Knightsridge.

 

[CN04NRJ]

What is the main problems about the Volvo 7900H apart from concrete seats?

A few more than uncomfortable seats, the cab seats are comfortable enough though!

I'd rather not post anything negative - it's certainly not maintenence issues as with all Lothian vehicles they're extremely well looked after. I just don't think they were Volvo's finest hour and I'll leave it at that.

 

[Lothiangem22]

A few more than uncomfortable seats, the cab seats are comfortable enough though!

I'd rather not post anything negative - it's certainly not maintenence issues as with all Lothian vehicles they're extremely well looked after. I just don't think they were Volvo's finest hour and I'll leave it at that.

Well put!

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

A few more than uncomfortable seats, the cab seats are comfortable enough though!

I'd rather not post anything negative - it's certainly not maintenence issues as with all Lothian vehicles they're extremely well looked after. I just don't think they were Volvo's finest hour and I'll leave it at that.

Cab seat is probably the only thing I like about these buses. Always thought it was really cool how it adjusted itself the way it does.

But yea as for the rest of the bus not much positives to look at. And agreed nothing to do with Lothian. I always felt for customers the 7900’s were a step backwards over 101-130 and that 136-166 would’ve suited the route better with the 7900’s used on the other Longstone routes.


Time will tell if the eVoRa’s are any better, so far so good though.

 

[route101]

Wouldn't it suffer the same fate as the EX1? Even running on the M8, it can't begin to compete with the train. Is it maybe better to try and develop better links with trains throughout West Lothian? Livingston South has a nifty bus terminal but the services that use it aren't co-ordinated with train departures - same issue at Fauldhouse. The bus arrives just as the train is due to leave.

Yes, services to railway stations could be a lot better. Livingston like East Kilbride has poor services to its railway stations. A guy I know just walks from Livingston South to the centre.

 

[Graham Alexand]

The first YouTube video has been released of the new MCV eVoRa's.

This one being 78, SJ70 HNO on service 36, Video by "Buses All Around"

Here's the link to the video below

Here's the link to their channel below

https://m.youtube.com/channel/UC2LL9C3kjjAbibEqKcJC1wQ

 

[OmniCity999]

i really dont get the point of these videos, its just a camera facing the backs of seats...

 

[Graham Alexand]

i really dont get the point of these videos, its just a camera facing the backs of seats...

Maybe for the sound?

I like the red mood lighting in Lothian's newer buses, is this now standard for any new Lothian bus in the fleet?

 

[OmniCity999]

I like the red mood lighting in Lothian's newer buses, is this now a standard for any new Lothian bus in the fleet?

As covered multiple times on multiple threads.

Mood lighting has been part of the spec for a while now, at least as far back as 2016.

 

[Graham Alexand]

As covered multiple times on multiple threads.

Mood lighting has been part of the spec for a while now, at least as far back as 2016.

I've only seen it on the XLB's and the eVoRa's, so I'm guessing some of the newer Gemini 3's have this too?

 

[OmniCity999]

I've only seen it on the XLB's and the eVoRa's, so I'm guessing some of the newer Gemini 3's have this too?

All deliveries since 2016, so yes. Varying amounts of mood lighting, some have more than others. Some have it disabled.

 

[Bus9120UK]

The first YouTube video has been released of the new MCV eVoRa's.

This one being 78, SJ70 HNO on service 36, Video by "Buses All Around"

Here's the link to the video below

Here's the link to their channel below

https://m.youtube.com/channel/UC2LL9C3kjjAbibEqKcJC1wQ

This was released a few days ago now, also I have noticed the user lives in Fife so I am not sure if this was legally filmed

 

[GusB]

This was released a few days ago now, also I have noticed the user lives in Fife so I am not sure if this was legally filmed

You don't know whether the person conducting the filming was making an essential journey or not, therefore it's not relevant to this thread. Bluntly put, mind your own business.

 

[Graham Alexand]

The new map of the 275 serving the Pyramids in Bathgate now is available.

I've attached one with the New full route map and one of the New Bathgate route map.

Link to article

Service change from Sunday 14 February for EastCoastbuses and Lothiancountry - Lothian Buses

Further changes will be implemented to EastCoastbuses and Lothiancountry networks from Sunday 14 February in order to continue aligning routes and timetables to customer travel patterns during the current lockdown. With the new COVID vaccination centre opening at the Pyramids Business Park...

www.lothianbuses.com

 

[CN04NRJ]

As covered multiple times on multiple threads.

Mood lighting has been part of the spec for a while now, at least as far back as 2016.

Unrelated question but have B9TLs been receiving Euro 6 upgrades? I've noticed some of the ex-London and native 11 plates i've driven recently have the little red/yellow box fitted in the cab with emission related guidance on what the lights mean and a noticeable change in performance on said vehicles (presumably part of the engine remap?).

 

[OmniCity999]

Unrelated question but have B9TLs been receiving Euro 6 upgrades? I've noticed some of the ex-London and native 11 plates i've driven recently have the little red/yellow box fitted in the cab with emission related guidance on what the lights mean and a noticeable change in performance on said vehicles (presumably part of the engine remap?).

work has indeed started, a couple different systems are being tested. It's not quite en-masse, but a number of examples have been done.

 

[mb88]

i really dont get the point of these videos, its just a camera facing the backs of seats...

I agree. Utterly pointless.

 

[ScotRail158725]

This was released a few days ago now, also I have noticed the user lives in Fife so I am not sure if this was legally filmed

Does it really matter weather it was or not? Who knows if they were making an essential journey or not, who cares if they were or not?

 

[route101]

I agree. Utterly pointless.

Noticed a few film this way, I think all they care is the sound of the bus. I seen one who uploaded of the camera facing a window pillar.

Anyway, I look forward to taking a journey on them new buses. I think ive only sampled one evora.

 

[TheEastCoaster]

Does it really matter weather it was or not? Who knows if they were making an essential journey or not, who cares if they were or not?

agreed, folk tend to act like they are the covid police nowadays and it’s really no ones business to be a grass.

I notice a lot of videos are like this and that’s fine if thats what they are, let folk have their interests and leave them

 

[ScotRail158725]

Noticed a few film this way, I think all they care is the sound of the bus. I seen one who uploaded of the camera facing a window pillar.

Anyway, I look forward to taking a journey on them new buses. I think ive only sampled one evora.

Aye, i dont understand pointing it at a seat or a window pillar, at least filming down the inside or out the window is something of interest to look at

 

[Bus9120UK]

agreed, folk tend to act like they are the covid police nowadays and it’s really no ones business to be a grass.

I notice a lot of videos are like this and that’s fine if thats what they are, let folk have their interests and leave them

I make these videos myself, I am not annoyed or angry at them - I was just simply wondering, really don't understand the issue with that! Anyways I do not want to cause arguments so I wish this does not continue.

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

I tried an eVoRa yesterday for the first time. Seem well built, I have to say I prefer the layout of the Eclipse3’s but the difference in build quality is night and day. The 38 is a fairly bumpy journey and didn’t feel a thing. Personally I do prefer the Eclipse2’s over the eVoRa’s but I can see Lothian ordering more if they do decide to move the 7900’s on and I can definitely see them replacing Eclipse2’s when they come to them.

The B8RLE chassis when it engages kickdown on a hill reminds me so much of the earlier Leyland Olympians, not sure why just think the sounds are similar. Wonder if Volvo and ZF are still using some small designs from back then.

The eVoRa’s feel a lot lighter than the Gemini3’s I’m used to travelling on and I think the lighter grey parts make it better, arguably previous batches in my view have been too dark, especially the Gemini3’s.

 

[CN04NRJ]

I tried an eVoRa yesterday for the first time. Seem well built, I have to say I prefer the layout of the Eclipse3’s but the difference in build quality is night and day. The 38 is a fairly bumpy journey and didn’t feel a thing. Personally I do prefer the Eclipse2’s over the eVoRa’s but I can see Lothian ordering more if they do decide to move the 7900’s on and I can definitely see them replacing Eclipse2’s when they come to them.

The B8RLE chassis when it engages kickdown on a hill reminds me so much of the earlier Leyland Olympians, not sure why just think the sounds are similar. Wonder if Volvo and ZF are still using some small designs from back then.

The eVoRa’s feel a lot lighter than the Gemini3’s I’m used to travelling on and I think the lighter grey parts make it better, arguably previous batches in my view have been too dark, especially the Gemini3’s.

That would be the Ecolife 2 gearbox that ZF produced from 2019 onwards. First time I drove one of the MCVs I was quite impressed with the gearbox and it was noticeably different to previous vehicles i've driven with an Ecolife (Lothian B5s, B9s, first and second generation Citaros and 1st/2nd gen E400s Scania/ADL) - it's a vast improvement on the previous gearbox which was quite good anyway.

Obviously have no idea of the mechanical differences but as you said the way it changes gear and engages kickdown makes them very pleasant to drive - I had a quick first ride on one the other day (for work purposes) and was very impressed with the ride comfort and quality as a passenger too.

 

[eoff]

Aye, i dont understand pointing it at a seat or a window pillar, at least filming down the inside or out the window is something of interest to look at

Presumably the person making the film is trying to avoid unsettling other passengers who may think they are the focus of any filming.

 

[Bus9120UK]

Presumably the person making the film is trying to avoid unsettling other passengers who may think they are the focus of any filming.

This is correct

 

[Graham Alexand]

This is the last YouTube video I'll put up here in regards to this for now.

An video of two of Lothian's MCV eVoRa's on service 36 at Glenlockhart, the video is filmed by "BlazeClone's YT Vidz" including SJ70 HNE (70) and SJ70 HNF (71).

I have put a link to the YouTube video below

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