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

[TheEastCoaster]

All to seton sands

Wouldn't that be overkill? Not saying that Seton Sands doesn't deserve a high frequency but still

 

[overthewater]

I have to agree, looking at the last few service changes it feels like they're really not that interested in improving things in the west.

It a really sad state of affair, and just doesn't make much sense, I really can see a PR disaster coming, which shouldn't be case.

All to seton sands

Every 10mins to Seton Sands?

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

Wouldn't that be overkill? Not saying that Seton Sands doesn't deserve a high frequency but still

The route is shorter and it’s simpler. It’ll save on the allocation.

 

[R Scandle]

So what will link the top Pans to the bottom pans.

 

[Kilmux]

Like all the outrage about the 41 being 'withdrawn', even though the 47 and 9 now provide a much improved service all round compared to the 41. I still see comments from time to time on Facebook demanding the return of the 41!

Tell that to the residents, particularly the elderly, in Cramond and D Mains, who want to go 'into town' (ie not be left stuck at Queensferry Street as the 47 heads up Lothian Road), and vice versa, and I doubt you'll get a single person to agree with you.

 

[trinitybladee]

So what will link the top Pans to the bottom pans.

Hopefully a new service?

 

[OmniCity999]

Time will tell with the 26.

I'm a firm believer in a 26 split between Seaton Sands and Blindwells. Creating future proofed links. The Tranent runs may not be getting cancelled, but maybe cut short to Blindwells. So the "top pans" wouldn't be affected.

Then the new service for Tranent (Windgoul) would run Windygoul to High Street then down church street to the A1 into town. Or even down church street, past Blindwells, past Prestonpans Station then onto Wallyford and on to the A1. Plenty of options. Even maybe some peak time expresses from Elphinstone through Windygoul. New houses being built in Elphinstone.

Couple this with a frequency decrease to the X6, you've got the entirety of Tranent with an express service to Edinburgh, then the 113 as well.

Or maybe we're thinking of this all wrong, what if the 113 is having a frequency increase and some journeys will terminate in Tranent?

Plenty of options and time will tell.

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

Time will tell with the 26.

I'm a firm believer in a 26 split between Seaton Sands and Blindwells. Creating future proofed links. The Tranent runs may not be getting cancelled, but maybe cut short to Blindwells. So the "top pans" wouldn't be affected.

I think the long term plan could be to extend all 26’s to Blindwells via Long Craigs. Yes the Caravan Park would lose out, but it’s one stop. As for Elphinstone, this X4 might do that in time.

 

[buslad1988]

I think the long term plan could be to extend all 26’s to Blindwells via Long Craigs. Yes the Caravan Park would lose out, but it’s one stop. As for Elphinstone, this X4 might do that in time.

It’s one stop that generates a hell of a lot of revenue though!

 

[stevenedin]

To avoid confusion there is a speculation thread here https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/lothian-group-network-route-speculation.255164/

 

[Ian Cunningham]

I think the long term plan could be to extend all 26’s to Blindwells via Long Craigs. Yes the Caravan Park would lose out, but it’s one stop. As for Elphinstone, this X4 might do that in time.

You need to keep a service to the caravan park - it's a big generator of passengers in the summer, particularly families, between there and Drummohr I've seen 26's full and standing before they even reach Musselburgh.
Taking the buses up Long Craigs would also mean a 600m walk to the park entrance from the nearest stop.

 

[TheEastCoaster]

You need to keep a service to the caravan park - it's a big generator of passengers in the summer, particularly families, between there and Drummohr I've seen 26's full and standing before they even reach Musselburgh.
Taking the buses up Long Craigs would also mean a 600m walk to the park entrance from the nearest stop.

I doubt they will change the 26 that way, it should be fine!

Makes me wonder if they will bring another service down Seton Sands at some point.

 

[stevenedin]

There's always the option of a 129 again to replace the 26 East of Eastfield

 

[Bungle965]

To avoid confusion there is a speculation thread here https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/lothian-group-network-route-speculation.255164/

Indeed, this is a polite reminder to keep this on topic

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

You need to keep a service to the caravan park - it's a big generator of passengers in the summer, particularly families, between there and Drummohr I've seen 26's full and standing before they even reach Musselburgh.
Taking the buses up Long Craigs would also mean a 600m walk to the park entrance from the nearest stop.

Will be interesting to see what they do with it long term. Doubling back probably the next best option.

 

[Devon Sunset]

What's really needed is a limited stop bus from Port Seton to the centre of Edinburgh. The 26 is a slog and even the X26 isn't much quicker.

 

[TheEastCoaster]

What's really needed is a limited stop bus from Port Seton to the centre of Edinburgh. The 26 is a slog and even the X26 isn't much quicker.

I think if the X26 skipped Portobello and went via Milton Road it would be much faster

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

I think if the X26 skipped Portobello and went via Milton Road it would be much faster

Timetables would suggest otherwise. Saves 5 minutes roughly.

 

[trinitybladee]

What's really needed is a limited stop bus from Port Seton to the centre of Edinburgh. The 26 is a slog and even the X26 isn't much quicker

i think making the X26 go via the A1 would be better.

 

[TheEastCoaster]

i think making the X26 go via the A1 would be better.

Unfortunately it goes nowhere near the A1 to be rerouted

 

[Devon Sunset]

Unfortunately it goes nowhere near the A1 to be rerouted

That’s definitely what I was thinking. Scrap the X26 and replace it with an ECB route that runs all day via A1. There’s a few options for the route but either Seton Sands-Prestonpans-Wallyford-A1 or Seton Sands-Prestonpans-Blindwells-A1 would work.

 

[Dfatcontroller]

New Volvo BZL 748e has been out for a jolly today.
Central Garage - Volvo at Broxburn - Marine.
Registered SD74KRG.

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

New Volvo BZL 748e has been out for a jolly today.
Central Garage - Volvo at Broxburn - Marine.
Registered SD74KRG.

Very useful information. Thank you.

 

[TheEastCoaster]

That’s definitely what I was thinking. Scrap the X26 and replace it with an ECB route that runs all day via A1. There’s a few options for the route but either Seton Sands-Prestonpans-Wallyford-A1 or Seton Sands-Prestonpans-Blindwells-A1 would work.

I think the first option would make the most sense, provides a useful link.

 

[Ian Cunningham]

Timetables would suggest otherwise. Saves 5 minutes roughly.

X26 is consistently held up though Portobello especially citybound, the bus lanes on Milton Road give an almost clear run to Jocks Lodge. 124 and 113 can be just as quick as the X26 from Musselburgh

 

[Resuwen]

Given we seem to be getting close to having all 51 BEE ZED ELLs on the fleet now, was there every any clarification of the rumour on here that there are, in fact, another 50 of them coming soon?

 

[TheEastCoaster]

X26 is consistently held up though Portobello especially citybound, the bus lanes on Milton Road give an almost clear run to Jocks Lodge. 124 and 113 can be just as quick as the X26 from Musselburgh

Only problem is if the X26 was changed is that it would take any express service out of Portobello to begin with, guess it's only a matter of time before Lothian finally announce these anticipated changes

 

[LothianBusesPh]

Given we seem to be getting close to having all 51 BEE ZED ELLs on the fleet now, was there every any clarification of the rumour on here that there are, in fact, another 50 of them coming soon?

There is a further 48 on the way.

The batch is meant to be coming from April.

 

[Resuwen]

Presumably 751-798?

 

[trinitybladee]

Only problem is if the X26 was changed is that it would take any express service out of Portobello to begin with, guess it's only a matter of time before Lothian finally announce these anticipated changes

I don’t see why portobello would need an express service to be honest. The X26 doesn’t miss out much stops between there and princes street and its already quick between portobello and princes street anyway