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

[overthewater]

Another day and another bus protest this time from the good people of Livingston Village who held a bus stop protest about the lack of buses, sorry about the fact they want thier buses back..

There is video of it on "Livingston Village Community council" Facebook page.

 

[Volvodart]

I see from the official opening photograph of Wrightbus Newpower facility at Bicester that they are converting some Edinburgh Tours buses to electric power.

Transport minister visits Oxfordshire factory to see electric life breathed into diesel buses

Zero-emission transport leader Wrightbus today said it would create 50 additional jobs in Oxfordshire as it ramps up transformation of diesel buses to electric at its NewPower factory. Welcoming Local Transport Minister Simon Lightwood to officially open the state-of-the-art facility in...

wrightbus.com

 

[oldman]

It was announced in October 2023 that Kleanbus aka Kleandrive were going to convert the tour buses. Maybe Wrightbus have taken on this project.

 

[Volvodart]

It was announced in October 2023 that Kleanbus aka Kleandrive were going to convert the tour buses. Maybe Wrightbus have taken on this project.

It also marks a departure for Newpower to convert a non Wrightbus engined type.

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

It was announced in October 2023 that Kleanbus aka Kleandrive were going to convert the tour buses. Maybe Wrightbus have taken on this project.

The KleanDrive one that was done (232) has had its fair share of problems. 242 is the first NewPower one and hopefully should see service when the Summer timetable returns in April. Only then will there be a true comparison.

 

[TheEastCoaster]

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

Well much like most other express services, its more the destination than the route, as the X26 is for the Port Seton residents, but it happens to traverse via Portobello since it follows the regular 26 route, at least the X44 changes it up by running via the A1 and serving Tranent (at least till April)

I could think of other areas that don't have express services, Silverknowes, Balerno, Comiston, Oxgangs, Niddrie, Leith Walk.

 

[LothianLover88]

I could think of other areas that don't have express services, Silverknowes, Balerno, Comiston, Oxgangs, Niddrie, Leith Walk.

Small express route suggestions in that case;

NEW X14 - Service from Elm Row to Greendykes (Royal Infirmary at peak times) via current 14 route.
X25 - Extended to Balerno via Riccarton, Gillespies' Crossroads & Lanark Road.
X37 - Extended to Silverknowes via current 37 route.

Although these suggestions are not really cost-effective. The only one I could imagine actually happening would be the X14.

 

[VioletEclipse]

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

Oh you better no tell that to Porty residents, the X26 can make quite a difference to the regular 26 at peak times. Escpescially folk who remember the X15 and X24 also serving Porty likely won't be happy if the X26 was also to go.

 

[DunsBus]

Ahem - I think we're veering off-topic again! Shouldn't these suggestions be in the Lothian group (Network/Route Speculation) thread?

 

[TheEastCoaster]

Oh you better no tell that to Porty residents, the X26 can make quite a difference to the regular 26 at peak times. Escpescially folk who remember the X15 and X24 also serving Porty likely won't be happy if the X26 was also to go.

It feels weird how Portobello at one point had three express services and is now down to one.

People don't know how good they had it at one point.

X25 - Extended to Balerno via Riccarton, Gillespies' Crossroads & Lanark Road.

How would that work? Unless it reversed back via Wester Hailes after Riccarton. I would just bring back the X44

 

[Dfatcontroller]

Very useful information. Thank you.

Late on the same day. 748 was reregistered to SF25YJS. Alongside:

730 - SF25YHX
733 - SF25YJA
737 - SF25YJE
739 - SF25YJH
744 - SF25YJN

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

Late on the same day. 748 was reregistered to SF25YJS. Alongside:

730 - SF25YHX
733 - SF25YJA
737 - SF25YJE
739 - SF25YJH
744 - SF25YJN

All 25 of the second batch have been redone.

 

[TheEastCoaster]

Been about 5 days since rumours of Lothians upcoming service change we're speculated, should probably hear something this week i hope.

 

[Lothiangem22]

Been about 5 days since rumours of Lothians upcoming service change we're speculated, should probably hear something this week i hope.

Will be announced today…

 

[Bus9120UK]

Will be announced today…

Usually between 11am and noon.

 

[R Scandle]

Small express route suggestions in that case;

NEW X14 - Service from Elm Row to Greendykes (Royal Infirmary at peak times) via current 14 route.
X25 - Extended to Balerno via Riccarton, Gillespies' Crossroads & Lanark Road.
X37 - Extended to Silverknowes via current 37 route.

Although these suggestions are not really cost-effective. The only one I could imagine actually happening would be the X1

Service change from Sunday 6 April
Lothian
Revised Timetable: 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 10, 11, 14, 15, 16, 19, 20, 21, 22/22A, 23, 24, X26, 27,
29, X29, 30, 32, 33, 36, 37, X37, 44, 45, 47/47B/X47, 49.
Major Route and Timetable Change:
5 Improved Timetable. Sunday frequency increased from every 30 minutes to
every 20 minutes.
8 Improved Timetable. Evening frequency increased from every 40 minutes to
every 30 minutes.
9 Improved Timetable. Evening frequency increased from every 40 minutes to
every 30 minutes.
12 Revised Timetable. Journeys to Holy Rood High School, to and from Leith, will
be withdrawn from the end of school term in June. These journeys, provided on
a commercial basis, are no longer financially viable following changes made to
under 22 concessions.
17 Revised Service & Timetable. Previously Skylink 200 but now part of the ‘city’
network to reflect the core journeys being made, with the ‘city’ fare now
additionally valid to/from the airport on this service. NightBus N200 converted
to a regular 17 journey.
18 Revised Service & Timetable. Previously Skylink 400 but now part of the ‘city’
network to reflect the core journeys being made, with the ‘city’ fare now
additionally valid to/from the airport on this service. NightBus N400 converted
to a regular 18 journey and will start from Fairmilehead instead of Hyvots Bank.
Revised timetable early mornings and late evenings on all days, with the
Saturday daytime frequency reduced from every 30 minutes to every 40
minutes, reflecting customer demand.
25 Revised Route & Timetable. Will operate via Marionville Road due to ongoing
accessibility issues on Lochend Drive.
26 Revised Route & Timetable. Service will operate between Clerwood and Seton
Sands with section between Prestonpans and Tranent withdrawn and partially
replaced by new East Coast service X4.
31 Revised Timetable. Improvements include a later journey to Polton Mill on
Sunday.
34 Revised Route & Timetable. Saturday and Sunday only, this service will no longer
serve Heriot-Watt Research Park and instead operate via The Avenue and
Riccarton Mains Road. This route change is made to improve reliability and
reflects the lower weekend customer demand at the Research Park.
35 Revised Route & Timetable. Saturday and Sunday only, this service will no longer
serve Heriot-Watt Research Park and instead operate via The Avenue and
Riccarton Mains Road. This route change is made to improve reliability and
reflects the lower weekend customer demand at the Research Park.
X44 Service Withdrawn. Links for Windygoul, Tranent and Wallyford partially
replaced by new East Coast service X4.
46 Revised Timetable. Monday to Saturday evening service will now operate full
route, instead of operating only between Dalkeith and Rosewell, improving
connectivity for Rosewell and Bonnyrigg.
48 Revised Timetable. Monday to Saturday late evening timetable revised between
Dalkeith and Gorebridge, associated with corresponding changes to service 46.
200 Service withdrawn. See service 17.
400 Service withdrawn. See service 18.

East Coast Buses
Revised Timetable: X5, 107, 124, 139, 140/141.
Major Route and Timetable Change:
X4 New Route. Operates between Haymarket and Tranent (Windygoul), via A1,
Wallyford, Prestonpans and Blindwells. Monday to Saturday daytime every 30
minutes, evenings and Sunday’s every 60 minutes.
Part replacing service 26 in Windgoul, Tranent, Blindwells and Prestonpans,
service X6 in Tranent and Wallyford and X44 in Winygoul, Tranent and
Wallyford.
X6 Revised Route and Timetable. Operates Monday to Friday peak time only
between Western General and Haddington, via Fort Kinnaird, Wallyford (Masons
Way) and Tranent. Service 106 will continue to provide local links from Tranent
to Haddington with additional journeys introduced and ‘faster’ X7 buses
provided for Haddington.
X7 Improved Timetable. Faster buses for Haddington, East Linton and Dunbar with
Monday to Saturday daytime frequency increased from every 30 minutes to
every 20 minutes.
106 Revised Route and Timetable. To maintain timetable reliability, the route will no
longer operate via Wallyford Loan and instead serve Haddington Road.
Additional journeys are introduced to part-replace service X6 between Tranent
and Haddington including later evening journeys between Musselburgh and
Haddington.
113 Revised Route and Timetable. To maintain timetable reliability, the route will no
longer operate to the Western General and instead terminate at Haymarket.
Service X6 will continue to provide a Monday to Friday peak time link between
East Lothian and the Western General with connections for East Coast services
also available at Abbeyhill (service 19) or West End (services 19, 22, 37). The
Sunday daytime frequency increased from every 60 minutes to every 30
minutes.
128 Revised route and Timetable. This service will additionally serve Blindwells South
to continue to provide journeys for Preston Lodge pupils travelling from
Blindwells, previously catered by Service 26.

NightBus
N37 Revised Timetable. Saturday and Sunday morning frequency reduced from every
30 minutes to every 60 minutes, reflecting customer demand.
N200 Revised Service. See service 17.
N400 Revised Service. See service 18.

 

[Graeme Duncan]

Any news when the remaining BZL's of the first batch will be entering service 717,721,723 and 725.

 

[ScotRail158725]

Link to the changes here: https://www.lothianbuses.com/news/2025/03/changes-to-network/

I note absolutely nothing about changes for Lothian Country which is sure to be dissapointing for West Lothian residents

 

[R Scandle]

Link to the changes here: https://www.lothianbuses.com/news/2025/03/changes-to-network/

I note absolutely nothing about changes for Lothian Country which is sure to be dissapointing for West Lothian residents

No plans to do anything out west until 2026 I believe.

 

[Scotrail88]

Over all some movement of routes but looks to be no real increase in resource requirements.


Some interesting comments on fare increases and viability of services - are we starting to see more tightening of purse strings at Lothian??

Possibly why not much being Done out west as not paying its way?

 

[trinitybladee]

I feel like they should’ve changed the 124 route to go down west loan and along prestonpans high street to keep the link from top ‘pans’ to bottom ‘pans’.

 

[TheEastCoaster]

Link to the changes here: https://www.lothianbuses.com/news/2025/03/changes-to-network/

I note absolutely nothing about changes for Lothian Country which is sure to be dissapointing for West Lothian residents

Well let's summerise this.

• So on top of them withdrawing the Skylink Brand and charging City Fares for the Airport, it makes me wonder if they would ever bring back the 35 to Edinburgh Airport in the future?, also talk about a coincidence with the fares increasing also..
• Good news of then improving the 46 in the evening!
• Don't understand about the 5's apparent short journeys to Nicholson Square when the timetable says otherwise..
• Would of been nice to see improvements on some services like the 15, 20, 32, 45 but maybe another time
• Hardly any night bus changes at all..

Now the main course..

• So the X4 is pretty much what i expected them to do (follow the 124 route from Strawberry Corner to Meadowmill and Follow the 26 to Tranent) basic enough, but i can imagine folk will still get upset about this.
• X6 is peak time only and running to the Western General and also Fort Kinnaird for some reason? i bet the folk who use the 113 will not be happy about losing their hospital bus.
• X7 running every 20 minutes, never would of seen that but good for Dunbar and Haddington Residents i guess, also judging by the 107 still running, journeys are split between Musselburgh and Dunbar?
• Late journeys on the 106 is a nice addition.
• So the eve services are staying under the eve name, that's fine to be fair, they work as they are.

Overall, not the most exciting service change but very interesting to say the least.

Also, can someone clarify this for me, have they changed the ridacard to be valid across the entire Lothian network? or was that a miscommunication on the Lothian page? it sounds very misleading, also anyone else notice on the network map it says Zone B-H?, either Lothian have more up their sleeves or this is another error.

No plans to do anything out west until 2026 I believe.

That's very disapointing, to be fair, i know East Lothian have not had anything major in years.. but West Lothian is still a market looking for improvement, i would of expected even some changes with the 70/71 or X19 at least? but i suppose they are here to stay at least.

 

[JKP]

Over all some movement of routes but looks to be no real increase in resource requirements.


Some interesting comments on fare increases and viability of services - are we starting to see more tightening of purse strings at Lothian??

Possibly why not much being Done out west as not paying its way?

As I have previously said, there is unlikely to be any change to services in West Lothian unless the Council puts its hand in its pocket. Next year is an election year, so who knows there may be policy changes. I understand that the Scottish Government is already looking at possible franchising. Holyrood so far has not exactly promoted bus travel since Covid.

Livingston like many 20th century new towns is not good bus operating territory. To improve bus services in the area would probably require substantial sums of money. Is car parking free of charge in the centre? If so perhaps the Council should start charging a modest sum with all income after expenses being diverted to subsidising improved bus routes in its area.

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

I can’t help but think a lot of this will be changed again in the future. The X4 is too slow overall.

I have asked for clarity on the Zone B-H thing.

 

[ScotRail158725]

Livingston like many 20th century new towns is not good bus operating territory. To improve bus services in the area would probably require substantial sums of money.

It was Firsts most profitable depot at one point.

I can’t help but think a lot of this will be changed again in the future. The X4 is too slow overall.

The 26/X4/X6 changes seem a farce. Cutting the 26 would have always required an express replacement the only option was reroute and slow the X6 down via Prestonpans or cull the x6 and make a new service

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

The 26/X4/X6 changes seem a farce. Cutting the 26 would have always required an express replacement the only option was reroute and slow the X6 down via Prestonpans or cull the x6 and make a new service

The idea of the 26 running only to Seton Sands I’m ok with. It’s the rest of it that’s a bit confusing. The X6 being peak only is absolutely fine. It’s never that busy beyond Tranent. It’s the X4 that falls short.

 

[Leedsbusman]

It was Firsts most profitable depot at one point.

really? When was that and how profitable was it compared to the big city operations elsewhere.

 

[TheEastCoaster]

I can’t help but think a lot of this will be changed again in the future. The X4 is too slow overall.

I feel as if the X4 could of done with some work personally, for those in windygoul, the last bus back to the city centre is at 21:45, while the last X7 from Dunbar to Edinburgh is now at 22:07.. granted the last 26 from Tranent to Edinburgh is currently 22:19 which is only half an hour later, but i thought an express service would of justified a later departure anyway.

I feel like they should’ve changed the 124 route to go down west loan and along prestonpans high street to keep the link from top ‘pans’ to bottom ‘pans’.

Personally that's not a bad idea, i'm surprised they didn't consider this.

I have asked for clarity on the Zone B-H thing.

I hope it's just a small mistake, along with the Ridacard issue, if they did decide to make the Ridacards valid across the entire network, they should of advertised it, would of maybe distracted folk from the fare increase in the first place and got more sales, although with the prices of the Ridacard on a montly basis, they might aswell be valid everywhere, also i noticed they don't have student prices anymore..

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

I feel as if the X4 could of done with some work personally, for those in windygoul, the last bus back to the city centre is at 21:45, while the last X7 from Dunbar to Edinburgh is now at 22:07.. granted the last 26 from Tranent to Edinburgh is currently 22:19 which is only half an hour later, but i thought an express service would of justified a later departure anyway.

I really don’t see the demand for something like that. Who really needs to get into town that late? There’s maybe a few people but not enough to justify it. The 26 was there as it offered a local link.

The X4 should be running direct to Wallyford. They’ve made a mistake in not having the local links maintained in a local capacity. Prestonpans doesn’t need an A1 bus to town as it has the train.

 

[scotrail158713]

for those in windygoul, the last bus back to the city centre is at 21:45, while the last X7 from Dunbar to Edinburgh is now at 22:07.. granted the last 26 from Tranent to Edinburgh is currently 22:19 which is only half an hour later, but i thought an express service would of justified a later departure anyway

Last 113 to Edinburgh passes through Tranent at 23:30 so there’s still services late at night

Prestonpans doesn’t need an A1 bus to town as it has the train

I understand the point you are making but you do realise Wallyford has the train as well