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

[Lothian_Bus]

Does Central have a 44 run on a Sunday? Noticed 686 was on today.

 

[Bus9120UK]

Does Central have a 44 run on a Sunday? Noticed 686 was on today.

It wasn't on it, it was falsely set to a 44 and tracked as one while moving around Central.

 

[Lothian_Bus]

It wasn't on it, it was falsely set to a 44 and tracked as one while moving around Central.

Thanks

 

[danielhogg2005]

What is the usage like on the East Lothian school routes? and could any of these be turned into regular routes if there was demand for it?

 

[ScotRail158725]

What is the usage like on the East Lothian school routes? and could any of these be turned into regular routes if there was demand for it?

Obviously not the only reason they exist is purely for schools…

 

[JKP]

What is the usage like on the East Lothian school routes? and could any of these be turned into regular routes if there was demand for it?

Dépends on East Lothian Council policies and subject to space being available after pupils have been allocated. Doubt though that there would be sufficient demand during school holidays and would require Council funding.

 

[H00V3R]

What is the usage like on the East Lothian school routes? and could any of these be turned into regular routes if there was demand for it?

From my time at North Berwick HS they were always well used, however the 125/126 are almost just 124 clones, with the 125 usually picking up regular passengers on its way to Musselburgh

The 127 however is interesting and could be a possible route if extended further as it serves the south-eastern side of Gullane and some rural communities from Gullane to Longniddry that don’t have a service.

I know the morning 127 used to pick up regular passengers and dropping off near Muirfield riding therapy or at Fenton Barns so it has been demand in the past

 

[TheEastCoaster]

The 127 however is interesting and could be a possible route if extended further as it serves the south-eastern side of Gullane and some rural communities from Gullane to Longniddry that don’t have a service.

I know the morning 127 used to pick up regular passengers and dropping off near Muirfield riding therapy or at Fenton Barns so it has been demand in the past

Yeah that is probably the only school service I could see working on its own, but it's all about demand I suppose and if the council would see it as a viablity.

I was actually thinking about how the East Lothian local services have been recently from other folks perspective, the 120 seems to be doing fine, it's a good route between North Berwick and Dunbar, some stunning scenery, although it did have me wondering, could it work with a double decker? From what I see, in East Linton it doesn't need to go under the rail bridge on its route, from a passenger standpoint it's really not busy enough, but it would be nice to see one service in Dunbar with a double decker.

I've still yet to try the 121 and 123, the 106 I was on today seemed pretty dead from Haddington all the way to Fort Kinnaird, makes me wonder if there really is high demand for places like Gladsmuir and Macmerry during the day? which I know has been a touchy subject online as of late.

 

[alexf380]

What is the usage like on the East Lothian school routes? and could any of these be turned into regular routes if there was demand for it?

From my time at North Berwick HS they were always well used, however the 125/126 are almost just 124 clones, with the 125 usually picking up regular passengers on its way to Musselburgh

The 127 however is interesting and could be a possible route if extended further as it serves the south-eastern side of Gullane and some rural communities from Gullane to Longniddry that don’t have a service.

I know the morning 127 used to pick up regular passengers and dropping off near Muirfield riding therapy or at Fenton Barns so it has been demand in the past

They are indeed well used...by schoolchildren. I have had one or two "real" passengers travel on the 125, as you say from Musselburgh, but not on every trip and not in any great numbers, and I've turned away a pair of tourists from a 126 as they were travelling from Gullane to Longniddry, and the 126 terminates in Aberlady. I've never seen any for the 127 or 128, but that doesn't mean it doesn't happen.

I was actually thinking about how the East Lothian local services have been recently from other folks perspective, the 120 seems to be doing fine, it's a good route between North Berwick and Dunbar, some stunning scenery, although it did have me wondering, could it work with a double decker? From what I see, in East Linton it doesn't need to go under the rail bridge on its route, from a passenger standpoint it's really not busy enough, but it would be nice to see one service in Dunbar with a double decker.

It passes under the Spott Road bridge, so a double deck is still off the cards. Even if it didn't, it would get way too close to the East Linton bridge for the company to be comfortable with it.

 

[stevenedin]

Blaze breaks out onboard East Lothian bus as firefighters rush to town centre

Several firefighters could be seen boarding the bus with a hose reel jet to extinguish the blaze. The alarm was raised shortly before 8pm on Monday night, April 28.

www.edinburghlive.co.uk

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

Blaze breaks out onboard East Lothian bus as firefighters rush to town centre

Several firefighters could be seen boarding the bus with a hose reel jet to extinguish the blaze. The alarm was raised shortly before 8pm on Monday night, April 28.

www.edinburghlive.co.uk

Looks like 670 if tracking is correct.

 

[stevenedin]

Looks like 670 if tracking is correct.

Another one damaged and off the road. I hope nobody was hurt.

 

[Busman757]

When I was at High School in Musselburgh, Lothian used to do a school run. Can’t remember if it was to Wallyford or Whitecraig using Tridents at the time. It didn’t last long.

 

[GusB]

What is the usage like on the East Lothian school routes? and could any of these be turned into regular routes if there was demand for it?

Obviously not the only reason they exist is purely for schools…

It's a reasonable enough question. If there's an existing school route that doesn't carry a full busload, why not use the additional capacity to carry ordinary passengers?

 

[Lx008]

Looks like 670 if tracking is correct.

Is there a reason buses seem more prone to fires than say cars or trucks?

 

[Resuwen]

Passengers setting fire to them

Much higher mileages

 

[ScotRail158725]

arson or mechanical?

 

[stevenedin]

Looks like 670 if tracking is correct.

670 is out on the 3 today so must not be that one.

 

[danielhogg2005]

There's roadworks on the Western Approach Road at Westfield Sainsbury's so both bus stops are closed, my X27 had to let me off the stop after, which stop would it use towards Bathgate with that stop closed?

 

[scosutsut]

Passengers setting fire to them

Much higher mileages

Both of these.

They also spend a far higher amount of time running compared to the vast majority of cars.

It's just a numbers game.

 

[ScotRail158725]

670 is out on the 3 today so must not be that one.

It is, must have been a very insignificant fire. Looks like it drove itself back to Longstone aswell

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

670 is out on the 3 today so must not be that one.

Definitely was 670. Was the only vehicle on the 44 sat at Wallyford for a prolonged period of time around 19:56 yesterday. As above it went back to Longstone on its own power.

It's a reasonable enough question. If there's an existing school route that doesn't carry a full busload, why not use the additional capacity to carry ordinary passengers?

These routes are already open to the general public if the odd passenger or two wishes to use them. The original question was whether or not these routes would sustain themselves if they ran all day. Clearly with them being routed and timed solely for the benefit of the school traffic, that seems rather unlikely.

 

[stevenedin]

It is, must have been a very insignificant fire. Looks like it drove itself back to Longstone aswell

That's a quick turnaround. Yeah it must've been an insignificant fire.

 

[VioletEclipse]

Passengers setting fire to them

Much higher mileages

With increasing summer temperatures, the threat of arson still present, and the potential for fires on battery electric buses to spread much faster than on diesel buses, the risk of bus fires in the future doesn't look all too ideal at least to me. However, Lothian's standards are high and good maintenance has probably prevented countless potential fires from happening, however I would say it's a risk that could become more pronounced in the next few years.

 

[CSB0241]

What is the usage like on the East Lothian school routes? and could any of these be turned into regular routes if there was demand for it?

I have done both the full 127 & 128 in the past (along with part of the 125 from Longniddry to Musselburgh, & I’ve also seen the 125/126 departing North Berwick HS), & they are all indeed well used… by kids at North Berwick & Preston Lodge respectively.

The 128 is fairly busy throughout but is of course just a 124 clone for most of it’s route (except for it serving Preston Lodge HS - duh - & the dip into Blindwells) so no need there.

The 125 is basically in the same boat, except (unlike the 124) it pulls into North Berwick HS whilst omitting the town centre, so yeah, 124’s good enough. Same almost certainly goes for the 126, even if it omits Dirleton.

The 127 is in a slightly different situation. It’s the same as the 125 between North Berwick & the approach into Gullane, though it’s the only bus to serve Fenton Road for the new developments in the southern neuk of Gullane - this is where most people got off on the 3 occasions I’ve gotten it. It’s the only bus through West Fenton too though I think all the houses there seem to have access to a car so it’s not the end of the world. Fenton Barns & Drem have the 121 which provides quicker links to North Berwick than the 127 would, so aside from Fenton Road, there’s not much need (& even then, Fenton Road probably wouldn’t be the busiest). What could always be done is they could implement a turning circle at the bottom of the road for something like the 124 to use (like the evening Midland Bluebird X38 through Bridgend).

Basically, long story short; little to no need/use outside of school kids, though Fenton Road could be a good shout for a bus terminus or something.

 

[LothianBusesPh]

With increasing summer temperatures, the threat of arson still present, and the potential for fires on battery electric buses to spread much faster than on diesel buses, the risk of bus fires in the future doesn't look all too ideal at least to me. However, Lothian's standards are high and good maintenance has probably prevented countless potential fires from happening, however I would say it's a risk that could become more pronounced in the next few years.

From what I’m aware, it was arson but so minor it was fortunately a swift repair.

 

[stevenedin]

844 has re-entered service at Lothian Country.

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

844 has re-entered service at Lothian Country.

Rumour is 843 and 844 are/have re-entered service to cover for 587 and 1045. This would suggest they could be off for several months yet.

846-848 are all based at Longstone for route training at the moment. Only 841-842, 845 and 849 are in the withdrawn line at Marine now, alongside 944.

 

[stevenedin]

Rumour is 843 and 844 are/have re-entered service to cover for 587 and 1045. This would suggest they could be off for several months yet.

846-848 are all based at Longstone for route training at the moment. Only 841-842, 845 and 849 are in the withdrawn line at Marine now, alongside 944.

Thanks, it would be nice is 944 had a shot through the west for a bit before it goes but unless they have a shortage I can't see this. Possibly when the rest of the ex Skylinks move to East Coast Buses they could send some through to Lothian Country to replace the 57 plate buses.

 

[ScotRail158725]

Rumour is 843 and 844 are/have re-entered service to cover for 587 and 1045. This would suggest they could be off for several months yet.

846-848 are all based at Longstone for route training at the moment. Only 841-842, 845 and 849 are in the withdrawn line at Marine now, alongside 944.

How longs 587 been off the road for never new it was off