West Lothian buses

[Gingerbus1991]

https://news.westlothian.gov.uk/article/41032/Review-of-West-Lothian-s-bus-network

And it now becomes apparent why West Lothian council wanted them here to help save money and more than likely put a few smaller bus companies in serious peril .

If the council are led by pro-regulation/publicaly-owned types on bus services, then yes I can understand why that may be the hidden agenda at West Lothian Council.

The deep seated argument that bus-deregulation would make things better and cheaper through competition is utter bo**ocks!

If I were in charge of a local authority or government I would not want peoples tax money to go to an operator with a shoddy operation or vehicles.

 

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[TheEastCoaster]

I wonder if there will be no Sunday service on the X17 given the fact its launching on a Monday

That would be surprising, doubt they won’t omit a Sunday service though, since it’s confirmed to serve Deer Park and then Craigshill that it will run on the fastlink between those points, and then obviously the Bus Terminal and then the 281 route to Loganlea and then to Fauldhouse

 

[Jordan Adam]

I wonder if there will be no Sunday service on the X17 given the fact its launching on a Monday

That would be surprising, doubt they won’t omit a Sunday service though, since it’s confirmed to serve Deer Park and then Craigshill that it will run on the fastlink between those points, and then obviously the Bus Terminal and then the 281 route to Loganlea and then to Fauldhouse

The service registration states it will operate Monday to Saturday only.

 

[TheEastCoaster]

The service registration states it will operate Monday to Saturday only.

Oh my bad, never noticed that lol. Probably might not even be a late evening services on this service either like the 281.

 

[TheEastCoaster]

Also what’s to bet Fauldhouse will be placed in Fare Zone C? The map seems to indicate that it will be, as it’s just below Harthill, guess that will make it a £5.70 single from Edinburgh to Fauldhouse or (£3.70 with the ridacard)

 

[Observer]

Makes you wonder how many operators are going to lose work because of this review. The final nail in the coffin for Horsburgh's service work perhaps?

 

[Lothian285]

Also what’s to bet Fauldhouse will be placed in Fare Zone C? The map seems to indicate that it will be, as it’s just below Harthill, guess that will make it a £5.70 single from Edinburgh to Fauldhouse or (£3.70 with the ridacard)

If it is in zone C it would be £4.70 Edinburgh to Fauldhouse.

Also, LothianCountry have now opened their information desk at Livingston Centre: https://lothiancountry.co.uk/come-and-visit-at-us-at-our-new-livingston-travel-hub/

Come and visit at us at our NEW Livingston Travel Hub

We’ve made it easier for you to get your information on our bus services by opening a new Travel Hub in The Centre, Livingston.

Located at the heart of the The Centre, Livingston, opposite Schuh, the Travel Hub will be open seven days a week. It will stock all our timetables have an travel advisor on hand to help you with ticket information. There will also be a display screen to provide live bus departure times to help you plan your journey.

Nigel Serafini, Commercial Director, Lothiancountry said:

Working in partnership with The Centre, Livingston we are delighted to be able to open a local travel hub, making it easier and more convenient for our customers to be kept up to date with Lothiancountry bus service and ticketing information, as well as onward travel opportunities.

 

[TheEastCoaster]

If it is in zone C it would be £4.70 Edinburgh to Fauldhouse.

Bathgate and Whitburn come under £4.70 and that’s in Zone B And since Fauldhouse is further beyond Whitburn on the map it would no doubt be Zone C like Blackridge (and Harthill unofficially). So i garuntee it will be £5.70 single, like Dunbar-Edinburgh. though I think most folk will no doubt just buy daytickets.

Also, LothianCountry have now opened their information desk at Livingston Centre: https://lothiancountry.co.uk/come-and-visit-at-us-at-our-new-livingston-travel-hub/

I saw a photo of it on Facebook, at least they finally have a place to get info/timetables from! since it’s the closest thing to a travel shop in West Lothian we will no doubt be seeing ridacard options soon, especially since Lothian Country are expanding more and more by the day

 

[overthewater]

Makes you wonder how many operators are going to lose work because of this review. The final nail in the coffin for Horsburgh's service work perhaps?

Unlikely, there is still a good number of contracts up for grabs, however I do expect LCB to go after 40, but remember the town service 31 etc

If it is in zone C it would be £4.70 Edinburgh to Fauldhouse.

Also, LothianCountry have now opened their information desk at Livingston Centre: https://lothiancountry.co.uk/come-and-visit-at-us-at-our-new-livingston-travel-hub/

Someone come in during the dead of night because it wasn't done on Saturday.

Bathgate and Whitburn come under £4.70 and that’s in Zone B And since Fauldhouse is further beyond Whitburn on the map it would no doubt be Zone C like Blackridge (and Harthill unofficially). So i garuntee it will be £5.70 single, like Dunbar-Edinburgh. though I think most folk will no doubt just buy daytickets.

If its £3.70 it price matches First.

I saw a photo of it on Facebook, at least they finally have a place to get info/timetables from! since it’s the closest thing to a travel shop in West Lothian we will no doubt be seeing ridacard options soon, especially since Lothian Country are expanding more and more by the day

St Johns H had a timetable rack for ages and has all the timetables...

 

[Gingerbus1991]

Weekly, monthly and annual options will come.

 

[overthewater]

Weekly, monthly and annual options will come.

LCB already have the first two and there are crap: Surly this is something we shouldn't be waiting 8 months for ?

 

[TheEastCoaster]

St Johns H had a timetable rack for ages and has all the timetables...

Well I imagined they would, but I was meaning for the centre!

 

[alchemy]

"Tedious " yes your probably correct .
As for "good ideas" can you apart from the 280 (25 ) can you think of one since they started?

Your reply indicates that it is a daft statement as you yourself point out a good idea

 

[In Focus]

If the council are led by pro-regulation/publicaly-owned types on bus services, then yes I can understand why that may be the hidden agenda at West Lothian Council.

The deep seated argument that bus-deregulation would make things better and cheaper through competition is utter bo**ocks!

If I were in charge of a local authority or government I would not want peoples tax money to go to an operator with a shoddy operation or vehicles.

I'm not too sure there are many who fall into the last category now..
The other point is how if any operators do have "shoddy" do they improve with no work ?

 

[In Focus]

Your reply indicates that it is a daft statement as you yourself point out a good idea

Yup , still no answer as to a potential profitable route the is not the 280 though .

 

[Volvodart]

There is a photo of all 8 coaches on the Lothian Country Facebook page, so all 8 are ready.

 

[Gingerbus1991]

There is a photo of all 8 coaches on the Lothian Country Facebook page, so all 8 are ready.

A photo? Someone pinch it haha

 

[Jordan Adam]

A photo? Someone pinch it haha

Note the coach second furthest away is missing it's front panel.

 

[In Focus]

Wonder who bumped the one 2nd from the right .....ooops

 

[Jordan Adam]

Wonder who bumped the one 2nd from the right .....ooops

Perhaps it's a special body kit to save weight?

 

[TheEastCoaster]

Note the coach second furthest away is missing it's front panel.

Don’t get the whole green arrow thing? No doubt they will be rebranded to Lothian country!

 

[Jordan Adam]

Don’t get the whole green arrow thing? No doubt they will be rebranded to Lothian country!

Probably to differentiate it from normal LCB services?

 

[overthewater]

Well Lothian will have all 8 coaches and no new routes for another 8 weeks? It does look like X18 may well get them. I doubt many non edinburgh passengers will use them.

 

[Jordan Adam]

Well Lothian will have all 8 coaches and no new routes for another 8 weeks? It does look like X18 may well get them. I doubt many non edinburgh passengers will use them.

Unless they plan to take on Boarder Buses X95?... It wouldn't surprise me if i'm honest!

 

[Darklord8899]

Unless they plan to take on Boarder Buses X95?... It wouldn't surprise me if i'm honest!

...Nor me either!!

 

[SpeedbirdA350]

Yup , still no answer as to a potential profitable route the is not the 280 though .

X27 / X28 do seem to carry quite a few passangers so I would say it would be.

 

[In Focus]

...Nor me either!!

If I were a betting man I'd put my £ on it being Linlithgow - Winchburgh - Kirkiston - Edinburgh to take on the 38 service as they know how badly many feel about the service First provide in that area.

 

[SpeedbirdA350]

Well Lothian will have all 8 coaches and no new routes for another 8 weeks? It does look like X18 may well get them. I doubt many non edinburgh passengers will use them.

They won't sit for 8 weeks and gather dust as that WOULD be a waste of money, but I can't think of any current route which these could be used on, except for longer journeys which might need to be new routes ie Livi - Edin via M8 or in fact as suggested, Border bus X95 but I have wondered in the past why Lothian have ignored the Ferrytoll Park & Ride. While yes, outside of the Lothian zone per say, given the FRB is for public transport only, it would not have the same issues as it did before with cars on it too.

I think it will be interesting to see where they plan on going with this as you don't use a coach for a short distance but longer distances at higher speeds.

 

[SpeedbirdA350]

If I were a betting man I'd put my £ on it being Linlithgow - Winchburgh - Kirkiston - Edinburgh to take on the 38 service as they know how badly many feel about the service First provide in that area.

Linlithgow is one place they have not yet touched, suprisingly, but it will come if not for this..

What intrigues me about these coaches, is the location of the centre door. It is in a very stange place, 2/3 at the rear. Most other coaches use the front door with wheelchair access via there. Also there is doors for luggage below. They would not put these on an airport run, surely?