I think they'd have been better starting off with the X18 (which fills a gaps that First don't provide) rather than the circuitous/infrequent X27/X28 ... or the (too long IMHO) 275... or the relatively short 280/287... it'll not compete with the train on time but a good spec of double decker should attract a slice of the market.
No idea why they went for X18 rather than X16 (even if we aren't worrying about the Armadale/ Harthill/ Whitburn extension), since 16 was the most used service number from Edinburgh to Bathgate (there was even a short lived extension to Lochend IIRC). But maybe the idea is that there's no Lothian 18 (now there's the 400 instead) whilst there may one day be an express to Oxgangs numbered X16? Seems unlikely though!
I guess the question is that, now they've ticked various boxes (Edinburgh - Livi, Edinburgh - Bathgate, Livi- Bathgate, Gyle - Livi, extensions to Whitburn/ Armadale/ Blackridge etc, Night bus) is there anything left to expand into? Is that it for the expansion? Three phases into it and they've not bothered with commercial services to Kirkliston or Loganlea, so will there now be a period of stability without any additional Lothian services? Or will First eventually reorganise and fight back? Or is it not worth fighting back against?
Yeah seems that they missed an oppertunity there, better later than never though and the X18’s announcement seems to be peaking folks interest, one thing they should of done was extend it to Whitburn to completely link it with Bathgate and Armadale. (Perhaps a future service change though). I can imagine they’ll use double deckers for this service and put the new single deckers on the 287
I think they are reserving the X16 number for that reason, (though an express through to Silverknowes seems more likely since the X15 covers most of Morningside), East Coast already took the X5 number so no chance we’ll see an express to Hunters Tryst in the future har har
I think in terms of Central services it’s pretty solid, four services to Edinburgh and two services within West Lothian, the network is expanding and I doubt they’ll give up now, I’ve noticed more people using the X27/X28 the past week so that’s a good sign, unfortunately all but two major areas are covered by LCB, I’m more baffled by Kirkliston than Fauldhouse. (I know First still have the 38 and that’s the reason they won’t venture to Kirkliston/Linlithgow) but right from the beginning all I saw were folk in Kirkliston begging for a direct Lothian service, Hoping they’ll save this for next year.
tbtc, I think there is alot left untouched which they could go for (although I don't have a huge amount of knowledge about the area). IMO I think phase 4 will be the 275 extending to Harthill (it's about 1.5 miles to the service station and has a lot of houses from where the 275 terminates atm), X27/X28 getting a better frequency of every 20 minutes (depends on numbers though I guess) with a slightly changed route and a maybe new service via Fauldhouse. I do wonder about Bo'ness and Linlithgow, and I also wonder about rules regarding entering North Lanarkshire council area ie Shotts and what it would need to happen etc..
I guess LB will go where they think they can make money but at the same time, they do need to make sure it's competitive prices and this is one reason I think before we hear about phase 4, will we hear about the ridacard, pre-pay, or some weekly/monthly travel pass and most importantly, contactless payment options.
If Phase 4 doesn’t introduce new services it would be better if they modify the existing ones, like you said extend the 275 to Harthill and the X18 to Whitburn. I could see the X27/X28 getting a frequency increase by 30 minutes, as I said above the services are getting busier so they are clearly being used.
I guess if Lothian was to extend into Harthill they could extend to Bo’Ness be unusual for them since they are technically not in the Lothian region, but then again Borders Buses run the 253 to England so stranger things have happened.
By god hopefully once they introduce a new ridacard and contactless after years of badgering on by the public everyone can be happy. I’m willing to bet they’ll announce something new when the year is almost over.
