West Lothian buses

SpeedbirdA350 · 1 Apr 2019

I did not think they did have but I am suprised given these buses were former Skylink fleet.

RailUK Forums

FlybeDash8Q400 · 1 Apr 2019

SpeedbirdA350 said:
I did not think they did have but I am suprised given these buses were former Skylink fleet.

I think they've left them in case they want them to run a WL-Airport route, could be on the cards once the ex Go Ahead B9's arrive, there's also the new buses to come later in the year

Does anyone know if LC are getting all of these or if the split with ECB is still happening?

FlybeDash8Q400 · 2 Apr 2019

Ok I know AFD is over however that coach looks pretty ridiculous:

https://twitter.com/LothianCountry/status/1112977956996071424?s=19

Please tell me it's a late one thrown in and not an attempt to run an M8 express

Volvodart · 2 Apr 2019

For those that cannot see:-

We’re proud to have been working closely with Plaxton on these fantastic new British built Leopard Interurban Coaches.

They will be unveiled this weekend at the 2019 UK Coach Rally in Blackpool.

Keep following us to find out what we have planned for them!

https://twitter.com/LothianCountry/status/1112977956996071424

FlybeDash8Q400 · 2 Apr 2019

Volvodart said:
For those that cannot see:-

https://twitter.com/LothianCountry/status/1112977956996071424

You must have a poor quality device then

Volvodart · 2 Apr 2019

Your link just brought up a blank twitter page when I tried it earlier.

scosutsut · 2 Apr 2019

* Posted 2nd April
* Numberplate not that of an existing Volvo/plaxton in fleet
* Lothian MC coloured grab rails
* LV depot code in window and a fleetnumber on the front
* Genuine URL on the roof, which was only registered in February 2019

Looks like it's real!

FlybeDash8Q400 · 2 Apr 2019

Volvodart said:
Your link just brought up a blank twitter page when I tried it earlier.

That'll be because they changed the tweet, it was originally an offside shot but about 1 min after I posted it it had been deleted and I thus changed it to that one

FlybeDash8Q400 · 2 Apr 2019

scosutsut said:
* Posted 2nd April
* Numberplate not that of an existing Volvo/plaxton in fleet
* Lothian MC coloured grab rails
* LV depot code in window and a fleetnumber on the front
* Genuine URL on the roof, which was only registered in February 2019

Looks like it's real!

Oh dear, it looks as if the M8 expresses could be returning then, what else could they have planned for them?

christopherrfc · 2 Apr 2019

Press release

https://www.alexander-dennis.com/me...opard-coaches-support-further-lothian-growth/

SpeedbirdA350 · 2 Apr 2019

It has an exact change hopper box... So, if this IS for the M8 express, then they need to wake up as 900 gives change, so does train and it looks very strange. Rear doors too? I understand on the B8L but on a long distance coach? I wonder if someone was drunk when they came up with this suggestion.

Robertj21a · 2 Apr 2019

christopherrfc said:
Press release

https://www.alexander-dennis.com/me...opard-coaches-support-further-lothian-growth/

Looks excellent, a game changer.

Big Ralphie · 2 Apr 2019

Looks like lothian wanting to take on the world if not Edinburgh to Glasgow then maybe take on stagecoach running express services to fife dundee Perth etc and run stagecoach out of the city be interesting how many have been bought.

TheGrandWazoo · 2 Apr 2019

Big Ralphie said:
Looks like lothian wanting to take on the world if not Edinburgh to Glasgow then maybe take on stagecoach running express services to fife dundee Perth etc and run stagecoach out of the city be interesting how many have been bought.

I doubt that would happen as there's a limit to how many fights to go and pick.

overthewater · 2 Apr 2019

Its like the mad hatters tea party, those coaches are not cheap..

RomeoCharlie71 · 2 Apr 2019

Big Ralphie said:
Looks like lothian wanting to take on the world if not Edinburgh to Glasgow then maybe take on stagecoach running express services to fife dundee Perth etc and run stagecoach out of the city be interesting how many have been bought.

Highly doubt that. Stagecoach have worked up a good reputation on the Fife express network gaining many awards for it as well. Exact fares won't turn passengers either, and Stagecoach megarider commuters also have the advantage of using their pass at the weekend for leisure activities.

Big Ralphie · 2 Apr 2019

TheGrandWazoo said:
I doubt that would happen as there's a limit to how many fights to go and pick.

Yeh I agree but clearly lothian thinking big and given other companies plenty to think about that it's all about moveing forward with new ideas and not standing still

overthewater · 2 Apr 2019

ross4122 said:
Highly doubt that. Stagecoach have worked up a good reputation on the Fife express network gaining many awards for it as well. Exact fares won't turn passengers either, and Stagecoach megarider commuters also have the advantage of using their pass at the weekend for leisure activities.

Why does LCB hate its commuter passengers having the use of the passes at the weekend.

SpeedbirdA350 · 2 Apr 2019

If it were for the M8 express, if it takes citylink 90 min on average to reach Glasgow, with buses every 15 minutes, they need 6 in each direction, with no spare. Lothian only have 8 of these so unless they are taking some from the main coach company for this then they could not match Citylink 900 like for like. If it were therefore for the M8 express, I can only assume they won't be going head to head direct with Citylink and running an every 20/30 minute express with stops at the X27/28 and go via West App Rd and Calder Road to the M8. However how popular would it actually be? It also then begs the question if they are doing this, they will go via Harthill, so will they link up with LCB at Harthill too?

lastbus · 2 Apr 2019

Could they be for their current express services rather than any attempt at going to Glasgow

SpeedbirdA350 · 2 Apr 2019

I can't see this on any LCB/ECB/LB express service as it does not contain any livery for those services plus they all run fine on current fleet services.

Volvodart · 2 Apr 2019

lastbus said:
Could they be for their current express services rather than any attempt at going to Glasgow

That is what the Alexander Dennis press release says:- "They will be deployed on growing express routes operated by Lothiancountry into Scotland’s capital city"

SpeedbirdA350 · 2 Apr 2019

Volvodart said:
That is what the Alexander Dennis press release says:- "They will be deployed on growing express routes operated by Lothiancountry into Scotland’s capital city"

I read this as well but the livery and brand name of "green arrow" (and website www.greenarrowexpress.co.uk) makes no sense to me if this were the case though. Why not have them in LCB livery with LCB branding?

Daniel Connor · 2 Apr 2019

You have to ask yourself how much spending can Lothian do before it becomes too much. The ex amount of millions they spent on getting the motorcoaches up and running, getting Lothian country up and running, The new tri axles, The 20/30 million they are putting towards the tram extension, any fines they have coming their way from the competition markets authority for their coaches and Lothian Country and now funding these brand new coaches for Lothian Country.

TheGrandWazoo · 2 Apr 2019

Daniel Connor said:
any fines they have coming their way from the competition markets authority for their coaches

Are they being investigated and on what grounds?

TheEastCoaster · 2 Apr 2019

SpeedbirdA350 said:
I read this as well but the livery and brand name of "green arrow" (and website www.greenarrowexpress.co.uk) makes no sense to me if this were the case though. Why not have them in LCB livery with LCB branding?

They probably will be repainted in LCB colours once an official route is announced. Hopefully they will tackle the M8 to Livingston, bringing a direct link to Corstorphine for LCB

The new coaches look nice! Maybe ECB will get a share of the action with a new non stop Dunbar peak time express? :lol:

The XX7? Dunbar and on the A1 to Edinburgh??

Daniel Connor · 2 Apr 2019

TheGrandWazoo said:
Are they being investigated and on what grounds?

Unsure on what grounds I had just heard that they were being pulled up in front of the competition markets authority for their coaches and their West Lothian venture. Potentially timberbush who have stuck them in? Seem to have been in the papers a lot unhappy at Lothian taking their customers

In Focus · 2 Apr 2019

TheGrandWazoo said:
Are they being investigated and on what grounds?

Yes as far as this goes...
https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman....re-due-to-unfair-lothian-bus-rivals-1-4882556

TheGrandWazoo · 2 Apr 2019

Daniel Connor said:
Unsure on what grounds I had just heard that they were being pulled up in front of the competition markets authority for their coaches and their West Lothian venture. Potentially timberbush who have stuck them in? Seem to have been in the papers a lot unhappy at Lothian taking their customers

You can understand their point of view - doesn't sound like there's an investigation yet though and it would be hard to get something to stick.

Gingerbus1991 · 2 Apr 2019

I still see lothian being cleared of these charges, particularly if there go reason with there own evedence of what there doing and pricing the self at.

The loyal base lothian have from Edinburgh is bringing them more customers than any other operator can seem to manage, including tour operators.

West Lothian buses

Member

RailUK Forums

Established Member

Established Member

Established Member

Established Member

Established Member

Member

Established Member

Established Member

Member

Member

On Moderation

Member

Veteran Member

Established Member

Established Member

Member

Established Member

Member

Member

Member

Established Member

Member

New Member

Veteran Member

Established Member

New Member

Member

Veteran Member

Member