Lothian Buses and ECB Discussion

[OmniCity999]

Any news at all on the new buses?

Should be one out and about next week, just floating about really.

Whenever theres a new type in the fleet, there's always the usual route trials and evaluations.

 

[Bus9120UK]

Should be one out and about next week, just floating about really.

Whenever theres a new type in the fleet, there's always the usual route trials and evaluations.

Interesting stuff. If this is the case, we will get a peak at the buses in no time!

 

[CN04NRJ]

Should be one out and about next week, just floating about really.

Whenever theres a new type in the fleet, there's always the usual route trials and evaluations.

Hopefully some on service when I'm back from annual leave

 

[OmniCity999]

Hopefully some on service when I'm back from annual leave

Their a lovely drive and well built.

I'm a wee bit envious of drivers who get to drive the newer generation of Lothian stock daily. Shame about having to carry customers, though.

 

[90019]

Shame about having to carry customers, though.

That's always the bit that spoils the job.

 

[CN04NRJ]

Their a lovely drive and well built.

I'm a wee bit envious of drivers who get to drive the newer generation of Lothian stock daily. Shame about having to carry customers, though.

As long as they're nicer than the 7900Hs I'll be happy

 

[SpeedbirdA350]

Do they have a centre/rear door? I know the B8L had to due to high capacity... I think single door with more seats is better but...

 

[OmniCity999]

Do they have a centre/rear door? I know the B8L had to due to high capacity... I think single door with more seats is better but...

The B8L dual door isn't about capacity, the way you think it is anyway. Its about safety exits. If the Enviro400XLB's had a drivers side emergency exit (full height) then it would be fine. The primary reason they have the exit door is about getting people on and off quickly in normal service, not in an emergency. Its seen to be quicker on service work.

I guess what I'm saying in the most contrived way is if the B8L's were single door, they'd need a full height drivers side emergency exit. Because their dual door, it doesnt matter. I think its the same for regular deckers too..

Look at Eves B9TL 100 seater. It has one exit, although I think it has a drivers side small exit, regulations have changed since then. Or First Aberdeens (ex First Glasgow) Enviro500's. Or even their predecessors, i think they were East Lancs vikings?

 

[CN04NRJ]

The B8L dual door isn't about capacity, the way you think it is anyway. Its about safety exits. If the Enviro400XLB's had a drivers side emergency exit (full height) then it would be fine. The primary reason they have the exit door is about getting people on and off quickly in normal service, not in an emergency. Its seen to be quicker on service work.

I guess what I'm saying in the most contrived way is if the B8L's were single door, they'd need a full height drivers side emergency exit. Because their dual door, it doesnt matter. I think its the same for regular deckers too..

Look at Eves B9TL 100 seater. It has one exit, although I think it has a drivers side small exit, regulations have changed since then. Or First Aberdeens (ex First Glasgow) Enviro500's. Or even their predecessors, i think they were East Lancs vikings?

Same as the bendy buses I used to drive in Cardiff, the rear exit doors negated the need for offside emergency doors.

 

[OmniCity999]

The B8L dual door isn't about capacity, the way you think it is anyway. Its about safety exits. If the Enviro400XLB's had a drivers side emergency exit (full height) then it would be fine. The primary reason they have the exit door is about getting people on and off quickly in normal service, not in an emergency. Its seen to be quicker on service work.

I guess what I'm saying in the most contrived way is if the B8L's were single door, they'd need a full height drivers side emergency exit. Because their dual door, it doesnt matter. I think its the same for regular deckers too..

Look at Eves B9TL 100 seater. It has one exit, although I think it has a drivers side small exit, regulations have changed since then. Or First Aberdeens (ex First Glasgow) Enviro500's. Or even their predecessors, i think they were East Lancs vikings?

Same as the bendy buses I used to drive in Cardiff, the rear exit doors negated the need for offside emergency doors.

Which is weird, because if that vehicle rolls onto its nearside, you have to rely on break glasses.

 

[Bus9120UK]

Now Mentioned on twitter that the 20 and 63 are moving: https://twitter.com/on_lothianbuses/status/1299015600283496449
Not mentioning First Bus at all, they do link the timetables for the First Bus Website.

 

[OmniCity999]

Now Mentioned on twitter that the 20 and 63 are moving: https://twitter.com/on_lothianbuses/status/1299015600283496449
Not mentioning First Bus at all, they do link the timetables for the First Bus Website.

i think people are looking into this too much now.

A company isnt actively going to advertise its opponents. The timetable is linked, thats all that matters.

 

[CN04NRJ]

i think people are looking into this too much now.

A company isnt actively going to advertise its opponents. The timetable is linked, thats all that matters.

Seen quite a few people (the usual suspects) referencing this on Facebook.


Not sure why they expect one company to actively promote its #1 rival in the area - they've provided the necessary information required and that's all they had to do. Everyone who actually uses the services know who the new operator is anyway by now!

 

[Bus9120UK]

By the looks of it bus 112 has been sold to Pulham's Coaches. https://www.flickr.com/photos/michaelst138/50277111188/

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 28 Aug 2020 ==

Also noticed that on the website, the Lothian Motorcoaches and Green Arrow sections are gone.

 

[OmniCity999]

By the looks of it bus 112 has been sold to Pulham's Coaches. https://www.flickr.com/photos/michaelst138/50277111188/

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 28 Aug 2020 ==

Also noticed that on the website, the Lothian Motorcoaches and Green Arrow sections are gone.

The purge begins.

Usual people online giving it "i thought it was preserved" and "thats so sad".

Its a bus. An inanimate object.

Fundamentally preserved buses etc. Dont make money. Bus companies need to make money, so get rid of the thing that isn't making money.

Its not the first thing current management are changing and it won't be the last. Buckle up. Its gonna be a bumpy ride.

 

[ScotRail158725]

The purge begins.

Usual people online giving it "i thought it was preserved" and "thats so sad".

Its a bus. An inanimate object.

Fundamentally preserved buses etc. Dont make money. Bus companies need to make money, so get rid of the thing that isn't making money.

People seem to think once something is preserved its an untouchable piece that cant be touched or sold in anyway. id assume the older fleet will likely be sold to a preservation group or scrap considering not many operators will want a vehicle older than half their staff

 

[Observer]

Tells you everything you need to know, they are distancing themselves away from Hall's favourite toys and pet projects.

Can't blame them, if anyone wanted it out of their hands in preservation they should have enquired about it before it went elsewhere!

 

[ScotRail158725]

Can't blame them, if anyone wanted it out of their hands in preservation they should have enquired about it before it went elsewhere!

tbh im glad that that ugly harlequin livery is going (again)

 

[CN04NRJ]

The purge begins.

Usual people online giving it "i thought it was preserved" and "thats so sad".

Its a bus. An inanimate object.

Fundamentally preserved buses etc. Dont make money. Bus companies need to make money, so get rid of the thing that isn't making money.

Its not the first thing current management are changing and it won't be the last. Buckle up. Its gonna be a bumpy ride.

All true, I just hope the older stuff ends up in the hands of preservationists and not for scrap (obviously if there's people willing to stump up the cash) as it would be a shame to see significant vehicles lost forever.

 

[ScotRail158725]

All true, I just hope the older stuff ends up in the hands of preservationists and not for scrap (obviously if there's people willing to stump up the cash) as it would be a shame to see significant vehicles go forever.

The older stuff living on would be nice considering we can go to Livingston or Fife to see some B7s and tridents where as the older types are only found in preservation. So is it just 112 so far thats gone? How many B7TLs also remain if any

 

[overthewater]

The fact this "NEWISH" bus has been sold for further operations else where highlights the fact the bus still has something to offer, why have in depot doing nothing when it could be making pennies elsewhere.

IF this is just the start, you have to wonder were else the axe will appear..

 

[CN04NRJ]

The older stuff living on would be nice considering we can go to Livingston or Fife to see some B7s and tridents where as the older types are only found in preservation. So is it just 112 so far thats gone? How many B7TLs also remain if any

No idea, the last two B7TLs hanging around Longstone have disappeared recently though. 810 was one of them if I recall correctly. They seem to be moving on thick and fast.

 

[scosutsut]

I don't think we can act surprised, you've got changes at the top and you've got Covid business impact to consider, and they've still got their contribution to the councillors train set extension to pay for.

Selling older stuff with service life left in it makes total sense as the market is crying out for extra capacity. Selling newer assets might be harder.

Edit: I saw a de-branded, denumbered 56 plate B7TL heading south on the A1 early this afternoon. I didn't get the full plate.

 

[ScotRail158725]

No idea, the last two B7TLs hanging around Longstone have disappeared recently though. 810 was one of them if I recall correctly. They seem to be moving on thick and fast.

810 went south with 746 and another around 3 weeks ago

Edit: I saw a de-branded, denumbered 56 plate B7TL heading south on the A1 early this afternoon. I didn't get the full plate.

703, 705, 708, 757-758, 760, 762, 766-767, 786-787, 791, 811-816, 818, 822-825 as far as i know havent been seen at new homes/on route to them.

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

Random question but if management decides to sell the remaining heritage fleet that they own, where would you go about buying one? I’m just wondering as x572 at the right price could be something that works for me and a few others. I imagine x322 and x285 will be sought after but the tridents are a bit like marmite.

Had a good few memories of x572 when it was on the 14 and I was still at Primary School. It and 567 iirc were the last two in the original harlequin and seemed to last much longer than the others in the batch.

 

[ScotRail158725]

Random question but if management decides to sell the remaining heritage fleet that they own, where would you go about buying one? I’m just wondering as x572 at the right price could be something that works for me and a few others. I imagine x322 and x285 will be sought after but the tridents are a bit like marmite.

Had a good few memories of x572 when it was on the 14 and I was still at Primary School. It and 567 iirc were the last two in the original harlequin and seemed to last much longer than the others in the batch.

theres a link on the Lothian fleet sales facebook page where you can enquire, they’ve got B7RLEs for sale there too

 

[scosutsut]

theres a link on the Lothian fleet sales facebook page where you can enquire, they’ve got B7RLEs for sale there too

Yeah all the replies on that page give an email address to contact so I'd start there.

 

[DunsBus]

Random question but if management decides to sell the remaining heritage fleet that they own, where would you go about buying one? I’m just wondering as x572 at the right price could be something that works for me and a few others. I imagine x322 and x285 will be sought after but the tridents are a bit like marmite.

Had a good few memories of x572 when it was on the 14 and I was still at Primary School. It and 567 iirc were the last two in the original harlequin and seemed to last much longer than the others in the batch.

The frothers will be in mourning if Lothian ever decides to sell X285!

 

[scosutsut]

The frothers will be in mourning if Lothian ever decides to sell X285!

Indeed. Although it's not really service worthy like 112 or 701 so seems less likely. Unless they are going scorched earth.

 

[DunsBus]

Indeed. Although it's not really service worthy like 112 or 701 so seems less likely. Unless they are going scorched earth.

I think we might see anything going which is still service worthy. That said, the planned restoration of Olympian coach 366, which was bought back last year for the heritage fleet, has been aborted and it has now been sold for scrap.