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

[Graeme Duncan]

I saw one of the South Queensferry Volvo B9'S turning to Queensferry Street this afternoon was not sure if it was 905 or 906.

 

[Avenger20]

I saw one of the South Queensferry Volvo B9'S turning to Queensferry Street this afternoon was not sure if it was 905 or 906.

Forgive me, but what is the relevance of your post? Have they not been out for a while?

 

[CN04NRJ]

Forgive me, but what is the relevance of your post? Have they not been out for a while?

A 3 bridges tour bus..to Queensferry.... going down Queensferry Street. The only time I've seen another bus than 905/6 was when a B5TL was operating as a duplicate along with one of the pair.

The tour has been back quite a while now so not sure of the relevance? Last time these were discussed was the same poster suggesting 926/927 will be the new Bridges buses for some reason...

 

[Bus9120UK]

I saw one of the South Queensferry Volvo B9'S turning to Queensferry Street this afternoon was not sure if it was 905 or 906.

These have not yet been withdrawn, if that is why you have posted this?

 

[Graham Alexand]

These have not yet been withdrawn, if that is why you have posted this?

They had been absent from the bustimes.org fleet list for a while so quite a few people thought they were withdrawn.

 

[GusB]

I think this is a good time to reiterate that Bustimes.org, by virtue of the fact that it can be edited by anyone, cannot be relied on as a primary source of information (as far as fleet details are concerned).

I'd also like to remind everyone to be courteous when responding to posts in the forum. If someone is posing a question that has already been asked, or posting something that you know is not correct, it is possible to point someone in the right direction without being rude or disrespectful.

 

[CN04NRJ]

These have not yet been withdrawn, if that is why you have posted this?

They're probably here for a while considering they're the only Geminis (1) upgraded to Euro 6 and apart from the lower front end are a standard fleet type.

I think there's a live guide too so any replacement would have to have the speakers/mic equipment installed.

 

[Siemens Trains]

I think this is a good time to reiterate that Bustimes.org, by virtue of the fact that it can be edited by anyone, cannot be relied on as a primary source of information

Thanks for pointing that out. The other day I wondered where bustimes.org data comes from as I've started using it to find journey planning and timetable info recently. It seems easier to use than many bus company websites, apps or Traveline. For this reason I tended to trust it more than whatever I could find through official channels.

 

[scosutsut]

They're probably here for a while considering they're the only Geminis (1) upgraded to Euro 6 and apart from the lower front end are a standard fleet type.

Aren't 841-850 Euro 6'd as well? Which I assume will similarly not be going far on the grounds of the heavy refurb they've had?

 

[CN04NRJ]

Aren't 841-850 Euro 6'd as well? Which I assume will similarly not be going far on the grounds of the heavy refurb they've had?

I keep forgetting about those! Though I suppose their days are numbered now.

Some of the early 400s are out at Marine now - it looked strange seeing 411 on a 26.

 

[Highland050261]

841-850 will be replaced by the 8 or 9 Enviro 400 that are due for East Coast.

 

[LiviCrazy]

Was thinking back to the Lothian Buses strike in 2005 (I think), I know that the Airlink 100 was picked up by some other operators. I can only remember E&M Horsburgh but I think there were others, who else ran the service and were any other routes covered?

 

[CN04NRJ]

Was thinking back to the Lothian Buses strike in 2005 (I think), I know that the Airlink 100 was picked up by some other operators. I can only remember E&M Horsburgh but I think there were others, who else ran the service and were any other routes covered?

Had a quick look on Flickr and found this;

During the Lothian Buses strike on 18.07.05, the only service to operate was the 100 - using hired buses. The vast majority were former Lothian ECW bodied Olympians from the Horsburgh fleet, but two single deckers, Wright bodied Volvo B7RLEs, were also used. SJ04DVM gets ready to pull forward to load.

Whitelaw - SJ04DVM

During the Lothian Buses strike on 18.07.05, the only service to operate was the 100 - using hired buses. The vast majority were former Lothian ECW bodied Olympians from the Horsburgh fleet, but two single deckers, Wright bodied Volvo B7RLEs, were also used. SJ04DVM gets ready to pull forward...

flic.kr

C786SFS

Horsburgh Olympian / ECW C786SFS rests beyond the terminal building - a few journeys loaded to the gunwhales for the first time in a few years proving too much for it. Plumes of steam were evident a few minutes earlier... Seen here during the Lothian Buses strike on 18.07.05 - a replacement...

flic.kr

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

Just further to bustimes.org, I’ve had a look on the website and I’ve quoted a section that might be quite useful for those thinking of using it as a source.

Thanks to the marvels of modern technology, you can see where a particular vehicle has been recently, and which vehicles have operated a particular service. This is sometimes inaccurate, e.g. when ticket machines/tracking equipment are moved between vehicles.

Bustimes.org Lothian Vehicle List

 

[LiviCrazy]

Had a quick look on Flickr and found this;

Whitelaw - SJ04DVM

During the Lothian Buses strike on 18.07.05, the only service to operate was the 100 - using hired buses. The vast majority were former Lothian ECW bodied Olympians from the Horsburgh fleet, but two single deckers, Wright bodied Volvo B7RLEs, were also used. SJ04DVM gets ready to pull forward...

flic.kr

C786SFS

Horsburgh Olympian / ECW C786SFS rests beyond the terminal building - a few journeys loaded to the gunwhales for the first time in a few years proving too much for it. Plumes of steam were evident a few minutes earlier... Seen here during the Lothian Buses strike on 18.07.05 - a replacement...

flic.kr

Thanks.

 

[CN04NRJ]

Thanks.

Way before I had an interest in Lothian so thanks for bringing it up as I had no idea!

 

[LiviCrazy]

Way before I had an interest in Lothian so thanks for bringing it up as I had no idea!

My grandparents lived in Corstorphine at the time and I remember standing on St John’s Road watching all these old Horsburgh buses running, it was a surreal sight.

 

[scosutsut]

I keep forgetting about those! Though I suppose their days are numbered now.

See I assumed that too but the few getting full Lothian Country colours (prior to being sent to ECB) made me wonder if actually they are going to be around for longer. We'll know soon enough once ECBs MMCs turn up.

 

[Graham Alexand]

See I assumed that too but the few getting full Lothian Country colours (prior to being sent to ECB) made me wonder if actually they are going to be around for longer. We'll know soon enough once ECBs MMCs turn up.

Some have apparently already been built.

 

[mb88]

My grandparents lived in Corstorphine at the time and I remember standing on St John’s Road watching all these old Horsburgh buses running, it was a surreal sight.

Most of them are probably still in the Horsburgh fleet

 

[LiviCrazy]

Most of them are probably still in the Horsburgh fleet

Definitely. Still see a lot of them that age running around my area on school services.

Was more meaning surreal to see so many on all day work in Edinburgh.

Speaking of which am I remembering correctly that Prentice Westwood for a short while had some old Lothian double deckers too? Seem to remember them running some service buses with those for the first few weeks when they started running council service buses before they bought their Solos.

Edit: found it, they certainly had at least one. J857 TSC

 

[ScotRail158725]

Most of them are probably still in the Horsburgh fleet

Not anymore since they bought 17 Lothian B7TLs last year which should last them until about 2043

 

[mb88]

Not anymore since they bought 17 Lothian B7TLs last year which should last them until about 2043

Or until they have more plants growing round the windows than the Botanic Gardens, whichever comes first

 

[ScotRail158725]

Some service changes are most certainly needed. I’ve somehow managed to find myself on an Evora on the N30 consisting of about 90 people. I at least wouldn’t have had to find myself on this if the N3 was half hourly on weekend mornings like it was pre covid. The nighttime industry is certainly back to its ore covid levels so half hourly night buses on certain routes most definitely is needed

 

[Siemens Trains]

Some service changes are most certainly needed. I’ve somehow managed to find myself on an Evora on the N30 consisting of about 90 people. I at least wouldn’t have had to find myself on this if the N3 was half hourly on weekend mornings like it was pre covid. The nighttime industry is certainly back to its ore covid levels so half hourly night buses on certain routes most definitely is needed

I don't know the area well these days but doesn't the N3 run 10 minutes ahead of the N30 at the moment?
There isn't a lot of commonality in the routes, so wouldn't the N14 offer better relief? However the N30 and N14 already alternate half hourly.

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

I don't know the area well these days but doesn't the N3 run 10 minutes ahead of the N30 at the moment?
There isn't a lot of commonality in the routes, so wouldn't the N14 offer better relief? However the N30 and N14 already alternate half hourly.

The N14 on the other hand does not appear to be doing too well between Ferry Road and Muirhouse. They’ve now changed the last 14 down here to become an N14 starting at St Leonard’s but that’s only made a slight difference, the other journeys normally have 2 to 3 at most on them and it’s not uncommon to see an ex Royal Infirmary N14 empty on this section. Was really hopeful this would be used, but alas so far it has not. I imagine between Ferry Road and the Royal Infirmary is quite popular so hopefully that’ll give it a bit of time.

 

[ScotRail158725]

I don't know the area well these days but doesn't the N3 run 10 minutes ahead of the N30 at the moment?
There isn't a lot of commonality in the routes, so wouldn't the N14 offer better relief? However the N30 and N14 already alternate half hourly.

For me living in the south of Edinburgh the N3, N11 & N14 are all
about 10 minutes off. Only reason i used the N30
tonight was because it took me closer to home than walking. Its quite clear that there’s some night routes which need to go back to half hourly

 

[stantheman]

Bright red ancient double deck bus passed my house in Balerno heading west a few mins ago on the A70 . Looked like freshly painted. Could this be an ex London route master and where could it be going ?

 

[Auld reekie]

Bright red ancient double deck bus passed my house in Balerno heading west a few mins ago on the A70 . Looked like freshly painted. Could this be an ex London route master and where could it be going ?

A wedding somewhere.

 

[backontrack]

Is the 45 bus ever coming back?

Would've been useful as I have to pick something up from Colinton tomorrow. And it's also good for getting to Porty. Ahh well...