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

[ScotRail158725]

Seems as if more of the original batch of B5TL’s are having Hanovers fitted, just seen 411 with one and I’d imagine others have had them done as well. 401-406 were the only ones I knew of so far and obviously we know the situation with 405 too. Had also wondered if 422-424 have had them prior to repaint?

Hopefully 441-465 can have announcements fitted at some point, with 551-570 getting newer ones too. Not sure if 401-425 could have them fitted (or something similar) though with the different body. I do remember only some of 401-425 ever having them, and I’m sure none of them had them when they first entered service. Can’t remember what the issue was though.

Does look like these revised Mobitec displays are on their way out though.

i noticed them on 410 yesterday but i thought they’d been replaced and that i just hadn’t noticed

 

[stevenedin]

I thought it was just a different font. I didn’t realise that it was a whole different display. Are the mobitec ones the ones that can show colour?

 

[FP transport v]

I unfortunately didn't get a good picture, but bus 401 has been given the "FOTF" moquette on its seats

 

[Bus9120UK]

Seems as if more of the original batch of B5TL’s are having Hanovers fitted, just seen 411 with one and I’d imagine others have had them done as well. 401-406 were the only ones I knew of so far and obviously we know the situation with 405 too. Had also wondered if 422-424 have had them prior to repaint?

Hopefully 441-465 can have announcements fitted at some point, with 551-570 getting newer ones too. Not sure if 401-425 could have them fitted (or something similar) though with the different body. I do remember only some of 401-425 ever having them, and I’m sure none of them had them when they first entered service. Can’t remember what the issue was though.

Does look like these revised Mobitec displays are on their way out though.

(Edit: @FP transport v has beaten me to it!) 401 has also received the new FOTF seat moquette, barely visible from this photo, but it should be noticable in it's distinctive maroon shade. (The older one that the buses had was more of an orange). I'm sure it's an improvement!

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

(Edit: @FP transport v has beaten me to it!) 401 has also received the new FOTF seat moquette, barely visible from this photo, but it should be noticable in it's distinctive maroon shade. (The older one that the buses had was more of an orange). I'm sure it's an improvement!
View attachment 109547

Looks nice, shame it’s lost the landmarks maquette though even if it was quite worn. Still my favourite bus in the fleet either way - and I know many will probably disagree with that. I saw it in Seafield just recently so I’m wondering if this is probably what was being done.

It’s the things like this, fresh displays, cleanliness and just general upkeep among others that when all put together makes Lothian’s fleet really stand out and proves that everything is kept to a higher standard than most other operators of a similar size. Things we take for granted at times to be honest.

 

[ScotRail158725]

(The older one that the buses had was more of an orange). I'm sure it's an improvement!

They faded so much after 3 or 4 in years in service they had went from the same Maroon when new to the orangey colour they ended up

 

[Bus9120UK]

Probably the last photo of it in service (27th).

Lothian Volvo B9TL Wright Eclipse Gemini 2 SN09CVL 926 operating service 41 to King's Buildings at Princes Street on 27 January 2022.

Explore Robin Dickson 1's 57908 photos on Flickr!

flic.kr

Potentially not, it may be photographed today as it's made an appearance on the 42.

 

[CN04NRJ]

Potentially not, it may be photographed today as it's made an appearance on the 42.

Perhaps a bit like 925, I think that saw a bit of service at Marine before it came off permanently. Hopefully not though, 927 is still out.

 

[Vectron383]

679’s ticket roll has hello fresh ads on the back, I haven’t seen any with adverts for at least a year now (Though I might have missed them)

Edit: 679 not 379

 

[ScotRail158725]

679’s ticket roll has hello fresh ads on the back, I haven’t seen any with adverts for at least a year now (Though I might have missed them)

Edit: 679 not 379

Been a good 3 or 4 years now i think since there were adverts on ticket rolls, definitely not since the start of 2020 anyway

 

[stantheman]

45 back to Marine operation today

 

[Vectron383]

Been a good 3 or 4 years now i think since there were adverts on ticket rolls, definitely not since the start of 2020 anyway

Interesting, must be a good source of ancillary revenue.

 

[90019]

Been a good 3 or 4 years now i think since there were adverts on ticket rolls, definitely not since the start of 2020 anyway

I've noticed fewer ticket rolls with adverts, but they definitely never fully went away.

Over the last few months I'd say it's been about 50/50 whether a bus will have a roll with adverts on or not.

 

[Vectron383]

Really? I must have had some luck not to come across one for years!

 

[CN04NRJ]

Really? I must have had some luck not to come across one for years!

There's been a few McDonald's ones at the very least.

 

[alexf380]

52 and 53 both out today, for anyone wanting to take pictures. 52 on the 106 and 53 on X7.

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

10054 (to become 54) is next away for repaint. Wonder if 10055 (which is at Marine just now) may follow suit.

 

[Graham Alexand]

10054 (to become 54) is next away for repaint. Wonder if 10055 (which is at Marine just now) may follow suit.

Is 1033 away for a repaint?

I ask as it has been appearing at Seafield for sometime.

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

Is 1033 away for a repaint?

I ask as it has been appearing at Seafield for sometime.

Good chance 1033 might be, it has been at Seafield for a while now. Possible repair then repaint?

I’ve just noticed 10055 has moved to Seafield now as well by the looks of it so is likely to be next away for repaint.

552 came back from Ferrymill on Friday so I imagine that will be back in service shortly. Probably is into standard livery for that as well.

There’s probably other things I’ve missed as well.

 

[Lothian_Bus]

Good chance 1033 might be, it has been at Seafield for a while now. Possible repair then repaint?

I’ve just noticed 10055 has moved to Seafield now as well by the looks of it so is likely to be next away for repaint.

552 came back from Ferrymill on Friday so I imagine that will be back in service shortly. Probably is into standard livery for that as well.

There’s probably other things I’ve missed as well.

552 was back in service on the 44 this evening.

 

[CN04NRJ]

The electric Optare Metrodecker that was with West Coast motors is now at Central, with logos fitted.

 

[Trnsprt4Sctlnd]

The electric Optare Metrodecker that was with West Coast motors is now at Central, with logos fitted.

Central? They’ve got a means of charging it I’m guessing, don’t follow what happens in Edinburgh, sorry

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

The electric Optare Metrodecker that was with West Coast motors is now at Central, with logos fitted.

This I’m guessing is the one that was used on the Glasgow Citybus/ScotRail 398 during COP26? It’s moved about a lot recently, was in Dundee for a while too.

 

[MotCO]

This I’m guessing is the one that was used on the Glasgow Citybus/ScotRail 398 during COP26? It’s moved about a lot recently, was in Dundee for a while too.

Was/is this owned by Metroline? Presumably service reductions in London mean that Metroline don't need it, but why didn't they use it on other routes?

 

[cnjb8]

Was/is this owned by Metroline? Presumably service reductions in London mean that Metroline don't need it, but why didn't they use it on other routes?

It was owned by Optare I think, who now use it as a demo

 

[CN04NRJ]

This I’m guessing is the one that was used on the Glasgow Citybus/ScotRail 398 during COP26? It’s moved about a lot recently, was in Dundee for a while too.

Yes, it looked like it had a hopper and ticket machine fitted too.

 

[MotCO]

It was owned by Optare I think, who now use it as a demo

From photos on Flickr, I think it is YJ19HVC, which was numbered OME2652 whilst operating for Metroline, then spent some time at Go North East, before going to COP26. OME2652 is in the middle of a batch of buses Metroline uses on route 134, so I asume it was owned by Metroline, otherwise it would have been tacked onto the existing batch. Either Metroline has loaned it back to Optare/Switch for demonstration purposes, or Optare/Switch have bought it back. Hence my earlier question about why Metroline no longer need it.

​

 

[ScotRail158725]

From photos on Flickr, I think it is YJ19HVC, which was numbered OME2652 whilst operating for Metroline, then spent some time at Go North East, before going to COP26. OME2652 is in the middle of a batch of buses Metroline uses on route 134, so I asume it was owned by Metroline, otherwise it would have been tacked onto the existing batch. Either Metroline has loaned it back to Optare/Switch for demonstration purposes, or Optare/Switch have bought it back. Hence my earlier question about why Metroline no longer need it.

​

It was sold back to Optare

 

[BobScott]

It was sold back to Optare

It’s a demonstrator. Lothian is going to use it on trials for a few days.

 

[ScotRail158725]

It’s a demonstrator. Lothian is going to use it on trials for a few days.

Yes, that’s what it is when its owned by the manufacturer and leased to companies