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

[FlybeDash8Q400]

Im sure the website is wrong and the Three bridges tour was reverted back to daily for the summer season. I have seen it out during the week.

Indeed it is, 905 has been out all day and I assume 906 has been as well - even if it continues to fail to track. Wonder if there actually is an AVL on 906 at all anymore?

 

[TheEastCoaster]

Any more word of bus service changes in June?

I thought it would be in May but seems too short notice at this point! Here’s hoping we hear something soon

 

[CN04NRJ]

I thought it would be in May but seems too short notice at this point! Here’s hoping we hear something soon

Early June, at least one unexpected surprise.

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

Early June, at least one unexpected surprise.

Hopefully it’s not previous suggestions about the 22. Imagine what the press would be like! Joking aside though I do think this could happen, and I don’t think it would go down well at all. The 16 would need to really pick up somewhat (mostly in the early mornings and to a certain extent in the late evenings) if it has any chance of working.

If this does happen, the N22 is surely a gonner? I know a couple of people that use it all the time and it’s regularly as good as carrying fresh air.


Or maybe it’s a more positive change? My mind has gone blank and I can’t think of many of those, except for an ECB route that serves a good chunk of the A1…. Now surely that won’t happen!

 

[stevenedin]

The 22 is always packed coming from Leith. I don’t know how they could consider this until at least the tram is in operation.

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

The 22 is always packed coming from Leith. I don’t know how they could consider this until at least the tram is in operation.

Yea I agree. If they want to save buses they’d be better reducing other routes like the 19 to every 20 minutes - keeping peak buses at every 15 minutes. I reckon there’s a good few routes where this would be possible.

Again as we heard before hopefully it’s mostly increases and not reductions.

 

[stevenedin]

Fingers crossed. The other thing they could do is that extend the 12 to Ocean Terminal via the current 22 route from the city centre and possibly run the 22 somewhere else that doesn’t have a connection to the Gyle Centre. There aren’t any connections from south Edinburgh to Ocean Terminal except the 11 so there could be an opportunity for this.

 

[Lothian285]

There aren’t any connections from south Edinburgh to Ocean Terminal except the 11 so there could be an opportunity for this

There's the 36 as well

 

[CN04NRJ]

Yea I agree. If they want to save buses they’d be better reducing other routes like the 19 to every 20 minutes - keeping peak buses at every 15 minutes. I reckon there’s a good few routes where this would be possible.

Again as we heard before hopefully it’s mostly increases and not reductions.

It's going to be a significant increase. Great news with cuts in other parts of the UK, i've been very busy in the last two weeks, it's really good to see. Two years ago I could walk along Princes Street and not see another person or a bus.

 

[scosutsut]

Repaint news, boring I know but in the last few days I've seen both 58 and 62 (ex 10058/62) looking resplendent in the new Dark Green / White ECB/LCB livery with 62 also gaining a new rear advert for The Museum of Flight at East Fortune.

I can't understate my opinion of what an improvement this livery is over ECBs Grey/Green variant, it looks so much better. Still just Gemini 2 and Eclipse 3s in the new colours so far - but all a massive improvement!

 

[Bus9120UK]

Repaint news, boring I know but in the last few days I've seen both 58 and 62 (ex 10058/62) looking resplendent in the new Dark Green / White ECB/LCB livery with 62 also gaining a new rear advert for The Museum of Flight at East Fortune.

I can't understate my opinion of what an improvement this livery is over ECBs Grey/Green variant, it looks so much better. Still just Gemini 2 and Eclipse 3s in the new colours so far - but all a massive improvement!

With all of the Eclipse 3s had or gone for their paint we can probably expect a different type of vehicle to get painted in the next week or two.

358/61/68/72/73/75 are all in service now freshly painted too with 374/7/8 off the road for their paint.

1120 has recently returned to service after an accident in November as well.

 

[stevenedin]

I agree about the livery. It looks much better. When I first heard the news about the change, I wasn’t so sure but now I feel like they look premium. It would be nice if some of the ex London Lothian Country buses moved to EastCoastbuses eventually as they are nice buses but who knows.

 

[alexf380]

With all of the Eclipse 3s had or gone for their paint we can probably expect a different type of vehicle to get painted in the next week or two.

If it were up to me I'd send 841-850 off for paint next, purely so there's EastCoastBuses branding across the whole fleet.

 

[stevenedin]

That would make sense to be honest as it doesn’t look like they are going to be withdrawn anytime soon

 

[Darklord8899]

What was the X50?

IIRC the X50 was the Leith/Newhaven Cruiselink

 

[scosutsut]

That would make sense to be honest as it doesn’t look like they are going to be withdrawn anytime soon

All in more or less daily use, are Euro 6 treated (I think) and refurbished to a similar standard as the 11 plate ex London batches. Even if a few are acting as paint floats I can't see where replacements will come from especially of City services are ramping up, and there are no known orders on the books.

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

If it were up to me I'd send 841-850 off for paint next, purely so there's EastCoastBuses branding across the whole fleet.

Can’t see any of these getting another paint. They are as far as I know on the way out but not just yet.

At least 4 of these are now paint floats anyway as ECB gained 591-594 as extra to cover for paints. Factor in the additional deckers for the 140 and it very quickly appears that it’s probably something like 844-850 that are actually extra at this point. Not to mention 195-196 are still VOR too.

I think 841-850 will go west once the ECB repaints are done and this will then allow the same process at LC to be done. 195-196 should hopefully come back out if the X5 returns (probably via repaint), a few extra newer buses (probably single deckers) could end up at ECB too.

 

[BobScott]

IIRC the X50 was the Leith/Newhaven Cruiselink

X50 was the original Britannia service from Waverley Bridge using the white Olympian 433. There was previously a service 99 that ran from Waverley to Harry Ramsden’s fish restaurant at Newhaven.

 

[computerSaysNo]

At least 4 of these are now paint floats anyway as ECB gained 591-594 as extra to cover for paints. Factor in the additional deckers for the 140 and it very quickly appears that it’s probably something like 844-850 that are actually extra at this point. Not to mention 195-196 are still VOR too.

Additional deckers?

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

Additional deckers?

The 139 and 140 still have double decks out on them most days. 844-850 originally replaced 20794-20800 and then 841-843 moved over as extra. 591-594 have now been added too (so there’s 7 extra double decks than before the pandemic), so unless ECB plan to permanently increase the double deck working (which could happen, but I don’t think it will) this would suggest that some of the double decks are extra at this point and eventually will move on.

 

[scosutsut]

The 139 and 140 still have double decks out on them most days. 844-850 originally replaced 20794-20800 and then 841-843 moved over as extra. 591-594 have now been added too (so there’s 7 extra double decks than before the pandemic), so unless ECB plan to permanently increase the double deck working (which could happen, but I don’t think it will) this would suggest that some of the double decks are extra at this point and eventually will move on.

Good point, also no X5 workings to contend with either (although that said these were usual singles I think, although doubles could cover) - and only 10195/6 are long term out of use.

So net increase = 5 vehicles but requirements have dropped.

I guess when the repaints finish it will all become clear.

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

Good point, also no X5 workings to contend with either (although that said these were usual singles I think, although doubles could cover) - and only 10195/6 are long term out of use.

So net increase = 5 vehicles but requirements have dropped.

I guess when the repaints finish it will all become clear.

X5 PVR was 3 (with additional buses during the peak hours), the X7 also had extra double decks during the peak doing Edinburgh to Haddington shorts (these usually came off the school services). I’m not sure ECB are minus much else at this point.

I think ECB are down 4 single decks overall compared with pre-covid. 10101/2 were sold around summer 2020 I want to say and 10195/6 have been VOR for well over a year now.

That being said there’s an increase in double decks, it was 28 before the pandemic (7 B7TL’s, 13 B9TL’s - remember 942 was still off the road and 20794 was it’s cover, and then 8 B5TL’s). It now stands at 36 (24 B9TL’s, 4 B5LH’s and 8 B5TL’s) - admittedly 4 of these are paint floats.

So really if it was a return to pre-covid levels and all repaints are done then ECB should lose 8 double decks and gain 4 single decks.

I think provided that the PVR allows it it’s more likely that something like 171-175, 195-196 will move/return to ECB with all of 841-850 going (and as I suggested previously) back to LC.

Time will tell what actually happens though…

 

[Vectron383]

Neither the 8:56 or 9:26 42 to King’s Road showed up at Craigleith Hill today, really bad service.

 

[Porty]

Neither the 8:56 or 9:26 42 to King’s Road showed up at Craigleith Hill today, really bad service.

I don't know the area but the Lothian app shows no service on the 38 and 42 to Craigleith Retail Park due to a road closure. Might this have something to do with it?

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

I don't know the area but the Lothian app shows no service on the 38 and 42 to Craigleith Retail Park due to a road closure. Might this have something to do with it?

It shouldn’t impact the 38 very much - from Craigleith Crescent onto Queensferry Road and directly to Craigleith Road then do the Orchard Drive/Terrace/Road diversion and vice versa.

The 42 from Comely Bank heading westbound seems to be doing its diversion via Orchard Road/Terrace/Drive and then turning onto Craigleith Road before where it appears to be terminating at the westbound Craigleith Hill stop. On the return it’s then turning left onto Queensferry Road eastbound and then the second left onto Orchard Road - thus not serving the eastbound stops on Craigleith Road or serving Orchard Drive/Terrace but instead running the whole length of Orchard Road to Comely Bank where it then resumes normal route.

Hope that makes sense, this probably should’ve been publicised though.

 

[Vectron383]

It shouldn’t impact the 38 very much - from Craigleith Crescent onto Queensferry Road and directly to Craigleith Road then do the Orchard Drive/Terrace/Road diversion and vice versa.

The 42 from Comely Bank heading westbound seems to be doing its diversion via Orchard Road/Terrace/Drive and then turning onto Craigleith Road before where it appears to be terminating at the westbound Craigleith Hill stop. On the return it’s then turning left onto Queensferry Road eastbound and then the second left onto Orchard Road - thus not serving the eastbound stops on Craigleith Road or serving Orchard Drive/Terrace but instead running the whole length of Orchard Road to Comely Bank where it then resumes normal route.

Hope that makes sense, this probably should’ve been publicised though.

That makes sense now, there was absolutely no information for this and as 42s came by the other way me and several other passengers had assumed it was unaffected. The 38 also came past the normal way.

 

[stevenedin]

It’s the same when the buses heading up Leith Walk are suddenly diverted to Easter Road for hours with no app updates and website information usually. People are left standing waiting and nothing turns up.

 

[RomeoCharlie71]

Information regarding service changes on 5 June 2022 is now available: https://www.lothianbuses.com/news/2022/04/service-change-5-june-2022/

For over 2 years, Lothian has continued to deliver for Edinburgh and the Lothians through extremely difficult and challenging times.
As restrictions ease and customers return to bus travel, our Commercial team has carried out a review of our network to ensure our resources continue to meet customers’ changing travel needs.
Highlights on Lothian services include the revision of Service 41 to serve the new terminus at Cammo, and the extension of Service 16 from Colinton to Torphin.

On EastCoastbuses we will be reinstating Service X5, and will introduce new limited stop services for quicker journeys between East Lothian and Edinburgh.

Lothiancountry will operate more buses on Service 43. In West Lothian, Service 275 will be withdrawn and partly replaced by a revised Service 276 serving Ladywell, St John’s Hospital and Pumpherston.

More journeys will be added to a number of NightBus and NightHawk services as we look to support our city’s vibrant night life across the summer.
Details are available below. Timetables will be available in due course.

Service 1
Minor timetable change.
Service 2
Minor timetable change.
Service 3
Revised route and timetable. All journeys operate to Mayfield. The Dalkeith Campus service will be replaced by an extension of EastCoastbuses Service 139.
Service 4
Minor timetable change.
Service 5
Minor timetable change.
Service 7
Minor timetable change.
Service 8
Minor timetable change.
Service 10
Revised route and timetable. All journeys operate to Bonaly. The Torphin service will be replaced by an extension of Service 16.
Service 11
Revised timetable. The Saturday daytime frequency will be increased to every 12 minutes, and the Sunday daytime frequency will be increased to every 15 minutes.
Service 12
Revised timetable with later evening journeys introduced.
Service 16
Revised route and timetable. Service 16 will be extended from Colinton to Torphin. The Saturday daytime frequency will be increased to every 12 minutes, and the Sunday daytime frequency will be increased to every 15 minutes.
Service 19
Minor timetable change.
Service 21
Revised timetable. The Saturday daytime frequency will be increased to every 15 minutes.
Service 22
Revised route and timetable. The north side of the route (Ocean Terminal to city centre) will be temporarily withdrawn, with Service 22 only operating between Gyle Centre and Waterloo Place.
In order to increase services across the city we’ve had to make some tough choices and allocate resources where demand is currently justified. As the north end of Service 22 is covered by a number of alternative bus services – 7, 10, 11, 14, 16, 25, 34, 35, 36, and 49 – no area will be left without a bus service. The Monday – Friday frequency will be reduced to every 15 minutes, but a 12-minute service will be maintained at peak times. The evening frequency will be reduced to every 30 minutes.
Service 23
Minor timetable change.
Service 24
Minor timetable change.
Service 25
Revised timetable. The Sunday daytime frequency will be increased to every 15 minutes.
Service 26
Revised timetable. The Monday – Friday and Saturday daytime frequencies will be increased to every 10 minutes (between Clerwood and Prestonpans), then every 20 minutes to either Seton Sands or Tranent.
On Sunday, a 15-minute frequency will continue to operate (every 30 minutes on each leg), but additional journeys will operate between Eastfield and the city centre.
Service X26
Minor timetable change.
Service 27
Minor timetable change.
Service 29
Minor timetable change.
Service X29
Minor timetable change.
Service 30
Revised timetable. The Monday – Friday and Saturday daytime frequencies will be increased to every 10 minutes.
Service 31
Minor timetable change.
Service X31
Minor timetable change.
Service 33
Minor timetable change.
Service 34
Minor timetable change.
Service 35
Minor timetable change.
Service 36
Revised timetable. The Monday – Friday and afternoon peak frequency will be increased, and later evening journeys will be introduced.
Service 37
Minor timetable change.
Service X37
Revised timetable. The 07:26 journey from Penicuik will be replaced by a new Service 47 journey operating at the same time.
Service 38
Minor timetable change.
Service 41
Revised route and timetable. From Davidson’s Mains, Service 41 will operate via Cramond Road South, Barnton Gardens, Cramond Road North, Whitehouse Road, Maybury Road and will terminate at the new housing development at Cammo. Please see map below.
This will provide quicker and more reliable journeys to and from the city centre for customers in Cramond. An improved Service 43 with more buses will continue to serve Queensferry Road between Barnton and Blackhall.
Service 42
Minor timetable change.
Service 44
Minor timetable change.
Service X44
Revised timetable. There will be a revised stopping pattern with an additional stop at Portobello High School in both directions.
Service 45
Minor timetable change.
Service 47
Minor timetable change.
Service 48
Minor timetable change.
Service 49
Minor timetable change.

EastCoastbuses
To improve journey times for our customers in East Lothian, all city centre services will run via Milton Road to maximise the use of bus lanes and there will be limited stops between Brunstane or The Jewel and Abbeyhill.
Lothian services continue to provide for those customers on sections no longer served by EastCoastbuses.

Service 104
To be renumbered as Service X6.
Service 106
Minor timetable change.
Service 113
Revised route and timetable. All buses will terminate at the Western General Hospital, and the section of route between West Granton and Western General Hospital will be withdrawn. A limited stopping pattern will be introduced between Brunstane and Abbeyhill.
Service 124
Revised route and timetable. Service 124 will operate via Milton Road instead of Portobello to maximise the use of bus lanes. A limited stopping pattern will be introduced between Brunstane and Abbeyhill. See map above.
Service 139
Revised route and timetable. Service 139 will be extended from Woodburn to terminate at Dalkeith Campus, partly replacing Lothian’s Service 3. Return journeys will operate via Dalkeith Heights towards Dalkeith town centre. Please see map below.
Service 140
Revised timetable. A later journey will be introduced on Monday – Friday and Saturday between Musselburgh and Penicuik.
Service X5
Service to be reintroduced on Monday – Friday and Saturday, operating hourly between North Berwick and Edinburgh, providing an express link via the A1. In the city centre, buses will terminate at Frederick Street instead of Semple Street.
Service X6
New service to replace Service 104 with a revised timetable. A limited stopping pattern will be introduced between The Jewel and Abbeyhill.
Service X7
Minor timetable change.

Lothiancountry
Service 43
Revised timetable. The Monday – Friday frequency will be increased to every 20 minutes, with additional journeys introduced at peak hours. The Saturday frequency will also be increased to every 20 minutes.
Service X18
Minor timetable change.
Service X27
Minor timetable change.
Service X28
Minor timetable change.
Service 275
Service withdrawn, to be partly replaced by revised Service 276.
Service 276
Revised route and timetable, serving Ladywell, St John’s Hospital and Pumpherston (partly replacing Service 275). The Monday – Friday and Saturday daytime frequency will remain at every 30 minutes, except on the section between Loganlea and Bathgate which remains hourly.
The Sunday daytime frequency will be increased to every 30 minutes, except on the section between Loganlea and Bathgate which remains hourly. In Bathgate, the route will be extended from Morrisons to Wester Inch (Simpsons Avenue), partly replacing the Service 275. Please see map below.

Airport Services
Airlink 100
No change.
Skylink 200
Minor timetable change.
Skylink 300
Minor timetable change.
Skylink 400
Minor timetable change, including later journeys to and from Edinburgh Airport.

NightBuses and Nighthawk
Service N3
Minor timetable change.
Service N14
Minor timetable change.
Service N16
Minor timetable change.
Service N22
Minor timetable change.
Service N26
Revised timetable. On Saturday and Sunday mornings, the frequency will be increased to every 30 minutes.
Service N28
Revised timetable. An additional journey after 0300 from Edinburgh city centre will be introduced on Saturday and Sunday mornings.
Service N31
Revised timetable. An additional journey after 0300 from Edinburgh city centre will be introduced on Saturday and Sunday mornings.
Service N43
Revised timetable. An additional journey after 0200 from Edinburgh city centre will be introduced on Saturday and Sunday mornings.
Service N106
Revised timetable. An additional journey after 0300 from Edinburgh city centre will be introduced on Saturday and Sunday mornings.
Service N113
Revised timetable. An additional journey after 0300 from Edinburgh city centre will be introduced on Saturday and Sunday mornings.
Service N124
Revised route and timetable. An additional journey after 0300 from Edinburgh city centre will be introduced on Saturday and Sunday mornings. Service N124 will operate via Milton Road instead of Portobello in line with the daytime Service 124.

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

Information regarding service changes on 5 June 2022 is now available: https://www.lothianbuses.com/news/2022/04/service-change-5-june-2022/

There’s some really good changes in here such as sending all 3’s to Mayfield and tidying up Torphin/Bonaly but there’s some right daft ideas (presumably as they’re still well short on drivers). Streamlining the 26 properly was well overdue.

Sending all the ECB routes up Milton Road I’m not sure about if I’m honest. Re-introducing the 15 east may have helped this but alas that has not happened. Cutting the 113 though is ludicrous, it’s always well used and cutting it at the Western General really for me means it may as well be cut back to the city centre as it will carry hardly anyone now. X5 to Frederick Street must be something to do with increased journey times than pre-pandemic. Using the X6 number is a great idea too. Should the 113 and 124 have been renumbered? Probably.

Cammo in the end was served by the 41, hardly a surprise now that you look at it. Great to see Cramond Road South get a bus back after years without one.

The 300 still lives on though…

 

[Bus9120UK]

There’s some really good changes in here such as sending all 3’s to Mayfield and tidying up Torphin/Bonaly but there’s some right daft ideas (presumably as they’re still well short on drivers). Streamlining the 26 properly was well overdue.

Sending all the ECB routes up Milton Road I’m not sure about if I’m honest. Re-introducing the 15 east may have helped this but alas that has not happened. Cutting the 113 though is ludicrous, it’s always well used and cutting it at the Western General really for me means it may as well be cut back to the city centre as it will carry hardly anyone now. X5 to Frederick Street must be something to do with increased journey times than pre-pandemic. Using the X6 number is a great idea too. Should the 113 and 124 have been renumbered? Probably.

Cammo in the end was served by the 41, hardly a surprise now that you look at it. Great to see Cramond Road South get a bus back after years without one.

The 300 still lives on though…

The 22 temporarily cut to Waterloo Place too.