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

[stevenedin]

They reduced the frequency of the 22 when it went from single decker to double decker operation in 2009. It used to be every 4 mins then it decreased to every 5 mins then it has gradually reduced ever since.

 

[CN04NRJ]

The 400 is a route that's at its peak. It's been developed greatly over the last 6 years and it doesn’t need nor warrant anymore changes, least of all serving Newcraighall Station.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 23 May 2022 ==


Yes they were.

Initially, to get the 7900s off there. They'd be fine as general use buses (barring a number of routes obviously) if the 30 was run with deckers.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 24 May 2022 ==

They reduced the frequency of the 22 when it went from single decker to double decker operation in 2009. It used to be every 4 mins then it decreased to every 5 mins then it has gradually reduced ever since.

City to the Gyle is by far the quietest part of the route currently, the combined 1/2/12/30 more than plug the gap if singles were used on it.

I think the 11 should be re routed via Leith Street and stop at Waverly steps though as that makes up the bulk of 22 passengers.

 

[computerSaysNo]

The only services shown on the NightBus and NightHawk ones are the routes that are changing or having a timetable change. I don't think there are changes on the N30.

Ah yes that makes sense, thanks.

Just out of interest is there a reason all the East Coast route timetables are published completely separately (i.e. in different PDFs to each other)? I would have thought having e.g. one timetable for North Berwick services and one timetable for Haddington/Dunbar services would be more user-friendly. For example there's a 124 from Waterloo Place at about 0650, 0720 and 0750 but then there's a gap of an hour until the next one at about 0850. The gap is filled by an X5 at about 0820 but this isn't obvious from the timetable because the 124 and X5 are shown completely separately and in separate files.

 

[ScotRail158725]

Lothian don't have the facilities for a full electric fleet or even a full batch of electric vehicles.

Neither did any operator when they started buying Electric vehicles. First Glasgow had 120+ on order in July last year before they started construction on their electric charging points similar so with The London operators

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 24 May 2022 ==

They reduced the frequency of the 22 when it went from single decker to double decker operation in 2009. It used to be every 4 mins then it decreased to every 5 mins then it has gradually reduced ever since.

Which isn’t a very good comparison. B7RLEs had a lower total capacity compared to B9TLs by quite a bit and this was a drop from 4 to 5 minutes not 10 to 15 which does make all the difference

 

[LothianBusesPh]

I fail to see what difference that makes? That has applied to all bus operators prior to them buying large batches of electric buses.

I do get what you mean, I just think Lothian will be smart about the move instead of rushing into it.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 24 May 2022 ==

Ah yes that makes sense, thanks.

Just out of interest is there a reason all the East Coast route timetables are published completely separately (i.e. in different PDFs to each other)? I would have thought having e.g. one timetable for North Berwick services and one timetable for Haddington/Dunbar services would be more user-friendly. For example there's a 124 from Waterloo Place at about 0650, 0720 and 0750 but then there's a gap of an hour until the next one at about 0850. The gap is filled by an X5 at about 0820 but this isn't obvious from the timetable because the 124 and X5 are shown completely separately and in separate files.I

I'm pretty sure it was for customer convenience. Instead of scrolling for a few minutes and potentially getting the wrong route, customers get it right in front of them, other than that, probably not.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 25 May 2022 ==

Who remembers the 26A, running from ~2011 (Or later) to I'm sure to 2014.

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

Who remembers the 26A, running from ~2011 (Or later) to I'm sure to 2014.

I don’t remember it from those years, I’m sure it was earlier than that. Possibly around early to mid 2000’s.

There may have been the odd special service for the marathon, but I don’t remember a full time scheduled one around those years.

 

[ScotRail158725]

Who remembers the 26A, running from ~2011 (Or later) to I'm sure to 2014.

the 26A operated in the mid 2000s not 2011-14

 

[DunsBus]

the 26A operated in the mid 2000s not 2011-14

Started in 1991, when the evening and Sunday journeys on the 26 were re-routed along London Road and became the 26A. It changed in 2000 when the 26, 26A, X85 and X86 were simplified and the 26A number was then used for journeys running direct between Musselburgh and Tranent - the old X85 route. This didn't last long as it was soon replaced by an extended 15.

 

[LothianBusesPh]

the 26A operated in the mid 2000s not 2011-14

There was definitely a few services from 2011 - 2014, as Flybe said it might've been because of Marathons.

 

[Bus9120UK]

There was definitely a few services from 2011 - 2014, as Flybe said it might've been because of Marathons.

Yes, I have found a picture here:

787 SN56AEJ St Andrew Square

787 on the special 26A service to Fisherow Ship Inn with associated tramboard

flickr.com

787 on the special 26A service to Fisherow Ship Inn with associated tramboard

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

Yes, I have found a picture here:

787 SN56AEJ St Andrew Square

787 on the special 26A service to Fisherow Ship Inn with associated tramboard

flickr.com

The date appears to be May 22nd 2011 which would’ve been the date for the 2011 Edinburgh Marathon.

 

[kez19]

Did Lothian still do (or maybe not?), operate a service to Holyrood? The route went anti-clockwise? I can't remember the number but it came by Princes St then by Edinburgh Waverley train station to then take a left and I am sure it stopped outside Holyrood itself?

I looked on the maps but closest one is the 35? Any ideas?

Fondest memory was the route had the dart buses on them? (wasn't a double deck or at least single deck route?)

 

[Bus9120UK]

Did Lothian still do (or maybe not?), operate a service to Holyrood? The route went anti-clockwise? I can't remember the number but it came by Princes St then by Edinburgh Waverley train station to then take a left and I am sure it stopped outside Holyrood itself?

I looked on the maps but closest one is the 35? Any ideas?

Fondest memory was the route had the dart buses on them? (wasn't a double deck or at least single deck route?)

The 6 was a short service from Holyrood to Hanover Street in the city centre, but I think was planned to be withdrawn in a service change in March 2020. Obviously this change didn't happen, but the 6 remains withdrawn since lockdown and I doubt will return.

 

[kez19]

The 6 was a short service from Holyrood to Hanover Street in the city centre, but I think was planned to be withdrawn in a service change in March 2020. Obviously this change didn't happen, but the 6 remains withdrawn since lockdown and I doubt will return.

Aaah OK, just I went to look at the bus stops but it seems (if it was the 6?), it doesn't stop there its only The Bright Bus Tours do?

 

[Bus9120UK]

Aaah OK, just I went to look at the bus stops but it seems (if it was the 6?), it doesn't stop there its only The Bright Bus Tours do?

The 36 also used to go down there, could it be that?

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

The 6 was a short service from Holyrood to Hanover Street in the city centre, but I think was planned to be withdrawn in a service change in March 2020. Obviously this change didn't happen, but the 6 remains withdrawn since lockdown and I doubt will return.

Wasn’t the 6 withdrawn as was planned after the end of service on March 28th 2020? It’s just the original changes on March 29th 2020 that never happened and they were replaced with the lockdown service. I’m sure the 6 did run all the way to its planned end on March 28th 2020?

 

[Bus9120UK]

Wasn’t the 6 withdrawn as was planned after the end of service on March 28th 2020? It’s just the original changes on March 29th 2020 that never happened and they were replaced with the lockdown service. I’m sure the 6 did run all the way to its planned end on March 28th 2020?

Aye yes it was. I would assume the registration had been cancelled already so there was no choice.

 

[CN04NRJ]

844 is out in the new ECB livery, looks very smart.

 

[Bus9120UK]

844 is out in the new ECB livery, looks very smart.

Did it have advert frames at all? I'm glad to hear it looks good. 845 was also out, on the school run. With those two now back, 847 & 850 have taken place. In other words, 381 has returned from Ferrymill and 383 has gone there today. Only 384/6 left of the 11 plates in the Swoops livery.

 

[kez19]

The 36 also used to go down there, could it be that?

I honestly can’t remember it’s been ages since I have been to Edinburgh but it was something that rang a bell recently but I think it could quite possibly be either service.

I just remembered that route and the last time I visited Edinburgh I thought the route had been withdrawn (this is me thinking back to 2018/19 but route was non existent even then)

 

[Darklord8899]

The 36 did go to Holyrood, before the 6, then it was split off to be the 6 from St Andrew Square - Waverley Bridge - St. Mary Street - Holyrood Rd. To the Terminus. The 36 was rerouted and extended up Lothian Road and Morningside towards Napier University's (then new) Glenlochart Campus IIRC.

 

[TheEastCoaster]

The 36 did go to Holyrood, before the 6, then it was split off to be the 6 from St Andrew Square - Waverley Bridge - St. Mary Street - Holyrood Rd. To the Terminus. The 36 was rerouted and extended up Lothian Road and Morningside towards Napier University's (then new) Glenlochart Campus IIRC.

I remember because I’m sure literally a few months later the terminus was changed to Hanover Street, although I’m sure the point of it being at St Andrews Square was to connect to the tram.. after that no other bus ran through Waverley Bridge besides the 100 and even that is now stuck in the awkward terminus of Tk Maxx.

The 36 reroute has brought glory to the route, and with more later journeys introduced in each change we might see it go the way of the 400.

 

[DunsBus]

Two services did serve Holyrood briefly in the early noughties - the 24 and the 25, following the March 2000 service revisions. Both ran as an anticlockwise loop. The 24 went via Waverley Bridge, East Market Street, Jeffrey Street, St Mary Street, Holyrood Road, Horse Wynd and Canongate. The 25 approached Holyrood via Abbeymount/Abbeyhill then via Canongate, St Mary Street, Holyrood Road and Horse Wynd. Both services terminated at the foot of Holyrood Road (the section now buried under the Scottish Parliament building).

 

[Darklord8899]

I remember because I’m sure literally a few months later the terminus was changed to Hanover Street, although I’m sure the point of it being at St Andrews Square was to connect to the tram.. after that no other bus ran through Waverley Bridge besides the 100 and even that is now stuck in the awkward terminus of Tk Maxx.

The 36 reroute has brought glory to the route, and with more later journeys introduced in each change we might see it go the way of the 400.

Indeed, that was the last local service to use Waverly Bridge, then just the 100 (and tours)

Agreed, that change to the 36 did wonders for the route, it gave Napier students a link from Bruntsfield (and Merchiston Campus) with Morningside, the Glenlockhart Campus (and with a short walk Craiglochart Campus as well)
This led to the current route extension so that those areas were linked to Napier's Sighthill Campus and the Gyle.

I often use the 36 between Sighthill and Bruntsfield/Tollcross

 

[LothianBusesPh]

Would it be a good business idea to extend the 33 possibly pass the golf club to Musselburgh Tesco or the Fort Kinnaird?

 

[InOban]

Old Craighall Road under the railway is too low.

 

[ScotRail158725]

Would it be a good business idea to extend the 33 possibly pass the golf club to Musselburgh Tesco or the Fort Kinnaird?

No, maybe when all the housing is fully built in that area it might be viable for a link for another route but the 33 definitely not. The low bridge at Old Craighall writes off any idea of deckers, at least Gemini 3s, going under it anyway

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Old Craighall Road under the railway is too low.

The bridge is signed 14”6, Gemini & Gemini 2 are 14”5 and i believe the taller Enviros are 14”2? Gemini 3 are 14”6 which is the same as the bridge is signed and its a risk not worth taking

 

[Bus9120UK]

The bridge is signed 14”6, Gemini & Gemini 2 are 14”5

Gemini 2's are 14"6 according to the cab.

 

[LothianBusesPh]

Why can't 20001 - 20008 become 591 - 598? It would make sense as that is a Gemini 3 batch already and it saves hassle. And those fleet numbers are free anyway.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 27 May 2022 ==

No, maybe when all the housing is fully built in that area it might be viable for a link for another route but the 33 definitely not. The low bridge at Old Craighall writes off any idea of deckers, at least Gemini 3s, going under it anyway

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 27 May 2022 ==


The bridge is signed 14”6, Gemini & Gemini 2 are 14”5 and i believe the taller Enviros are 14”2? Gemini 3 are 14”6 which is the same as the bridge is signed and its a risk not worth taking

I do get what you're saying, I think the Enviro's would work, although I don't know the specs. I might be on an MMC today and I'll check for you.

 

[gka472l]

Why can't 20001 - 20008 become 591 - 598? It would make sense as that is a Gemini 3 batch already and it saves hassle. And those fleet numbers are free anyway.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 27 May 2022 ==


I do get what you're saying, I think the Enviro's would work, although I don't know the specs. I might be on an MMC today and I'll check for you.

511-518?? 591-594 already in use