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

[stevenedin]

With just the one 20 min frequency route still serving the centre, it would be quite an extravagance!

Only the X27 and X28 serving the whole of Livingston.

 

[CN04NRJ]

Thank you for your suggestion. Something I can do is copy the list of regular vehicles on each route and ride the newer buses on "guest" routes. For route 34 to use them suggests that the Volvo B5LHs might not come out on a Sunday.

Most of the Longstone B5LHs are out on Sundays.

 

[LothianBusesPh]

Thank you for your suggestion. Something I can do is copy the list of regular vehicles on each route and ride the newer buses on "guest" routes. For route 34 to use them suggests that the Volvo B5LHs might not come out on a Sunday.

The Service 34 and 35 tend to get the B5LH's and it's no different on a Sunday.

I understand that the Volvo B8Ls tend to spread their wings a bit on Sundays for example.

On Sundays, they go on the 11, 16, 31 and 47. They don't tend to spread their wings, maybe they did a bit before the service change but Sunday allocations tend to be similar to their weekday allocations now. The Service 8/9 does go on MMC's though on a Sunday.

An example of the Service change is the 33, which used to be B5LH's on Sundays but now it just tends to be Ex-London's like Mon-Fri.

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

The Service 8/9 does go on MMC's though on a Sunday.

In recent weeks the 8/9 have switched to MMC’s on a Saturday as well.

 

[stantheman]

I saw 68 on a 44 early evening Balerno to Whitecraigs service. Is Lothian short of buses?

 

[LothianBusesPh]

I saw 68 on a 44 early evening Balerno to Whitecraigs service. Is Lothian short of buses?

Longstone seems to have some decker shortage. Maybe it's because of mechanical things; I don't know. A few Evoras have been on the 3 and Evoras/Eclipses on the 44 (Before the service change). I am unsure what's going on - maybe they could bring one or two doubles from other depots, even on a temporary basis. Lots of movements could happen soon with rumours circulating, but we have to play it by year.

 

[Bus9120UK]

Longstone seems to have some decker shortage. Maybe it's because of mechanical things; I don't know. A few Evoras have been on the 3 and Evoras/Eclipses on the 44 (Before the service change). I am unsure what's going on - maybe they could bring one or two doubles from other depots, even on a temporary basis. Lots of movements could happen soon with rumours circulating, but we have to play it by ear.

Day by day it happens at Central - 14 was on the X33 earlier for example. Not optimal. 1002/3 moved from Longstone to Marine recently which may play a part, this was a few weeks after the changes.

 

[stevenedin]

It doesn’t make sense when they have 926-934 that they can use.

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

It doesn’t make sense when they have 926-934 that they can use.

I’m not sure why you would use 926-934 first when there are other newer buses in reserve.

 

[stevenedin]

I’m not sure why you would use 926-934 first when there are other newer buses in reserve.

I forgot about 1152 & 1153. I can’t think of any other double deckers in reserve though?

 

[Bus9120UK]

I forgot about 1152 & 1153. I can’t think of any other double deckers in reserve though?

There's 1141 too.

 

[Devon Sunset]

Longstone seems to have some decker shortage. Maybe it's because of mechanical things; I don't know. A few Evoras have been on the 3 and Evoras/Eclipses on the 44 (Before the service change). I am unsure what's going on - maybe they could bring one or two doubles from other depots, even on a temporary basis. Lots of movements could happen soon with rumours circulating, but we have to play it by ear.

Not seen it myself but I understand Lothian are running shuttles from Longniddry rail station to the Scottish Open golf. Maybe something to do with this?

 

[LothianBusesPh]

Not seen it myself but I understand Lothian are running shuttles from Longniddry rail station to the Scottish Open golf. Maybe something to do with this?

Those are Central Vehicles, not Longstone vehicles, so this isn't affected by that.

 

[CR33PxRR]

apparently 997 is on the X33 and is still going i think..

 

[Bus9120UK]

apparently 997 is on the X33 and is still going i think..

It was on it this morning. Since 997 doesn't have an actual Automatic Vehicle Locator and is just some sort of program which estimates it's location, it's not activated since arrival back at Central.

 

[computerSaysNo]

I'm sure the following issue isn't unique to Edinburgh but I'm posting here because I've only ever see it happen in Edinburgh.
How would forum members, as pedestrians standing or walking next to the below buses, react to seeing the following:

• People hanging on to the outside of a bus about to depart, in the driver's blind spot;
• People maliciously opening engine and maintenance covers on the outside of a bus about to depart, in the driver's blind spot?

I personally would try to prevent the bus from departing but when I tried this previously the driver has ignored me and departed anyway. I have autism so my initial reaction might not be the same as other people's.

 

[LiviCrazy]

I'm sure the following issue isn't unique to Edinburgh but I'm posting here because I've only ever see it happen in Edinburgh.
How would forum members, as pedestrians standing or walking next to the below buses, react to seeing the following:

• People hanging on to the outside of a bus about to depart, in the driver's blind spot;
• People maliciously opening engine and maintenance covers on the outside of a bus about to depart, in the driver's blind spot?

I personally would try to prevent the bus from departing but when I tried this previously the driver has ignored me and departed anyway. I have autism so my initial reaction might not be the same as other people's.

Like you I try to warn the driver. If I’ve seen them trying it with other buses I usually warn the driver on the bus I’m boarding to watch out for them. I think most Lothian buses now have the external CCTV at the back now.

 

[ScotRail158725]

I'm sure the following issue isn't unique to Edinburgh but I'm posting here because I've only ever see it happen in Edinburgh.
How would forum members, as pedestrians standing or walking next to the below buses, react to seeing the following:

• People hanging on to the outside of a bus about to depart, in the driver's blind spot;

I would, like 99% of the population, just ignore it

• People maliciously opening engine and maintenance covers on the outside of a bus about to depart, in the driver's blind spot?

I personally would try to prevent the bus from departing but when I tried this previously the driver has ignored me and departed anyway. I have autism so my initial reaction might not be the same as other people's.

If the engine cover is opened the engine turns off automatically so it cant depart away if the engine covers open. Again theres no point in doing anything, if someone opens it it will be open and al the driver will do is go to close it

 

[stevenedin]

I would I always tell the driver if I saw something wrong.

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

If the engine cover is opened the engine turns off automatically so it cant depart away if the engine covers open. Again theres no point in doing anything, if someone opens it it will be open and al the driver will do is go to close it

I think this is only a feature of some of the newer models though, as I remember seeing B7TL’s and B9TL’s driving around with the cover open.

 

[computerSaysNo]

If the engine cover is opened the engine turns off automatically

I think this is only a feature of some of the newer models though, as I remember seeing B7TL’s and B9TL’s driving around with the cover open.

The bus in question was an E400XLB/B8L so I can guarantee that the engine doesn't turn off automatically on those (unless there was a fault with the system); I'm surprised there isn't at least a warning light on the dashboard though.
I'm 99% certain that the Eclipse 2/B7RLEs don't have an auto engine shutoff when the cover is opened either.

 

[CN04NRJ]

I would, like 99% of the population, just ignore it


If the engine cover is opened the engine turns off automatically so it cant depart away if the engine covers open. Again theres no point in doing anything, if someone opens it it will be open and al the driver will do is go to close it

That's not true, on most buses it inhibits starting from the cab. A warning light and alarm will sound however, as sometimes poor road surfaces can cause the bus to 'think' the bonnet is open when in reality it's just moved slightly.

Engines definitely do not turn off when the bonnet is opened, some might have interlocks so it can't pull away but I can't think of any here from memory/experience.

 

[paul47B]

I'm sure the following issue isn't unique to Edinburgh but I'm posting here because I've only ever see it happen in Edinburgh.
How would forum members, as pedestrians standing or walking next to the below buses, react to seeing the following:

• People hanging on to the outside of a bus about to depart, in the driver's blind spot;
• People maliciously opening engine and maintenance covers on the outside of a bus about to depart, in the driver's blind spot?

I personally would try to prevent the bus from departing but when I tried this previously the driver has ignored me and departed anyway. I have autism so my initial reaction might not be the same as other people's.

Nothing wrong with thinking differently. You did good in doing your bit to alert the driver, even though he didnt notice. I would imagine hanging off the back of a bus is illegal and a danger to life so next time you might want to do 999.

 

[computerSaysNo]

next time you might want to do 999

I don't really see the point, the people I've seen didn't hang on to the bus for very long so they'd probably be off by the time I got my phone out and dialled, and they'd definitely be far away before anyone was able to attend. I've only ever seen it on Princes Street where the buses are stopping every 100 meters or so anyway. If I saw it somewhere like the bypass then I would call.

If it was me driving then my instinct would be to emergency stop if I became aware of either of the events I mentioned, assuming all passengers were seated, but other people have told me that's not best course of action.

 

[paul47B]

Perhaps nothing can be done in that moment of time, but the police can at least be on the lookout from then on

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

Perhaps nothing can be done in that moment of time, but the police can at least be on the lookout from then on

So what’s the point in a 999 call then? I’ve raised similar points in the past when it comes to youths throwing objects at the buses. The problem is anyone who knows that the police are coming will just run for it and most of the time are never caught, and if they are it’s then extremely difficult to prosecute them.

 

[computerSaysNo]

youths throwing objects at the buses.

In this situation I would use my phone to take a video of those throwing objects in preference to calling 999 - as you said they'd be gone by the time anyone arrived, whereas at least I could send the video to police at any point afterwards and they might be able to identify those involved.

 

[Lx008]

Just saw one of the Edinburgh sightseeing Buses running the 44 and BusTimes.org seems to confirm this. Is Lothian really that short of buses that (due to today's weather) they’re essentially running a single decker on the 44?

 

[CN04NRJ]

Just saw one of the Edinburgh sightseeing Buses running the 44 and BusTimes.org seems to confirm this. Is Lothian really that short of buses that (due to today's weather) they’re essentially running a single decker on the 44?

This bustimes.org map screenshot would suggest otherwise

 

[computerSaysNo]

Just saw one of the Edinburgh sightseeing Buses running the 44 and BusTimes.org seems to confirm this.

Did you see this in person? I saw it on lvf.io but assumed it was just a ticket machine swap.