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

[Bus9120UK]

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?

I can't really see anything that would prove this, with posts below of course showing the bus tracking on the 44 is really on the City Sightseeing tour (which makes me think a second bus is tracking as 231 at Longstone which has happened before with different fleetnumbers). It's a Sunday service today and despite Cruiselink X99 being in operation I cannot see why they'd loan an open top bus to Longstone for use on normal service.

 

[Lx008]

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

That could very well be, saw it from Calton terrace at quite a distance so could have been mistaken with a normal tours bus

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

It’s probably just an error in the allocation. There was a common one with 228 and a 7 diagram previously.

 

[Darklord8899]

This bustimes.org map screenshot would suggest otherwise

Oh yes, most definitely on a 44

 

[Theproinsider]

I can't really see anything that would prove this, with posts below of course showing the bus tracking on the 44 is really on the City Sightseeing tour (which makes me think a second bus is tracking as 231 at Longstone which has happened before with different fleetnumbers). It's a Sunday service today and despite Cruiselink X99 being in operation I cannot see why they'd loan an open top bus to Longstone for use on normal service.

This can't happen. Buses don't have city destinations on them and there's no ticketing equipment fitted.

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

This can't happen. Buses don't have city destinations on them and there's no ticketing equipment fitted.

I do wonder how they managed to use 250 that year on the 124. I know some of the open top Tridents made appearances on those summer runs as well. I imagine they were duplicates so they could forgo the need for any standard equipment for a normal run. The screens did receive part of an update though. I’m sure it was only in the North Berwick direction that it worked with the opposite direction having just ‘Edinburgh’.

From memory the tridents were fitted with machines, but not AVL’s (automatic vehicle locators). I didn’t travel on 250 during that time so I have no idea if I’m honest. I did however travel on at least 1 of the Tridents.

 

[Theproinsider]

I do wonder how they managed to use 250 that year on the 124. I know some of the open top Tridents made appearances on those summer runs as well. I imagine they were duplicates so they could forgo the need for any standard equipment for a normal run. The screens did receive part of an update though. I’m sure it was only in the North Berwick direction that it worked with the opposite direction having just ‘Edinburgh’.

From memory the tridents were fitted with machines, but not AVLs (automatic vehicle locators) I didn’t travel on 250 during that time so I have no idea if I’m honest. I did however travel on at least 1 of the Tridents.

Trident were different. The destination equipment is non standard on the open tops and difficult to change.

 

[computerSaysNo]

I've noticed recently some staff wearing branded Polo t-shirts instead of the regular shirts. Is this a new uniform option or only for the summer?

 

[ScotRail158725]

I've noticed recently some staff wearing branded Polo t-shirts instead of the regular shirts. Is this a new uniform option or only for the summer?

New uniform option. First and Stagecoach also rolled them out at the start of the year Lothian are following suit

 

[computerSaysNo]

New uniform option. First and Stagecoach also rolled them out at the start of the year Lothian are following suit

Perfect, thank you.

 

[LothianBusesPh]

I wonder why 10 is at Musselburgh?


This is my photo.

 

[scosutsut]

I wonder why 10 is at Musselburgh.

100% speculation however with a shortage of ECB singles seemingly continuing, and spare hybrid singles available perhaps for route learning?

 

[LothianBusesPh]

100% speculation however with a shortage of ECB singles seemingly continuing, and spare hybrid singles available perhaps for route learning?

I have been told it is to teach the drivers at East Coast Buses how to use the new automatic vehicle locator (AVL), as 10 has received its new AVL (as well as possibly a lot more work by the look of things), so I very much doubt it will go in service. Bear in mind I didn't know about this at the time of posting the photo.

 

[Blindtraveler]

Other than about 6 or 7 generations forward in technology, what are the main key differences with the new AVL units and will customers be aware of any significant differences?

 

[computerSaysNo]

100% speculation however with a shortage of ECB singles seemingly continuing, and spare hybrid singles available perhaps for route learning?

Why is there a shortage of singles? The only ECB route which must have singles now is the X7 and there are currently more deckers entering the fleet?

 

[Lx008]

Talking of singles, any idea of what Lothian's thoughts were on the BZL single (999 if I remember correctly) that they had for a while and if we might see more of the BZLs in the future?

 

[Blindtraveler]

Were either going to get an order announced very soon or it will simply become another one in a long line of demonstrators that they decide not to buy? To be honest I can't see them ever fully embracing electric technology unless forced to by someone on high.

I wouldn't be surprised to see more MCV Volvos coming though, both to get rid of the remaining B7 and make some serious inroads into the dreadful 7900s.

 

[GusB]

Were either going to get an order announced very soon or it will simply become another one in a long line of demonstrators that they decide not to buy? To be honest I can't see them ever fully embracing electric technology unless forced to by someone on high.

The whole point of trying out a demonstrator is to see how it operates in service and to get a feel for the product before committing to an order. Just because Lothian tries one out doesn't necessarily mean than order is in the pipeline.

At some point Lothian is going to have to embrace electric technology as there will soon be very little choice in the matter, but I can understand there's still some caution.

 

[LothianBusesPh]

Why is there a shortage of singles? The only ECB route which must have singles now is the X7 and there are currently more deckers entering the fleet?

Lots of them were breaking down, it is speculated to be because of the high temperatures.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 18 Jul 2023 ==

997 is at Seafield Works too, I don't know if they are going to repaint it and keep it, or give it back to Volvo, but we'll have to wait and see! 171 is also at Seafield getting ready for repaint, I suspect this will mean it will become a Driver Training vehicle although you never know.

(Image below shows both vehicles at Seafield)

I took the photo.

 

[ScotRail158725]

997 is at Seafield Works too, I don't know if they are going to repaint it and keep it, or give it back to Volvo, but we'll have to wait and see!
I took the photo.

It's back in service today, untouched.

 

[Scotrail314209]

ECB seem to be helping shift passengers today due to the match at Murrayfield. Just seen 1051 on a 31 to Murrayfield and 513 on a 30 to Balgreen

 

[CN04NRJ]

1055 was also on a 25 to Restalrig in ECB livery, with an on hire sign in the window.

 

[LothianBusesPh]

This is a bit off-topic but 171 is finally joining the training squad after a repaint template showed the Training livery. It will probably become TB7 in due course.

 

[Bus9120UK]

This is a bit off-topic but 171 is finally joining the training squad after a repaint template showed the Training livery. It will probably become TB7 in due course.

What I find interesting is that it is being painted first. Makes you wonder if it will not be converted and only operate as it has been as a familiarization bus, but with the training branding. Previously the interior conversion came first.

 

[Highland050261]

Do all the Driver Training buses live at Longstone?

 

[LothianBusesPh]

Do all the Driver Training buses live at Longstone?

Yes, that's where the Driver Training "Squad" is.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 20 Jul 2023 ==

What I find interesting is that it is being painted first. Makes you wonder if it will not be converted and only operate as it has been as a familiarization bus, but with the training branding. Previously the interior conversion came first.

So pretty much what it has been doing for the past few months/year?

 

[LKF747R]

Bus 169 was out on service 1 yesterday according to Lothian Vehicle finder data and 168 is now tracking. Can anyone say if the 58 plate vehicles are generally being returned to service to alleviate the single decker shortage?

 

[CN04NRJ]

Bus 169 was out on service 1 yesterday according to Lothian Vehicle finder data and 168 is now tracking. Can anyone say if the 58 plate vehicles are generally being returned to service to alleviate the single decker shortage

Both are dedicated training buses, they aren't out in service.

 

[Bus9120UK]

Bus 169 was out on service 1 yesterday according to Lothian Vehicle finder data and 168 is now tracking. Can anyone say if the 58 plate vehicles are generally being returned to service to alleviate the single decker shortage

There is no single decker shortage. If there was, Lothian could bring 16 out of reserve or put familiarization 7900s (15, 23/4/5) in service. Central are doing fine with lots of buses from 1-10 often out of use, including 3, which has been repainted/polished. Double deckers appearing on the one may very well be intentional, with rumors that the route will be converted to decker operation in the future. In fact, often Central single decks appear on peak express routes!

 

[LKF747R]

Both are dedicated training buses, they aren't out in service.

OK I was not aware of their status for training