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

[computerSaysNo]

OK I was not aware of their status for training

The buses used for training drivers who have only a provisional license are modified to have a seatbelted (and very substantial) Instructor/Examiner's seat roughly in line with where the front wheel arches are. They also have a whiteboard/blackboard on the offside where one of the windows would be (I'm unsure if the board is mounted onto the window or if it completely replaces the window).
The vehicles would therefore appear to need significant modification if there was desire to return them to service.

 

[VioletEclipse]

BZL Demonstrator 999 appears to now be at East Yorkshire as their 6001.

 

[scosutsut]

BZL Demonstrator 999 appears to now be at East Yorkshire as their 6001.

Given that Lothian have a glut of spare singles, and those in use are quite far down the pecking order for replacement (based on age at least) I'd be really surprised if electric singles were a priority right now.

Not that the Demonstrator leaving means anything of course!

 

[Lothianbus703]

I spotted a Streetair sat next to 220 inside of Marine and another arriving at the back of a truck as I was leaving

Images are of streetair parked inside and Streetair being towed inside Marine

the images may appear upside down

 

[Blindtraveler]

Presumably being prepared for sale?

 

[Nawm8]

I saw 288 and 289 on tow, I was on a 1 as they went past. Maybe free up some space in Central for something new

 

[Bus9120UK]

Interestingly 842/3/5 have moved to Livingston. 842 still had East Coast Buses branding before leaving, unsure about 843 and 845. I wonder why this is happening?

 

[CN04NRJ]

Presumably being prepared for sale?

I presume the process of scrapping EV buses isn't as simple as conventional ones. Wonder what scrapyard they'll be going to?

 

[LothianBusesPh]

I have been told that the Streetairs are getting mechanical work done at Marine and then going back in service (probably in the next service change). Things are happening really quickly at the moment. With some B9TL's going to Lothian Country, this is going to be a big service change all way round, and if Lothian pick up some West Lothian/Edinburgh tenders, Lothian Country could be back in business!

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 25 Jul 2023 ==

I don't believe they will but that's just someone inside Lothian (Not driver's talk ), just so everyone's informed on both sides of the story.

 

[Bus9120UK]

I saw 288 and 289 on tow, I was on a 1 as they went past. Maybe free up some space in Central for something new

I'm told a bus wash has been dismantled in Central as well.

 

[Highland050261]

I have been told that the Streetaisr are getting mechanical work done at Marine and then going back in service (probably in the next service change), things are happening really quickly at the moment. With some B9TL's going to Lothian Country, this is going to be a big service change all way round, and if Lothian pick up some West Lothian/Edinburgh tenders, Lothian Country could be back in business!

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 25 Jul 2023 ==

I don't believe they will but that's just someone inside Lothian (Not driver's talk ), just so everyone's informed on both sides of the story.

If so you think they would bring back 195-198.

 

[CN04NRJ]

I'm told a bus wash has been dismantled in Central as well.

Yes

 

[Lothianbus703]

I'm told a bus wash has been dismantled in Central as well.

If everything being said is true then there must be a very big service change in the planning.

 

[Blindtraveler]

Perhaps they need space for some more electric chargers. Will they cope at Central with one less bus wash plant?

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

If everything being said is true then there must be a very big service change in the planning.

I’m struggling to justify the movement of the Streetairs to Marine if they’re to be used. Unless Lothian hope to win routes like the 13 or 68 in the council tenders then what could they be used for? They’re too small and have too short a range for anything else.

In my view this is simply more to get them away from Central to generate space and for now they’ll remain in storage. The removal of a bus wash is probably connected to this.

I’d say if they were returning, it’s more likely they’d have been sent to Seafield given the amount of work that is probably needed to get them going again.

 

[computerSaysNo]

In my view this is simply more to get them away from Central to generate space and for now they’ll remain in storage. The removal of a bus wash is probably connected to this.

I’d say if they were returning, it’s more likely they’d have been sent to Seafield given the amount of work that is probably needed to get them going again.

I'd agree with this.
I know Central offer coach storage facilities; are we sure that the vehicle moves and removal of the wash isn't just to make more room for that? I'd imagine a lot more coach tours visit Edinburgh during the Festival so to me it would make sense.

Things are happening really quickly at the moment.

This is the bit I don't really understand; if Lothian were planning anything then it would have been planned well in advance, so no need to rush anything?
Do you know how many B9s and/or other vehicles are heading to Livingston?
I'm not really sure what to think, if Lothian thought they were going to win tenders then all of the 20, 63 and 68 would be better at Longstone, and probably the 40/X40 too, so why the rush for more room at Central?
I've got one other idea, but it's a "likely to start an argument" sort of idea so I'll keep it to myself for now!


Although I've typed all this, I guess there's not much more we can really do other than wait and see.

 

[roadierway77]

I have been told that the Streetairs are getting mechanical work done at Marine and then going back in service (probably in the next service change). Things are happening really quickly at the moment. With some B9TL's going to Lothian Country, this is going to be a big service change all way round, and if Lothian pick up some West Lothian/Edinburgh tenders, Lothian Country could be back in business!

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 25 Jul 2023 ==

I don't believe they will but that's just someone inside Lothian (Not driver's talk ), just so everyone's informed on both sides of the story.

I would eat my hat if the Streetairs re-entered service, considering their low range, low reliability, and the fact they've been sitting at Central with likely little to no maintenance for three years, but stranger things have happened!

 

[CN04NRJ]

Perhaps they need space for some more electric chargers.

Bingo! I believe the bus wash removal is unrelated, and that's why the Streetairs were removed.


Where they were parked for the best part of 3 years is where 997 is charged, I think there's more charging points installed in the adjacent spaces.

 

[Graeme Duncan]

Talking about tenders what about winning the tender to operate the 13,s

 

[stevenedin]

Talking about tenders what about winning the tender to operate the 13,s

I noticed at the bus stop at Shrubhill they have put 13 on the stop but not specified Edinburgh Coach Lines so possibly a sign that they are expecting to win it?

 

[LothianBusesPh]

I noticed at the bus stop at Shrubhill they have put 13 on the stop but not specified Edinburgh Coach Lines so possibly a sign that they are expecting to win it?

Or maybe they're just waiting to see who wins it? Seems rather stupid not to put Edinburgh Coachlines on it at the moment though.

 

[computerSaysNo]

Or maybe they're just waiting to see who wins it? Seems rather stupid not to put Edinburgh Coachlines on it at the moment though.

In my opinion it should just have the name of the tendering council on it. That way

1. People know that that's where the council money is going.
2. The name on every stop doesn't need to change when there's a change of operator.

 

[GusB]

Let's keep speculation about route changes out of this thread, please. There was a separate discussion started for exactly that purpose and it is to be found here:

Edinburgh & the Lothians bus network speculations & ideas

I have created this thread so that we can discuss ideas for new buses, bus routes etc so that they aren’t in the main threads under each operator as not everyone likes to see them. There is a lot of discussion (mainly under both threads for McGill’s Scotland East and Lothian Group) and I feel...

www.railforums.co.uk

 

[CN04NRJ]

The 71 plate Wright electric DD is back at Central.

 

[DespacitoPlayz]

The 71 plate Wright electric DD is back at Central.

Oh, I thought it was being moved for good! Perhaps just repairs?

 

[LothianBusesPh]

Oh, I thought it was being moved for good! Perhaps just repairs?

If you're on about the Wright Streetairs, they are single deckers.

 

[90019]

The 71 plate Wright electric DD is back at Central.

I wonder if it'll be able to manage a entire day in service without breaking down this time.

 

[Bus9120UK]

Bus 841 is now joining 842/3/5 at Livingston.

 

[stevenedin]

Bus 841 is now joining 842/3/5 at Livingston.

Great news. It looks like they will either be there for storage or a future service change.

 

[Bus9120UK]

Just posted on Lothian's Facebook page:

Lothian Buses

A date for your diaries... returns on Saturday 23 September! We'll be throwing open the garage doors here in Annandale Street to showcase what we do - and how we do it! - 365 days a...

www.facebook.com

Doors Open Day returns on Saturday 23 September! We'll be throwing open the garage doors here in Annandale Street to showcasw what we do - and how we do it! - 365 days a year across Edinburgh and the Lothians.

Will be interesting to see if the vintage buses come back. I'm not sure if that'll be the case. Another reason to move the Streetairs!