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

[GusB]

Remember, folks - ideas for service changes and new routes are speculative and should go in the other thread:

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...

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It's time consuming to move posts back and forth between the two, so the last few posts will remain in place. If anyone wishes to reply, press "+quote", go to the other thread and then "insert quote" there. Any further speculative posts in this thread will simply be removed.

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

I guess you could make manual, printed signs to put at the front of the bus, like what the Trams do (is that what Tram Boards are?), and have them single-sided so when you get to the intermediate point you just flip them over to the blank side, but again that relies on every driver remembering to do it every time.

My suggestion would be to use the system that Transdev has, whatever it actually is. It’s clever as it updates automatically at certain stops, and even uses a countdown on the front screen for when the bus is leaving. Automating it would allow for way more options and would stop incorrect displays being used.

 

[computerSaysNo]

My suggestion would be to use the system that Transdev has, whatever it actually is. It’s clever as it updates automatically at certain stops, and even uses a countdown on the front screen for when the bus is leaving. Automating it would allow for way more options and would stop incorrect displays being used.

It's all down to money though. Would the extra money made from having this system outweigh the money spent purchasing it and retrofitting it to the existing vehicles? I would suggest not. Perhaps having it fitted to all new vehicles might be an option though.

 

[paul47B]

It was just a few days ago I mentioned that it cant be long until the next round of service changes. There must have been something in the water I was drinking!
Little disappointing the 23 and 27 were not on the list. They could do with being more frequent. No doubt Lothian will announce the changes on their website at some point in the next couple of weeks

 

[Vectron383]

Saw 680 with Lothian city branding. I may have been wrong but I thought only the XLBs had this?

 

[Jordan Adam]

Saw 680 with Lothian city branding. I may have been wrong but I thought only the XLBs had this?

It gained it on the front a few months back, presumably the panel has come from one of the Enviro400XLBs.

 

[Siemens Trains]

What are the chances of services 25, 34 & X27/X28 being crowded in the evenings due to the festival? I work on Princes street and some of my shifts finish at 9 so my buses are generally at 9.25pm, what will most likely be the case for my evening travels home?

Other than the park & ride at Hermiston these probably aren't greatly affected by Edinburgh Festival disruption (such as a lot of passengers at one time from hotels or delays due to events and road closures). You should be OK if using Princes St stops, given the 20-30 minute frequency of each service. But don't blame me for any 'face-in-armpit' experiences over the next month!

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 5 Aug 2023 ==

When I worked the old 52 Balerno route, the biggest problem was getting past the 44 in front due to the volume of traffic coming the other way. With the road not much better/wider and traffic levels higher, I foresee the same problem with an X44 trying to get round a standard 44.

Well that's a blast from the past. However the 52 was nominally an all stops service, adding to difficulties with passing other buses. A resurrected X44 to/from Balerno would be an official limited stop service offering more opportunities to overtake if encountering stationary buses along Slateford Road.

 

[CN04NRJ]

Bus 3 has been fully repainted into the updated livery (without the extra gold strips). I guess if one more is done this means 1-10 are staying?.

 

[Bus9120UK]

Bus 3 has been fully repainted into the updated livery (without the extra gold strips). I guess if one more is done this means 1-10 are staying?.

Lothian recently were looking for a Vehicle Painter and not long after the applications closed bus 3 went into Seafield where it was painted - making you wonder if it was almost a test bus for the new vehicle painter. It certainly wasn't a job at Ferrymill and spent a fair period at Seafield after it's repaint was completed.

 

[LothianBusesPh]

Lothian recently were looking for a Vehicle Painter and not long after the applications closed bus 3 went into Seafield where it was painted - making you wonder if it was almost a test bus for the new vehicle painter. It certainly wasn't a job at Ferrymill and spent a fair period at Seafield after it's repaint was completed.

If they can repaint whole buses, then that means it's double trouble for Seafield and Ferrymill!!! And if Bustec Bellshill is ever used again then it's Triple Trouble!

 

[DunsBus]

If they can repaint whole buses, then that means it's double trouble for Seafield and Ferrymill!!! And if Bustec Bellshill is ever used again then it's Triple Trouble!

The painters were recruited some time ago.

3 was virtually repanelled to reduce preparation. Only single-deckers and accident damage to double-deckers will be done in-house at present, double-deckers will still be outsourced.

 

[Bus9120UK]

The painters were recruited some time ago.

3 was virtually repanelled to reduce preparation. Only single-deckers and accident damage to double-deckers will be done in-house at present, double-deckers will still be outsourced.

I presume they have also been working on the partial lower panel repaints of 466-495?

 

[Vectron383]

I’ve just seen an eastern Scottish bus which just said, ‘Lothian’ on the side. Has the potential to be a bit misleading to passengers, surely!

 

[Graham Alexand]

I’ve just seen an eastern Scottish bus which just said, ‘Lothian’ on the side. Has the potential to be a bit misleading to passengers, surely!

It'll be 0449 (SN64 COU). It's been like that since First days due to a panel replacement.

 

[DunsBus]

The cause of 11's fire has been established as an electrical fault.

 

[Blindtraveler]

Which in all fairness could happen to any bus of any type at any time, none of the others seem to have yet gone a bit crispy so I guess those of us who were hoping for some major flaw resulting in complete fleet withdrawal will have to carry on hoping

 

[ScotRail158725]

The 66 Plate B5TL repaints has picked up with some momentum with 444 455 and now 447 all done. Seem to be averaging one a week now

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

The 66 Plate B5TL repaints has picked up with some momentum with 444 455 and now 447 all done. Seem to be averaging one a week now

7 complete (441-444, 447-448, 455) with an additional 2 in progress (445 - in prep, and 459 - away at the minute). 446 will likely return from repair fully repainted as well.

 

[DunsBus]

Which in all fairness could happen to any bus of any type at any time, none of the others seem to have yet gone a bit crispy so I guess those of us who were hoping for some major flaw resulting in complete fleet withdrawal will have to carry on hoping

What happened on 11 was the result of melted fans, due to the cutout switch failing during a regeneration. The melted fans then set fire to the electrics. A check on the remaining 7900s revealed that another four had melted fans, so it could be said that 11's fiery end saved several others from going the same way.

 

[ScotRail158725]

7 complete (441-444, 447-448, 455) with an additional 2 in progress (445 - in prep, and 459 - away at the minute). 446 will likely return from repair fully repainted as well.

446 is at ferrymill so a repaint is inevitable

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

446 is at ferrymill so a repaint is inevitable

It’s highly likely for sure, but not a given.

 

[computerSaysNo]

What happened on 11 was the result of melted fans, due to the cutout switch failing during a regeneration. The melted fans then set fire to the electrics. A check on the remaining 7900s revealed that another four had melted fans, so it could be said that 11's fiery end saved several others from going the same way.

Which fan?
Cutout for what?
What regeneration?
Thanks.

 

[Siemens Trains]

I’ve just seen an eastern Scottish bus which just said, ‘Lothian’ on the side. Has the potential to be a bit misleading to passengers, surely!

Yeah, I've seen that too (where First's legacy 'West' lettering is missing following a repair) but I think this would only alarm bus spotters and purists rather than normal passengers. Maybe for those with long memories if it's used on the contract 20 or 63 routes, but otherwise there's little similarity in routes and service numbers between the two companies. I doubt passengers in the city centre would confuse Lothian's 22 with McGill's X22 or Lothian's 24 with McGill's X24.

 

[LothianBusesPh]

Yeah, I've seen that too (where First's legacy 'West' lettering is missing following a repair) but I think this would only alarm bus spotters and purists rather than normal passengers. Maybe for those with long memories if it's used on the contract 20 or 63 routes, but otherwise there's little similarity in routes and service numbers between the two companies. I doubt passengers in the city centre would confuse Lothian's 22 with McGill's X22 or Lothian's 24 with McGill's X24.

It would be even more confusing if you catch a photo of an East Coast Buses 124 part route to Waterloo Place with an X24 to Waterloo Place too.

 

[jagardner1984]

Have to say - was in Edinburgh today and honestly all the Lothian Ladies and Gents should be on danger money - the state of some of the driving from the great British public .... I am not sure if they give them a decent bonus for dealing with this month - but I'd honestly be a nervous wreck (aside from any caused by a complete lack of ability in moving a bus !) by even one journey down Princes Street.

 

[Blindtraveler]

Add to that the enormous numbers of people, far more than the city was ever built to cope with that seemed to appear out of nowhere during August in particular but increasingly at other times of year, I completely agree that danger money or a very least a decent bonus or thank you from the company for coping with it to all staff not just drivers but engineering and customer support and all the people they seem to have out on the streets during busy times is well deservwd

 

[Lx008]

What is Lothian policy for broken ticket machines?, just had a trip on a morning X37 down the bridges and driver was waving people on as the ticket machine was broken.
On a side note, have to say that the morning X29 and X37 as surprisingly well used.

 

[fife_circle]

What is Lothian policy for broken ticket machines?, just had a trip on a morning X37 down the bridges and driver was waving people on as the ticket machine was broken.
On a side note, have to say that the morning X29 and X37 as surprisingly well used.

I was on bus 472 on Monday and its ticket machine seemed to be having issues scanning NEC cards, it would accept some of them but at other times wasn’t even registering one was on the reader.

 

[LothianBusesPh]

I was on bus 472 on Monday and its ticket machine seemed to be having issues scanning NEC cards, it would accept some of them but at other times wasn’t even registering one was on the reader.

That also happened on 639 yesterday with some passengers getting on fine while others didn't work, obviously the driver still let them on.

 

[computerSaysNo]

Do the new departure boards being installed at bus stops take their data from the official Bus Registration? As e.g. the 4 is shown as to Musselburgh, the 1 to South Leith, and so on.