West Coast Motors & Borders Buses

[MasterSpenny]

According to buslistsontheweb.co.uk this StreetDeck Electroliner has seemingly been reregistered as E1WCM.

Further to this post, it has been stated on buslistsontheweb.co.uk that there are more registered, alongside the fleet numbers. This information is shown in the below table.

Fleet Number	Registration Plate
12401	E1WCM
12402	SV24WFA
12403	SV24WFB
12404	SV24WFC
12405	SV24WFD
12406	SV24WFE
12407	SV24WFF
12408	SV24WFG
12409	SV24WFH
12410	SV24WFJ

 

[Scotrail88]

Further to this post, it has been stated on buslistsontheweb.co.uk that there are more registered, alongside the fleet numbers. This information is shown in the below table.

Fleet Number	Registration Plate
12401	E1WCM
12402	SV24WFA
12403	SV24WFB
12404	SV24WFC
12405	SV24WFD
12406	SV24WFE
12407	SV24WFF
12408	SV24WFG
12409	SV24WFH
12410	SV24WFJ

I heard tomorrow was the day of these hitting the road.

Is this still the case?

Seems like long time to get them hitting the road?

 

[Dfatcontroller]

Scania/Irizar tri-axle 11408 - YN14PNE has been repainted white and sold to Hairy Haggis of Whitburn.

 

[DunsBus]

Two new E200MMCs in allover white, SK24XPO/P, have arrived at Berwick presumably for the 418 contract. Fleetnumbers are not yet known.

 

[computerSaysNo]

I don't personally see the the 253 as a problem at all, generally speaking. Most of the problems, perhaps predictably, are at the Edinburgh end where traffic becomes a serious issue. Although next time they change the buses on this and the x95 I hope they go over something a little more pleasant than the E200.

I was thinking about asking - what vehicles were used on the X62/X95/253 before the E200MMCs were bought (I'm assuming the routes haven't been changed significantly in the last few years?)?

 

[Lothianbus703]

I was thinking about asking - what vehicles were used on the X62/X95/253 before the E200MMCs were bought (I'm assuming the routes haven't been changed significantly in the last few years?)?

I think it was Scania Solars, Enviro 300s, Volvo B7TLs/B9TLs with the 253 being operated by Perrymans.

I'm not sure what Borders Buses used between the takeover of First Borders and the E200 MMCs' arrival.

 

[DunsBus]

I think it was Scania Solars, Enviro 300s, Volvo B7TLs/B9TLs with the 253 being operated by Perrymans.

I'm not sure what Borders Buses used between the takeover of First Borders and the E200 MMCs' arrival.

X62 and X95 used a mix of E200s and MetroCitys, with the 253 using the latter.

Further to an earlier posting, recently-delivered E200MMCs SK24XPO/XPP are now in fleet livery and have been numbered 12411/2. Both are allocated to Berwick. They are shorter than the examples delivered in 2019-20, at 8.9m, and have stock interiors (and thus no bike racks, leather seats or tables, though they do have USB sockets).
I was on one last week and was very impressed by it, very nippy and not too stressed wgrn at speed. I believe the pair were a cancelled order for another operator, which Borders Buses then bought at a discount. Attached is a photo of 12412 at Duns last Thursday, 4th July - its second full day in service - on a service 60 short working.



== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 10 Jul 2024 ==

Also of note, a recent N&P records the authorisation of a new operating centre in Galashiels, at Wheatlands Mill, just along the road from the depot at Duke Street. It's unclear whether this is in addition to there, or a replacement for it.

 

[JKP]

X62 and X95 used a mix of E200s and MetroCitys, with the 253 using the latter.

Further to an earlier posting, recently-delivered E200MMCs SK24XPO/XPP are now in fleet livery and have been numbered 12411/2. Both are allocated to Berwick. They are shorter than the examples delivered in 2019-20, at 8.9m, and have stock interiors (and thus no bike racks, leather seats or tables, though they do have USB sockets).
I was on one last week and was very impressed by it, very nippy and not too stressed wgrn at speed. I believe the pair were a cancelled order for another operator, which Borders Buses then bought at a discount. Attached is a photo of 12412 at Duns last Thursday, 4th July - its second full day in service - on a service 60 short working.

View attachment 161530

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 10 Jul 2024 ==

Also of note, a recent N&P records the authorisation of a new operating centre in Galashiels, at Wheatlands Mill, just along the road from the depot at Duke Street. It's unclear whether this is in addition to there, or a replacement for it.

I assume that the Wheatlands Mill operating centre replaces St Boswells.

Great photo of 12412. Why is the bus on that side of the road? I would have expected it to come along Newtown Street and be facing towards Berwick.

 

[DunsBus]

I assume that the Wheatlands Mill operating centre replaces St Boswells.

Great photo of 12412. Why is the bus on that side of the road? I would have expected it to come along Newtown Street and be facing towards Berwick.

Thanks. If only the screen had come out better!
The photo of 12412 was taken just after I'd alighted. It went along (out of service) to the entrance to Sally's Lodge on the western edge of Duns and turned there, before heading back to take up service to Berwick.
Most of the short-working 60s turn via Newtown Street so I think it may be down to the driver.

 

[computerSaysNo]

I think it was Scania Solars, Enviro 300s, Volvo B7TLs/B9TLs with the 253 being operated by Perrymans.

I'm not sure what Borders Buses used between the takeover of First Borders and the E200 MMCs' arrival.

Thanks.
I don't know much about Solars, what size engine and gearbox did they have?
Enviro300s with the 6-speed gearbox I think would have been really good on all the longer-distance routes. I honestly can't think of anything better to be honest, without going up to coaches. Eclipse Urbans I don't like because when you sit at the back you can't see out to the side as the windows don't come up high enough. Solars - I'm not sure if they have the same issue.
Something from Optare would probably have been just as good but I haven't been on them enough to judge.

B7TLs and B9TLs as in deckers?

Ah, I'll need to look up Perrymans online then.

X62 and X95 used a mix of E200s and MetroCitys, with the 253 using the latter.

E200s as in classic or MMC?

 

[DunsBus]

Thanks.
I don't know much about Solars, what size engine and gearbox did they have?
Enviro300s with the 6-speed gearbox I think would have been really good on all the longer-distance routes. I honestly can't think of anything better to be honest, without going up to coaches. Eclipse Urbans I don't like because when you sit at the back you can't see out to the side as the windows don't come up high enough. Solars - I'm not sure if they have the same issue.
Something from Optare would probably have been just as good but I haven't been on them enough to judge.

B7TLs and B9TLs as in deckers?

Ah, I'll need to look up Perrymans online then.

E200s as in classic or MMC?

Classic.

 

[stevenedin]

Thanks.
I don't know much about Solars, what size engine and gearbox did they have?
Enviro300s with the 6-speed gearbox I think would have been really good on all the longer-distance routes. I honestly can't think of anything better to be honest, without going up to coaches. Eclipse Urbans I don't like because when you sit at the back you can't see out to the side as the windows don't come up high enough. Solars - I'm not sure if they have the same issue.
Something from Optare would probably have been just as good but I haven't been on them enough to judge.

B7TLs and B9TLs as in deckers?

Ah, I'll need to look up Perrymans online then.

E200s as in classic or MMC?

First regularly used Volvo Wrightbus Gemini B7TL and B9TL double deckers on the X62 and X95 when they ran there.

 

[JKP]

Thanks.
I don't know much about Solars, what size engine and gearbox did they have?
Enviro300s with the 6-speed gearbox I think would have been really good on all the longer-distance routes. I honestly can't think of anything better to be honest, without going up to coaches. Eclipse Urbans I don't like because when you sit at the back you can't see out to the side as the windows don't come up high enough. Solars - I'm not sure if they have the same issue.
Something from Optare would probably have been just as good but I haven't been on them enough to judge.

B7TLs and B9TLs as in deckers?

Ah, I'll need to look up Perrymans online then.

E200s as in classic or MMC?

I think that Perrymans used Solos on the 253 certainly to begin with then MCV bodied Mercs?

 

[Blindtraveler]

The MCV Mercs were lovely from the passenger perspective and possibly the best buses we've seen on that service

 

[chiltern trev]

First regularly used Volvo Wrightbus Gemini B7TL and B9TL double deckers on the X62 and X95 when they ran there.

First and the X95 Carlisle. Double deckers were very rare. The usual fare was 62 reg E300s which were very nice supported by 55 reg Scania Wrightbus single deckers.

 

[DunsBus]

First and the X95 Carlisle. Double deckers were very rare. The usual fare was 62 reg E300s which were very nice supported by 55 reg Scania Wrightbus single deckers.

Not as rare as you think. Double deckers were used on the X95 to Carlisle if there were no spare single-deckers and for a couple of years in the mid-noughties an S-reg Olympian/Royale did a Saturday duty (0810 Gala-Carlisle, 1110 Carlisle-Edinburgh, 1505 Edinburgh-Carlisle, 1850 Carlisle-Gala) for extra capacity north of Gala.

 

[JKP]

Not as rare as you think. Double deckers were used on the X95 to Carlisle if there were no spare single-deckers and for a couple of years in the mid-noughties an S-reg Olympian/Royale did a Saturday duty (0810 Gala-Carlisle, 1110 Carlisle-Edinburgh, 1505 Edinburgh-Carlisle, 1850 Carlisle-Gala) for extra capacity north of Gala.

The 0810 Galashiels to Carlisle used to pick up a very decent load from Hawick southwards which often required the capacity of a dd.

 

[DunsBus]

The 0810 Galashiels to Carlisle used to pick up a very decent load from Hawick southwards which often required the capacity of a dd.

I'd heard that was one of the reasons, likewise on the northbound journey to Edinburgh a good load was picked up north of Gala and before the dd was allocated passengers were often being left behind as the bus was full.

 

[chiltern trev]

The time of the S reg Olympians was before our move to Carlisle around 2012 - so the only time I have seen a double decker was around Tuesday 15th October when 32760 SN55HEJ Volvo B7TL appeared, 13.10 departure from Carlisle.

 

[computerSaysNo]

From the ScotRail Temporary Timetable thread:

The Sunday Borders temporary timetable on Scotrail's website has an hourly service from Tweedbank starting at 0848.
If you try to plan a journey today using, for example, the NRE app, the next one after the 0848 is the 1347.
I understand they may be unable to run the ones in between due to lack of drivers, but they're not shown as cancellations on Journeycheck.
Surely this is going to end up with punters turning up expecting a train that isn't going to turn up?

And as I imagined would happen there was adverse discussion on social media in the wake of Friday evening's cancellation of the 1716 ex Edinburgh-Tweedbank and running a 2-car instead of a 3-car on the 1741 ex Edinburgh-Tweedbank. ScotRail in fairness provided a bus/coach to relieve the 1741 departure but folk were posting about arriving home nearly 2 hours later than normal by comparison to the 1716.

How quickly could Borders Buses put together a temporary timetable to augment the train service between Edinburgh and Tweedbank? I don't think just running more X95s would work as the X95 calls at a lot of places not served by the train. A new limited-stop service just calling at the train stations or the nearest stop to them on the main road would do. At least that would give people more options.

Or would that be against competition rules or against the spirit of the railway overtime ban action?

 

[DunsBus]

From the ScotRail Temporary Timetable thread:


How quickly could Borders Buses put together a temporary timetable to augment the train service between Edinburgh and Tweedbank? I don't think just running more X95s would work as the X95 calls at a lot of places not served by the train. A new limited-stop service just calling at the train stations or the nearest stop to them on the main road would do. At least that would give people more options.

Or would that be against competition rules or against the spirit of the railway overtime ban action?

Borders Buses are struggling for drivers at the moment, so running any extra X95s is out of the question.

 

[LothianBusesPh]

Borders Buses are struggling for drivers at the moment, so running any extra X95s is out of the question.

I also think Borders Buses would even have enough buses to fulfil it.

 

[DunsBus]

I also think Borders Buses would even have enough buses to fulfil it.

The X95 is also run commercially, any extras would be off Borders Buses' own back.

 

[computerSaysNo]

Can anyone tell me what the cheapest ticket(s) would be for a return journey from Edinburgh to Newtongrange? The Borders Buses website doesn't appear to say, and bustimes doesn't show fare information for them. Thanks.

 

[voidwxrranty]

Can anyone tell me what the cheapest ticket(s) would be for a return journey from Edinburgh to Newtongrange? The Borders Buses website doesn't appear to say, and bustimes doesn't show fare information for them. Thanks.

best thing to do is contact the company.

 

[JKP]

Can anyone tell me what the cheapest ticket(s) would be for a return journey from Edinburgh to Newtongrange? The Borders Buses website doesn't appear to say, and bustimes doesn't show fare information for them. Thanks.

The fare is the same as Lothian Buses i.e. £2 as far as I know.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 22 Aug 2024 ==

That is each way.

 

[Scotrail88]

Some changes appearing - anyone know what’s changing?

• PM0000019/125 Registered​

  CRAIG OF CAMPBELTOWN LTD
  Route: Milngavie Station to North Hanover Street, Glasgow via Baljaffray, Bearsden, Anniesland
  Service number: 15
  Service type: Normal Stopping
  Effective date: 30 Sep 2024

• PM0000019/105 Registered​

  CRAIG OF CAMPBELTOWN LTD
  Route: Duntocher, Beeches Road to Glasgow Central Station Hope Street via Faifley, Bearsden, Maryhill
  Service number: 17
  Service type: Normal Stopping
  Effective date: 30 Sep 2024

• PM0000019/131 Registered​

  CRAIG OF CAMPBELTOWN LTD
  Route: GARTNAVEL HOSPITAL to CLYDEBANK, CHALMERS STREET via ANNIESLAND, CLEVEDEN
  Service number: 11
  Service type: Normal Stopping
  Effective date: 30 Sep 2024

 

[computerSaysNo]

The fare is the same as Lothian Buses i.e. £2 as far as I know.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 22 Aug 2024 ==

That is each way.

Thank you. Did you find that online?

 

[Simon75]

Is the Galashiels depot the ex First Scotland East depot ?

 

[AndrewTaylor95]

Is the Galashiels depot the ex First Scotland East depot ?

Yes