Bright Bus Airport Express service

[LothianBusesPh]

The issue is the only viable alternatives in the McGill’s fleet would be the E200mmc’s, as suggested by someone else. Though in theory you’d think all the ones left in the west will eventually be Midland Bluebird bound after the west gets more Yutong’s at somepoint. For me Xplore Dundee letting go of the Eclipse2’s was daft and that would’ve allowed the E200mmc’s currently on the X38 to be used by Bright Bus instead, those Eclipse2’s instead doing the X38. I’m sure there was a bigger reason behind this though.

I can’t see how Bright Bus would ever be able to justify new stock and in any case McGill’s would want Electric stock if new. That’s expensive and goes against the whole principle of Bright Bus. So really second hand may be the only solution. Again I’d expect this to be E200mmc’s.

They’ll need more second hand stock to replace those E400’s anyway, as they too are past it, more so than the E300’s.

Unlikely at this time but an option for electric stock would be for some 71 plate Yutongs to transfer to Bright Bus with a new order for west? I don't think it would happen but it is still an option if they do look to improve their look. I don't think they would like top have another Bright Bus transfer being single decks though I could be wrong. I feel the Airport operations are more for some cash rather than competing with Airlink, yes they are competing but I don't feel that's the main objective so nothing would surprise me. What they have to look at now in my opinion is replacing some of those older Enviro400s for the open top tours as you mentioned. I remember hearing that they are looking at getting some Wright Electroliners but I don't know how concrete or true that is.

 

[CN04NRJ]

I feel the Airport operations are more for some cash rather than competing with Airlink, yes they are competing but I don't feel that's the main objective so nothing would surprise me.

It's very much about competing, or attempting to at least.

 

[LothianBusesPh]

Unsure if it has been covered, but McGill's seem to have registered a Service 801, it looks to be replacing a deadrun for the Bright Bus Airport Express. It starts at Dean's Garage and goes direct to the Airport and runs in both directions. It will start on the 30th of September. Nothing special and I doubt anyone will use it but a nice option if anyone wants to go out early in the morning and link with another service at the Airport, though it only has two stops in West Lothian!

Linked below is the Bustimes.org timetable.

801 - Edinburgh Airport - Broxburn - Uphall - Deans Road End

Bright Bus

bustimes.org

 

[Blindtraveler]

They'll be likely absolutely no marketing effort made with this, but if they did a bit of work on socials, billing it as West Lothian airport connect or something like that. You might get a few morning and evening users, but I should imagine even the most disinterested passenger will see this for what it is, a way of monetizing the dead mileage

 

[Spsf3232]

They'll be likely absolutely no marketing effort made with this, but if they did a bit of work on socials, billing it as West Lothian airport connect or something like that. You might get a few morning and evening users, but I should imagine even the most disinterested passenger will see this for what it is, a way of monetizing the dead mileage

It more than likely not even be advertised so that means the only people who would know about it will be people within the industry and enthusiasts

 

[AndrewTaylor95]

Unsure if it has been covered, but McGill's seem to have registered a Service 801, it looks to be replacing a deadrun for the Bright Bus Airport Express. It starts at Dean's Garage and goes direct to the Airport and runs in both directions. It will start on the 30th of September. Nothing special and I doubt anyone will use it but a nice option if anyone wants to go out early in the morning and link with another service at the Airport, though it only has two stops in West Lothian!

Linked below is the Bustimes.org timetable.

801 - Edinburgh Airport - Broxburn - Uphall - Deans Road End

Bright Bus

bustimes.org

They do this in Greenock with runs from the Town Centre upto the Depot and some various parts of Port Glasgow too, Same with their 23D service from Erskine to Inchinnan just placing runs between terminus points and the depot

 

[SilentWatcher]

They'll be likely absolutely no marketing effort made with this, but if they did a bit of work on socials, billing it as West Lothian airport connect or something like that

I don't think the West Lothian residents would be remotely impressed at learning not only had McGills set up a new airport express in Edinburgh after withdrawing their local services, but that they were now trying to turn their dead milage on the way to the airport into another fare paying route.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

I don't think the West Lothian residents would be remotely impressed bothered at learning not only had McGills set up a new airport express in Edinburgh after withdrawing their local services, but that they were now trying to turn their dead milage on the way to the airport into another fare paying route.

Fixed that for you

 

[sannox]

Fixed that for you

I suspect a few people would be unhappy, but the fact that operators haven't been falling over themselves to replace these West Lothian routes probably suggests the viability of them in a commercial network.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

I suspect a few people would be unhappy, but the fact that operators haven't been falling over themselves to replace these West Lothian routes probably suggests the viability of them in a commercial network.

True and let's face facts...

They bought the depot from First and closed the West Lothian ops just 15 months later so McGills won't be seared in the consciousness of most. Registering some placement journeys on the existing Airport Express that are niche (to be charitable) will be of little interest to the vast majority of people on this forum, let alone the general public.

 

[Stan Drews]

The dead trips are only being registered in order that they can be eligible for Network Support Grant (NSG). As others have said this is common place at their Inverclyde and Renfrewshire depots.

 

[markymark2000]

The dead trips are only being registered in order that they can be eligible for Network Support Grant (NSG). As others have said this is common place at their Inverclyde and Renfrewshire depots.

Shame they don't include it on the core Airport Express registration. Promote it as a early morning/late evening trips to Edinburgh. Yes there would be limited usage still but it gives more journey options for passengers rather than running it completely separate.

 

[ChrisPJ]

Shame they don't include it on the core Airport Express registration. Promote it as an early morning/late evening trips to Edinburgh. Yes there would be limited usage still but it gives more journey options for passengers rather than running it completely separate.

It doesn’t start until end of next month, give them a chance!

 

[Bus9120UK]

I wouldn't expect this to be advertised. There is only one stop along the route (two if including Airport Hotel towards the Airport).

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

I wouldn't expect this to be advertised. There is only one stop along the route (two if including Airport Hotel towards the Airport).

Exactly - it's going from a bus depot on an industrial estate at obscure times of the day, with a single stop in Broxburn (is this required for NSG purposes). Suffice to say, there isn't exactly a big market to promote to!

 

[markymark2000]

I wouldn't expect this to be advertised. There is only one stop along the route (two if including Airport Hotel towards the Airport).

McGills are quite good at advertising these placement trips. The trips are advertised as normal routes on the website. If a service is included in the core service, see the Greenock X7 for example and Johnstone 38, the extension is advertised in the core timetable and promotional material.

I see no reasons why the 801 couldn't work the same as the Greenock X7 for example, or one of the various other core McGills West services that extend to/from the depot.

 

[AndrewTaylor95]

McGills are quite good at advertising these placement trips. The trips are advertised as normal routes on the website. If a service is included in the core service, see the Greenock X7 for example and Johnstone 38, the extension is advertised in the core timetable and promotional material.

I see no reasons why the 801 couldn't work the same as the Greenock X7 for example, or one of the various other core McGills West services that extend to/from the depot.

A lot of people use the 801/2/3 in Greenock cause it goes past near enough Gourock and up Larkfield scheme next to the bus depot and run pretty late at 00:39 from West Stewart Street

 

[markymark2000]

A lot of people use the 801/2/3 in Greenock cause it goes past near enough Gourock and up Larkfield scheme next to the bus depot and run pretty late at 00:39 from West Stewart Street

I perhaps should have been more specific. My last sentence is aimed at the new Livingston 801 and how that should be an extension to the core Airport Express rather than a standalone service. Same as how the X7 doesn't change numbers at Greenock to become an 801 to the depot.

 

[Stan Drews]

I wouldn't expect this to be advertised. There is only one stop along the route (two if including Airport Hotel towards the Airport).

There are no stopping restrictions so it will observe all stops along the route.

 

[Volvodart]

A new timetable starts next week which has got rid of the frequent early services.

AIRX - Edinburgh City Centre to Edinburgh Airport, via Haymarket and Maybury

Timetable for AIRX - Edinburgh City Centre to Edinburgh Airport, via Haymarket and Maybury

www.mcgillsscotlandeast.co.uk

 

[stevenedin]

A new timetable starts next week which has got rid of the frequent early services.

AIRX - Edinburgh City Centre to Edinburgh Airport, via Haymarket and Maybury

Timetable for AIRX - Edinburgh City Centre to Edinburgh Airport, via Haymarket and Maybury

www.mcgillsscotlandeast.co.uk

They are keeping that quiet. Hopefully everyone that relies on this at the time checks the timetable so won’t be caught out.

 

[AndrewTaylor95]

A new timetable starts next week which has got rid of the frequent early services.

AIRX - Edinburgh City Centre to Edinburgh Airport, via Haymarket and Maybury

Timetable for AIRX - Edinburgh City Centre to Edinburgh Airport, via Haymarket and Maybury

www.mcgillsscotlandeast.co.uk

Probably because they're running straight from the depot as the new 801 to the Airport from the same date

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

Probably because they're running straight from the depot as the new 801 to the Airport from the same date

That’s not correct. The 801’s are garage runs. The AIRX has been heavily scaled back before 06:45. Not quite sure why to be honest.

 

[LothianBusesPh]

That’s not correct. The 801’s are garage runs. The AIRX has been heavily scaled back before 06:45. Not quite sure why to be honest.

Partly because they are losing staff.

 

[NorthClyde320]

Partly because they are losing staff.

The service will still use 6 buses even in the peaks so still the same amount of staff needed, the weekday morning 10 min frequency is reduced to every 15/20 mins prob due to extra running time required towards Waverley Bridge since the revised route started.

Does anyone know how the loadings have been during the busier summer months? Well not that there's been much if any summer this year

 

[Bus9120UK]

The service will still use 6 buses even in the peaks so still the same amount of staff needed, the weekday morning 10 min frequency is reduced to every 15/20 mins prob due to extra running time required towards Waverley Bridge since the revised route started.

Does anyone know how the loadings have been during the busier summer months? Well not that there's been much if any summer this year

The peak vehicle requirement may not change but the number of journeys between 3:30am and 7am are reducing from 19 to 8. That won't have a major decrease on the driver requirement but it will have a small reduction, even if that is by one. It is worth noting that there is an extra journey added during the 7pm and 9pm hours.

My observations are occasionally half filled but mostly poor loadings. My observations are mainly in the afternoon. At the same time Airlink buses remain very busy for the most part.

 

[roadierway77]

Does anyone know how the loadings have been during the busier summer months? Well not that there's been much if any summer this year

Generally poor from my observations. I noticed some healthy loadings during the festival but now I rarely see buses with anything greater than half occupancy. It does make sense to cut back the early morning journeys as from what I've seen they tend to be absolutely dead. To be honest, I don't think the service is going to survive long term.

 

[Scott mac]

They are keeping that quiet. Hopefully everyone that relies on this at the time checks the timetable so won’t be caught out.

No big deal they will just use the 100 airlink

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 27 Sep 2024 ==

Partly because they are losing staff.

Dosnt have anything to do with staff

 

[Christmas]

I've noticed the destination screens now display AIRX as a route number, rather than 'fast to Airport' and 'fast to City'.

Another Hornby-ism being changed.

 

[roadierway77]

I've noticed the destination screens now display AIRX as a route number, rather than 'fast to Airport' and 'fast to City'.

Another Hornby-ism being changed.

They seem to be using three formats of destination screen at the moment, the original 'fast to Airport' and 'fast to City' screens without anything in the route number spot, a format with 'AIRX' in the route number spot and either 'City' or 'Airport' and another with 'Airport Express' in the route number spot and 'City' or 'Airport' in the destination spot. It's a bit of a mess.