Stagecoach own both the Seagate Bus Station and St Andrews Bus station, other operators probably don't want to pay stagecoach the departure and layover fees (which arent any more than the cost of any of the bus stations in Fife). Whereas the stop outside the bus station and along the Nethergate don't cost anything, or if they do its Dundee City Council that are paid, plus they are directly located where people go to shop.
I personally like the idea of turning the AB1 into an Edinburgh peripheral service by extending it at the northern end to Dunfermline and at the southern end through to destinations in west and south Edinburgh like the Gyle Centre, Bankhead industrial estate, Sighthill colleges, Heriot-Watt and IKEA. Even just extending it to the Gyle Centre would open up new journey opportunities and improve accessibility to Edinburgh Park itself. Would it necessarily succeed with an extension? No. But would it have a far higher chance of actually getting passengers than the AB1 in its current form? Most likely yes. The AB1 is not attractive in any form at the moment, it's not even handy for most of Edinburgh Park itself as it terminates at the station on the far southern end of the site. Nobody is going to park and ride at Ferrytoll to go to Hermiston Gait, you might as well just drive.
Judging by how basic the technology is at the moment (can only operate in autonomous mode on the motorway in good weather during the day and mostly using a segregated bus lane) I doubt any vehicle will be able to operate between Ferrytoll and Dunfermline without a driver any time soon. The current vehicles can't even handle traffic lights. Fusion Processing and the UK Government didn't set out any timetrame for when CAVForth 2 would be operational which is very telling.
Agreed, it’s another service I think would benefit from an extension up to Napier/Edinburgh College. Students are amongst the most likely to use public transport and only a short extension would see them right to campus.
Ahead of these vehicles being sold?
Apparently they are going to Bee Network.
According to a comment on Facebook, yes.
Will fit in pretty well there. It was said previously that these were leaving Stagecoach completely so I’m thinking possibly acquired by Metroline when their franchises start?
That would be correct
I wonder what ages the replacement ones will be, everytime I'm in Manchester or Liverpool needing a USB port not one on the E400MMCs works, 68 plates and upwards you tend to find they do but some still broken, buses aren't kept that clean in these places I've found.
Presumably, any diesel replacements are broadly temporary, as didn't Arbroath get ScotZEB2 funding for electric deckers? I cannot imagine that the 73 wouldn't be included in that investment.
Can't speak for the whole of Scotland but I certainly haven't seen any since 2016.
Bluebird in Aberdeen have one, a fairly recent phenomenon, I can't remember when I first saw him, certainly within the last 2 years. He is usually at Union Square I have not seen him travelling on buses he has not been driving.
Lothian Country had one recently but he seems to have disappeared again, perhaps a trial gone wrong?
What would they 'inspect' these days if interacting with passengers? So many people travel for free that I can't imagine fare evasion is an issue for bus companies.
Yes. Very occasionally on the 73, there will be an inspector asking to see tickets and concessions. This is very rare and seems to be only the one person doing it - from what I've seen!
First Glasgow have inspectors out regularly
Stagecoach East Scotland have 4 ‘Revenue Inspectors’, two in Fife and two in Perth/Dundee/Angus. They very rarely drive in service and carry out a number of roles including onboard checks, support for major events etc.
The last time one was there it had been at Volvo in Aberdeen.
There was a recent photo on Facebook of 13050 at the Stagecoach Aberdeen depot. Someone has now told me it's there for an MOT.
