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

[FlybeDash8Q400]

Is there any plans for anymore of these buses to be repainted into Lothian Country livery? The only ones from bustimes that I can see are 466 upwards where they haven’t been used for a few days. Are those ones next to be repainted?

466-468 are surely likely to return to Marine when sufficient BZL’s allow them to move. I’d see no reason for this to be any different.

 

[ScotRail158725]

Just seen 397 on a part route 3, breakdown cover or an extra service?

 

[DunsBus]

News of a past member of the fleet. Leyland Atlantean/Alexander 806 (EWS806D), new to Edinburgh Corporation in 1966 and which has sat in Bernard Hunter's yard at Gilmerton for the last 34 years, today entered preservation. It is one of the 23 Edinburgh Atlanteans to have short bay, rather than panoramic windows.

 

[stevenedin]

I was on 627 today and it vibrates as much as the old B7TLs did.

Has anyone else noticed these vibrating more?

I’ve noticed the engines on them making a banging noise like something is loose or the engine vibrating more and more when idle but nothing like 627 today.

 

[CN04NRJ]

I was on 627 today and it vibrates as much as the old B7TLs did.

Has anyone else noticed these vibrating more?

I’ve noticed the engines on them making a banging noise like something is loose or the engine vibrating more and more when idle but nothing like 627 today.

Small 4 cylinder engines turbocharged into oblivion, pushed to their limits day in day out. Shame Volvo didn't make a B8TL.

The Ecolife boxes aren't up to much either, they're getting quite jerky/banging on alot of the tri axles.

 

[Blindtraveler]

Yes I was shocked at the ride quality on the tri-axles when I was up last, and the b5tl as you say is worked ever so hard on those vehicles also

 

[ScotRail158725]

I was on 627 today and it vibrates as much as the old B7TLs did.

Has anyone else noticed these vibrating more?

I’ve noticed the engines on them making a banging noise like something is loose or the engine vibrating more and more when idle but nothing like 627 today.

The vibrating from the engine bay is really bad now on them, as mentioned in other posts they’ve got really jumpy gearboxes now. Its almost only the ones based at Longstone in the bad condition but they get hammered day in day out. Most of them are touching 300k miles already and are definitely showing it whereas 672-698 seem to be still running well

 

[stevenedin]

It’s such a shame as they are nice buses. Hopefully they will last.

 

[Graeme Duncan]

I saw e702 on the 23 this morning. Possibly an additional route with services 8,9 and 24 already serving these new buses.

 

[computerSaysNo]

Small 4 cylinder engines turbocharged into oblivion, pushed to their limits day in day out. Shame Volvo didn't make a B8TL.

Referencing part in bold: I'm not sure they are. They're mostly on stop-start services all day so the average engine RPM is going to be lower than if they were running at 50 or 60mph for long distances all day. I would think their work would be mechanically easier than if they were at East Coast or Lothian Country for example. Is their condition any different to the 2014, 15, 16, 17 and 18-plate Gemini bodied B5TLs?

The Ecolife boxes aren't up to much either, they're getting quite jerky/banging on alot of the tri axles.

They've been fairly bad from new have they not?

 

[Boff]

I saw e702 on the 23 this morning. Possibly an additional route with services 8,9 and 24 already serving these new buses.

Also saw 701e on 23, and a quick check of bustimes shows 711e as well.

 

[VioletEclipse]

News of a past member of the fleet. Leyland Atlantean/Alexander 806 (EWS806D), new to Edinburgh Corporation in 1966 and which has sat in Bernard Hunter's yard at Gilmerton for the last 34 years, today entered preservation. It is one of the 23 Edinburgh Atlanteans to have short bay, rather than panoramic windows.

so incredibly glad, it was in quite a state after sitting for so long and I thought it may well never run again. Also espescially as 812 has now emigrated it's so good to know that a member of the 1966 EWS-D batch is still with us.

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

I saw e702 on the 23 this morning. Possibly an additional route with services 8,9 and 24 already serving these new buses.

Probably just additions on Sunday only for now, but I would suggest a clue that the 23 will be next after the 24 is converted.

 

[90019]

Referencing part in bold: I'm not sure they are. They're mostly on stop-start services all day so the average engine RPM is going to be lower than if they were running at 50 or 60mph for long distances all day. I would think their work would be mechanically easier than if they were at East Coast or Lothian Country for example. Is their condition any different to the 2014, 15, 16, 17 and 18-plate Gemini bodied B5TLs?

The problem with stop start city work is that the repeated acceleration (quite often at full throttle during the day) means the gearboxes are working harder than they would be on longer distance work where they'd be sitting in the same gear for longer distances and consequently the turbo also gets worked much harder, constantly spooling up and down causing more wear.

They've been fairly bad from new have they not?

When the triaxles were new they were lovely and smooth, but within a year or so engineering had fiddled with the settings to put them into more of an eco mode which, as well as making them noticeably slower, caused jerkiness between first and second and it's been downhill since then.

 

[stevenedin]

The problem with stop start city work is that the repeated acceleration (quite often at full throttle during the day) means the gearboxes are working harder than they would be on longer distance work where they'd be sitting in the same gear for longer distances and consequently the turbo also gets worked much harder, constantly spooling up and down causing more wear.


When the triaxles were new they were lovely and smooth, but within a year or so engineering had fiddled with the settings to put them into more of an eco mode which, as well as making them noticeably slower, caused jerkiness between first and second and it's been downhill since then.

I did notice that 610 was also vibrating like mad when idle as well. It’s a shame that these are like this after just 3 years. Did the B7TLs vibrate when new? I can’t remember.

I did notice with the XLBs that 1126 and 1127 were noticeably slower than some others which appear more powerful.

 

[Numpt33]

or Austria?

Gosh darn autocorrect

Again I emphasis that I don't live in Edinburgh but since Lothian Buses, although owned by the local Councils, operates are as an arm-length commercial operation, so what is that could legally stop Lothian from operating into Falkirk or any other area if that was commercially beneficial to them? After all, they did operate in York for a short while.

It isn't the law that stops Lothian, it's the shareholders. I don't think West Lothian would be too happy about Lothian expanding into new markets as West Lothian has lots of patronage growing to do.

 

[37114]

so incredibly glad, it was in quite a state after sitting for so long and I thought it may well never run again. Also espescially as 812 has now emigrated it's so good to know that a member of the 1966 EWS-D batch is still with us.

Look up "Calum Melrose on Flickr, loads of photos of it and apparently it is a runner already

Calum Melrose

Explore Calum Melrose’s 4,904 photos on Flickr!

www.flickr.com

 

[Resuwen]

Saw a new BZL (no fleet number and carrying trade plates) at the A1 near Queen Margaret presumably en route to Seafield at about 0940 this morning

 

[CSB0241]

I was on 627 today and it vibrates as much as the old B7TLs did. Has anyone else noticed these vibrating more?

I went on quite a few MMCs over the weekend (610, 641, 654, 660, 666, 678, 692, & 694), & what I noticed is that 610 & 692 were sounding quite rough, 678 & 694 sounded normal for B5 standards, & 641, 654, 660, & 666 were in great shape. Seems like the original 30 Longstone MMCs aren’t doing too hot, but I haven’t been on 631-640 recently enough to see how they’re holding up at Longstone (although going off of the 71-plate MMCs at Longstone, I’m sure they’re probably doing fine). 642-650 are probably doing great alike 641, & I’m sure that 670-698 are probably doing okay, maybe bar the constant use on the 37 that they’ll have been going through for the past 3 years.

I saw e702 on the 23 this morning. Possibly an additional route with services 8,9 and 24 already serving these new buses.

Yes, seems like it’ll be primarily EVs on Sundays until the next lot of BZLs enter service for it to be fully electrified. Surprised they didn’t direct their attention towards making sure the 24 was all-EVs before trying their hands at a new route. Electric 23s are cool though (as someone who stays near the 23 route), I might not love the BZLs or BYDs but I at least prefer them to the Gemini 2s so it’ll be cool to get some variety along the route.

 

[stevenedin]

578 on the X27 is tracking as a Not In Service 43. When is this going to be fixed? Is there plans to have this resolved?

578 - SJ67 MFV

Volvo B5LH Wright Eclipse Gemini 3

bustimes.org

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

578 on the X27 is tracking as a Not In Service 43. When is this going to be fixed? Is there plans to have this resolved?

Pretty much until the new system goes fully live. All of the AVL’s are done so can only assume it’s now down to the control room being finished. From what I heard this was undergoing a phase of refurbishment? I’m sure someone in the know will be able to give a better idea of that.

 

[CN04NRJ]

Pretty much until the new system goes fully live. All of the AVL’s are done so can only assume it’s now down to the control room being finished. From what I heard this was undergoing a phase of refurbishment? I’m sure someone in the know will be able to give a better idea of that.

Yes, the control room is undergoing a major refit/refurbishment and they are not based at Central at the moment.

 

[Busmansholiday]

There were three new BZLs heading north on the M5 past Gloucester on Wednesday morning. Presumably they are landing in Avonmouth.

 

[LothianLover88]

There were three new BZLs heading north on the M5 past Gloucester on Wednesday morning. Presumably they are landing in Avonmouth.

715e probably one of them.

 

[Lothiangem22]

Pretty much until the new system goes fully live. All of the AVL’s are done so can only assume it’s now down to the control room being finished. From what I heard this was undergoing a phase of refurbishment? I’m sure someone in the know will be able to give a better idea of that.

Control room is now finalised and back to central on Tuesday with a substantial investment

 

[Resuwen]

Silly question but I was behind 1002 this morning and it has some sort of grill/vent on the back between decks, with the Lothian logo off to the side.

I haven't noticed this on any other B9s whether ex-London or native.

Is it a different spec?

 

[computerSaysNo]

Silly question but I was behind 1002 this morning and it has some sort of grill/vent on the back between decks, with the Lothian logo off to the side.

I haven't noticed this on any other B9s whether ex-London or native.

Is it a different spec?

A small number of the ex London vehicles went to a various selection of vehicle refurbishment companies to allow Lothian to evaluate each company's results. Then one single company were chosen for the large remaining part of the batch. Thus some of the low-numbered vehicles have a slightly different specification, e.g. I think vehicle 1000 has low-back seats.

 

[CN04NRJ]

A small number of the ex London vehicles went to a various selection of vehicle refurbishment companies to allow Lothian to evaluate each company's results. Then one single company were chosen for the large remaining part of the batch. Thus some of the low-numbered vehicles have a slightly different specification, e.g. I think vehicle 1000 has low-back seats.

1000/1001/1002 still have their original (reupholstered) seats, while 1001 and 1002 still have the vents for the (removed) AC units fitted for London. If I remember correctly that is.

 

[Bus9120UK]

1000/1001/1002 still have their original (reupholstered) seats, while 1001 and 1002 still have the vents for the (removed) AC units fitted for London. If I remember correctly that is.

1000 had high-backs fitted with 1141-1153 but 1000 didn't retain its rear door.

 

[LothianLover88]

Right so it definitely seems the 24 is the next BZL candidate. That’s 5 on it this morning.