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

[ScotRail158725]

1063/6/9, 1071-1073, 1075, 1081/3/7/8, 1090/2/3/6, 1102/3/7, 1118/9 have tracking history on the 8. Some, but not all of these, will be errors.

1094 is the first i've seen evidence of. Its been swapped off at Bellevue again

 

[Resuwen]

If that’s true about the extra BZLs that will mean as we discussed last week everything older than an 11 plate being withdrawn and probably a start made to the 11s going too

 

[Lothianbus703]

If that’s true about the extra BZLs that will mean as we discussed last week everything older than an 11 plate being withdrawn and probably a start made to the 11s going too

Many of the 11 plates have recently had a repaint which hints that they will not be going soon.

 

[Resuwen]

They’ve been partial repaints rather than full.

Withdrawing all DDs of 57/08/09/10 age would be 37 vehicles.

If reports on here are accurate, the fleet is gaining 100 BZLs.

I can’t see the requirement for double deckers increasing by 63 vehicles, so it is likely some 11s will begin to go next year.

 

[Lothianbus703]

They’ve been partial repaints rather than full.

Withdrawing all DDs of 57/08/09/10 age would be 37 vehicles.

If reports on here are accurate, the fleet is gaining 100 BZLs.

I can’t see the requirement for double deckers increasing by 63 vehicles, so it is likely some 11s will begin to go next year.

After the 2021 B5TL E400 MMC's arrived over 150 vehicles were replaced by only 98, more replaced if you include the remaining 30(?) B7TL's, so anything could happen really.
The company may want to expand the fleet for future expansion or reserve purposes.

 

[Bus9120UK]

For capacity reasons I see 1141-1153 leaving before any 11 plates. However, I think the delivery of further BZLs should be viewed as an opportunity to maximize improvements to the network. These would not just be for the present network but also looking ahead a few years. The reintroduction of a reserve fleet would be a start.

 

[Resuwen]

For capacity reasons I see 1141-1153 leaving before any 11 plates. However, I think the delivery of further BZLs should be viewed as an opportunity to maximize improvements to the network. These would not just be for the present network but also looking ahead a few years. The reintroduction of a reserve fleet would be a start.

1141-53 are largely 11 plates

 

[Bus9120UK]

1141-53 are largely 11 plates

Apologies - by 11 plates I refer to 351-400 and 951-960.

 

[Busman84]

Many of the 11 plates have recently had a repaint which hints that they will not be going soon.

Are these still good enough buses or do they show there age?

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

I can’t see the requirement for double deckers increasing by 63 vehicles, so it is likely some 11s will begin to go next year.

It’s been stated elsewhere that they’d opt to withdraw the second hand ex London stock before the native 11 plates.

As has been said, they’ve not long started a process of repainting them all. The company is trying to move away from full repaints; this only being broken when it’s factory paintwork or the wrong colour at play. The XLB’s being repainted at Ferrymill is an example of this. Similarly, if the Skylink’s are ever done, this would likely be at Ferrymill. It’s quicker, cheaper and easier to do these type of repaints in house and repainting the white isn’t really necessary.

For that reason, I would expect 1141-1153 will be for the chop after the 12 Gemini’s, the 10 09 plates and ECB’s 14 ex Airlink Gemini2’s. 1141-1153 being dual door are pretty non standard at this point, being a throwback to the Richard Hall era. In theory, they could convert them to single door, but that seems like a rather big job given their age for Lothian. For an independent operator, it probably makes more sense.

If (and this is a big if) the 1 is converted to BZL double deck operation, then 1-10 would likely go as well. Similarly the 30 may also be a candidate for conversion, with surplus single deckers heading to Lothian Country. The remaining BZL’s therefore would be extra in the fleet. With 100 additions, I make it out that that would be 59 going, with 41 extra. This is a much more reasonable and realistic amount to increase the fleet in my opinion. Much of the spare stock will probably go towards Lothian Country. I don’t see where the heavy increases are coming in the city fleet to be honest.

 

[Graeme Duncan]

No sign of bus 400 on the Lothian Buses tracker this morning.

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

No sign of bus 400 on the Lothian Buses tracker this morning.

Looks like a swap in for 391. Will need to be manually allocated by control. 391 ended up swapping in for 1119 after. So 391 currently shows as being on a 7, when in actual fact it’s on the 16. Just one of the flaws of the manual system and this will continue to happen multiple times daily until it’s reverted to automatic with the new system.

 

[Siemens Trains]

The only thing stopping them is their Network and Scheduling teams being overloaded with unnecessary admin and I think they’ll be reviewing at least 3 months worth of data for the upcoming changes from 1st December before making any future changes so I would suggest early summer at the earliest if there’s to be another change.

Another factor might be that the 72 service operates under contract to West Lothian Council. I know some runs appear busy but that's arguably an issue for the council to resolve by requesting additional resource rather than Lothian forking out themselves.
In the fullness of time perhaps they'll operate the 72 commercially as I reckon the council subsidy mainly arose from McGill's incompetence rather than this being a truly unprofitable route.

 

[ScotRail158725]

Many of the 11 plates have recently had a repaint which hints that they will not be going soon.

Repaints, especially the ones in house, dont cost as much as you’d think

 

[CN04NRJ]

If that’s true about the extra BZLs that will mean as we discussed last week everything older than an 11 plate being withdrawn and probably a start made to the 11s going too

There's 1001-1050, 1141-1153, 351-400, 937-950, 926-936 and 841-850. A wee bit more than 50 buses will be needed to replace them (140ish buses?)

 

[Avenger20]

There's 1001-1050, 1141-1153, 351-400, 937-950, 926-936 and 841-850. A wee bit more than 50 buses will be needed to replace them (140ish buses?)

You forgot 951-960.

 

[Auld reekie]

Unusual to see a single decker on the 27 route yesterday.

 

[Resuwen]

There's 1001-1050, 1141-1153, 351-400, 937-950, 926-936 and 841-850. A wee bit more than 50 buses will be needed to replace them (140ish buses?)

That’s including all the 11 plates though. I said with the 100 new buses they’d be able to withdraw everything older than 11 and make a start on the 11s

 

[EdinRH]

Unusual to see a single decker on the 27 route yesterday.

I saw a single decker 27 about a year ago, also a single decker 23 in 2022.

Wasn't there a spell around 2002/2003 when Lothian ran single deckers on certain routes in the evening and on Sundays that ran with double deckers on Monday to Saturday daytimes? The 8 and the 14 IIRC (possibly others too)

 

[Auld reekie]

I saw a single decker 27 about a year ago, also a single decker 23 in 2022.

Wasn't there a spell around 2002/2003 when Lothian ran single deckers on certain routes in the evening and on Sundays that ran with double deckers on Monday to Saturday daytimes? The 8 and the 14 IIRC (possibly others too)

This was Friday morning.

 

[stevenedin]

I saw a single decker 27 about a year ago, also a single decker 23 in 2022.

Wasn't there a spell around 2002/2003 when Lothian ran single deckers on certain routes in the evening and on Sundays that ran with double deckers on Monday to Saturday daytimes? The 8 and the 14 IIRC (possibly others too)

There was the Sunday 19 and 41 that were run using single deckers. I think at least 10 years or so ago.

 

[VioletEclipse]

There was the Sunday 19 and 41 that were run using single deckers. I think at least 10 years or so ago.

The 41 had singles quite often about ten years ago and then in 2019 it was singles on Sundays for a wee while if I remember correctly.

 

[route101]

The 24 route was almost always singles until Covid.

Used routes 8, 24 and 9 yesterday. No BZLs, did see a few on the 8 but it seemed most 8 services were B9TLs. All 24s appeared to be 11 plate B9TLs which seem to be more than thought on the network.

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

The 24 route was almost always singles until Covid.

Used routes 8, 24 and 9 yesterday. No BZLs, did see a few on the 8 but it seemed most 8 services were B9TLs. All 24s appeared to be 11 plate B9TLs which seem to be more than thought on the network.

Think there’s issues with the range again as both yesterday and today have reverted to similar allocations to last week after the snow with a number on the 10, 23 and 27.

 

[LothianBusesPh]

Great start for the X19. I was on 571 and a car crashed into the back of it. Police at scene but it’s minor with a few damaged panels.

 

[Scotrail314209]

Just seen an X19 go past in Corstorphine heading out of the city, looked to have a very healthy load on it. Behind that was an X38 promoting the £1 Single Fare within Edinburgh.

It’s good that Edinburgh to Newbridge now has 4 Lothian buses an hour instead of two, but I wonder if combined with the 900, 909 and X38 is a bit too much? (I know the 900 and 909 don’t go to Newbridge but they serve Ratho Station).

 

[Metal Mickey]

Just seen an X19 go past in Corstorphine heading out of the city, looked to have a very healthy load on it. Behind that was an X38 promoting the £1 Single Fare within Edinburgh.

It’s good that Edinburgh to Newbridge now has 4 Lothian buses an hour instead of two, but I wonder if combined with the 900, 909 and X38 is a bit too much? (I know the 900 and 909 don’t go to Newbridge but they serve Ratho Station).

Until not long ago there was eight First Scotland East journeys per hour from Newbridge Road End to Edinburgh City Centre.

 

[stevenedin]

Festive timetables are up

https://www.lothianbuses.com/well-see-you-on-the-bus/ We’ll See You on the Bus
No matter the reason for travelling by bus this festive period – visiting friends and family, commuting to and from work, attending Christmas parties or work nights out – Lothian is here to make your journey easy, affordable and comfortable.
We’ve pulled together all the information you could possibly need this Christmas for travel across Edinburgh and the Lothians, including festive timetables, TravelHub opening hours, journey planning tools, Lothian merchandise (ideal for stocking fillers!) and last but not least… our very special Christmas Advertisement for 2024!
We’ll see you on the bus…
#MerryChristmasFromLothian

Festive Timetables 2024/2025​

Lothian Network Festive Timetable 2024/25
Lothian Country Network Festive Timetable 2024/25
East Coast Buses Network Festive Timetable 2024/25
Eve Coaches Festive Service Information 2024/25

 

[Siemens Trains]

Festive timetables are up

At least they didn't spend much on a Christmas video this year. But unfortunately Lothian have allowed standards to slip, letting the side down with a reference to Surgeon's Hall in the video subtitles.
Next stop Princess Street.

But generally the timetables look pretty comprehensive. I'm a little surprised to see the X19 running on 26 December so I wonder where this leaves the McGill's X38 tender, possibly still required for the Linlithgow to Winchburgh section.

 

[overthewater]

But generally the timetables look pretty comprehensive. I'm a little surprised to see the X19 running on 26 December so I wonder where this leaves the McGill's X38 tender, possibly still required for the Linlithgow to Winchburgh section.

Yes, X38 is still tenders every 2 hours: as seen on Midland Bluebird thread: