Edinburgh & The Lothians Council Tender Services

[stevenedin]

Does anyone know how busy the new Edinburgh routes have been?

(13, 20, 32, 60, 68, 69, 70, 71)

I've seen a few busy 32's during the day but nothing crazy, the 13 looks no busier than before, the 60 looks dead, and I can't comment on the other services.

I didn’t realise that the 69 had started. I’ve only been on the 60 and 70 and both were pretty quiet when I was on them.

 

[Auld reekie]

From what I've seen the 32 appears to be doing alright.

 

[roadierway77]

Does anyone know how busy the new Edinburgh routes have been?

(13, 20, 32, 60, 68, 69, 70, 71)

I've seen a few busy 32's during the day but nothing crazy, the 13 looks no busier than before, the 60 looks dead, and I can't comment on the other services.

I took the 60 from Haymarket to Holyrood the other day at 5pm and I was the only passenger.

 

[buslad1988]

Don’t forget all these tenders are tenders for a reason… they will never be busy enough to be commercially viable!

It makes no difference who operates them. They’ll always carry next to nobody.

In cash strapped times like these I’m surprised the council even bothered. The Dumbiedykes and Willowbrae routes are simply a waste of money!

Likewise serving the old Bingham turning circle - like folk are going to change/wait for a limited service like that instead of walking a few meters down the road for a 4. It’s plain daft.

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

Don’t forget all these tenders are tenders for a reason… they will never be busy enough to be commercially viable!

It makes no difference who operates them. They’ll always carry next to nobody.

In cash strapped times like these I’m surprised the council even bothered. The Dumbiedykes and Willowbrae routes are simply a waste of money!

Likewise serving the old Bingham turning circle - like folk are going to change/wait for a limited service like that instead of walking a few meters down the road for a 4. It’s plain daft.

The tendered routes are fine except for as you say the rather pointless 60 and 69. Even the 68 is probably going to be changed in the future with all these new houses.

The current 20 is also really poor in my opinion as well, but is not in the same league as the 60 and 69.

 

[CSB0241]

Does anyone know how busy the new Edinburgh routes have been?

13; Decently well used on the western half, but almost desolate otherwise.
20; Relatively well used around Wester Hailes, but very quiet eastwards to Chesser.
32; Busiest out of all the council-funded routes between Cramond & the gyle, but rather quiet down to Balerno.
60; absolutely barren from the 6 times I’ve used it (no, I don’t know how I’ve used it so much either).
68; fairly busy for a route allocated to a EVM Cityline, primarily between Corstorphine & The Gyle.
69; a couple passengers from Lady Nairne to the Jewel from the couple times I’ve used it, but that’s about it.
70; never more than 15 people on board, usually under 10.
71; fairly well used, but rambunctious teens being loud at the back of the bus make up most of the passengers (according to a friend who stays in Queensferry).

 

[stevenedin]

The tendered routes are fine except for as you say the rather pointless 60 and 69. Even the 68 is probably going to be changed in the future with all these new houses.

The current 20 is also really poor in my opinion as well, but is not in the same league as the 60 and 69.

There is a lot of elderly and disabled people who rely on these. Without them, they would need to get taxis everywhere. They are tendered for a reason. Hopefully they can get the numbers up a bit to avoid them being cancelled.

 

[buslad1988]

There is a lot of elderly and disabled people who rely on these. Without them, they would need to get taxis everywhere. They are tendered for a reason. Hopefully they can get the numbers up a bit to avoid them being cancelled.

And for the bare minimum number of elderly and disabled who do require this service as a necessity - would it not be more cost efficient to provide them with taxi vouchers?

I’ve known other local authorities to do this.

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

There is a lot of elderly and disabled people who rely on these. Without them, they would need to get taxis everywhere. They are tendered for a reason. Hopefully they can get the numbers up a bit to avoid them being cancelled.

Tendered services still need people to actually to use the bus though. In the case of the 3 aforementioned routes, the demand is really low to a point where it’s hard to justify. If you look at the amount of public subsidy required for just those three, it’s little wonder people question what it’s being spent on.

 

[sannox]

Don’t forget all these tenders are tenders for a reason… they will never be busy enough to be commercially viable!

It makes no difference who operates them. They’ll always carry next to nobody.

In cash strapped times like these I’m surprised the council even bothered. The Dumbiedykes and Willowbrae routes are simply a waste of money!

Likewise serving the old Bingham turning circle - like folk are going to change/wait for a limited service like that instead of walking a few meters down the road for a 4. It’s plain daft.

I don't get a lot of tendered services - many seem to be on the whims of politicians rather than true social need. The 69 seems to duplicate a lot of existing bus routes to the Jewel - the 4 and 49 (5 to an extent). Seems a bit of a waste.

The Dumbiedykes service equally seems like something were ideally an existing operator would move a City terminator rather than a wee shuttle to Haymarket!

 

[TheEastCoaster]

13; Decently well used on the western half, but almost desolate otherwise.
20; Relatively well used around Wester Hailes, but very quiet eastwards to Chesser.
32; Busiest out of all the council-funded routes between Cramond & the gyle, but rather quiet down to Balerno.
60; absolutely barren from the 6 times I’ve used it (no, I don’t know how I’ve used it so much either).
68; fairly busy for a route allocated to a EVM Cityline, primarily between Corstorphine & The Gyle.
69; a couple passengers from Lady Nairne to the Jewel from the couple times I’ve used it, but that’s about it.
70; never more than 15 people on board, usually under 10.
71; fairly well used, but rambunctious teens being loud at the back of the bus make up most of the passengers (according to a friend who stays in Queensferry).

That was my ideal perspective, surprised the 20 is well used as it is with it's bare bones timetable, perhaps if it extended to Hermiston it would of fared better.

The 32 has been busy on the handfuls I've used it, from The Gyle to Currie, evening bound from Balerno it has always been dead, either the market is not there in the evening or it's just always awkward timing, I like to think the bus is more used during the day from Balerno but I may be wrong.

Used both the 70/71 once, not on the same day, the 70 was quiet Ratho bound, but was busy on the way back, and the 71 was very quiet to Queensferry, (to be fair this was the same week the services launched).

Still yet to try the other services for myself, don't see the 60 lasting, unless it gets better marketing or they do something with the route, like extend it to the City?

 

[Auld reekie]

That was my ideal perspective, surprised the 20 is well used as it is with it's bare bones timetable, perhaps if it extended to Hermiston it would of fared better.

The 32 has been busy on the handfuls I've used it, from The Gyle to Currie, evening bound from Balerno it has always been dead, either the market is not there in the evening or it's just always awkward timing, I like to think the bus is more used during the day from Balerno but I may be wrong.

Used both the 70/71 once, not on the same day, the 70 was quiet Ratho bound, but was busy on the way back, and the 71 was very quiet to Queensferry, (to be fair this was the same week the services launched).

Still yet to try the other services for myself, don't see the 60 lasting, unless it gets better marketing or they do something with the route, like extend it to the City?

Duriing mid morning when I’ve used the 32 from Balerno it’s been quite busy.

 

[VioletEclipse]

Duriing mid morning when I’ve used the 32 from Balerno it’s been quite busy.

I've even witnessed it as standing room only occasionally. It connects a lot of places which would be difficult to get between without the 32, and honestly ideally it would have a better frequency.

However the same can't really be said for service 60, it it's current form I don't expect it to be full and standing all too often.

 

[Auld reekie]

I've even witnessed it as standing room only occasionally. It connects a lot of places which would be difficult to get between without the 32, and honestly ideally it would have a better frequency.

However the same can't really be said for service 60, it it's current form I don't expect it to be full and standing all too often.

Totally agree. Maybe they might increase the frequency to 30 minutes but if there is a bus shortage this would probably be unlikely.

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

Totally agree. Maybe they might increase the frequency to 30 minutes but if there is a bus shortage this would probably be unlikely.

There’s probably only demand to justify an increase in the Cramond to Hermiston Gait section in my opinion. The rest of the route is fine at hourly.

The 32 does struggle with its timekeeping and I’d hope in the future measures aware taken to address it. Frequently it starts at Cramond already 10-15 minutes late.

 

[LothianBusesPh]

The 32 does struggle with its timekeeping and I’d hope in the future measures aware taken to address it. Frequently it starts at Cramond already 10-15 minutes late.

Possible solution similar what happened to the 63 maybe?

 

[DunsBus]

I don't get a lot of tendered services - many seem to be on the whims of politicians rather than true social need. The 69 seems to duplicate a lot of existing bus routes to the Jewel - the 4 and 49 (5 to an extent). Seems a bit of a waste.

The Dumbiedykes service equally seems like something were ideally an existing operator would move a City terminator rather than a wee shuttle to Haymarket!

It was tried in 2000-01 when LB's 24 and 25 terminated at Holyrood as part of the March 2000 network change. Neither service lasted particularly long there.

 

[Avenger20]

It was tried in 2000-01 when LB's 24 and 25 terminated at Holyrood as part of the March 2000 network change. Neither service lasted particularly long there.

The 36 seemed to work well in the area for many years before being altered in May 14.

 

[DunsBus]

The 36 seemed to work well in the area for many years before being altered in May 14.

I remember that. Probably the best service Dumbiedykes has ever had.

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

I remember that. Probably the best service Dumbiedykes has ever had.

Agreed. Always busy and lasted almost 10 years if I recall. Commercial too.

Unless the Royal Mile is fully pedestrianised at somepoint, which to be fair is something this council would probably do, then there’s no chance that the 35 returns to Dumbiedykes again. Admittedly this was only due to the roadworks at the Museum of Childhood that it did this in the first place. Though that would more or less directly eradicate any need for the 60.

 

[endecotp]

I did see two people getting on the 60 on Holyrood Road last week.

It would be interesting to know where passengers’ final destinations are.

 

[A330Alex]

I think the 60 could have some potential as a city centre link but, realistically, it needs to be a Lothian service for that to work.

The initial proposal to reroute the 13 to Dumbiedykes was likely the best solution for there, but politicians quickly got involved.

The 32 is by far the most interesting of the new tendered routes, and perhaps the only one with the potential to become commercial. The lack of a Sunday service is still odd to me, though.

 

[TheEastCoaster]

I think the 60 could have some potential as a city centre link but, realistically, it needs to be a Lothian service for that to work.

The initial proposal to reroute the 13 to Dumbiedykes was likely the best solution for there, but politicians quickly got involved.

The 32 is by far the most interesting of the new tendered routes, and perhaps the only one with the potential to become commercial. The lack of a Sunday service is still odd to me, though.

I think the best hope Dumbiedykes had was when the 35 was diverted, it didn't do much harm to the route and it gave the area a good service.

Yeah I'm surprised the 32 doesn't have a Sunday service either, maybe that will come in due time?

 

[DunsBus]

Yeah I'm surprised the 32 doesn't have a Sunday service either, maybe that will come in due time?

Urm... the 32 contract is for Monday to Saturday operation, so that's what's being run.

 

[sannox]

The initial proposal to reroute the 13 to Dumbiedykes was likely the best solution for there, but politicians quickly got involved.

I understood the concerns about taking it off Princes Street but the eastern leg is largely duplicating Lothian routes.

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

I understood the concerns about taking it off Princes Street but the eastern leg is largely duplicating Lothian routes.

I don’t understand why they just couldn’t have had it run via The Mound/Hanover Street as the 13. It would’ve been a lot busier. As you say the eastern end of the 13 is also a waste of time.

 

[roadierway77]

Honestly I think Dumbiedykes could be better served if an existing service was rerouted to run along Pleasance. The 14 would perhaps be the ideal candidate.

 

[stevenedin]

New timetable for Council supported bus services announced | East Lothian Council

New timetable for Council supported bus services announced - New timetable for Council supported bus services announced

www.eastlothian.gov.uk

 

[CSB0241]

I’m excited for the Eves routes to be moved into EastCoastBuses, & more consistent timetables are more than welcome. Unsurprising that the 130’s getting cut, though nothing that I saw on the DRT131 being cut (though I can’t remember if that’s actually funded by East Lothian Council like the 109DRT is or not).

On the subject of the 109DRT, also not surprised it’s getting axed too. There is a part of me somewhat wishing that maybe, just maybe, this’ll see off the City 45 Prentice use, though I doubt that’ll happen.

The 110/115 changes are great considering the 26 changes. Shame that the 115 won’t have a Saturday service but every hour’s still good to see compared to no service at all.

Don’t fully get why they don’t just timetable the 111 to have 10min terminating at either end instead of the 20:60 ratio they’re doung currently, since that’s just a waste of resources that could easily be allocated elsewhere. If it’s to interwork it with the 122 then that’s fair, although that’s certainly not what it looks like based on how they’re timed.

I am fond of the 122 change, though I’m sure the residents in Drem who barely use any routes that don’t connect onto the train that they take into Edinburgh will be complaining like there’s no tomorrow. Sure that all the residents along the golf coast road will be glad to see another bus though, especially if it isn’t yet another route into Edinburgh.

 

[VioletEclipse]

The 110/115 changes are great considering the 26 changes. Shame that the 115 won’t have a Saturday service but every hour’s still good to see compared to no service at all.

The lack of Saturday service is quite an oversight in my opinion. Also noticed that it still leaves no buses between the High Street through Cuthill and top pans, when many folk use the 26 between that bit with Inchview and Scotmid on it and top Pans and Tranent.