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

[FlybeDash8Q400]

I think single deck full length BZL single decks are part of it, i'd imagine to replace the early 7900s.

I think that will happen in time but I think @paul0762 was suggesting diesel single decks in addition to diesel Airlinks. It’s worth noting none of 191-193 haven’t been repainted yet nor have even looked as if they could be.

The Mk1 7900’s have probably got another couple of years left in them, especially given the fact all are being repainted alongside the Mk2’s. There’s still the possibility of the 1 and 30 being switched to deckers in that time too so I can understand why that hasn’t happened yet. Length offering being another issue.

 

[Baileygirl]

I think that will happen in time but I think @paul0762 was suggesting diesel single decks in addition to diesel Airlinks. It’s worth noting none of 191-193 haven’t been repainted yet nor have even looked as if they could be.

The Mk1 7900’s have probably got another couple of years left in them, especially given the fact all are being repainted alongside the Mk2’s. There’s still the possibility of the 1 and 30 being switched to deckers in that time too so I can understand why that hasn’t happened yet. Length offering being another issue.

You would need to change the 30 route to put deckers on it, low bridge at Newcraighall

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

You would need to change the 30 route to put deckers on it, low bridge at Newcraighall

I’m well aware of that. Doesn’t mean it won’t happen though.

 

[computerSaysNo]

There’s still the possibility of the 1 and 30 being switched to deckers in that time too so I can understand why that hasn’t happened yet.

To be honest I'm surprised the 30 didn't get truncated to Fort Kinnaird at the last service change; I know Lothian is currently short of deckers but it would at least have allowed the route to transition to double decks as deckers were delivered.

Length offering being another issue.

The Volvo website says the single deck BZL can be built up to 13m.
Sort of related question - why were the Volvo 7900Hs ordered to the length they were? As I'm pretty sure they are shorter than the standard single deck length Lothian tend to buy, are they not?

 

[Lothianbus703]

You would need to change the 30 route to put deckers on it, low bridge at Newcraighall

• Around 20 double deckers would be required, potentially 641-650+681-690 as then Longstone would have 90 numerically ordered MMC's.
• 401-425 could work aswell.
• BZL's are probably about the right capacity for the 30 as they are on the smaller side of deckers.

To be honest I'm surprised the 30 didn't get truncated to Fort Kinnaird at the last service change; I know Lothian is currently short of deckers but it would at least have allowed the route to transition to double decks as deckers were delivered.

The Volvo website says the single deck BZL can be built up to 13m.
Sort of related question - why were the Volvo 7900Hs ordered to the length they were? As I'm pretty sure they are shorter than the standard single deck length Lothian tend to buy, are they not?

They are 12.2m long which was standard at the time, the short wheelbase leads people to thing they are shorter.

 

[computerSaysNo]

They are 12.2m long which was standard at the time, the short wheelbase leads people to thing they are shorter.

Oh, yes they do look shorter! Thanks for confirming.

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

To be honest I'm surprised the 30 didn't get truncated to Fort Kinnaird at the last service change; I know Lothian is currently short of deckers but it would at least have allowed the route to transition to double decks as deckers were delivered.

Not even that the solution is via the A1 now that the full QMU junction has been added. The section through Newcraighall is never busy with it essentially being a duplicate of the 46 and 48. It was only kept to act as a city centre connection but it’s sparsely used for that purpose.

 

[CN04NRJ]

I think that will happen in time but I think @paul0762 was suggesting diesel single decks in addition to diesel Airlinks. It’s worth noting none of 191-193 haven’t been repainted yet nor have even looked as if they could be.

The Mk1 7900’s have probably got another couple of years left in them, especially given the fact all are being repainted alongside the Mk2’s. There’s still the possibility of the 1 and 30 being switched to deckers in that time too so I can understand why that hasn’t happened yet. Length offering being another issue.

The Mk1s are much more reliable now, I think they may have had the battery packs/other work done on them?
Rarely seem to break down now, I only drove one to take to a changeover a few months ago but it seemed much better than when I was on the single deck.

Where would the diesel single decks go, Livingston or Dunbar? Given the plan for Central to be fully electric (bar Airlink, unless that gets moved to another garage to make way for electrics) I can't see them replacing hybrids on the 1/2.
Unless the plan is to expand in West Lothian using new single decks?

 

[overthewater]

There will be enhancements to Lothian Country announced in coming weeks, however this will be to improve reliability rather than a significant change.

There will be mudfas and additional journeys introduced for August.

September will be the next significant change network wide.

Have they gone to the Traffic commissioner? or are we looking for the 25th August at the planned date?

 

[Bus9120UK]

Have they gone to the Traffic commissioner? or are we looking for the 25th August at the planned date?

10th August seems a more realistic date to align with school returning, and to give enough time for the announcement and preparation of the main network change afterwhich, as that'll probably take place on the 7th or 14th September.

 

[overthewater]

10th August seems a more realistic date to align with school returning, and to give enough time for the announcement and preparation of the main network change afterwhich, as that'll probably take place on the 7th or 14th September.

If there are the 10th they should have been in at the Traffic commissioner already, So for the following week now being processed.

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

The Mk1s are much more reliable now, I think they may have had the battery packs/other work done on them?
Rarely seem to break down now, I only drove one to take to a changeover a few months ago but it seemed much better than when I was on the single deck.

Where would the diesel single decks go, Livingston or Dunbar? Given the plan for Central to be fully electric (bar Airlink, unless that gets moved to another garage to make way for electrics) I can't see them replacing hybrids on the 1/2.
Unless the plan is to expand in West Lothian using new single decks?

I mean could the Airlink be moved to be run by Lothian Motorcoaches out of Newbridge? If it were to move Lothian garage it would surely have to be Marine?

As you say diesel single deckers would surely need to be for the subsidiaries.

 

[CN04NRJ]

I mean could the Airlink be moved to be run by Lothian Motorcoaches out of Newbridge? If it were to move Lothian garage it would surely have to be Marine?

As you say diesel single deckers would surely need to be for the subsidiaries.

I think any change of depot comes with a whole host of issues as most of the drivers come in from the West or over the bridge, with the rest mostly being in range of all the city garages. Newbridge would probably be the easiest if vans were used for driver changeovers, or Longstone?

I know the further planned electrification of Central is going to hugely reduce the number of buses operated from there - with routes switching to other garages to accommodate.

 

[ScotRail158725]

I know the further planned electrification of Central is going to hugely reduce the number of buses operated from there - with routes switching to other garages to accommodate.

It was a weird one post covid keeping a number of routes that moved to Central there and not moving them back once services increased again. Things like the 2 and 22 should have went right back to Longstone by 2021

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698 out on the 26 has this moved to Marine?

 

[Bus9120UK]

It was a weird one post covid keeping a number of routes that moved to Central there and not moving them back once services increased again. Things like the 2 and 22 should have went right back to Longstone by 2021

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698 out on the 26 has this moved to Marine?

I could only suggest that it's temporary until 393 can be moved. That one has been off the road since the 6th of June. Otherwise I can't see why it would have moved permanently.

 

[Stef434]

Quick question do Lothian Buses still have a non operational site at Broxburn East Mains

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There will be enhancements to Lothian Country announced in coming weeks, however this will be to improve reliability rather than a significant change.

There will be mudfas and additional journeys introduced for August.

September will be the next significant change network wide.

mudfas have started

 

[LothianBusesPh]

Quick question do Lothian Buses still have a non operational site at Broxburn East Mains

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mudfas have started

You might be referring to Volvo Broxburn?

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

You might be referring to Volvo Broxburn?

No I think @Stef434 is referring to the site where a number of tridents were stored in the late 2000’s/early 2010’s. Tram 252 was also stored on this site.

 

[90019]

Quick question do Lothian Buses still have a non operational site at Broxburn East Mains

I think they got rid of it in the mid 2010s.

IIRC it's owned by Western Commercials these days.

 

[paravostok]

Just seen a post on reddit with this photo, is this anything interesting?

apparently it was down in Peterborough and looked "brand new", is this new BZL's coming into the city fleet?

 

[Resuwen]

That will be Lothian 726

 

[ScotRail158725]

1125 is in a new wrap for Edinburgh Zoo

Lothian Buses: 09.09.25

This image is © KM Edinburgh. It would be an offence for you to remove the copyright mark, or post the image elsewhere without my permission.

flic.kr

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Just seen a post on reddit with this photo, is this anything interesting?
View attachment 183474
apparently it was down in Peterborough and looked "brand new", is this new BZL's coming into the city fleet?

726

 

[stevenedin]

1125 is in a new wrap for Edinburgh Zoo

Lothian Buses: 09.09.25

This image is © KM Edinburgh. It would be an offence for you to remove the copyright mark, or post the image elsewhere without my permission.

flic.kr

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 10 Jul 2025 ==

Looks really nice.

 

[jb66]

Strike action warning as bus drivers reject two-year pay offer

A WARNING has been issued that a number of East Coast Buses drivers could go on strike in a dispute over pay.

www.eastlothiancourier.com

A WARNING has been issued that a number of East Coast Buses drivers could go on strike in a dispute over pay.

Unite has confirmed that about 130 drivers employed by East Coast Buses, which run services in East Lothian, are involved in an industrial action ballot after rejecting a two-year pay offer.

The ballot opens today (Thursday) and closes on July 24.

If workers vote for industrial action, then strike action could start in early August, potentially impacting on local services and major events such as the Edinburgh Festival and the Oasis concert (August 9) at Murrayfield Stadium...

This popped up into my news feed, is it still the case that east coast and lothian country are paid less than lothian drivers?

 

[CN04NRJ]

Strike action warning as bus drivers reject two-year pay offer

A WARNING has been issued that a number of East Coast Buses drivers could go on strike in a dispute over pay.

www.eastlothiancourier.com

This popped up into my news feed, is it still the case that east coast and lothian country are paid less than lothian drivers?

Yes, £15.55 at East Coast, City is £18.73 basic up to £28 for weekend overtime.

 

[scosutsut]

Strike action warning as bus drivers reject two-year pay offer

A WARNING has been issued that a number of East Coast Buses drivers could go on strike in a dispute over pay.

www.eastlothiancourier.com

This popped up into my news feed, is it still the case that east coast and lothian country are paid less than lothian drivers?

According to the careers section of the website...

Qualified PCV drivers at ECB/LCB are advertised as £15.15ph.

City drivers are that for 2 week induction then it's £16.17 for 2 years then £18.73 after that.

So you get paid more in the city, which seems fair enough. However I don't see the reason that there is essentially a retention element after 2 years for City but not the subsidiaries?

(That's my maths based on the stated annual salaries appearing to align to the stated hourly rates on the basis of a 39 hour week.)

 

[Stef434]

I think they got rid of it in the mid 2010s.

IIRC it's owned by Western Commercials these days.

Cheers yip it housed the tridents

 

[overthewater]

Are they still looking for mid August to start making minor improvements to Lothian Country services or are they getting pushed back to September?

 

[TheEastCoaster]

Are they still looking for mid August to start making minor improvements to Lothian Country services or are they getting pushed back to September?

Think it will be September at this rate, which is a shame as I feel as if they could of done it sooner.

 

[overthewater]

The changes REALLY need to be in before end of August so they can at least help with the college students, if not there have lost another years worth of passengers. They just keep on shotting themselves in the foot.