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

[Avenger20]

617 has been involved in an incident at what looks like Hermiston Park & Ride according to a video I've just seen on tiktok. It appears that the height restrictor for the car park has collapsed into the bus as it arrived.

 

[paul47B]

617 has been involved in an incident at what looks like Hermiston Park & Ride according to a video I've just seen on tiktok. It appears that the height restrictor for the car park has collapsed into the bus as it arrived.

The wind maybe blew it out of place

 

[NorthEastern]

I'd say the Ex-Londons (1000-1032 & 1141-1153).

Nooooo! Save the dual doors!!

 

[stevenedin]

Nooooo! Save the dual doors!!

I agree also 1000-1028 & 1030-1050. I'd hope that the 08, 09 and 10 reg buses would be withdrawn before these and maybe even the 11 reg.

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

I agree also 1000-1028 & 1030-1050. I'd hope that the 08, 09 and 10 reg buses would be withdrawn before these and maybe even the 11 reg.

The numbers don’t add up for that. The overall fleet size is likely to be increased as a result of the second batch of 48. So whilst 48 buses are being added to the fleet, it is unlikely 48 will be removed.

The introduction of 701-750 will have ultimately replaced 841-850, 929-931, 933-936, 937-945. That is 25 vehicles. I’m not saying all of these will be permanently withdrawn either, but rather these are for the moment surplus, or will be soon once everything is moved.

East Coast and Lothian Country received additional vehicles. ECB went up by 11 (6 double deckers, 5 single deckers), while LC went up by 6 double deckers only for X19. LC should pick up a further 2 extras in the form of 464 and 465 (replaced by 732 and 746) which takes the total number of what’s left - the city extras to 11. Coincidentally this was exactly the number the very first batch were (701-711). Most of the increases for the city were out of Longstone.

It is worth noting this is different to how it was originally planned. ECB’s 6 extras were supposed to be made up from the 6 white 09 plates for the school runs/peak extras. 934-935 never moved across and 933 was ultimately moved to Longstone from ECB to join the former 2. In this plan, 496 would not have moved across. 497-510 would have simply replaced 937-950. Instead, the white examples are being taken off with 496-510 fully added and just 937-945 taken off. 936 was kept at LC for and still is covering 1045.

 

[LothianBusesPh]

The introduction of 701-750 will have ultimately replaced 841-850, 929-931, 933-936, 937-945. That is 25 vehicles. I’m not saying all of these will be permanently withdrawn either, but rather these are for the moment surplus, or will be soon once everything is moved.

How have they replaced the SN09s?

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

How have they replaced the SN09s?

Quite straight forward. Some of them are parked up…? 931 you can almost guarantee will be taken off ECB next while 933-935 are no longer required - Longstone up 3 having gained 675, 679 and 680. I suspect they’ve stayed for now as a result of the festival/Oasis, but in terms of planned allocations, they’re surplus/extra now.

 

[overthewater]

Has there been any talk about where the current No100 buses will end up once the new stock turns up for that route?

 

[H00V3R]

Has there been any talk about where the current No100 buses will end up once the new stock turns up for that route?

I would be surprised if they didn’t get repainted and have an interior refit to join the city fleet like 1126&1127 did.

 

[Resuwen]

Nooooo! Save the dual doors!!

Were I in charge at Lothian, I’d be specifying everything with dual doors, a direction they were briefly headed in in 2019.

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

I would be surprised if they didn’t get repainted and have an interior refit to join the city fleet like 1126&1127 did.

Agreed. I’d be amazed if the 37 didn’t pick them up and in turn the 29 picked up the 37’s MMC’s.

 

[NorthEastern]

Were I in charge at Lothian, I’d be specifying everything with dual doors, a direction they were briefly headed in in 2019.

Yep. And for good measure, 3-door single deckers too, as commonly used everywhere in Europe

 

[GordonT]

Yep. And for good measure, 3-door single deckers too, as commonly used everywhere in Europe

Although in Europe they seem more adept at not building obstacles in the path of bus passengers alighting from the various exits.

 

[Steve440]

All major cities should have dual-door buses.

 

[WibbleWobble]

All major cities should have dual-door buses.

No good for cities with drive-in / reverse-out bus stations as the exit would put passengers onto the bus apron.

 

[computerSaysNo]

No good for cities with drive-in / reverse-out bus stations as the exit would put passengers onto the bus apron.

Does this matter? Passengers will stand off the raised walkway technically on the road anyway especially if they're putting luggage onto a coach, but as long as they stay within the painted area is there actually a problem?

 

[Resuwen]

Belfast has dual doors as standard - if they can have it it’s a shame Edinburgh loses out

 

[computerSaysNo]

Do buses have weight sensors which prevent driving if the bus is overweight?
Related question - what could cause the engine to cut out multiple times when attempting to pull away from a stop?

 

[DunsBus]

No good for cities with drive-in / reverse-out bus stations as the exit would put passengers onto the bus apron.

When LRT ran its 9/9A/X9 service via Livingston bus station in the early nineties, passengers boarding and alighting there used the front doors for this very reason.

 

[Tom B]

There are a lot of cross-city services and this is where dual doors come into their own, speeding up the process at the many stops where a lot of passengers board and alight. It's just a little confusing if half of the fleet has, and half of the fleet hasn't!

On another note, what is the rationale behind some of the older vehicles being plain white with the Lothian logo? Are they pipped for disposal shortly and have been de-liveried ahead of time?

 

[Auld reekie]

This bus was trialled in the early 60's and I remember it.

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

On another note, what is the rationale behind some of the older vehicles being plain white with the Lothian logo? Are they pipped for disposal shortly and have been de-liveried ahead of time?

They’re just handy floats to have. Can be sent anywhere when needed and not a long term plan either. Plus when you sell them then they’re already white.

929-930 and 933 have been in use at Lothian, Lothian Country and East Coast Buses since being painted white. 931 Lothian Country and now East Coast Buses, while 934-935 have been in use at Lothian Country and Lothian. I suspect doomed 932 would’ve been the same had it not hit that bridge, though lives on as 251.

905-906 are the only ones not to have moved since going white. Very much Marine based for the Uni Shuttle - currently in use as spares on normal runs while Uni’s off for Summer.

 

[Bus9120UK]

On another note, what is the rationale behind some of the older vehicles being plain white with the Lothian logo? Are they pipped for disposal shortly and have been de-liveried ahead of time?

When McGill's pulled out of West Lothian and Lothian Country needed a vehicle increase, 931-935 were taken out of storage and painted, the first double deckers to be completed in house by Lothian. I imagine there are various factors that went into why they were put in white. These could include cost, time (it was one a week), inability to complete a full repaint at that stage, future plans for the vehicles or attractiveness for eventual sale. I imagine the slots at Ferrymill Motors in Torrance were already planned for other vehicles at the time.

929/30 were painted white a few months later for use at Central, but outsourced at Ferrymill. Unlike 926-928 which received madder, these were put in white because there were plans for them to relocate to Lothian Country at a later date to help provide the new 70/1 contract routes. As @FlybeDash8Q400 says they now offer some flexibility and can be used wherever needed. For example 929-931 are set to move to Central from September, coming over from East Coast buses.

 

[WibbleWobble]

Does this matter? Passengers will stand off the raised walkway technically on the road anyway especially if they're putting luggage onto a coach, but as long as they stay within the painted area is there actually a problem?

Yes it does matter! The Health and Safety Executive would have a fit if that happened!

Passengers could be alighting a bus as another one comes into the adjacent bay. Imagine turning into a bay and suddenly seeing a load of people in the way, especially if you don't see them until the last minute as your sightline is obstructed by buses in the next bay along.

 

[computerSaysNo]

Yes it does matter! The Health and Safety Executive would have a fit if that happened!

Passengers could be alighting a bus as another one comes into the adjacent bay. Imagine turning into a bay and suddenly seeing a load of people in the way, especially if you don't see them until the last minute as your sightline is obstructed by buses in the next bay along.

Isn't it the stance controller's job to make sure that doesn't happen?
Also, the law is that you must drive at a speed that will allow you to safely stop within the distance you can see to be clear, and that you must drive to your conditions and surroundings. If you're approaching an area where you know there may be pedestrians in the road, and you have standing passengers, you should be driving very slowly and preparing to stop short of any obstacles anyway.

 

[Willie622]

Anymore news about the next month bus service changes from Lothian buses all network

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

Anymore news about the next month bus service changes from Lothian buses all network

You’ve asked this 3 times now. There may be an announcement later today, so be patient. If it happens, it does. If it doesn’t, it doesn’t. There will be an announcement some time this week for sure.

 

[Graeme Duncan]

What about 466-468 returning to Marine.

 

[Scotrail314209]

Looks like there’s been some sort of incident on Shandwick Place, on a 25 into town from Sighthill and have turned to head via Morrison Link.

EDIT: Power outage on the trams, one is stuck at the junction for Shandwick Place and Queensferry Street.

 

[Metal Mickey]

You’ve asked this 3 times now. There may be an announcement later today, so be patient. If it happens, it does. If it doesn’t, it doesn’t. There will be an announcement some time this week for sure.

I’ve just had a skim through VOSA and I can’t find anything registered for September.