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

[FlybeDash8Q400]

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

Lack of information on VOSA doesn’t necessarily prevent an announcement. VOSA can be painfully slow to add things.

 

[Volvodart]

Lack of information on VOSA doesn’t necessarily prevent an announcement. VOSA can be painfully slow to add things.

The recent First Aberdeen changes only appeared on the system a month after they were lodged.

 

[stevenedin]

841 seems to be on the move west in South Gyle currently. I don't think it has moved from Marine since it was withdrawn in April?

 

[TheEastCoaster]

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.

To be fair, usually news like this keeps someone on their toes. but hopefully we hear sometime today if not later this week.

 

[ScotRail158725]

Seen a video just now of a big scaffolding ? stucking through the front of one of the 600s at what looks like Hermiston Park & Ride. any idea what happened ?

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

Seen a video just now of a big scaffolding ? stucking through the front of one of the 600s at what looks like Hermiston Park & Ride. any idea what happened ?

This one:

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.

 

[ScotRail158725]

This one:

Ah right must have missed that post. Looks like a lot of damage and could have been a bad accident had anyone been sitting upstairs at the front

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

Ah right must have missed that post. Looks like a lot of damage and could have been a bad accident had anyone been sitting upstairs at the front

Hopefully nobody was hurt. In terms of the bus I don’t think it’s anything structural, just lots and lots of broken glass. PSV Glass likely get it back out in a couple of weeks, provided no structural issues. It was moved to Seafield this morning.

 

[JKP]

Lack of information on VOSA doesn’t necessarily prevent an announcement. VOSA can be painfully slow to add things.

Agreed. Short staffed I understand. Whilst Lothian are usually reliable in advertising changes well in advance, the law says 14 days advance notice to passengers. As it is almost still 3 weeks to the beginning of September, I doubt if any changes will be announced until Friday or even the following Friday.

 

[overthewater]

They move the process to Leeds and that place doesn't understand the Scottish system. Lothian has been rather good over the past 7 years with the announcements of the September changes which should come out around now. I would be very surprised if we have to wait until next week.

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

Agreed. Short staffed I understand. Whilst Lothian are usually reliable in advertising changes well in advance, the law says 14 days advance notice to passengers. As it is almost still 3 weeks to the beginning of September, I doubt if any changes will be announced until Friday or even the following Friday.

I still think it will be this week. Less than 3 weeks would be highly unusual for Lothian, who normally give at least 4 weeks. There’s obviously a lot going on in the city at the moment and I think it’s just finding the right timing.

 

[TheEastCoaster]

I still think it will be this week. Less than 3 weeks would be highly unusual for Lothian, who normally give at least 4 weeks. There’s obviously a lot going on in the city at the moment and I think it’s just finding the right timing.

The last Oasis gig is this tuesday, at this rate i might not be surprised if they hold off untill after then.

 

[Edirim]

Two brothers from Manchester holding Edinburgh residents random to service change information wait till Lothian remember about the summer sessions as well

They do a service change this time every year without fail so clearly standards are slipping...

 

[TheEastCoaster]

Two brothers from Manchester holding Edinburgh residents random to service change information wait till Lothian remember about the summer sessions as well

They do a service change this time every year without fail so clearly standards are slipping...

in their defence, it is a busy time and clearly most folk didn't get the memo with the last service change despite getting enough notice, they would clearly want enough attention on it.

 

[overthewater]

Seems to be a storm in a teacup, 3 page of nothing However going by the talk on here I suspect there are not going to be any real major changes. I take it the staff have been fully told about the changes.

 

[Edirim]

To quote still game...people huv tae know

 

[LothianBusesPh]

Seems to be a storm in a teacup, 3 page of nothing However going by the talk on here I suspect there are not going to be any real major changes. I take it the staff have been fully told about the changes.

Why don’t you wait for the changes to be announced? There’s some interesting changes coming, however patience seems to be lost on some!

 

[318266]

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.

I should note that such often happens at Buchanan Bus Station's stands 48-57, for whatever reason.

 

[ScotRail158725]

Why don’t you wait for the changes to be announced? There’s some interesting changes coming, however patience seems to be lost on some!

The old classic i know but you all need to wait!!

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 11 Aug 2025 ==

I should note that such often happens at Buchanan Bus Station's stands 48-57, for whatever reason.

Ive never seen a bus pull in or out af an adjacent stand while people are on the concourse though..

 

[Vectron383]

Sorry to bring this thread offtopic slightly but looking for some clarity. The first 17 bus journey to the airport is advertised as arriving at 0344, but when consulting Lothian’s website timetable the earliest journey is shown as arriving at 0448. The pdf they attach to the online timetable also indicates a first arrival of 0344 and the website’s journey planner provides a journey with this timing.

Is it possible for anybody to clarify whether the 0344 arrival is operating? Tried using the app but it was woeful as usual.

 

[Leedsbusman]

Sorry to bring this thread offtopic slightly but looking for some clarity. The first 17 bus journey to the airport is advertised as arriving at 0344, but when consulting Lothian’s website timetable the earliest journey is shown as arriving at 0448. The pdf they attach to the online timetable also indicates a first arrival of 0344 and the website’s journey planner provides a journey with this timing.

Is it possible for anybody to clarify whether the 0344 arrival is operating? Tried using the app but it was woeful as usual.

Have a look at the far end of the timetable - it’s there as the last journey of the day rather than the first of the next day!

 

[TheEastCoaster]

Why don’t you wait for the changes to be announced? There’s some interesting changes coming, however patience seems to be lost on some!

You can't blame folk for getting themselves a little excited, obviously I agree that patience is a loss these days, but I figured the point of the forum is to share the enthusiasm with enthusiasts!

 

[Lothiangem22]

Sorry to bring this thread offtopic slightly but looking for some clarity. The first 17 bus journey to the airport is advertised as arriving at 0344, but when consulting Lothian’s website timetable the earliest journey is shown as arriving at 0448. The pdf they attach to the online timetable also indicates a first arrival of 0344 and the website’s journey planner provides a journey with this timing.

Is it possible for anybody to clarify whether the 0344 arrival is operating? Tried using the app but it was woeful as usual.

This journey does operate. It was previously a night bus when operated as a 200.

On the website you will find it right across at the end after midnight listed as the last run as opposed to being the first run.

This is probably down to the journey being linked to the previous days operation ie: a late night driver will drive this. The way it shows on the timetable probably isn’t customer friendly as such but that is the reason why

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

Have a look at the far end of the timetable - it’s there as the last journey of the day rather than the first of the next day!

This journey does operate. It was previously a night bus when operated as a 200.

On the website you will find it right across at the end after midnight listed as the last run as opposed to being the first run.

This is probably down to the journey being linked to the previous days operation ie: a late night driver will drive this. The way it shows on the timetable probably isn’t customer friendly as such but that is the reason why

I suspect it’s also there as DayTickets from the previous day are valid until 0400 (just daytime services). So if you were on this on a Monday morning you’d effectively get a Sunday ticket on either of the first Airport bound 17 or 18.

I know the first X18 off Deans is different as it starts its journey prior to 0400 but finishes after 0400. Really the system needs a rethink though with this overlap as it’s a nightmare, particularly with m tickets.

 

[TheEastCoaster]

I suspect it’s also there as DayTickets from the previous day are valid until 0400 (just daytime services). So if you were on this on a Monday morning you’d effectively get a Sunday ticket on either of the first Airport bound 17 or 18.

I know the first X18 off Deans is different as it starts its journey prior to 0400 but finishes after 0400. Really the system needs a rethink though with this overlap as it’s a nightmare, particularly with m tickets.

Since these are the only Lothian "City" services that run before 4am, you'd think they would run under the nightbus bracket, since i'm sure they ran as a N200/N400 prior to the change, you could run the N17 but N18 may prove difficult as it already is an existing night service.

I do agree that a change needs to be made.

 

[CN04NRJ]

Seems to be a storm in a teacup, 3 page of nothing However going by the talk on here I suspect there are not going to be any real major changes. I take it the staff have been fully told about the changes.

Only a few minutes ago (checked my emails while typing this to make sure). I imagine public will be later today.

 

[TheEastCoaster]

Only a few minutes ago (checked my emails while typing this to make sure). I imagine public will be later today.

it begins.. now we play the waiting game!

 

[stevenedin]

The suspense is killing me

 

[A330Alex]

A service change will take effect from Sunday 7 September on Lothian, NightBus, Lothian Country and East Coast Buses networks.

Key improvements in this service change will include
More buses on Services 5 and 35 and a new Sunday timetable on Service 45.
Adjustments to the NightBus network including a new Service N1 and more journeys on Service N35.
Improvements to the Lothian Country network with new links to Armadale and Livingston Village, plus additional journeys introduced across West Lothian.
Enhanced connectivity on the East Coast Buses network with additional journeys, and extension of Service 106 into Edinburgh city centre and the Western General Hospital.

Learn more https://ow.ly/V6ch50WEmtC

#LothianBuses #LothianCountry #EastCoastBuses #Edinburgh #WestLothian #EastLothian #Midlothian

 

[Bus9120UK]

Certainly most surprising is the daytime extension of service 106 to Western General. I had joked about something like this taking place but never thought it would geniuenly happen. It's interesting that the first arrival into Edinburgh isn't until 10am.

The way the 74 has been updated is also interesting. It's a combined version of the current 73, 74 while the 73 can be treated as a new route with shared areas of the former one. I'm surprised by the route choice though. Neither serve St Johns Hospital. Ladywell west pays the price.

The 72 doesn't take the most optimal route in Winchburgh in my opinion.

The 1 has quietly had its frequency reduced to an all day 15 with the double deckers, which is hardly a surprise. A lot of the trips on the 36 have stayed as they are despite being Longstone starters.

Removing the stops on West Maitland street is much needed but will come with a lot of frustration and confusion.

The main Lothian network map needs to sort the 72 showing as terminating in Kirkliston.