Edinburgh & The Lothians Council Tender Services

[Lothian285]

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).

The 131 was just a trial, it ended in July last year: https://www.eastlothian.gov.uk/news/article/14324/drt_bus_service

East Lothian’s pilot 'East L Go' DRT (Demand Responsive Transport) 131 bus service between Dunbar and Oldhamstocks will end on Friday 19 July.

This was a funded pilot scheme to allow us to trial a new form of transport provision, originally over a three-month period.
Information gathered during this pilot will help us with our planning to improve the transport network and options for active travel throughout the county.
DRT is a new way of delivering transport and the East L Go pilot has been successful with over 1,000 journeys booked during the pilot scheme.
Owing to its success we have proven the potential for its future use subject to further available funding.

 

[gingerheid]

Is someone re-inventing the Gaberlunzie?

 

[danielhogg2005]

What's the usage/capacity like on the HcL 68 & 69?

 

[CSB0241]

What's the usage/capacity like on the HcL 68 & 69?

68 does pretty well, though can’t recall ever seeing many on the 69.

 

[buslad1988]

What's the usage/capacity like on the HcL 68 & 69?

Only ever seen one person or two people maximum on a 69 and that was in Portobello - I’ve no idea where they boarded. Seems an absolute waste of time and money.

 

[overthewater]

There will be NO changes to the current West Lothian council tenders bus routes until 2027, If you read the actually council Doc, it states the No21 carries an average of 11,487 passengers per month, X40 carries an average of 15,820 passengers per month, and in a surprise twist, No9 average of 3,167 passengers per month which is an increase when it used to be every hour.

local bus services - West Lothian Council

Two local bus services - that are funded by developer contributions - could be extended for a further year.

www.westlothian.gov.uk

Two local bus services - that are funded by developer contributions - could be extended for a further year.

In brief:

• A report to Council Executive next week seeks agreement to extend their contracts
• In addition to the council's 11 subsidised local bus contracts, two further local bus contracts are in place using developer contributions. Developer contributions (DCs) are financial contributions provided to councils from applicants to mitigate the impact of their housing development on the existing local infrastructure
• DCs are used to establish a local bus service in a new development area with a longer term view to moving towards a fully commercial service should the passenger usage create commercial viability
• Winchburgh and Calderwood are both Core Development Areas and the council put in place legal agreements with both Stirling Developments and Winchburgh Developments to fund local bus services which began in October 2023
• Council officers are recommending that the extensions are approved

The two services are:

• X27 (Bathgate - Edinburgh via Deans North, Knightsridge, Ladywell, St John's Hospital, Craigshill, Livingston Centre, Dedridge West, Mid Calder, East Calder & Calderwood)

Funded by: Stirling Developments (Calderwood). The service has carried an average 1,578 passengers over the contract term to date.

• 72 (Fauldhouse - Kirkliston via Longridge, Whitburn, Blackburn, Seafield, Eliburn, St John's Hospital, Howden, Livingston Centre, Pumpherston, Uphall, Broxburn & Winchburgh)

Funded by: Winchburgh Developments the service carries an average of 25,226 passengers per month and has shown steady progress since its inception in October 2023.
In detail:
Council officers have conducted an analysis of developer funded contracted local bus service performance and have noted growth and stability in the contracts since their commencement in late 2023. Officers have also modelled the costs of extending the contracts for a final year until October 2026 and confirmed that this can be met within available budgets. It is anticipated that these services would continue on a commercial basis after this date. It is therefore recommended that officers progress with contract extensions.

The Routes in Question are the following:
• 1 (Linlithgow Town Service)
• 2A/2B (Broxburn Town Service)
• 10 (Boghall – Blackridge via Bathgate)
• 16 (Livingston - Western General Hospital, Edinburgh)
• 31 (Bathgate – Livingston via Linlithgow)
• 23 (Shotts – Whitburn)
• 34A (Lanark – Livingston)
• 5 (Bathgate Town Service)
• 6 (Whitburn – Armadale – Westfield – Avonbridge)
• 9 (Livingston South Town Service)
• X40 (St John’s Hospital – Edinburgh Royal Infirmary)

 

[Metal Mickey]

The two services are:

• X27 (Bathgate - Edinburgh via Deans North, Knightsridge, Ladywell, St John's Hospital, Craigshill, Livingston Centre, Dedridge West, Mid Calder, East Calder & Calderwood)

Funded by: Stirling Developments (Calderwood). The service has carried an average 1,578 passengers over the contract term to date.

Lots of new houses in that area but unfortunately very few passengers although I didn’t know there was external funding as I thought Lothian Country provided the service on a commercial basis but I was wrong.

 

[overthewater]

Remember the X40 also operates around that scheme, so we don't have a proper picture of the actually passengers.

 

[stevenedin]

Lots of new houses in that area but unfortunately very few passengers although I didn’t know there was external funding as I thought Lothian Country provided the service on a commercial basis but I was wrong.

I thought that there would have been more as well. It is still a big area though and I feel that it merits a bus service.

 

[Bus9120UK]

Lots of new houses in that area but unfortunately very few passengers although I didn’t know there was external funding as I thought Lothian Country provided the service on a commercial basis but I was wrong.

I thought that the funding only accounted for a few individual peak time trips, so I'd expect the number to be low.
Edit - I believe it's a single journey in each direction.

Between October 15th 2023 and August 14th 2025 there were 479 weekdays which suggests that there was an average of 3.3 passengers across these trips. Mind that this also takes into account holidays.

 

[muffy]

I thought that the funding only accounted for a few individual peak time trips, so I'd expect the number to be low.
Edit - I believe it's a single journey in each direction.

Between October 15th 2023 and August 14th 2025 there were 479 weekdays which suggests that there was an average of 3.3 passengers across these trips. Mind that this also takes into account holidays.

As a Calderwood Resident there would of 10-15 people using a peak time bus from the estate, this is based on physical observation. Also as a promised Park & Ride hasn't happened due to planning issues, the developer now provides a shuttle bus to Kirknewton station.

 

[overthewater]

Details of the Xmas and new year council tenders have been announced by West Lothian council: postage on west Lothian Facebook page:

It still surprises me this council will stay pay for xmas day service yet you can't even get a bus in Glasgow.

Festive bus contracts awarded for 2025
West Lothian Council has approved a number of contracts to support the local commercial bus network during the festive period.
Each year the council invests funding to ensure residents have some bus services over the festive period, which has a particular benefit to those working.
The council has historically provided an additional level of local bus provision on Christmas Day, Boxing Day, 1 January and 2 January.
Around 80% of the bus network is provided by commercial companies who, generally, do not operate on these dates. The subsidised bus network is also reduced leaving gaps in the network.
The festive service aims to provide a largely two hourly service between 7am and 7pm on Christmas day and New Year’s Day, with a more frequent service being provided on boxing day and 2 January to ensure as wide a coverage as possible.
Services to St John's Hospital and Livingston Centre are an important part of the service, with access to health care and essential work travel being the main focus.
At a meeting earlier today (Tuesday 14 October) Council Executive approved a £44,430 investment that, alongside the commercial network, would provide the following services on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and 1 & 2 January:


• Lothian Country X18 Whitburn – Edinburgh via Armadale, Bathgate, Dechmont, Uphall, & Broxburn
• Lothian Country X27 Bathgate – Edinburgh via Deans North, Knightsridge, Craigshill, Livingston Centre, Dedridge East, Mid Calder, East Calder & Wilkieston.
• Lothian Country X28 Bathgate – Edinburgh via Deans North, Knightsridge, Craigshill, Dedridge East, East Calder & Kirknewton
• McGills X38 Linlithgow – Edinburgh via Winchburgh
• Lothian Country X40 St John’s Hospital – Edinburgh Royal Infirmary via Livingston Centre, Mid Calder, East Calder & Calderwood (2 return journeys)
• Lothian Country 72 Fauldhouse – Kirkliston via Longridge, Whitburn, Blackburn, Seafield, Eliburn, St John’s Hospital, Howden, Livingston Centre, Pumpherston, Uphall, Broxburn & Winchburgh.
• Lothian Country 74 Fauldhouse – Livingston via Bents, Stoneyburn, Loganlea, Addiewell, West Calder, Polbeth and Dedridge West
In addition to the above contracted services, commercial bus services will operate a limited timetable over the festive period,

 

[AndrewTaylor95]

Details of the Xmas and new year council tenders have been announced by West Lothian council: postage on west Lothian Facebook page:

It still surprises me this council will stay pay for xmas day service yet you can't even get a bus in Glasgow.

Biggest City in Scotland and there's next to nothing except Citylink, Flixbus, Nat Ex and Ember taking you away from the City or an over inflated Taxi, would be happy with a service every couple of hours to visit family, First last ran Christmas Day and New Year's Day buses on 2009, They've recently made the 500 run on New Year's Day again this year since Covid but that's about it, Lothian have always ran services on both these days and it's a great service at that too buses running from early in the morning to midnight

 

[The exile]

It still surprises me this council will stay pay for xmas day service yet you can't even get a bus in Glasgow.

It’s called decision making at local level (which most are in favour of) - which results in a “postcode lottery” (which most are against). It’s a weird world!

 

[Metal Mickey]

Biggest City in Scotland and there's next to nothing except Citylink, Flixbus, Nat Ex and Ember taking you away from the City or an over inflated Taxi, would be happy with a service every couple of hours to visit family, First last ran Christmas Day and New Year's Day buses on 2009, They've recently made the 500 run on New Year's Day again this year since Covid but that's about it, Lothian have always ran services on both these days and it's a great service at that too buses running from early in the morning to midnight

Christmas Day carried very few but there was some demand on New Years Day with pubs and some shops opened but no operators these days are willing to take the commercial risk.

Incredibly, there are still some areas in Scotland without a service on Boxing Day and 2nd January.

 

[AndrewTaylor95]

Christmas Day carried very few but there was some demand on New Years Day with pubs and some shops opened but no operators these days are willing to take the commercial risk.

Incredibly, there are still some areas in Scotland without a service on Boxing Day and 2nd January.

Was going to say Stirling & Falkirk but technically they get a service with Citylink on Boxing Day and 2nd January, Cumbernauld do not bad either with them having Ember passing through, Wonder if Citylink will ever start accepting NECs on these days as Flixbus and Ember do, Learned that last year when my Nephew travelled from Stirling Castleview to Glasgow on a Flixbus and Ember back the way

 

[markymark2000]

Biggest City in Scotland and there's next to nothing except Citylink, Flixbus, Nat Ex and Ember taking you away from the City or an over inflated Taxi, would be happy with a service every couple of hours to visit family, First last ran Christmas Day and New Year's Day buses on 2009, They've recently made the 500 run on New Year's Day again this year since Covid but that's about it, Lothian have always ran services on both these days and it's a great service at that too buses running from early in the morning to midnight

Christmas Day buses are not only generally not very well used (some exceptions but generally speaking, they aren't), they also cost a LOT to operate as in most cases all staff involved are being paid double time, plus depending on how Christmas falls, maybe even a lieu day as well. Of course it's not just drivers but also depot staff to ensure smooth run out.

Merseyside runs 16 buses each day on Christmas Day between around midday and 7pm (though some are on shorter hours than that, such as Formby which is 13:00-16:49). For those 16 buses, Christmas Day 2024 cost £29,000 (source is a FOI request via What Do They Know). Or £1,700 per bus per afternoon/£244 per bus per hour for 7 hours worth of service. It's a lot of money that operators need to recoup from the farebox, or local authorities need to stump up, and given they are already pleading poverty, is it really a good use of their already limited funds to be running Christmas Day buses, when these funds could go towards roadside information improvements, or other, longer lasting, improvements?

 

[DunsBus]

Was going to say Stirling & Falkirk but technically they get a service with Citylink on Boxing Day and 2nd January, Cumbernauld do not bad either with them having Ember passing through, Wonder if Citylink will ever start accepting NECs on these days as Flixbus and Ember do, Learned that last year when my Nephew travelled from Stirling Castleview to Glasgow on a Flixbus and Ember back the way

Scottish Borders has no buses on any of the four days. Up to and including Christmas & New Year 2019/2020 special services were run on December 26 and January 1/2, but the subsidy for them was pulled during lockdown.

 

[Porty]

Christmas Day carried very few but there was some demand on New Years Day with pubs and some shops opened but no operators these days are willing to take the commercial risk.

Incredibly, there are still some areas in Scotland without a service on Boxing Day and 2nd January.

I recall in Edinburgh, late morning on the 25th, being standing room only on a Lothian 37 (many customers with large bags of presents). Pretty busy on the 26th taking the grandkids into town to swap presents in the shops. 1st Jan - lots of events with free music in venues for the last couple of years from 12 noon so the city was very busy, including the buses.

 

[InOban]

And because the city is full of visitors many of visitor attractions are open especially at New Year and I think that the tours operate also.

 

[AndrewTaylor95]

And because the city is full of visitors many of visitor attractions are open especially at New Year and I think that the tours operate also.

Yep tours operate on Christmas Day and New Year's Day, clearly demand for travel to some extent, people claim there's isn't demand in Glasgow but there hasn't been a bus on these days for 15 years I bet people would rather pay a bus fare than a Taxi fair with how expensive everything is these days, Even if the bus was a flat fare of £5 I'd pay that no problems.

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

A report was published after the council had its Transport and Environment Committee had their meeting on 13th November.

I have attached the findings of the report here, all 56 pages of it!

Things I took out of it were as follows:

There is a strong likelihood that the 13 will need to be retendered due to a significant change in the spec of the contract. The proposal appears to be in favour of curtailing the service to terminate at Restalrig Road South, removing Findlay Gardens due to consistently high volumes of parked cars. Something the council admits is partly as result of the pavement parking ban. I’m not sure about the legal side of these contacts but that seems excessive to retender on that issue alone, but that’s what it says. The unreliability of the service has been largely blamed on this.

Within the same section it references the public response to the use of StreetLites on both the 13 and 60 which is reported as ‘older vehicles that tend to be noisier and in need of refurbishment’. The council dismissed this though saying they meet contract requirements but accept the buses are lighter and smaller than previously used vehicles.

There are requests from Ratho residents to link their services to serve the Edinburgh International Climbing Arena and the adjacent Lost Shore Surf Resort. The majority of residents would prefer the current set up by way of having links to the Gyle over a city centre link. The council have made it clear there are no financial opportunities to have both. Any city centre service would have to take a route that does not involve direct competition or fit within the existing network in such a way that it is not seen as wasteful.

Service 32 is growing strongly and may have an improved Monday to Saturday frequency and also a Sunday service in the future if growth continues. Longer operating hours have also been suggested.

There is a rather predictable reference throughout that Lothian operated services are busier than services operated by other operators. This is put down solely to access to connectivity and its wider network.

Some wider points on better access at connecting stops such as A8, A71 etc where it is difficult to cross or where the connecting stops are of a large distance from one another.

 

[Bus9120UK]

There are requests from Ratho residents to link their services to serve the Edinburgh International Climbing Arena and the adjacent Lost Shore Surf Resort. The majority of residents would prefer the current set up by way of having links to the Gyle over a city centre link. The council have made it clear there are no financial opportunities to have both. Any city centre service would have to take a route that does not involve direct competition or fit within the existing network in such a way that it is not seen as wasteful.

This however does not clarify if the residents would prefer a city link that would also include the Gyle (I assume they would, even if it cannot be provided by the council. It's definitely worth mentioning as it otherwise feels misleading).

Right on the first page, there is the following recommendation:

1.1.3 Approve the development, procurement and commencement of a trial supported minibus service between Ratho and the City Centre;

which I believe was approved in the committee. There was definitely nothing against it when I watched it back.

Also, I'd still much prefer a Ratho to City route exist over the commercially provided X19. For as long as the X19 exists, I cannot accept any arguments on competition, given the weak usage of that service and its continued operation.
If the X19 is capacity worth providing on the A8, I'm sure withdrawing that and having a Ratho route in its place (even if half the frequency) would work and probably fill no better. I'm sure its no strong loss for the Newbridge to Winchburgh stretch given the continued operation of the X38. I think it's fair to say even the Bright Bus Airport express performed better than the X19 does now!

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

This however does not clarify if the residents would prefer a city link that would also include the Gyle (I assume they would, even if it cannot be provided by the council. It's definitely worth mentioning as it otherwise feels misleading).

Right on the first page, there is the following recommendation:

which I believe was approved in the committee. There was definitely nothing against it when I watched it back.

You’re absolutely right it did not consider that at all, which is surely the logical thing to do? It does contradict itself in a couple of places. I think these parts feel that way. A minibus service suggests HCL would be lined up to do this.

There are suggestions the council would be willing to facilitate access stops on the A8 to Edinburgh Gateway and the Gyle once improvement works are done. Thus the Ratho service could do both without diverting into the Gyle itself. Supposedly it needs a 3 lane setup on that part of the A8 though.

I couldn’t work out if the long term plan was to scrap the 18 and 38’s tender though. Ie retender one more time then rely solely on commercial runs into the next decade.

 

[Lothianbus703]

A report was published after the council had its Transport and Environment Committee had their meeting on 13th November.

I have attached the findings of the report here, all 56 pages of it!

Things I took out of it were as follows:

There is a strong likelihood that the 13 will need to be retendered due to a significant change in the spec of the contract. The proposal appears to be in favour of curtailing the service to terminate at Restalrig Road South, removing Findlay Gardens due to consistently high volumes of parked cars. Something the council admits is partly as result of the pavement parking ban. I’m not sure about the legal side of these contacts but that seems excessive to retender on that issue alone, but that’s what it says. The unreliability of the service has been largely blamed on this.

Within the same section it references the public response to the use of StreetLites on both the 13 and 60 which is reported as ‘older vehicles that tend to be noisier and in need of refurbishment’. The council dismissed this though saying they meet contract requirements but accept the buses are lighter and smaller than previously used vehicles.

There are requests from Ratho residents to link their services to serve the Edinburgh International Climbing Arena and the adjacent Lost Shore Surf Resort. The majority of residents would prefer the current set up by way of having links to the Gyle over a city centre link. The council have made it clear there are no financial opportunities to have both. Any city centre service would have to take a route that does not involve direct competition or fit within the existing network in such a way that it is not seen as wasteful.

Service 32 is growing strongly and may have an improved Monday to Saturday frequency and also a Sunday service in the future if growth continues. Longer operating hours have also been suggested.

There is a rather predictable reference throughout that Lothian operated services are busier than services operated by other operators. This is put down solely to access to connectivity and its wider network.

Some wider points on better access at connecting stops such as A8, A71 etc where it is difficult to cross or where the connecting stops are of a large distance from one another.

The idea of an expanded service on the 32 potentially adding earlier and or later journeys seems interesting.
A limited Sunday service could aswell, from my observations alongside the findings of the report it looks like the route has really been a success and will continue to grow.

 

[JKP]

Surely a sensible option would be to run any Ratho minibus service to allow passengers to change on or off the tram at no extra charge at Gyle?

 

[LothianBusesPh]

Surely a sensible option would be to run any Ratho minibus service to allow passengers to change on or off the tram at no extra charge at Gyle?

So the 70? Mind Lothian and the Trams have joint ticketing.

 

[sannox]

The number of passengers on the 60 service is low. Carting fresh air it seems.

I think the terminating the 13 service away from the parked up streets sounds sensible.

 

[overthewater]

If the council is going to pay for an extra bus on the 32 then they might aswell go the full hog and create a BRDG ( bus route development grand) and extend 47 to the Gyle.

Route 60 has a small but very vocal passengers and to be fair streetlite is far to big for the route it really should be using something like those Ice cream vans aka Mellor Strata.

Route 68, what they have said, with it being a local taxi service, that has been the case for years now. However I can see it being revised to operate 9am - 2pm hourly and no longer server Turnhouse pretty soon once lothian start going into the site.

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

If the council is going to pay for an extra bus on the 32 then they might aswell go the full hog and create a BRDG ( bus route development grand) and extend 47 to the Gyle.

I’m not sure it’s in anyone’s interest to have the 47 go to the Gyle. It’s not a sensible use of two extra buses, let alone two XLB’s. I can see a scenario where it and the X47 are extended to East Craigs to help with the slowed down 31 eventually serving West Craigs, but that’s about it.

Route 60 has a small but very vocal passengers and to be fair streetlite is far to big for the route it really should be using something like those Ice cream vans aka Mellor Strata.

This I agree with. The 60’s passengers will moan like there’s no tomorrow if it’s taken off again, but it does not need a bus with a seating capacity of more than 16-20 eg a slimline solo, WF StreetLite or even more ideally the Strata as you said. HCL are therefore probably more suited to running this in the long run, should they bid at the next tender. The large duplication of it with the 2 and 12 isn’t ideal though.

Route 68, what they have said, with it being a local taxi service, that has been the case for years now. However I can see it being revised to operate 9am - 2pm hourly and no longer server Turnhouse pretty soon once lothian start going into the site.

I do think this will happen, but operating hours more like 9:00-4:00, with an extra run being possible. Something will need to cover the route up to the cargo terminal though. If the 32 goes up to every 40 minutes it could easily be this. The extra 10 minutes in each direction it would need to serve it would be ideal for the 32 over the 68. This would allow for a four bus allocation and a circuit of 2 hours 40 minutes. The loop at Cramond could be dropped as well. Though admittedly the 68 only serves it once, whereas the 32 not being a circle means it would have to do it twice.