West Coast Motors & Borders Buses

[JKP]

English

Valid only as far as Eyemouth if I recall correctly as present.

 

[Steddenm]

Valid only as far as Eyemouth if I recall correctly as present.

Ah OK

 

[computerSaysNo]

I've made a timetable showing the new 253 and connections which can be made in Dunbar. Some of the connection times are unrealistically tight, but as the X7 is every 20 minutes waiting for the following X7 isn't too much of a penalty.
Taking the first 253 north at 05:55 and changing at Dunbar (High Street) you can get to Edinburgh (Waterloo Place) just before 9am, or North Berwick (Church Street) at about half 8, or changing at Dunbar and Haddington (High Street) you can get to Musselburgh (High Street) just before 9am Monday to Friday or just after 9am on Saturday.
The last 253 north at 17:25 allows arrival at North Berwick at about half 7pm, Edinburgh at about 8pm or Musselburgh at about 8pm (20:37 on a Saturday), changing in Dunbar.

Weekdays leaving Edinburgh (West Maitland Street) at 05:57 or Musselburgh (High Street) at 06:01 allows connection to the first 253 south of the day at Dunbar (High Street), arriving Berwick-upon-Tweed at 08:14. The first bus coming from North Berwick (Seabird Centre) only allows connection with the following 253, arriving Berwick-upon-Tweed at 10:08.
Weekdays leaving Edinburgh at 16:50, Musselburgh at 16:57 (changing at Haddington), or North Berwick at 17:43 allows connection to the last 253 south of the day, arriving Berwick-upon-Tweed at 19:58.

On Saturdays, connection from Edinburgh onto the first 253 south can only be made by taking a 26 from the Haymarket Station stop at 05:19 and changing at Musselburgh onto a 107 at 05:57.
On Saturdays, connection from Edinburgh onto the last 253 south can be made by taking the X7 and 17:08 but this only allows a 5-minute connection in Dunbar; taking the previous X7 at 16:48 may be preferred. A connection can also be made by leaving Musselburgh at 16:36 or North Berwick at 17:43.

 

[IanMac]

I remember, as a student in Edinburgh in the mid-60s, seeing buses of Eastern Scottish and United on the jointly worked 505 which ran hourly (or was it 2-hourly?) between Edinburgh and Newcastle via Berwick. I never got round to finding out which depots took part: probably New Street and Jesmond plus one of the Berwicks.

 

[Devon Sunset]

I remember seeing these in the 70's. Those red Bristol's looked completely alien but were great to travel on. As regards depots, Dunbar would have been involved as well and maybe Musselburgh. I think there was a depot in Morpeth then as well.

 

[IanMac]

I remember seeing these in the 70's. Those red Bristol's looked completely alien but were great to travel on. As regards depots, Dunbar would have been involved as well and maybe Musselburgh. I think there was a depot in Morpeth then as well.

I wonderd about Morpeth and Musselburgh. Dunbar seems unlikely as it was ex-Starks and not really integrated into Eastern Scottish workings.

 

[Devon Sunset]

I'm thinking more of the 70s when Dunbar would have been integrated and traded as Eastern Scottish.

 

[richard13]

Ah OK

Northumberland council has a list of validity for English passes.
Yes, Eyemouth is the limit of use.

https://www.northumberland.gov.uk/public-transport/concessionary-travel-pass/bus-pass-conditions-use

Travelling to and from Scotland​

You can travel on the following cross-border bus routes between Northumberland and Scotland with an English concessionary travel pass, as long as your journey starts or ends in England. This is made possible through an agreement with the Scottish Borders Council.

Bus service	Route
18, 260	Berwick to Duns
60	Berwick to Galashiels (via Duns)
67	Berwick to Galashiels (via Kelso)
34, 235, 236, 253	Berwick to Eyemouth
131	Newcastle to Jedburgh

You can also use the following local bus services, where free travel is only available for journeys wholly in England.

Bus service	Route
710	Newcastle to Coldstream/Kelso
32	Berwick to Swinton
87	Berwick to Kelso

Scottish passes​

Passes issued in Scotland are generally not available for use on buses in England.

The Scottish authority may offer travel in Northumberland on cross-border routes.

If you have a pass issued in Scotland, contact your local authority for more details

 

[computerSaysNo]

A new B8RLE Evora (12510) seems to be in service with Borders Buses, is this a one off vehicle? Or the start of a new batch of vehicles?
It seems to have been used on the X95 so far. The current E200MMCs are from 2019 and 2020 so are about 6 years old; how old were the previous vehicles when the MMCs replaced them?

 

[DunsBus]

A new B8RLE Evora (12510) seems to be in service with Borders Buses, is this a one off vehicle? Or the start of a new batch of vehicles?
It seems to have been used on the X95 so far. The current E200MMCs are from 2019 and 2020 so are about 6 years old; how old were the previous vehicles when the MMCs replaced them?

They replaced the E200s and MetroCitys bought from dealer stock in 2017 when Borders Buses started up. I think there may be more B8/Evoras to come. A similar vehicle from Glasgow, 12314 was trialled a few weeks ago with the intention of placing a fleet order if the trial was successful.
If this is the case, then I think they will replace the E200MMCs on the X62 and X95, cascading them on to other services and allowing the 13-plate Versas to be withdrawn. (The Versas aren't compliant with the LEZ in Edinburgh and have to be kept off the Edinburgh runs; futhermore, at 12 years old, their age is now catching up with them.)

On an unrelated note, following the recent curtailment of the 253 west of Dunbar, E200MMCs 11913-5 at Berwick have all had their 253 route branding removed and 11916 has moved from Berwick to Galashiels.

 

[computerSaysNo]

They replaced the E200s and MetroCitys bought from dealer stock in 2017 when Borders Buses started up.

Ah, thanks.

I think there may be more B8/Evoras to come. A similar vehicle from Glasgow, 12314 was trialled a few weeks ago with the intention of placing a fleet order if the trial was successful.

I was aware of the trial but didn't know if it had been successful. Even if it had been, I wouldn't have expected new vehicles for at least a few months.

If this is the case, then I think they will replace the E200MMCs on the X62 and X95, cascading them on to other services and allowing the 13-plate Versas to be withdrawn. (The Versas aren't compliant with the LEZ in Edinburgh and have to be kept off the Edinburgh runs; futhermore, at 12 years old, their age is now catching up with them.)

On an unrelated note, following the recent curtailment of the 253 west of Dunbar, E200MMCs 11913-5 at Berwick have all had their 253 route branding removed and 11916 has moved from Berwick to Galashiels.

Thanks for the update.

 

[JKP]

They replaced the E200s and MetroCitys bought from dealer stock in 2017 when Borders Buses started up. I think there may be more B8/Evoras to come. A similar vehicle from Glasgow, 12314 was trialled a few weeks ago with the intention of placing a fleet order if the trial was successful.
If this is the case, then I think they will replace the E200MMCs on the X62 and X95, cascading them on to other services and allowing the 13-plate Versas to be withdrawn. (The Versas aren't compliant with the LEZ in Edinburgh and have to be kept off the Edinburgh runs; futhermore, at 12 years old, their age is now catching up with them.)

On an unrelated note, following the recent curtailment of the 253 west of Dunbar, E200MMCs 11913-5 at Berwick have all had their 253 route branding removed and 11916 has moved from Berwick to Galashiels.

I much prefer the Versas to be honest. The E200s cut out at stops which I personally find annoying. I also prefer the seat spacing as there is more leg room.

 

[nessapean]

Looks like Borders buses has had a rough day with cancellations and congestion.

 

[route101]

Is the network day ticket for borders buses app only? Driver couldn't find it and said apple only.

 

[NorthOxonian]

Is the network day ticket for borders buses app only? Driver couldn't find it and said apple only.

It undercuts a lot of their returns (even some singles, I think?), and they advertise it on their main website ass a "discounted best-value ticket... on the Borders Buses app". But I hope the driver said app only not apple only, the Borders Buses app works on my Android...

 

[route101]

It undercuts a lot of their returns (even some singles, I think?), and they advertise it on their main website ass a "discounted best-value ticket... on the Borders Buses app". But I hope the driver said app only not apple only, the Borders Buses app works on my Android...

He said apple only but I knew it works on Android. I prefer buying a paper ticket. I ended up just buying a single. So what of someone without a phone wants a day ticket?

 

[Steddenm]

He said apple only but I knew it works on Android. I prefer buying a paper ticket. I ended up just buying a single. So what of someone without a phone wants a day ticket?

A lot of bus companies, not just Borders, have their best-value tickets on their respective apps, or cheaper fares (only about 10-20p cheaper) through their app. Blackpool Transport do this and I think that Brighton & Hove do as well.

 

[computerSaysNo]

Were you traveling on a subsidised service? I tried to buy a borders day ticket on the 51 once and the driver said he couldn't sell me one as it was a subsidised service.

 

[route101]

Were you traveling on a subsidised service? I tried to buy a borders day ticket on the 51 once and the driver said he couldn't sell me one as it was a subsidised service.

67 from Berwick to Kelso. I asked for Network Day ticket. Never seen anywhere it was app only. I just bought a single to Kelso and bought one on the app for later. The app will scan an invalid ticket if the mobile phone time is out!

 

[YorkRailFan]

Service changes from 14 December:

The new timetables include:

Service 60 (Berwick – Duns – Eyemouth – Galashiels – BGH)

Two new evening journeys will be introduced:

1910 Berwick - Duns (via Eyemouth)
2015 Duns - Berwick (via Foulden)
Service 253 (Berwick – Reston – Dunbar)

A new 0655 Berwick - Dunbar trip will support earlier arrivals for Dunbar Grammar pupils and workers.
The 1910 Berwick – Reston Station journey and return trip will be withdrawn. This service was originally introduced to meet an evening rail connection at Reston, which no longer operates. With its purpose removed and usage extremely low, the bus link is no longer required.
What’s new from 05 January

Service 51 (Oxton – Galashiels)

Due to reliability concerns, the 0804 from Oxton will be revised. It will now terminate at Earlston High School, with a connecting journey continuing to Galashiels. The connection is timed between existing services to maintain smooth onward travel, including for customers heading to BGH.

Borders Buses boosts winter travel with new early and evening services

www.bordersbuses.co.uk

 

[DunsBus]

Service changes from 14 December:

Borders Buses boosts winter travel with new early and evening services

www.bordersbuses.co.uk

Good to see a later bus for Duns from Berwick being reinstated (at last!). The vehicle running the part route 253 roundtrip to Reston, a Solo SR, comes off the 235 so I'd assume this will run the later 60 round trip from Monday onwards.

Speaking of the 253 I managed to get a photo of 11914 yesterday afternoon (12th December) on the climb out of Eyemouth town centre, showing the new screen for the 253 now that it's been curtailed to Dunbar.

 

[Scotrail88]

Might have missed this but have WCM closed South Street in Glasgow and moved it all to Charles
St?

this Must be a consolidation In depot resources but cost loads in dead running to west end

 

[overthewater]

On the West Coast buses Facebook page, there is a hint of improvements to Service No15 and No17, no real clues as to what at this moment of time.

 

[route101]

On the West Coast buses Facebook page, there is a hint of improvements to Service No15 and No17, no real clues as to what at this moment of time.

I wonder, later services or frequency increase.

 

[AndrewTaylor95]

I wonder, later services or frequency increase.

15 definitely needs a frequency increase or bigger vehicles, Always absolutely rammed

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

15 definitely needs a frequency increase or bigger vehicles, Always absolutely rammed

Wasn’t there a rumour about swapping Evora’s at WCM for Borders Buses E200mmc’s?

 

[AndrewTaylor95]

Wasn’t there a rumour about swapping Evora’s at WCM for Borders Buses E200mmc’s?

No was only one on loan at Gala for evaluation, they have a 75 plate one, probably more on order for them, Be a backwards step replacing nearly new buses with buses 5 years older than them

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

No was only one on loan at Gala for evaluation, they have a 75 plate one, probably more on order for them, Be a backwards step replacing nearly new buses with buses 5 years older than them

True, but I’d say the buses are probably better suited to the others operations. Certainly Borders Buses were looking at some Evora’s to replace the Versa’s.

 

[CSB0241]

I wonder, later services or frequency increase.

15 definitely needs a frequency increase or bigger vehicles, Always absolutely rammed

Going in the other direction, could the 17 also realistically be dropped to also run every 20min? It runs a near identical route to the First 60/60A from Canniesburn into Glasgow (which run at a combined 15min frequency on all days of the week), & that combined with the Midland Bluebird X10/X10A makes for roughly 9 buses per hour along the Maryhill Road corridor, which, from the roughly 6 times I’ve gotten a bus along that stretch from Maryhill into the city, feels maybe a tad excessive.

To increase the 15 to every 20 minutes would require the peak vehicle requirement from 5 to 7 (maybe even 8), & if the 17 got reduced to every 20min, that’d lower the peak vehicle requirement from 8 to 6, which works well in regards to the 15 increase. Suppose it’s now just a matter of whether or not there’d be any issues with frequency reductions along the rest of the route (though with that being said, the First 2 in Faifley/Hardgate is every 10 minutes &, in my many experiences, isn’t a route that struggles with capacity, & the 15/17 could interlink with each other along Drymen Road to make a combined service every 10min).

I do also think the 15 could run every 30min on Sundays, though I’ve only used it once on a Sunday & it was the 2nd Milngavie-bound journey from Hillhead to Anniesland, so I don’t think throwing my hat into the ring in this regard is the most helpful thing.

 

[318266]

Going in the other direction, could the 17 also realistically be dropped to also run every 20min? It runs a near identical route to the First 60/60A from Canniesburn into Glasgow (which run at a combined 15min frequency on all days of the week), & that combined with the Midland Bluebird X10/X10A makes for roughly 9 buses per hour along the Maryhill Road corridor, which, from the roughly 6 times I’ve gotten a bus along that stretch from Maryhill into the city, feels maybe a tad excessive.

To increase the 15 to every 20 minutes would require the peak vehicle requirement from 5 to 7 (maybe even 8), & if the 17 got reduced to every 20min, that’d lower the peak vehicle requirement from 8 to 6, which works well in regards to the 15 increase. Suppose it’s now just a matter of whether or not there’d be any issues with frequency reductions along the rest of the route (though with that being said, the First 2 in Faifley/Hardgate is every 10 minutes &, in my many experiences, isn’t a route that struggles with capacity, & the 15/17 could interlink with each other along Drymen Road to make a combined service every 10min).

I do also think the 15 could run every 30min on Sundays, though I’ve only used it once on a Sunday & it was the 2nd Milngavie-bound journey from Hillhead to Anniesland, so I don’t think throwing my hat into the ring in this regard is the most helpful thing.

You could, but then you are conceding to your competitors, which isn't good for business.