McGill’s Midland Bluebird

[sng7]

The public communication about it has been verry poor. The website for it (https://www.brightbustours.com/brightbus-airport-express/) is still up with no mention about it ending. The only hint on the website is that when you go to try and buy tickets it says no more trips today.

 

[mb88]

Which council pays for the evening extension of the service 29 to Bathgate? Seems a very odd one to me that in the current climate with councils strapped for cash they would continue to pay for this, given that there is no equivalent daytime service on this section, commercial or otherwise.

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

Which council pays for the evening extension of the service 29 to Bathgate? Seems a very odd one to me that in the current climate with councils strapped for cash they would continue to pay for this, given that there is no equivalent daytime service on this section, commercial or otherwise.

Isn’t the equivalent daytime service the SD Travel 6?

 

[mb88]

Isn’t the equivalent daytime service the SD Travel 6?

Partially yes but this doesn’t go to Bathgate.

 

[stevenedin]

It would make sense to bring back the old 9 route between Falkirk and Livingston via Armadale and Bathgate.

 

[Metal Mickey]

It would make sense to bring back the old 9 route between Falkirk and Livingston via Armadale and Bathgate.

Unfortunately it struggled financially due to the number of other services on the Armadale - Bathgate - Livingston corridor at the time and that’s why it was cutback at Bathgate then Avonbridge. But it might do ok these days as the level of service currently being provided by Lothian Country is very poor.

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

Partially yes but this doesn’t go to Bathgate.

Yes it is a bit strange. I would have only expected the contract for the 29 to be required to Armadale for consistency.

 

[overthewater]

Unfortunley Falkirk and West Lothian council don't speak to each other, which has caused a number of issues especially when it comes to old 449 Bo'ness to Linlithgow. It would make more sense to see extend the no29 back to Bathgate with council funding, but because they don't really speak that doesn't happen.

Here is the Daytime No6: https://bustimes.org/services/6-whitburn-avonbridge

Unfortunately it struggled financially due to the number of other services on the Armadale - Bathgate - Livingston corridor at the time and that’s why it was cutback at Bathgate then Avonbridge. But it might do ok these days as the level of service currently being provided by Lothian Country is very poor.

Thats not were it last operated, it was the X18 that killed off the route as the bus was divert to Broxburn instead of Livingston for a few years before it was cut back. When service 77 become 29 I believe it replaced the old SMT 280 route. Then of course 800/ 25/ all come back on a much faster route.

Yes it is a bit strange. I would have only expected the contract for the 29 to be required to Armadale for consistency.

Then that would make it one bus run, operating every 70-75mins

 

[Metal Mickey]

Thats not were it last operated, it was the X18 that killed off the route as the bus was divert to Broxburn instead of Livingston for a few years before it was cut back. When service 77 become 29 I believe it replaced the old SMT 280 route. Then of course 800/ 25/ all come back on a much faster route.

Of course, I forgot about the 29 extension to Broxburn.

 

[Bus9120UK]

I've not seen it mentioned but the F1 and F45 are operated by Livingston now. 0466 and 0478 have moved over with them.

 

[overthewater]

One Suspects it's to give Ex Airport staff other duties.

 

[stevenedin]

Does anyone know if the E300s will be repainted?

 

[Baileygirl]

Thats not were it last operated, it was the X18 that killed off the route as the bus was divert to Broxburn instead of Livingston for a few years before it was cut back. When service 77 become 29 I believe it replaced the old SMT 280 route. Then of course 800/ 25/ all come back on a much faster route.

the 29 was cut back well before Lothian Country came in. First 800 replaced most of the route and it was cut back to Bathgate going past Armadale dog track, then it was cut back to Avonbridge. The X18 followed the First 20 route between Edinburgh, Broxburn. Bathgate and Armadale.

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

the 29 was cut back well before Lothian Country came in. First 800 replaced most of the route and it was cut back to Bathgate going past Armadale dog track, then it was cut back to Avonbridge. The X18 followed the First 20 route between Edinburgh, Broxburn. Bathgate and Armadale.

It was the X18 that killed off the 29. For a while it competed directly with it between Armadale and Broxburn.

The 20 was withdrawn before Lothian Country came along and indeed that not being there is exactly why they brought in the X18. The 29 had replaced the 20.

 

[overthewater]

Here is small timeline:
* 8 May 2017: The service was switched to Broxburn.
* 21 Aug 2017: Minor changes.
* 19th August 2018 : Minor changes.
* 27 May 2019: Minor changes.
* 21st October 2019: Cut back to what we have now,.

What is laughable about that is First made a claim in 2017 route 29 saw 48% in passenger numbers.. of course it would, it was the only bus on that route.

 

[Metal Mickey]

Here is small timeline:
* 8 May 2017: The service was switched to Broxburn.
* 21 Aug 2017: Minor changes.
* 19th August 2018 : Minor changes.
* 27 May 2019: Minor changes.
* 21st October 2019: Cut back to what we have now,.

What is laughable about that is First made a claim in 2017 route 29 saw 48% in passenger numbers.. of course it would, it was the only bus on that route.

In an earlier post I had forgotten that the 29 had extended to Broxburn.

But it’s all coming back to me now and my recollection was that the 29 was cut back from Livingston to Bathgate in October 2012 as there was already 6 buses per hour provided on the Bathgate to Livingston via Deans corridor and it remained that way up until May 2017 when it was extended to Broxburn replacing the 20.

I believe First withdrew the 20 as it had lost a lot of passengers to the Bathgate to Edinburgh train although Lothian Country thought it was worth reintroducing the link with their X18 in late 2018.

 

[overthewater]

It is all coming back now the Oct 2012 changes, First cut no15, 16, and X19, and the 29 went to the new Bathgate train station. Stagecoach won the New F15, while First won F16 but that quickly merged with No59 to Calendar.

 

[Ewan M]

Does anyone know if the E300s will be repainted?

My guess is that they’ll be sold off

 

[NorthClyde320]

My guess is that they’ll be sold off

Most likely Ensign dealer like previous E300's or used for spare parts and scrapped.

Any news on what is happening with 8951 yet?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 25 Nov 2025 ==

I've not seen it mentioned but the F1 and F45 are operated by Livingston now. 0466 and 0478 have moved over with them.

Does Livingston have any spare buses if any of the Streetlites fail in service as it seems crazy if a replacement bus has to be sent from Larbert or Bannockburn?

Either the F1 and F45 services will need to be put on the Scotland East licence or an additional operating centre (Livingston) will need to be added to the Midland Bluebird licence.

 

[Butts]

Becoming a more frequent traveller between Falkirk and Livingston (and back) is the X38 always late arriving in Winchburgh to connect to Falkirk ?

Often turns up at least 10mins late.

The 72 by contrast is nearly always on time for the other part of the journey.

On Sunday Morning the first X38 from Falkirk to Edinburgh left almost 10 minutes late (no apology from the Driver)

The connection time in Winchburgh to the 72 is only 6 minutes.

Luckily the X38 made up a bit of time and arrived 2 minutes before the 72 was due, I just had time to cross the road and make the connection - to close for comfort as it's an hour until the next 72

 

[overthewater]

If your traveling between Falkirk and Livingston on a Sunday your be better of using the 29 From Falkirk to Bathgate and changing over there. Mid week alot of people rather us the No31 and connect at Linlithgow.

Well what happened to the Sunday service on the 29? Goodness me!

I tend to only notice the X38 running late coming out of Edinburgh, They have been rather good going in most of the time.

 

[Spsf3232]

Becoming a more frequent traveller between Falkirk and Livingston (and back) is the X38 always late arriving in Winchburgh to connect to Falkirk ?

Often turns up at least 10mins late.

The 72 by contrast is nearly always on time for the other part of the journey.

On Sunday Morning the first X38 from Falkirk to Edinburgh left almost 10 minutes late (no apology from the Driver)

The connection time in Winchburgh to the 72 is only 6 minutes.

Luckily the X38 made up a bit of time and arrived 2 minutes before the 72 was due, I just had time to cross the road and make the connection - to close for comfort as it's an hour until the next 72

The driver is there to drive, if you want an apology speak to the company

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

The driver is there to drive, if you want an apology speak to the company

I agree and disagree with this. Yes they’re there to drive, but a simple ‘sorry I was delayed due to roadworks’ or whatever would certainly help the situation. I think many drivers have this inbuilt theory that they’re there to just drive buses around, when that isn’t really true. This is an industry problem though as it happens at almost every company in some form or another.

You wouldn’t get on a train or plane and not expect an apology for running late. Even if it’s a desperate one, something is something.

 

[Clydeflyer]

I agree and disagree with this. Yes they’re there to drive, but a simple ‘sorry I was delayed due to roadworks’ or whatever would certainly help the situation. I think many drivers have this inbuilt theory that they’re there to just drive buses around, when that isn’t really true. This is an industry problem though as it happens at almost every company in some form or another.

You wouldn’t get on a train or plane and not expect an apology for running late. Even if it’s a desperate one, something is something.

Risking derailing the topic but.... just an observation but is the difference not the method of delivery of the apology for want of a better phrase. On a train or plane the driver/pilot comes over a one-way PA system to say 'sorry, delayed due to ...' and that is it. Apology delivered to the whole group of passengers (or the ones listening at least) and no comebacks from the passengers. Job done. Get going.

On a bus or coach the driver's effectively apologising to each and every passenger as they board the vehicle instigating a conversation which might go bad if the passenger is less tolerant or understanding that it wasn't the driver's fault, or good (but long) in that the passenger then sees it as an opportunity to have a good blether/chat about how they should have fixed that road 20-odd years ago and the council never do anything about anything until it is far too late. And then there's punters who need no apology because they knew the road was being dug up and got an earlier bus to compensate... they're not that fussed that it's running late because they've factored that into their day.

To be honest, if I was on a bus and coach running late I'd be happier to see the driver focusing on getting the passengers on, fared, seated and getting moving again to keep the delay minimised.

 

[sannox]

To be honest, if I was on a bus and coach running late I'd be happier to see the driver focusing on getting the passengers on, fared, seated and getting moving again to keep the delay minimised.

Agreed. Drivers are much more exposed to passengers than train drivers or pilots who are behind locked doors and engaging just runs the risk of folk who want to chat and debate!

Bus delays are much more random and often out of everyone's hands. It's just part of life - someone parked badly or miss a few sets of lights as they go to amber can make you few minutes late, temporary lights for roadworks appear and you lose 5-10mins. Even if you are on time at the start it can be tricky to stay on time all the way through.

 

[citybus2500]

Agreed. Drivers are much more exposed to passengers than train drivers or pilots who are behind locked doors and engaging just runs the risk of folk who want to chat and debate!

Bus delays are much more random and often out of everyone's hands. It's just part of life - someone parked badly or miss a few sets of lights as they go to amber can make you few minutes late, temporary lights for roadworks appear and you lose 5-10mins. Even if you are on time at the start it can be tricky to stay on time all the way through.

The first departure on a Sunday morning being late was a good chance of being the drivers fault!

 

[Steve440]

The first departure on a Sunday morning being late was a good chance of being the drivers fault!

Most probably a faulty vehicle, then having to locate another in the deepest depths of the depot.

 

[Spsf3232]

The first departure on a Sunday morning being late was a good chance of being the drivers fault!

You simply do not know that, putting blame on a driver is exactly why drivers have grown to have an attitude with passengers now.

 

[SilentWatcher]

I agree and disagree with this. Yes they’re there to drive, but a simple ‘sorry I was delayed due to roadworks’ or whatever would certainly help the situation. I think many drivers have this inbuilt theory that they’re there to just drive buses around, when that isn’t really true. This is an industry problem though as it happens at almost every company in some form or another.

In my experience, if a passengers wants to know why something is late then they'll ask or make a comment when boarding.

If an incident has stopped traffic in front of us and I can see what the problem is, I might make a short announcement for those who can't see and are wondering why we're not moving. I'm certainly not going to be explaining it to everyone passenger, or at every stop, for the rest of the trip or for as long as I continue to run late

 

[sannox]

You simply do not know that, putting blame on a driver is exactly why drivers have grown to have an attitude with passengers now.

Exactly - faulty vehicle on walkround needing a replacement or he left depot and ran into a road closure nobody knew about etc etc.