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

[Bus9120UK]

Ive just been on 933?

You'll have been on 935 on the 3 (not tracking correctly on the route). I was told that 933 was "already off the sheets" a few days ago, and 933's tracking works fine, which shows its remained at Longstone after being taken off. You might be confused as its last run was a peak 3.

 

[stevenedin]

I was on 935 earlier and it has a sticker above the fleet number at the front saying 'Good old Lothian Bus'

 

[overthewater]

933 has been replaced already. 935 will be replaced by 380 which still hasn’t moved, presumably down to the issues with 770. Then 777 and 780 will replace 927 and 928 when they arrive, whenever that may be.

I wouldn’t rule out the possibility of ex London’s heading west. Take 1030-1032 for example, they could easily replace 937-939. 464 could replace 936.

At ECB, I am trying to work out whether or not 506 has theoretically indirectly replaced 193. You could have the scenario where if 496 replaced 942 and then 1023-1028 could replace 945-950. The latter are ideal for schools and the 139.

There’s one big problem with this idea. Longevity. Is it really worth switching these all about for a couple of years? These are vehicles that are virtually identical in age, but the mileage on the 10 plates is the highest in the fleet now. What I would say is I am convinced 464 for 936 will happen as it’ll be sole 09 plate left in a few weeks time once the last of resulting moves from BZL’s come into place. I can’t see why they’d want a Lone Ranger in the fleet.

All a bit of logic and guesswork put together, but everything adds up at the moment. The last part of removing the remaining 10 plates is one I have yet to come up with a logical conclusion for.

905-906 were brought back most recently as extras, presumably to allow the Zoo Wraps to have their interiors retrimmed. I would imagine once that’s done, those will go as well.

AS The Grand wazoo would say, it boil down to accountants and "depression" cost of the buses ( I'm sure that the wrong word but the right direction) The swap could take place if the numbers could make the routes which use the swapped stock more profitable i.e. reducing it's costs. It's mad to think how this all works and how drafting in older buses etc can help balance the books for iffy routes, even if it's only for a few years. If the end result helps Lothian expand the routes then it can only be good for the passengers in the short term.

 

[Auld reekie]

You'll have been on 935 on the 3 (not tracking correctly on the route). I was told that 933 was "already off the sheets" a few days ago, and 933's tracking works fine, which shows its remained at Longstone after being taken off. You might be confused as its last run was a peak 3.

Yesterday the trackers were a farce so I hope they were better today.

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

Ive just been on 933?

927 & 928 being withdrawn?

933 looks to have been brought back once again this morning owing to the pretty bad issues with 1004. It’s not known if it will be fixed and was moved to Newbridge a few days ago. I’m not sure what this issue is, but tracking shows it having sat on Queensferry Road for 2 hours so is consistent with it. It was moved to Newbridge almost immediately after returning to Longstone.

933 was removed on Thursday, however this was when 1004 had its problem.

772 replaced 926 so yes I would be very surprised if 777 and 780 didn’t replace 927 and 928.

 

[stevenedin]

I did find the seats to be in a poor condition on 935 yesterday. They are so pale and threadbare at parts. Also some have lost their padding and look squashed. Can't have too long left. I still can't get my head around the fact that these are some of the oldest buses in the fleet. I still think of them as quite new.

 

[ScotRail158725]

You'll have been on 935 on the 3 (not tracking correctly on the route). I was told that 933 was "already off the sheets" a few days ago, and 933's tracking works fine, which shows its remained at Longstone after being taken off. You might be confused as its last run was a peak 3.

Right enough it might have been after a heavy day of drinking at the Hearts game but it definitely looked like 933 to me, and it never had the black wrap on it 935 has

933 looks to have been brought back once again this morning owing to the pretty bad issues with 1004. It’s not known if it will be fixed and was moved to Newbridge a few days ago. I’m not sure what this issue is, but tracking shows it having sat on Queensferry Road for 2 hours so is consistent with it. It was moved to Newbridge almost immediately after returning to Longstone.

Whats wrong with 1004? Knackered?

933 was removed on Thursday, however this was when 1004 had its problem.

772 replaced 926 so yes I would be very surprised if 777 and 780 didn’t replace 927 and 928.

Is 926 withdrawn then?

 

[Acfb]

A question. Are all bus stops served suitable for dual door operation? I am thinking about the layout of street furniture, raised kerbs etc. I suspect many in the city are but once outside then I’m sure that is not the case.

There's a southbound bus stop up Comiston Road where the 11s and 16s have to let people out the front as there's a railing by the pedestrian crossing. Generally I think the XLBs work quite well on high capacity routes such as the 16 but might be overkill for other routes. I don't know if there are any non XLB dual door buses left at Marine?

 

[Lx008]

There's a southbound bus stop up Comiston Road where the 11s and 16s have to let people out the front as there's a railing by the pedestrian crossing. Generally I think the XLBs work quite well on high capacity routes such as the 16 but might be overkill for other routes. I don't know if there are any non XLB dual door buses left at Marine?

Nope, 1141-1153 all have been withdrawn

 

[stevenedin]

Right enough it might have been after a heavy day of drinking at the Hearts game but it definitely looked like 933 to me, and it never had the black wrap on it 935 has


Whats wrong with 1004? Knackered?

Is 926 withdrawn then?

935 was white when I was on it yesterday.

 

[TheEastCoaster]

Given how consistent Lothian have been the past few years with Christmas timetables releasing on the same date (1st Dec), any chance it will be the same tomorrow?

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

Is 926 withdrawn then?

It is, yes.

 

[muffy]

935 was white when I was on it yesterday.

And has been on the N28 and X27 late yesterday and today covering for 462 while it paid a visit to Longstone.

 

[stevenedin]

And has been on the N28 and X27 late yesterday and today covering for 462 while it paid a visit to Longstone.

I just checked bus times. It wasn't even showing that it was on the 3 yesterday. I'm not sure I believe that it was on those routes as it seems strange that it suddenly went from the X27 to the 35

 

[VioletEclipse]

how many BZLs still haven't entered service?

 

[muffy]

I just checked bus times. It wasn't even showing that it was on the 3 yesterday. I'm not sure I believe that it was on those routes as it seems strange that it suddenly went from the X27 to the 35

As I saw it on the X27 before it got taken off bustimes is correct in this case. 462 being the other bus involved also matches with bustimes.

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

I just checked bus times. It wasn't even showing that it was on the 3 yesterday. I'm not sure I believe that it was on those routes as it seems strange that it suddenly went from the X27 to the 35

Are you sure it doesn’t? > https://bustimes.org/vehicles/ecbu-935?date=2025-11-28#journeys/811162800

Link to 935’s tracking from yesterday. Remember unless the Central control room update the tracking, it won’t show as it running as a 3. You have to find it manually.

 

[Bus9120UK]

Right enough it might have been after a heavy day of drinking at the Hearts game but it definitely looked like 933 to me, and it never had the black wrap on it 935 has

935 had its wrap removed a few weeks ago with a lower half repaint as part of that.

 

[Auld reekie]

There's a southbound bus stop up Comiston Road where the 11s and 16s have to let people out the front as there's a railing by the pedestrian crossing. Generally I think the XLBs work quite well on high capacity routes such as the 16 but might be overkill for other routes. I don't know if there are any non XLB dual door buses lef

 

[stevenedin]

Are you sure it doesn’t? > https://bustimes.org/vehicles/ecbu-935?date=2025-11-28#journeys/811162800

Link to 935’s tracking from yesterday. Remember unless the Central control room update the tracking, it won’t show as it running as a 3. You have to find it manually.

So it only did one run on the 3 by the looks of it. That's confusing. I thought by now they would have updated the new tracking system.

 

[Bus9120UK]

So it only did one run on the 3 by the looks of it. That's confusing. I thought by now they would have updated the new tracking system.

It was on the route for around seven hours.
Even when they track as blank, which I presume it was, bustimes changed their system so that it doesn't create a new trip for blanks. It just put all the tracking data under the previous trip, so in this case the 22 Not in Service. You'll notice buses like 232 which have tracked recently but haven't been out are still showing under September 28th!

It is very often that any bus that goes out on a route in the middle of the day is missed and not set to track correctly.

I'm not sure if Lothian has any plans to actually introduce a new system taking advantage of the new AVL benefits, and removing the need for this manual input for tracking to work, or if they are just going to stick with the old system. I would love to know and really hope something happens because this system really is such a mess now.

 

[LothianBusesPh]

At ECB, I am trying to work out whether or not 506 has theoretically indirectly replaced 193.

193 had mechanical issues and is now withdrawn, just like 191.

 

[Busman757]

Lothian are currently helping the airport with the Plane Parking shuttle this morning with bus 12. This is due to the previous operator, rumoured to have lost its operators licence (or just a fallout with the airport).

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

Lothian are currently helping the airport with the Plane Parking shuttle this morning with bus 12. This is due to the previous operator, rumoured to have lost its operators licence (or just a fallout with the airport).

I’m sure something similar happened before many years ago when 189 did it. Though I think this was drafted in owing to the Citaro and Tram crash.

 

[stevenedin]

Lothian are currently helping the airport with the Plane Parking shuttle this morning with bus 12. This is due to the previous operator, rumoured to have lost its operators licence (or just a fallout with the airport).

Looking at bustimes, 12 has been about recently all over Edinburgh, down to Midlothian, out to East Lothian and also out to West Lothian plus the airport shuttle. I'm assuming it was being used as a driver training bus.

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

Looking at bustimes, 12 has been about recently all over Edinburgh, down to Midlothian, out to East Lothian and also out to West Lothian plus the airport shuttle. I'm assuming it was being used as a driver training bus.

12’s normal job is that, yes. However today it’s the car park bus.

13 looks as if it’s doing the same.

 

[Bus9120UK]

Festive timetables available here - https://www.lothianbuses.com/festive-timetables/

A very generic summary of routes. The same as last year, except -
Christmas day: the 22 has been swapped for the 1. Additionally, the 30 runs as far as Westside Plaza.
Boxing day: the 22 won't run. The 35 will run instead of the 34 and the 46 will run full route. The 33 will terminate at Shandwick place.
New Year's day: the same thing with the 1 and the 22. The 33 will run, between the City Centre and Westburn, and the 35 will run instead of the 34 here too.

 

[Kilmux]

Has there been a permanent change in the allocation of vehicles to service 47 and 47B? Similarly to last week, only 4 of the 11 tracking this morning are XLBs. Previously it was more or less 100% XLBs.

 

[Bus9120UK]

Has there been a permanent change in the allocation of vehicles to service 47 and 47B? Similarly to last week, only 4 of the 11 tracking this morning are XLBs. Previously it was more or less 100% XLBs.

I think it's swapped with the 31 which was previously fairly mixed.

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

Festive timetables available here - https://www.lothianbuses.com/festive-timetables/

A very generic summary of routes. The same as last year, except -
Christmas day: the 22 has been swapped for the 1. Additionally, the 30 runs as far as Westside Plaza.
Boxing day: the 22 won't run. The 35 will run instead of the 34 and the 46 will run full route. The 33 will terminate at Shandwick place.
New Year's day: the same thing with the 1 and the 22. The 33 will run, between the City Centre and Westburn, and the 35 will run instead of the 34 here too.

It looks as if the 33 will interwork with the 47 on Boxing Day and New Years Day. This was of course previously the 22 that interworked with the 47.