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

[stevenedin]

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.

Thanks for sharing. The link for the East Coast Buses Booklet doesn't work for me for some reason.

 

[TheEastCoaster]

Thanks for sharing. The link for the East Coast Buses Booklet doesn't work for me for some reason.

Any word on the Trams festive timetable? i know they don't run on Christmas day but are they doing night services this year?

 

[Scotrail314209]

This most probably is unlikely to ever happen but is there a possibility of making the buses along Calder Road a little bit more spaced out? It’s not uncommon to get a 3, 25 and 33 (sometimes with a 34,35 or X27/28 in the mix) within a few minutes then nothing for at least another 10+.

Inevitably results in the first bus to come being rammed full with the others practically carting fresh air.

 

[Edirim]

Thanks for sharing. The link for the East Coast Buses Booklet doesn't work for me for some reason.

Possibly updating it to reference the X4?

 

[computerSaysNo]

This most probably is unlikely to ever happen but is there a possibility of making the buses along Calder Road a little bit more spaced out? It’s not uncommon to get a 3, 25 and 33 (sometimes with a 34,35 or X27/28 in the mix) within a few minutes then nothing for at least another 10+.

Inevitably results in the first bus to come being rammed full with the others practically carting fresh air.

I see what you mean. I'm 100% sure the 3 and 25 used to be timed to give an even interval between Shandwick Place and Sighthill but I've checked and they don't at the moment, which obviously isn't ideal.

 

[Scotrail314209]

I see what you mean. I'm 100% sure the 3 and 25 used to be timed to give an even interval between Shandwick Place and Sighthill but I've checked and they don't at the moment, which obviously isn't ideal.

I tend to get the 3 or 33 as they are usually a bit more quiet, but from observation just by being on these buses they always catch up to a 25 or something else.

There are so many buses with enough seats for everyone, but they all end up just bunching.

 

[mb88]

Interesting that East Coast Buses are now advertising for part time driver roles. This is the first time in a number of years any of the Lothian subsidiaries have actively sought part time drivers, and appears only to be East Coast at the moment.

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1Zrb6sdnKe/?mibextid=wwXIfr

 

[H00V3R]

Interesting that East Coast Buses are now advertising for part time driver roles. This is the first time in a number of years any of the Lothian subsidiaries have actively sought part time drivers, and appears only to be East Coast at the moment.

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1Zrb6sdnKe/?mibextid=wwXIfr

I believe ELC tenders usually go out around this time of year, although nothing seems to be up for renewal this year according to the Public Contracts Scotland website.

Could be looking at some small service increases come April?

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

Another crash on Maybury Road. This time involving 29. Not able to link an article as only rags are currently reporting it.

Worryingly once again it appears a truck has struck the back of the bus. This is exactly what happened to 1065. You wonder what can be done to prevent such incidents from happening again?

 

[DunsBus]

Another crash on Maybury Road. This time involving 29. Not able to link an article as only rags are currently reporting it.

Worryingly once again it appears a truck has struck the back of the bus. This is exactly what happened to 1065. You wonder what can be done to prevent such incidents from happening again?

According to the rags the front of 29 was also damaged as it was pushed into a lorry travelling on the opposite carriageway. Safe to say that we won't be seeing 29 on the road again.

 

[stevenedin]

According to the rags the front of 29 was also damaged as it was pushed into a lorry travelling on the opposite carriageway. Safe to say that we won't be seeing 29 on the road again.

I hope no one was hurt. That sounds awful.

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

According to the rags the front of 29 was also damaged as it was pushed into a lorry travelling on the opposite carriageway. Safe to say that we won't be seeing 29 on the road again.

I’ve just seen the front. Hopefully nobody was hurt.

1065 was repaired and was arguably in worse condition at the back as its engine went into the saloon, though admittedly it sustained no front damage. It’s due back into service very soon having done test runs for a week or so now.

Age may be against 29 here however, but 1045 and the like were repaired too so not entirely impossible. Just depends if it’s worthwhile.

 

[computerSaysNo]

Interesting that East Coast Buses are now advertising for part time driver roles. This is the first time in a number of years any of the Lothian subsidiaries have actively sought part time drivers, and appears only to be East Coast at the moment.

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1Zrb6sdnKe/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Apparently part time work is not allowed at any of the City garages due to a union agreement.

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

Apparently part time work is not allowed at any of the City garages due to a union agreement.

It is allowed, but it’s reserved for specific reasons eg older staff, those with families or those with medical restrictions among other reasons. In other words Joe Bloggs can’t just go onto it straight in the door. As it’s such a small roster and therefore fills up very quickly, it’s never advertised for vacancy.

By law a business has to make accommodations where it legally can. So you’ll find the staff on that rota are on it as I say for a very specific reason.

 

[ScotRail158725]

Another crash on Maybury Road. This time involving 29. Not able to link an article as only rags are currently reporting it.

I’ve just seen the front. Hopefully nobody was hurt.

1065 was repaired and was arguably in worse condition at the back as its engine went into the saloon, though admittedly it sustained no front damage. It’s due back into service very soon having done test runs for a week or so now.

Age may be against 29 here however, but 1045 and the like were repaired too so not entirely impossible. Just depends if it’s worthwhile.

Seen the photos of 29, looked an absolute mess at the rear, almost as bad as 1065 did months ago

Was 1045 that bad i thought it was s relatively minor bump in comparison?

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

Was 1045 that bad i thought it was s relatively minor bump in comparison?

1045 was front end damage that I’m guessing was worse than first thought. It was actually out of service for 7 months. This of course will be longer than what 1065 is likely to be - which I expect to be back out well before Christmas. This will mean 1065 was out of action for around 5 and a half months. Therefore 1045 took about 6 weeks longer. If you consider that length of time against its age, then I wouldn’t rule out 29 returning at all.

 

[computerSaysNo]

It is allowed, but it’s reserved for specific reasons eg older staff, those with families or those with medical restrictions among other reasons. In other words Joe Bloggs can’t just go onto it straight in the door. As it’s such a small roster and therefore fills up very quickly, it’s never advertised for vacancy.

By law a business has to make accommodations where it legally can. So you’ll find the staff on that rota are on it as I say for a very specific reason.

It is allowed after a driver has already worked for the company full time for a period of time. So it is still discriminatory to anyone wishing to become a driver who has those factors you mentioned.

 

[gingerheid]

Just admiring how Edinburgh can have a better Christmas day service than bus companies need to be paid to run in Sheffield on boxing day, and how Lothian can operated in West Lothian on Christmas day when both First and McGills couldn't operate there at all.

I don't understand why privatisation of buses isn't high up on the list of national scandals.

 

[LothianBusesPh]

1045 was front end damage that I’m guessing was worse than first thought. It was actually out of service for 7 months. This of course will be longer than what 1065 is likely to be - which I expect to be back out well before Christmas. This will mean 1065 was out of action for around 5 and a half months. Therefore 1045 took about 6 weeks longer. If you consider that length of time against its age, then I wouldn’t rule out 29 returning at all.

1065 is already back in Central.

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

It is allowed after a driver has already worked for the company full time for a period of time. So it is still discriminatory to anyone wishing to become a driver who has those factors you mentioned.

It’s not that they’re not allowed on it, which in fairness I didn’t say. If it’s like most businesses then it will be that there’s a waiting list and it will go out to those who are in the door already.

If by some chance there was a vacancy that had arose and there was nobody on that waiting list, then I guess there is a chance it would be advertised externally. However the likelihood it ever gets to that point is slim to none.

Remember any business only has to make ‘reasonable adjustments’ by law. The wording of this particular part is typically grey and therefore I am not sure how practical it works as a law for both employer and employee, but that’s another issue entirely. The unions are clearly against the idea of this rota, but by law they’re undone on the accommodations part which they have no choice but to comply with.

 

[cam22]

Just an observation but noticed the 43 is included in the ‘city’ services Xmas booklet when no other Lothian Country or East Coast Buses services are .

 

[Lx008]

1045 was front end damage that I’m guessing was worse than first thought. It was actually out of service for 7 months. This of course will be longer than what 1065 is likely to be - which I expect to be back out well before Christmas. This will mean 1065 was out of action for around 5 and a half months. Therefore 1045 took about 6 weeks longer. If you consider that length of time against its age, then I wouldn’t rule out 29 returning at all.

Speaking of this, is there any news on 669 after it’s run-in with a junction box a while back

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

Speaking of this, is there any news on 669 after it’s run-in with a junction box a while back

Last tracked at Seafield a few weeks ago. I suspect it has likely moved to Ferrymill by now, but as it’s completely dead it won’t track until the electrics are back on.

 

[stevenedin]

Just an observation but noticed the 43 is included in the ‘city’ services Xmas booklet when no other Lothian Country or East Coast Buses services are .

I noticed that too but it is a city service anyway. It's also included in the Lothian Country booklet.

 

[Baileygirl]

Just admiring how Edinburgh can have a better Christmas day service than bus companies need to be paid to run in Sheffield on boxing day, and how Lothian can operated in West Lothian on Christmas day when both First and McGills couldn't operate there at all.

I don't understand why privatisation of buses isn't high up on the list of national scandals.

I was with First in Livingston from 2002 and it ran buses on all four of the holidays on contract to West Lothian Council and also ran the Larbert 38 from Linlithgow to Edinburgh. Drivers were asked to volunteer, then it was last in next to fill the rota.

 

[Siemens Trains]

Just admiring how Edinburgh can have a better Christmas day service than bus companies need to be paid to run in Sheffield on boxing day, and how Lothian can operated in West Lothian on Christmas day when both First and McGills couldn't operate there at all.

I don't understand why privatisation of buses isn't high up on the list of national scandals.

Think LRT were either scared or strong-armed into this following an aggressive move by another bus company back in the 1990s (perhaps Arriva but not sure). They offered to run festive season contracts to either the former Lothian Region or newborn Edinburgh Council for a very low or zero cost. Can't remember the details but since then we've had city routes covered without subsidy.

The scandal may be that Edinburgh does have so-called commercial services on Christmas Day. However I think the public are reasonably comfortable with the position. Not sure if the drivers will be especially happy though.

Just an observation but noticed the 43 is included in the ‘city’ services Xmas booklet when no other Lothian Country or East Coast Buses services are .

Pretty sure this aligns with convention over the past few years. Nowadays there's quite a chunk of the conventional red bus network that is only covered by route 43 and there has never been readacross to other Lothian Country services. So maybe it's logical to present the same 43/N43 timetables in both leaflets.

 

[Stan Drews]

Just admiring how Edinburgh can have a better Christmas day service than bus companies need to be paid to run in Sheffield on boxing day, and how Lothian can operated in West Lothian on Christmas day when both First and McGills couldn't operate there at all.

I don't understand why privatisation of buses isn't high up on the list of national scandals.

The West Lothian network on Christmas Day is tendered by the council, and has been for many years.

 

[cam22]

I noticed that too but it is a city service anyway. It's also included in the Lothian Country booklet.

Aye a city service in LC colours

 

[DunsBus]

Think LRT were either scared or strong-armed into this following an aggressive move by another bus company back in the 1990s (perhaps Arriva but not sure). They offered to run festive season contracts to either the former Lothian Region or newborn Edinburgh Council for a very low or zero cost. Can't remember the details but since then we've had city routes covered without subsidy.

The scandal may be that Edinburgh does have so-called commercial services on Christmas Day. However I think the public are reasonably comfortable with the position. Not sure if the drivers will be especially happy though.

This was in 1998, so happened under Edinburgh Council. My memory recalls that it wasn't festive season contracts, but evening and Sunday ones plus a few marginal services. Arriva had put in the lowest bids and LRT weren't too happy, so it went to the council and offered to run them for nothing. In the interim, and unknown to LRT, Arriva had withdrawn its bids. The council then told LRT to put its money where its mouth was and to run the contracts for nothing.

One effect of this was the retirement of the then MD Charles Evans, who was coming up for retirement in any case but decided that it would be best for all parties if he went early.

 

[scosutsut]

This was in 1998, so happened under Edinburgh Council. My memory recalls that it wasn't festive season contracts, but evening and Sunday ones plus a few marginal services. Arriva had put in the lowest bids and LRT weren't too happy, so it went to the council and offered to run them for nothing. In the interim, and unknown to LRT, Arriva had withdrawn its bids. The council then told LRT to put its money where its mouth was and to run the contracts for nothing.

One effect of this was the retirement of the then MD Charles Evans, who was coming up for retirement in any case but decided that it would be best for all parties if he went early.

That's wild. Arriva's nearest depot then was what? Inchinnan?