McGill’s Midland Bluebird

[Baileygirl]

Has Midland Bluebird given up the 60 in Edinburgh. There does not seem to be any bus allocated to it for a few days.

 

[citybus2500]

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

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

and neither of you know it wasn't.

Not all drivers are perfect angels you know . . . .

 

[VioletEclipse]

Has Midland Bluebird given up the 60 in Edinburgh. There does not seem to be any bus allocated to it for a few days.

0449 is tracking on the 60 right now. hopefully it isn't going to go the way of the 20/63/68 tenders.

 

[Baileygirl]

0449 is tracking on the 60 right now. hopefully it isn't going to go the way of the 20/63/68 tenders.

Another fine coming up

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

Another fine coming up

To be fair in a practical sense do McGill’s even want these tenders now? The 60 is pointless and the 13 probably needs a new lease of life in terms of its routing.

And for those that simply think I think Lothian would do a better job, I don’t. These tenders have been a problem for a long time now. All it would do would be to add the ridacard to these services and that’s about it. Edinburgh Coach Lines had got a bit of stability with the 13 but covid hit and then they wanted rid of it by not bidding at the last tender.

 

[Highland050261]

Another fine coming up

I wonder if the small fire on 452 on the 1st of December will come up.

 

[Stan Drews]

0449 is tracking on the 60 right now. hopefully it isn't going to go the way of the 20/63/68 tenders.

There aren’t any driver shortages at Livingston, if that’s what you’re suggesting?

 

[AndrewTaylor95]

There aren’t any driver shortages at Livingston, if that’s what you’re suggesting?

No excuse to not run them then

 

[Highland050261]

An MP contacted McGill’s regarding the Service 60. Here is the response.

Photo screenshot taken for the MP’s Facebook page.

I Write further to your letter to us of 9th December 2025 regarding service 60 operating between Haymarket and Dumbiedykes.

Firstly, I am incredibly sorry that we have given any constituents cause for concern with periods of service interruption on service 60 and would ask that my apologies are relayed directly.

I am aware of the interruption which you highlight on 6th December 2025, this was both extremely regrettable and equally not acceptable to us. This interruption to service was caused by a higher than normal level of vehicle availability issues. As you would expect we like any bus operator carry spare vehicles within our fleet which were again regrettably fully exhausted on the date in question. Over recent weeks we have reallocated a number of vehicles between our depots to bolster service resilience.

In response to your point regarding punctuality, there can regrettably be variability with punctuality on the 60 owing to congestion and a lack of bus priority measures eg traffic light priority measures and dedicated bus lanes. We have recently company wide slowed down the timetables for a number of services where we have had challenges meeting the timetable. Whilst punctuality has consistently improved where we have made these changes it leads to longer journey times and reduced frequency.

Thank you for your correspondence and once again my apologies.

 

[VioletEclipse]

An MP contacted McGill’s regarding the Service 60. Here is the response.

Photo screenshot taken for the MP’s Facebook page.

The fact that such a short and lightly used (but not unused!) service isn't always reliable really shouldn't be the case, but a combination of a lack of available (and working) buses at Livi, as far as I'm aware, and city centre bus priority measures (or lack thereof) isn't great. I don't remember Lothian's service 6 being unreliable, although that was a different route.

 

[overthewater]

I remember the 6 being late a good number of times, you wouldn't think going over such a short distance would be an issues but crossing princes street, down Market Street, then down St Marys st, the congestion at time was awful especially during the summer months.

 

[CSB0241]

8009 & 8025 have moved from Larbert to Livingston (I’m guessing to replace 0422 or 0461, along with 0478) - ‘09 is currently on the F1 & ‘25 the 60.

 

[Baileygirl]

That's three early journeys on the 60 missed. Also a couple on the 13. Not a good start to 2026 and their promise of doing better to the local politicians

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

That's three early journeys on the 60 missed. Also a couple on the 13. Not a good start to 2026 and their promise of doing better to the local politicians

If this keeps up eventually I can see something giving. With AIRX gone they do seem to fit awkwardly in McGill’s portfolio now. It would probably make more sense for McGill’s to tender for any West Lothian contracts if they come up, or if they decide to move away from service work completely at Livingston - just Big Bus and Flixbus.

 

[CSB0241]

If this keeps up eventually I can see something giving. With AIRX gone they do seem to fit awkwardly in McGill’s portfolio now. It would probably make more sense for McGill’s to tender for any West Lothian contracts if they come up, or if they decide to move away from service work completely at Livingston - just Big Bus and Flixbus.

Even then, Livingston’s still really inconvenient for Big Bus operations. I feel like if anything, if they want to keep up Big Bus operations they’d maybe want to move to a site within Edinburgh (I thought about maybe Bankhead a few months ago but I’m unsure whether that’s the best site or not).

 

[scosutsut]

Even then, Livingston’s still really inconvenient for Big Bus operations. I feel like if anything, if they want to keep up Big Bus operations they’d maybe want to move to a site within Edinburgh (I thought about maybe Bankhead a few months ago but I’m unsure whether that’s the best site or not).

They've had more than enough time to move the operation and never have. I'd imagine the cost of empty running is small change compared to the increased costs that would come from operating from within the city and scaling wages accordingly.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

They've had more than enough time to move the operation and never have. I'd imagine the cost of empty running is small change compared to the increased costs that would come from operating from within the city and scaling wages accordingly.

Cost of change and risk of change vs. some empty running - that’s the equation.

 

[VioletEclipse]

Cost of change and risk of change vs. some empty running - that’s the equation.

and the cost of setting up the new depot and moving the oprations are probably quite significant, they might not consider it worth it. You could argue that Livi to Edinburgh isn't all that far, even if I've often seen Bright Bus/Big Bus vehichles broken down along the route.

They could also run much more X39s, but with open toppers, but somehow doubt that would bring in much too much revenue!

 

[318266]

They could also run much more X39s, but with open toppers, but somehow doubt that would bring in much too much revenue!

It would bring in a small pittance in Network Support Grant, however.

 

[VioletEclipse]

It would bring in a small pittance in Network Support Grant, however.

Honestly, as there's no direct express bus between Livi The Centre and Princes Street, I think they might genuinely get a few regular passengers if they had the X39 running Deans - The Centre - Edinburgh pretty frequently with both Streetlites and open toppers in the mornings and evenings. After all, there are folk who communte from Livi to Edinburgh, and there's no train station or direct express bus from the centre at the moment.

 

[overthewater]

The trains provide a much faster service compared to the bus services. It should be noted Fast buses have been tried and failed...


1999-2001: X22/X24 Livingston - M8 - Edinburgh.
X22 was Livingston bus station - Craighall - St John H - Eliburn - M8 - Edinburgh
X24 was Livingston Deans south - Knightridge - St John H - Eliburn - M8 - Edinburgh
Both took 55mins end to end.

2005? Had Coaches X34 Shots - Fauldhouse - Livingston - A71 - Edinburgh.

2009 - 2000: X7 and X9. Every 2 hours Edinburgh - m8 - st Johns - Livingston - down A71 - Edinburgh.

 

[route101]

That's three early journeys on the 60 missed. Also a couple on the 13. Not a good start to 2026 and their promise of doing better to the local politicians

Could Lothian take them back and incorporate them into an existing route?

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

and the cost of setting up the new depot and moving the oprations are probably quite significant, they might not consider it worth it.

That’s what I meant by cost of change. Setting up a new depot to save a bit of dead mileage doesn’t make commercial sense

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

Could Lothian take them back and incorporate them into an existing route?

A retendering process would be required in the case of a new operator. An emergency but temporary contract could be awarded directly to somebody should McGill’s be stripped, but ultimately any tender still has to go through the same retendering process as any other route does.

I can’t see McGill’s being stripped of the contracts in any case. Only serious breaches could result in this, which while it is not great that some journeys aren’t running, is not the same as that level.

What is more likely, if anything at all happens, is that McGill’s and the council come to a mutual agreement to terminate the contract early. Immediately at that point a retendering process would start ahead of the change of operator, depending on how much notice was given.

This is all talk though and again would any of this actually happen? I’m not so sure.

 

[Metal Mickey]

2009 - 2000: X7 and X9. Every 2 hours Edinburgh - m8 - st Johns - Livingston - down A71 - Edinburgh.

This was in 2008/09 and they operated at weekends only.

X9 Livingston - Broxburn - A8 - Corstorphine - Edinburgh

X11 Livingston - Kirknewton - A71 - Sighthill - Edinburgh

 

[Baileygirl]

This was in 2008/09 and they operated at weekends only.

X9 Livingston - Broxburn - A8 - Corstorphine - Edinburgh

X11 Livingston - Kirknewton - A71 - Sighthill - Edinburgh

They were not well used as they were not advertised and the X11 left Edinburgh a few minutes after the well known 27/28, so everyone got on those.

 

[overthewater]

Was the 47 advertised? 2 hourly Bo'ness - Linlithgow - Livingston Saturday service? The Livingston depot was trying alot of things when that new shopping centre opened.

 

[Metal Mickey]

They were not well used as they were not advertised and the X11 left Edinburgh a few minutes after the well known 27/28, so everyone got on those.

Routing the X11 via Kirknewton was even more bizzare.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 5 Jan 2026 ==

Was the 47 advertised? 2 hourly Bo'ness - Linlithgow - Livingston Saturday service? The Livingston depot was trying alot of things when that new shopping centre opened.

I don’t recall First being particularly good at marketing in that area at the time.

 

[overthewater]

Minor changes it seems to Service F1 and F45 from February.

• PM0000923/382 Registered​

  MCGILL’S SCOTLAND EAST LIMITED
  Route: MADDISTON, FORGIE CRESCENT to LINLITHGOW, CROSS via WHITECROSS
  Service number: F1
  Service type: Normal Stopping
  Effective date: 16 Feb 2026

• PM0000923/381 Registered​

  MCGILL’S SCOTLAND EAST LIMITED
  Route: Deans Road, Livingston to Maddiston Stance via Whiterigg Cottages
  Service number: 803
  Service type: Normal Stopping
  Effective date: 16 Feb 2026

• PM0000923/380 Registered​

  MCGILL’S SCOTLAND EAST LIMITED
  Route: Deans Road, Livingston to Linlithgow Rail Station via Ecclesmachan
  Service number: 802
  Service type: Hail & Ride, Normal Stopping
  Effective date: 16 Feb 2026

• PM0000923/379 Registered​

  MCGILL’S SCOTLAND EAST LIMITED
  Route: Linlithgow, Rail Station to Bo'Ness, Crawfield Drive via Ecclesmachan
  Service number: F45
  Service type: Normal Stopping
  Effective date: 16 Feb 2026

 

[Stan Drews]

Minor changes it seems to Service F1 and F45 from February.

• PM0000923/382 Registered​

  MCGILL’S SCOTLAND EAST LIMITED
  Route: MADDISTON, FORGIE CRESCENT to LINLITHGOW, CROSS via WHITECROSS
  Service number: F1
  Service type: Normal Stopping
  Effective date: 16 Feb 2026

• PM0000923/381 Registered​

  MCGILL’S SCOTLAND EAST LIMITED
  Route: Deans Road, Livingston to Maddiston Stance via Whiterigg Cottages
  Service number: 803
  Service type: Normal Stopping
  Effective date: 16 Feb 2026

• PM0000923/380 Registered​

  MCGILL’S SCOTLAND EAST LIMITED
  Route: Deans Road, Livingston to Linlithgow Rail Station via Ecclesmachan
  Service number: 802
  Service type: Hail & Ride, Normal Stopping
  Effective date: 16 Feb 2026

• PM0000923/379 Registered​

  MCGILL’S SCOTLAND EAST LIMITED
  Route: Linlithgow, Rail Station to Bo'Ness, Crawfield Drive via Ecclesmachan
  Service number: F45
  Service type: Normal Stopping
  Effective date: 16 Feb 2026

No Changes, just transferred from PM3 to PM923 to reflect the recent change of operating depot (Larbert to Livingston).
The 802/803 are just the depot trips.