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

[Jordan Adam]

I just wonder, could the 20 Wrightbus vehicles be new Airlink’s? We’ve seen in Glasgow Electroliners run the 500 and they seem to work reasonably well.

The XLB talk never seems to have gone any further forward. Certainly it might still happen, but by now you’d have expected something to be visible at ADL in that regard.

As for the 40 ADL/Volvo Electrics. These are surely all for Marine? Possibly resulting in the current BZL’s moving to Central to standardise on vehicles there.

Also worth noting that Wrightbus are already offering a tri-axle Streetdeck Electroliner, which they have said would be offered to the UK market.

 

[scosutsut]

Also worth noting that Wrightbus are already offering a tri-axle Streetdeck Electroliner, which they have said would be offered to the UK market.

The cost per vehicle is high, I reckon this is a possibility.

 

[Busman757]

The cost per vehicle is high, I reckon this is a possibility.

I was under the impression that the Airlinks were to be Diesel powered?

 

[Lothianbus703]

60 more electric double-deckers for Lothian announced through ScotZEB3, with 40 ADL/Volvo and 20 Wrightbus.


Source: https://www.transport.gov.scot/news/45-million-for-zero-emission-buses/

Hopefully better capacity than the BZL's.
Heating that is used would be a nice bonus!

Should aid in replacing all B9TL's up to 2010 and/or converting a single deck route to double deckers.

Isnt enough to replace all the 2011 native B9TL's if not any unless a service increase or expansion is announced which I dont see as likely.

 

[Busman757]

I’m guessing there will be an order for single decks soon to replace the 7900’s (to which they seem to be struggling to sell)

 

[jacoblikesbus]

is these new buses gonna be by zenobe

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

Hopefully better capacity than the BZL's.
Heating that is used would be a nice bonus!

Should aid in replacing all B9TL's up to 2010 and/or converting a single deck route to double deckers.

Isnt enough to replace all the 2011 native B9TL's if not any unless a service increase or expansion is announced which I dont see as likely.

I’d suggest this will replace everything decker wise pre 2011.

60 vehicles is comfortably enough to remove the remaining ex London’s and the 09 and 10 plates left.

For context there are two 09 plates left to replace - 933 and 936. Then ten 10 plates need replaced - 937-942 and 947-950. Assuming no XLB’s do arrive, then this leaves 1000-1003, 1021-1028, 1030-1050 to be replaced. I make that as 33. When combined with the previous 12, that’s 45.

927 and 928 don’t count towards the replacement total as these are paint floats for the MMC’s and in theory will be removed once this is complete.

If the 20 Wright vehicles are for Airlink then that results in an extra 5 vehicles just for it. 1126-1140 can then be used to replace city vehicles. There would be 55 vehicles available as replacements (40 ADL/Volvo’s and the cascaded 1126-1140). Given only 45 vehicles as above have been replaced, I’d suggest 951-960 might also be withdrawn as well to make it 55. However, the final 10 might act as general service improvements across the company.

 

[TheEastCoaster]

Have the Airlinks at one point served Ingilston P&R and Gogarburn or have they never?

 

[SilentWatcher]

Suppose you have to ask, do you want to fit more passengers and struggle with the luggage or do you want to accommodate the luggage and fit less passengers?

A lot of the time if luggage can't be accommodated then it means the passengers can't be either, and they get left behind for the next bus.

If they're serious about their belief that the 100 is a premium express airport service, then they have to have better luggage areas. That doesn't necessarily mean a bigger rack and less seating however, the luggage racks just need to be a lot better designed than they have been for the current fleet

 

[computerSaysNo]

I've just noticed that the timetables given by BusTimes don't match with those given by Lothian Buses themselves on service 124 on Sunday the 29th of March (unsure if this is a wider issue, this is the only day and service I've checked). The BusTimes page shows a service every half an hour but the Lothian page and their PDF show a service every 45 minutes. I assume the Lothian page is the one giving the actual (correct) times?

 

[Auld reekie]

Have the Airlinks at one point served Ingilston P&R and Gogarburn or have they never?

I remember the 35 serving both these places a number of years ago.

 

[davp]

I remember the 35 serving both these places a number of years ago.

So did the 300 at one point.

 

[Auld reekie]

So did the 300 at one point.

Not sure if it did.
I’m sure someone else will know.

 

[davp]

Not sure if it did.
I’m sure someone else will know.

I know because I travelled on it. But it was Skylink not Airlink, so perhaps not quite what was being asked. Here's a timetable.

 

[R Scandle]

I've just noticed that the timetables given by BusTimes don't match with those given by Lothian Buses themselves on service 124 on Sunday the 29th of March (unsure if this is a wider issue, this is the only day and service I've checked). The BusTimes page shows a service every half an hour but the Lothian page and their PDF show a service every 45 minutes. I assume the Lothian page is the one giving the actual (correct) times?

Bus Times is wrong. It's a 40 min frequency à la X4, X7 and 113 on a Sunday since the Feb service change.

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

Bus Times is wrong. It's a 40 min frequency à la X4, X7 and 113 on a Sunday since the Feb service change.

However it’s a Lothian issue as the data submitted to the feed must be wrong.

 

[TheEastCoaster]

The current 34 diversion up ocean drive makes me wonder why Lothian haven't considered running any services up that way? I know the Tram use it to connect the shore with ocean terminal but it is possible for them to run a bus via Ocean Terminal without having it terminate outside the building.

 

[ScotRail158725]

352 back out unwrapped believe 351 getting put into normal livery just now aswell

 

[stevenedin]

I see from bus times that 1 and 2 have been re-registered to a South East Scotland registration SO13 GXV and SO13 GXW.

Fleet list – Lothian Buses – bustimes.org

bustimes.org

 

[NorthEastern]

I see from bus times that 1 and 2 have been re-registered to a South East Scotland registration SO13 GXV and SO13 GXW.

Fleet list – Lothian Buses – bustimes.org

bustimes.org

Interesting. Wonder why.

 

[Baileygirl]

Interesting. Wonder why.

Probably keeping the personal plates to put onto something else.

 

[KGGXXXY]

Interesting. Wonder why.

former plates LB13 BUS, HY13 BUS probably want to keep the plates they paid extra for.

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

I get this, but sort of don’t. None of the 3 personal plates that Enviro’s 202-204 had were taken off.

 

[Resuwen]

Any ETA on the Kites?

 

[scosutsut]

I get this, but sort of don’t. None of the 3 personal plates that Enviro’s 202-204 had were taken off.

It would be a change of policy, but one that would make sense.

Let's see if 950 gives up LB10 BUS before it goes off fleet.

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

Let's see if 950 gives up LB10 BUS before it goes off fleet.

I agree. At least 950 already has an original plate it can revert to.

 

[stevenedin]

I wonder if they will revert the ex London buses back to their original registrations once they sell them or if they won't be fussed.

 

[buslad1988]

Any ETA on the Kites?

I’ve heard Summer now. The new Airlink stock should hopefully be around then too - and they are diesels.

 

[ScotRail158725]

I wonder if they will revert the ex London buses back to their original registrations once they sell them or if they won't be fussed.

id put my money on that happening

 

[Edirim]

Looks like new WiFi on buses. 422 has Test 2.4ghz and 5ghz available on it.