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

[paul47B]

466/7 received/ing a new “Highland Cow” wrap.

Are Lothian Buses expanding into the Highlands nooo?

 

[Lx008]

Does anyone else feel like the first batch of BZLs are wearing quicker than comparable buses. Was recently on 736 and the plastic on the interior was cracked in some places and the rubber bars on the first row of the top deck (not sure what they’re formally called) were rather ruined. This doesn’t seem to be the case on the evoras or the e400mmc/xlb

 

[scosutsut]

Does anyone else feel like the first batch of BZLs are wearing quicker than comparable buses. Was recently on 736 and the plastic on the interior was cracked in some places and the rubber bars on the first row of the top deck (not sure what they’re formally called) were rather ruined. This doesn’t seem to be the case on the evoras or the e400mmc/xlb

Was on a BZL earlier this week and noticed the issue with the bar covers at the front of the top deck.

Looks unsightly, but I guess they will still do the job they are intended to if one hurtles towards them unexpectedly and can easily be replaced. Didn't notice any of the other faults you mentioned though!

I did say to the driver that I felt sorry for them for how abrupt the "request stop" ring was for them, and for the fact that it will continue to ring if re-pressed ahead of the bus stopping. The response was very much "tell me about it."

 

[NorthEastern]

The third one is still to come. Highland Council only had two free drivers today, and both are here I’ve just got a photo of them.

Here is said photo

Highland Council Buses GP221065 SN13BDV & GP221067 SN13BCY

Company: Highland Council Buses Location of Photo: Highland Council Buses Depot Cromwell Road Inverness Other Notes: Recent acquisitions will be joined by former Lothian fleet number 4, SN13BCZ. Fleet Number: N/A Asset Number: GP221067 Registration: SN13BCY Chassis: Volvo B5LH Bodywork: Volvo...

flic.kr

Nice pic. They look good in white with the black window surrounds. Almost continental.

 

[jacoblikesbus]

Is 197 actually on the 2 or is it a mistrack

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

Is 197 actually on the 2 or is it a mistrack

I suspect it has been put back into madder, likely freed up as a result of 191-193 returning. I presume the plan is to transfer 197-199 to Longstone looking at the tracking history.

 

[Bus9120UK]

Is 197 actually on the 2 or is it a mistrack

Back in madder: https://www.flickr.com/photos/km_ed...x6tsb-2rQnfUu-2rQezRV-2rPUtas-2rPioYp-2rPce5G
Is it a record for most repaints in two years?

I suspect it has been put back into madder, likely freed up as a result of 191-193 returning. I presume the plan is to transfer 197-199 to Longstone looking at the tracking history.

Tracking suggests it may be 197-199 rather than 195/6, which I can believe with 199 not being repainted in a number of years.

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

Tracking suggests it may be 197-199 rather than 195/6, which I can believe with 199 not being repainted in a number of years.

Makes you wonder what will depart Longstone to make this work.

172 should now go. I presume one will be a replacement for 18, with 172 having replaced 29 or vice versa. So to clarify 197-198 ultimately replacing 18 and 29, as 172 was the cover bus drafted in at the last changes.

It makes 199 seem less obvious as to what it will replace, if anything at all. Central could do with picking up 30 to be honest, with deckers a regular thing on the 36 now.

 

[Lothianbus703]

Makes you wonder what will depart Longstone to make this work.

172 should now go. I presume one will be a replacement for 18, with 172 having replaced 29 or vice versa. So to clarify 197-198 ultimately replacing 18 and 29, as 172 was the cover bus drafted in at the last changes.

It makes 199 seem less obvious as to what it will replace, if anything at all. Central could do with picking up 30 to be honest, with deckers a regular thing on the 36 now.

I dont think 172 is being withdrawn.

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

I dont think 172 is being withdrawn.

172 was supposed to be withdrawn at the last changes. It was only moved to Longstone due to the shortage created as a result of 18 and 29 both being written off.

 

[ScotRail158725]

Back in madder: https://www.flickr.com/photos/km_ed...x6tsb-2rQnfUu-2rQezRV-2rPUtas-2rPioYp-2rPce5G
Is it a record for most repaints in two years?

571-574 were repainted twice by March 2019 carrying 3 liveries in the space of 18 months. Skylink > White > old Lothian Country

 

[Lothian285]

Noticed that the Lothian Motorcoaches Loch Ness Tour has not returned this year, instead Edinburgh Bus Tours are promoting Timberbush Tours and a dedicated website has been launched: https://ebt.timberbushtours.com/en

 

[Resuwen]

Back in madder: https://www.flickr.com/photos/km_ed...x6tsb-2rQnfUu-2rQezRV-2rPUtas-2rPioYp-2rPce5G
Is it a record for most repaints in two years?


Tracking suggests it may be 197-199 rather than 195/6, which I can believe with 199 not being repainted in a number of years.

With all this painting going on, hopefully 191-193 can be painted ASAP, they will look great in fleet livery

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

With all this painting going on, hopefully 191-193 can be painted ASAP, they will look great in fleet livery

They could do with a retrim as well. Just to freshen things up and make them look closer to fleet spec.

 

[Lx008]

With all this painting going on, hopefully 191-193 can be painted ASAP, they will look great in fleet livery

Indeed, the sooner they loose EVE’s retirement home beige the better

 

[Lothian285]

An additional Cramond Shuttle service is now mentioned on the council website, running to Davidson’s Mains, and says it is using a 16 seater minibus, I wonder if this is being operated by Lothian Motorcoaches?

https://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/road-projects-improvements/davidson’s-mains/2

Davidson's Mains to Cramond shuttle bus​

This service will help Royal High School pupils at peak times and throughout the day and will be a useful link for Cramond residents going to Davidson's Mains for shopping or appointments.

We will monitor the service closely and make any adjusments if necessary.

• Shuttle buses will run every 15 minutes starting from the Tesco in Davidson's Mains.
• They will run daily from 7am – 7pm.
• They will travel on a loop between Tesco at Davidson’s Mains, along Cramond Road South, Gamekeeper’s Road, and Cramond Road North. We expect the full loop to take around 15 minutes subject to traffic.
• The buses will stop at all bus stops that are usually serviced by the 47 bus along that section of the route.
• Each bus can hold up to 16 people.

 

[stantheman]

172 and 197 on the 32 today , odd ?

 

[Bus9120UK]

172 and 197 on the 32 today , odd ?

Not at all now both are Longstone vehicles. I could see the 32 being permanently run with B7RLEs once 198 and 199 are out (even if 172 is withdrawn by that point).

This move does seem quite embarrassing for Lothian considering 195-198 were moved east to replace 191-193 (and the solos) and now just a year later 191-193 are back replacing 197-199.
In regards to a repaint, I think they would've completed this before reinstating them to get it out of the way. There isn't going to be much opportunities now.

 

[Lothianbus703]

Not at all now both are Longstone vehicles. I could see the 32 being permanently run with B7RLEs once 198 and 199 are out (even if 172 is withdrawn by that point).

This move does seem quite embarrassing for Lothian considering 195-198 were moved east to replace 191-193 and now just a year later 191-193 are back replacing 197-199.
In regards to a repaint, I think they would've completed this before reinstating them to get it out of the way. There isn't going to be much opportunities now.

Hopefully it would be nice to focus them all on 1 route with whatever is left perhaps doing the 20.
I think the 2 is more suited to the 7900s over the 32 although there is the possibility in future all of Longstone 7900s will be replaced with eclipse 2s.

 

[ScotRail158725]

Hopefully it would be nice to focus them all on 1 route with whatever is left perhaps doing the 20.
I think the 2 is more suited to the 7900s over the 32 although there is the possibility in future all of Longstone 7900s will be replaced with eclipse 2s.

The 2 could be doing with evoras permanently

 

[stantheman]

Could double decks be used on the 32 ?

 

[Baileygirl]

Indeed, the sooner they loose EVE’s retirement home beige the better

Are they at Dunbar for good or will they be getting replaced by new short buses?

 

[jacoblikesbus]

whens the GB kites and New tri axles for the 100 arriving

 

[Lx008]

Are they at Dunbar for good or will they be getting replaced by new short buses?

That’s a good question, I’ve been a propent of replacing them with some 10.8m B8RLE evoras, but not sure how much sense it makes to replace a unique fleet of 3 with a only slightly less unique fleet of 3

 

[JKP]

That’s a good question, I’ve been a propent of replacing them with some 10.8m B8RLE evoras, but not sure how much sense it makes to replace a unique fleet of 3 with a only slightly less unique fleet of 3

Are the former EVE routes not under contract to East Lothian Council? If so, it makes no sense to replace them until a new contract is in place. It could also be that Lothian will not be successful in winning any new contract.

 

[buslad1988]

That’s a good question, I’ve been a propent of replacing them with some 10.8m B8RLE evoras, but not sure how much sense it makes to replace a unique fleet of 3 with a only slightly less unique fleet of 3

There’s also the fact that those routes are tendered for a reason - they do not make a profit. Lothian aren’t going to fork out a load of money off their own backs on new vehicles.

At the next tender round they can probably bid and incorporate the additional cost of new buses within that however for the time being they have the 3x short E200MMC’s on the books so they may aswell just carry on regardless - just put the use of the longer B7RLE’s down to trial and error.

 

[JKP]

Are the former EVE routes not under contract to East Lothian Council? If so, it makes no sense to replace them until a new contract is in place. It could also be that Lothian will not be successful in winning any new contract.

The present contracts for these routes date from 6th April 2025 so presumably are for 5 years so only another 4 to go. I therefore suggest that the current E200s will carry on until then.

 

[TheEastCoaster]

Could double decks be used on the 32 ?

Apparently not, I think it's only the section between Heriott Watt and Currie (because of the trees) also the reason the 45 never went that route when Curriehill was closed.

 

[Auld reekie]

Apparently not, I think it's only the section between Heriott Watt and Currie (because of the trees) also the reason the 45 never went that route when Curriehill was closed.

The roundabout on Riccarton Mains Road is getting resurfaced although no date as been scheduled yet.
So they may have to reconsider allowing the 45 to use that route.

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

The roundabout on Riccarton Mains Road is getting resurfaced although no date as been scheduled yet.
So they may have to reconsider allowing the 45 to use that route.

Unless the trees have been cut, then the 45 will likely be curtailed again.