Never thought I'd see the day after the StreetAir debacle, but I must say that looks really smart.
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Lothian Group discussion (Lothian City, Lothian Country Bus and East Coast Buses)
- Thread starter GusB
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Mostly just sitting around as spares, a contact said some were serviceable, some not, but most won’t be coming back anyway.
I think they are essentially waiting to have enough other vehicles to be sure they don’t need them, after which they’ll be listed for sale, same with some of the ex-London B9TL’s that haven’t been out in weeks.
overthewater
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I would rather have the service improvements than brand new stock..
ScotRail158725
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Is 932 getting used on saturday if Hearts win the league?
Lothianbus703
Member
Hopefully the east coast XLB's are allocated to specific routes so their benefits can be utilised rather than used on everything like the current ECB decker fleet.
Another one listening to gossip...
Busman757 said in a separate post (which was deleted, I assume by moderators due to the lack of any meaningful contribution) that it was from a staff email.
Is this on top of the already existing 20 Wright Electric Double deckers and 40 Volvo ADL electric Deckers?
One would assume so?
Not formally announced (I’m not sure they actually would), but yes, it was in the company email today.
LothianBusesPh
Member
What does brand new stock (negatively) have to do with service improvements? If anything it allows for more availability, no?
NorthEastern
Member
Is it possible that these XLBs will be dual door, or is it too early to say?
overthewater
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I suspect Lothian will put the new buses on Route 43 and X27/28. Which might actually make it possible for other parts of the network to get enchantments.
Someone better can properly explain it, What it boils down to, is the fact, if routes don't or can't cover thier cost then the asset of newer buses can't be justify, Someone will have to number crunch to make it worthwhile or something to that affect.
AndrewTaylor95
Member
That's a superb order, XLBs are a brilliant bit of kit and will be useful on some of ECBs and LCBs routes, Great people movers, The Evora must be one of the most popular buses in the UK just now
SoloSR334022
Member
I must say, XLB's outside the City will definitely be a change of pace to what West/East Lothian are use to!
AndrewTaylor95
Member
124 could do with them definitely, Service is always packed, X18 for LCB might see them I'd imagine too
computerSaysNo
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I would think it more likely that XLBs would go to Longstone and Marine to allow the 2015, 2017 and/or some 2021 B5s to move to East Coast and Country to replace the 2011 and 2012 B9s.
AndrewTaylor95
Member
The order is to be split between Airlink, ECB and LCB as confirmed further up the thread so we will see what gets shuffled about nearer the time most likely
alexf380
Established Member
Are we perhaps about to see two different lengths of XLB in this order? Full length 13.4m for Airlink as per now and shorter 12m for the country ops.
Different lengths maybe, but more likely for the Evora than the XLB.
Although I do question how an XLB could get around the corner at Aberlady if put on the 124
alexf380
Established Member
No problem at all, the B8 single decks can manage it and they're only 20cm shorter. There are no routes at East Coast where the length would be a problem. The only issue I could see would be North Berwick depot as space in the rear compound is limited.
FlybeDash8Q400
Established Member
It’s my understanding that the 13.4m model was discontinued. So it is likely that all of these vehicles will be 12.8m.
This would explain why 20 have been ordered for the Airlink. There’s actually enough vehicles for the Airlink to become every 6 minutes in that case. It currently operates on a 100 minute circuit (ironic). If this were reduced slightly to 96 minutes, then it would need 16 vehicles. Alternatively, it could be 102 minutes with 17 vehicles.
There could be 12m ones for Country and ECB, but I would suggest it’s more likely to be a consistent 12.8m order throughout.
The ones for ECB are surely for the 113 and 124, plus probably one other route.
Country’s has to be the 43, but I’m not convinced by the X27/X28 option. The numbers don’t work here. Second route I would therefore suggest will be the X18. Provided 464 and 465 move over at somepoint, this should replace almost all of the ex London and native B9TL’s that remain at Country with as few as 2 remaining.
Does anyone know if the 60 vehicles announced in ScotZEB Phase 3 are still coming? I do wonder what those are for.
alexf380
Established Member
Ah I was unaware the 13.4m version had been discontinued. 20 vehicles for Airlink would make sense then, with (purely guessing) 24 going to Country to replace their B9s, and 16 going to East Coast to replace their B9s and allowing 1051-1062 to move back to City. That would leave a deficit of one vehicle however, so either it would be negated by the new vehicles' improved reliability or by 496 finally being painted green. Purely speculating of course.
I’d assume the ScotZEB3 order is still existent, as long as the funding is there I wouldn't expect Lothian to cancel the order, especially since the ADL/Volvo EV is likely to be a new product.
In which case 149 new vehicles over the next 2 years is quite the fleet investment.
Total would be:
20 MCV Evoras
9 wright kites
20 wright Streetdeck
40 ADL/Volvo double deck EVs
60 XLBs
And I assume, if the kites are any good, the will likely form the rest of the 7900H replacement.
Yeah I can't see the ScotZEB order being cancelled, politically it's committed. Not like there has been massive change on that front.
It's a decent haul but it's going to leave 11 plate deckers in service beyond their 15th year as there was so many of those bought natively, before you add in the ex London's on top.
I thought there would be less singles and more doubles for that reason, but looks like shipping the 7900s early has gone up the priority list.
voidwxrranty
Member
Kite’s are a very good option for Lothian. The only other decent EV single available at the moment to replace the 7900H’s would be the BZL SD.