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

[FlybeDash8Q400]

Do we know what the last stop will be for X4 etc and where the first stop will be? As there isn't room to take layover at Waterloo Place nor at the stop on the Picardy Place stop.

I think it will be at Waterloo Place.

 

[overthewater]

I'm surprised no one has mentioned the mess that about to hit Broxburn for two week, because road going up to Winchburgh from Broxburn is shut thus diverting the services AWAY from Broxburn, so there left with NO Lothian bus service at all to livingston. Ember and Citylink will hoover the passengers up

Details of the closure.

Last updated: 14/07/2026 09:28
Due to resurfacing works, part of Greendykes Road (Broxburn) will be closed between from 0800 hrs Monday 20th July for approximately 2 weeks.

Diversion:
Service 72 – between Uphall East Main Street and Winchburgh Main Street, buses will divert via B8046 to Threemiletown and the B9080.
Service N43 – between Duntarvie Castle Road and Uphall East Main Street, buses will divert via to B9080, Threemiletown and the B8046.

 

[Busman757]

I think it will be at Waterloo Place.

Plenty room to take layovers at Waterloo Place as LC’s are terminating at the Exchange.

 

[ScotRail158725]

One thing im unsure of from
the updated diversions, what route is the N3 going? i know it currently with the north bridge closure goes up waterloo place down abbeyhill and up the royal mile, is it doing that still and serving the scott monument stops or is it doing george street onto the mound and down chambers street like the 3 does after 2200?

 

[TheEastCoaster]

One thing im unsure of from
the updated diversions, what route is the N3 going? i know it currently with the north bridge closure goes up waterloo place down abbeyhill and up the royal mile, is it doing that still and serving the scott monument stops or is it doing george street onto the mound and down chambers street like the 3 does after 2200?

The N3 is following the daytime diversion via Frederick Street to Scott Monument, so I imagine following that it will run via Abbeyhill and Royal Mile.

 

[paravostok]

I'm surprised no one has mentioned the mess that about to hit Broxburn for two week, because road going up to Winchburgh from Broxburn is shut thus diverting the services AWAY from Broxburn, so there left with NO Lothian bus service at all to livingston. Ember and Citylink will hoover the passengers up

Details of the closure.

Isnt Dechmont meant to shut soon too?

 

[AndrewTaylor95]

Isnt Dechmont meant to shut soon too?

They can by pass Dechmont and serve the A89 instead

 

[chiltern trev]

Is there any particular reason why the new tri-axle double deckers will be 12.8m and the old one are 13.4m? Chassis changes? Axle weight implications?
Is the new shorter length all within the wheelbase between the front axle and the forward most rear axle?

 

[AilsaBus]

Is there any particular reason why the new tri-axle double deckers will be 12.8m and the old one are 13.4m? Chassis changes? Axle weight implications?
Is the new shorter length all within the wheelbase between the front axle and the forward most rear axle?

How is anyone going to know where the length difference is?!?! The buses probably haven't even started to be built yet!

 

[Bus9120UK]

How is anyone going to know where the length difference is?!?! The buses probably haven't even started to be built yet!

Edit: If you saw my original response, forgive me, I misread the post!

I suppose you would logically assume it's all going to be between the axles, no reason to make the front/rear structure different. However yes, a wait and see.

 

[Porty]

Are they still allowing parking in George Street?

In part. Lots of pop up seating for bars on the edges of the road.

 

[Auld reekie]

In part. Lots of pop up seating for bars on the edges of the road.

So still carnage.
Cars and parking should be suspended to give the buses a chance.

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

Edit: If you saw my original response, forgive me, I misread the post!

I suppose you would logically assume it's all going to be between the axles, no reason to make the front/rear structure different. However yes, a wait and see.

I agree and suspect they’ll do it by shortening the distance between the front and rear. Where you have the two smaller windows, one of those probably goes.

 

[Lx008]

Is there any particular reason why the new tri-axle double deckers will be 12.8m and the old one are 13.4m? Chassis changes? Axle weight implications?
Is the new shorter length all within the wheelbase between the front axle and the forward most rear axle?

While there isn’t any official word, the 13.4m hasn’t been offered for a while and the longest version of the e500MMc (I.e the Hong Kong version) is 12.8m so this likely has to do with using body panels or similar from the 500mmc.

It does seem strange that the 13.4m isn’t offered since fundamentally it’s a stretched e400mmc on a B8L chassis and any specialty parts should still have the tooling from the 2019 production run.

However where it does make sense is for the LCB / ECB buses as fitting a 13.4m XLB round the bend at Aberlady might be difficult.

 

[TRAX]

Is there any particular reason why the new tri-axle double deckers will be 12.8m and the old one are 13.4m? Chassis changes? Axle weight implications?
Is the new shorter length all within the wheelbase between the front axle and the forward most rear axle?

Front and rear overhangs never really change. The length changes usually are between the axles (hence the need to sometimes add one).
Extending the overhangs makes the bus less manoeuvrable.

 

[stantheman]

13 is showing as out on the 44 right now . Are these reserve vehicles now ?

 

[computerSaysNo]

13 is showing as out on the 44 right now . Are these reserve vehicles now ?

I think 13 is with the training school. So it could be someone on driver training.

 

[overthewater]

The changes should be going in this week for September changes, so keep your eyes peeled, whether they get process this side of the weekend is different matter.

 

[TheEastCoaster]

The changes should be going in this week for September changes, so keep your eyes peeled, whether they get process this side of the weekend is different matter.

I'll be eagerly awaiting the vosa registrations

 

[ScotRail158725]

13 is showing as out on the 44 right now . Are these reserve vehicles now ?

13 was definitely on a 44 seen a photo of it

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 20 Jul 2026 ==

However where it does make sense is for the LCB / ECB buses as fitting a 13.4m XLB round the bend at Aberlady might be difficult.

current ones have done it fine on golf shuttles

 

[Graeme Duncan]

According to the Lothian Buses tracker bus e727 has been out of service since the 8th of May . That seems to be quite a lengthy period.

 

[Bus9120UK]

I think 13 is with the training school. So it could be someone on driver training.

Extra training journeys do not track anymore, plus it stayed on the route for the rest of the day. It (bus 13) generally seems to be supporting the double deck pool at the moment, it's back out again today on 33. In addition we had 67 out on the 33 yesterday, and 198 operated the X31 earlier. Clearly there is an issue making less doubles available at the moment.

 

[Avenger20]

Extra training journeys do not track anymore, plus it stayed on the route for the rest of the day. It (bus 13) generally seems to be supporting the double deck pool at the moment, it's back out again today on 33. In addition we had 67 out on the 33 yesterday, and 198 operated the X31 earlier. Clearly there is an issue making less doubles available at the moment.

Duplicate doubles running down Leith Walk to compensate for loss of trams?

 

[TheEastCoaster]

Duplicate doubles running down Leith Walk to compensate for loss of trams?

that would be for either the 16 or 25 i reckon as they are the only services that mimic the tram route between the city and leith.

 

[ScotRail158725]

Upstairs on one of the 11 plates and just noticed that the camera screen upstairs at the fromt has been replaced with a new next stop PIS system. I asssume standard on all the geminis now

 

[Bus9120UK]

Upstairs on one of the 11 plates and just noticed that the camera screen upstairs at the fromt has been replaced with a new next stop PIS system. I asssume standard on all the geminis now

I reckon it'll be only the 11 plates given they have the space. There is a chance the Eclipse 2s may as well, though it's more likely they'll be done in the same way as the 7900s.

Separate note, 22 was put back into service today. We'll see if this is permanent or temporary.

 

[TheEastCoaster]

Do you expect East Coast will operate late journeys on the 120/121 this year for Fringe by the sea?

 

[Avenger20]

Do you expect East Coast will operate late journeys on the 120/121 this year for Fringe by the sea?

If they haven't advertised it by now I wouldn't have thought so. Did they do it last year?

 

[TheEastCoaster]

If they haven't advertised it by now I wouldn't have thought so. Did they do it last year?

Yeah they had the 23:15 from North Berwick (121) and 23:20 (120) on the Friday and Saturday services, no idea if they were used well or not.

 

[overthewater]

There has been one good outcome with that awful Fire on Princes street, the council has started repairing all the faults and issues with the road. I believe Scottish water will be out next week.