Lothian Buses Hybrid Enviro 400s

[317 forever]

I thought I'd let you know that Lothian Buses' Hybrid Enviro 400s are due to enter service today.

They will run on route 10 from Newhaven to Torphin and Bonaly.

More details can be found at http://www.lothianbuses.com/news/2-general-news/832-hybrid-buses-coming-soon-to-service-10.html

As I am staying in Milngavie when I go to Glasgow later this month, I can ride to Edinburgh via Glasgow Queen Street, Airdrie and Bathgate, then on one of these buses!

 

[T163R]

Finally, ADL is present again in Edinburgh !

 

[90019]

Speaking to a driver yesterday, they're currently 3 down for the route, so there may be one of the new Geminis out on the 10 with the Enviros.

Anyway, I have a load of photos of them arriving on Monday.
There are 5 different slogans and 3 buses with each ('be ahead...', 'be bold...', 'be smart...', 'be different...' and 'be daring...'), and they all have 'this bus is different...' on the back. They're also in a variation on the normal livery, with gold instead of white, and they have a different version of the new interior, with green rather than red seats. There's CCTV throughout the bus as per the rest of Lothian's fleet, with a screen both decks.
They have a 4.5 litre Cummins engine, which charges the batteries to drive traction motors.

Personally, I much prefer them to the newer Geminis. Especially the interior, which I think is much nicer.

 

[90019]

More photos...

The lower deck had a strip of plastic covering part of the floor, which is why it looks a bit odd.

 

[trentside]

I really like that interior, looks far more tasteful than the garish Stagecoach 'green' version used on their hybrid and bio-methane buses.

 

[Blindtraveler]

I really like
that interior, looks far more tasteful than the garish Stagecoach 'green' version used on their hybrid and bio-methane buses.

would normally have been out and bashed one by now but due to a few recent health probs am out of town. Look forward to first reports. Its a shame that 3 vehicles are delayed or is it more?

 

[90019]

would normally have been out and bashed one by now but due to a few recent health probs am out of town. Look forward to first reports. Its a shame that 3 vehicles are delayed or is it more?

There's two still in Falkirk, one which is supposed to be there, and the other which sat down.
Speaking ro a driver yesterday, in Edinburgh there's one being kept back for training, and one which is in for maintainance, I believe (which starts from day one, despite being new buses).
They're currently one short for the route, so it's expected to be a new Gemini filling in.

 

[Blindtraveler]

There's two still in Falkirk, one which is supposed to be there, and the other which sat down.
Speaking ro a driver yesterday, in Edinburgh there's one being kept back for training, and one which is in for maintainance, I believe (which starts from day one, despite being new buses).
They're currently one short for the route, so it's expected to be a new Gemini filling in.

hmmm dont exactly dil you with confidence if ones conked out already. Hope they are of a better build qualitty than the many tridents we just waved by by too! Am generally unimpressed by alexander vehicles but wil go with an open mind. Looking forward to trying them anyway. The newest geminis are good, like them and they seam to cope with the crappy roads.

 

[T163R]

Thanks for the photos !

 

[317 forever]

The moquette does look municipal, appropriately. These photos are the first buses I've seen with 61 regs. They will probably be the first examples I ride too.

 

[MCR247]

Those seats look really low to me. And whats with the randomly different seats towards the back? :?

 

[Eng274]

Those seats look really low to me. And whats with the randomly different seats towards the back? :?

Thats probably the standard shape seats all E400s are built with, only the trim being different.. I presume its the wheelarch seats you're referring to?

Most of the Tridents have had the wheelarch and back row individual-seating replaced for one-piece twin-seat sections (like benches). IIRC the seat backs were held on with velcro, and came off very easily.

They look great I must add, I'm sure the citizens of Oxgangs and Leith will treat them with care

 

[90019]

Those seats look really low to me.

I think it's high windows rather than low seats. The Geminis are the same.

And whats with the randomly different seats towards the back? :?

The high back ones are just because the ones behind are so high up, so you don't have the knees of the person behind in your ear.


One thing you might not have noticed, in the photo of the stairwell, is the LEDs hidden behind the glass, which look quite nice.
A couple more photos I forgot about earlier as well.

 

[WestCoast]

Snazzy interior! Lothian really are a great operator, the people who whinge on the Scotman's comments form really have no idea about bus services in other UK cities....

 

[Eng274]

That last picture is especially powerful: the old, redundant Tridents parked up while their shiny replacements take centre stage..almost feel sorry for them.

 

[90019]

That last picture is especially powerful: the old, redundant Tridents parked up while their shiny replacements take centre stage..almost feel sorry for them.

There were 3 or 4 which behind the Enviros that have had all their branding removed, and are just white.

 

[Blindtraveler]

i shant miss them, never was keen.