Edinburgh & The Lothians Council Tender Services

[LothianBusesPh]

I really don’t see why we’re considering re-routing established routes like the 33. Some could argue the 35 could be changed accordingly, but it’s still not the best.

The solution to me always was the 13, it’s just the choice of route the council wanted was strange.

The only reason they wanted a route like that is to avoid it going to Prince's Street. As we all know they want to avoid buses going on Prince's Street, unfortunately.

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

The only reason they wanted a route like that is to avoid it going to Prince's Street. As we all know they want to avoid buses going on Prince's Street, unfortunately.

Indeed, likewise with George Street.

Even if it were Dynamic Earth, Holyrood Road, St Mary’s Street, High Street, North Bridge used. This would work well and crucially keep the traffic away from the likes of Jeffrey Street. Connections with supermarkets I do think need to be looked at, but this is particularly difficult in the area.

 

[iij]

They could run Dumbiedykes - Holyrood Road - St Mary's Street - Canongate - Abbeyhill - Brand Place - Royal Park Terrace - Meadowbank Shopping Park as a retail destination.

 

[megabusser]

I spotted a CityLink Gold coach on the 13 a few days ago - I assume the regular vehicles was out of action for whatever reason. Less than ideal for anyone with a pram or limited mobility I guess! Is the type of vehicle specified in the contract with the council.

(the word ‘gold’ had been removed, but it very clearly had been there!).

 

[Lynford1976]

Not having much knowledge of services in the Edinburgh area, have Lothian ever run the 13?

 

[Auld reekie]

Not having much knowledge of services in the Edinburgh area, have Lothian ever run the 13?

It did.
Can't remember the exact route but it was a short route in central Edinburgh.

 

[stevenedin]

Not having much knowledge of services in the Edinburgh area, have Lothian ever run the 13?

I think it was the same as Edinburgh Coachlines 13 it stopped in early 2009 when Edinburgh Coachlines won the contract.

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

I think it was the same as Edinburgh Coachlines 13 it stopped in early 2009 when Edinburgh Coachlines won the contract.

Not quite. Lothian stopped the current route I think in 2007. I want to say they then moved it to Central and ran it from Blackhall to Bellevue only, until 2009 when Edinburgh Coach Lines took it over.

 

[stevenedin]

Not quite. Lothian stopped the current route I think in 2007. I want to say they then moved it to Central and ran it from Blackhall to Bellevue only, until 2009 when Edinburgh Coach Lines took it over.

Thanks, I didn’t realise.

 

[DunsBus]

Eastern Scottish also ran the 13, under contract to Lothian Regional Council for a few years following deregulation as service C13.

 

[JKP]

I spotted a CityLink Gold coach on the 13 a few days ago - I assume the regular vehicles was out of action for whatever reason. Less than ideal for anyone with a pram or limited mobility I guess! Is the type of vehicle specified in the contract with the council.

(the word ‘gold’ had been removed, but it very clearly had been there!).

The Council will have specified either an accessible or low floor vehicle. Probably the latter. The Citylink coach might have been accessible. At least the route ran and certainly better than the Ford Transit with sliding door I saw on one operator’s commercial service last week replacing the normal E200.

 

[CSB0241]

I spotted a CityLink Gold coach on the 13 a few days ago - I assume the regular vehicles was out of action for whatever reason. Less than ideal for anyone with a pram or limited mobility I guess! Is the type of vehicle specified in the contract with the council.

(the word ‘gold’ had been removed, but it very clearly had been there!).

I also saw a Scotland branded Volvo 9700 on it too at Shrubhill at roughly 1815 last Saturday.

 

[A330Alex]

Two new routes have been tendered in addition to the existing 13:

The contracts will provide:

• A renewed Service 13 linking Craigleith to Lochend, following the same route as the existing service;
• An entirely new service from Holyrood to Tollcross, providing a direct connection for the Dumbiedykes community with the south side; and
• An entirely new service from Lady Nairne to Bingham, providing essential connections to Portobello and The Jewel.
  

Confirmation of contract routes, frequencies and operators will be confirmed by Business Bulletin in October.

 

[Blindtraveler]

Can't imagine there'll be any change on the 13th with Edinburgh coach lines retaining it but as for the new routes

 

[Dfatcontroller]

Can't imagine there'll be any change on the 13th with Edinburgh coach lines retaining it but as for the new routes

It doesn't say that Edinburgh Coach Lines have retained it.

It says "Confirmation of contract routes, frequencies and operators will be confirmed by Business Bulletin in October."

 

[DunsBus]

It doesn't say that Edinburgh Coach Lines have retained it.

It says "Confirmation of contract routes, frequencies and operators will be confirmed by Business Bulletin in October."

The 15 years which Edinburgh Coach Lines has had the service 13 contract for must surely be a record.

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

The 15 years which Edinburgh Coach Lines has had the service 13 contract for must surely be a record.

Hopefully it will stay with them too. I can see them being interested in the new Lady Nairne to Bingham route too. Ideally if they won that they’d buy two more vehicles so they finally have a spare bus again.

 

[Stan Drews]

It doesn't say that Edinburgh Coach Lines have retained it.

It says "Confirmation of contract routes, frequencies and operators will be confirmed by Business Bulletin in October."

I understand that the successful operators of the 13 and the new Dumbiedykes route have now been notified, however the local Portobello route will be retendered.

 

[Busman757]

I understand that the successful operators of the 13 and the new Dumbiedykes route have now been notified, however the local Portobello route will be retendered.

Heard it’s McGills that have won the 13.

 

[Bus9120UK]

Heard it’s McGills that have won the 13.

Wouldn't shock me given its a McGill's staff member who made the comment!
If not, it does suggest they did tender regardless.

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

Heard it’s McGills that have won the 13.

If that is the case, then that is a real disappointment indeed. They were hopeless at the last 3 tenders they ran, barely any better than First were. The 13 has been very well run until now, let’s see what happens next.

 

[stevenedin]

Heard it’s McGills that have won the 13.

They have just had a clear out of StreetLites as well. I wonder if they will run it under the Bright Bus brand or Eastern Scottish or Midland Bluebrid

 

[CSB0241]

Heard it’s McGills that have won the 13.

Wouldn't shock me given its a McGill's staff member who made the comment!
If not, it does suggest they did tender regardless.

If that is the case, then that is a real disappointment indeed. They were hopeless at the last 3 tenders they ran, barely any better than First were. The 13 has been very well run until now, let’s see what happens next.

They have just had a clear out of StreetLites as well. I wonder if they will. Run it under the Bright Bus brand or Eastern Scottish or Midland Bluebrid

Let’s not ruffle our feathers around it, I doubt McGills will be awarded the 13 (unless in a worst case though extremely unlikely scenario, McGills buy Edinburgh Coach Lines, & maybe even Eirebus Group as a whole), & it’ll likely either stay with ECL, or move over to another operator (the most likely in that category being Lothian, but who knows).

 

[SoloSR334022]

They have just had a clear out of StreetLites as well. I wonder if they will. Run it under the Bright Bus brand or Eastern Scottish or Midland Bluebrid

Would they use E300's? Have they got any solos left?

 

[stevenedin]

Would they use E300's? Have they got any solos left?

I have no idea. I don’t think that they have any solos left it’s possible that they could use E300s as they have 3 at Bannockburn depot which could be transferred unless they get new buses for the Airport Express then they can use the E300s from that but they are getting very tired now so I can’t see it.

 

[VioletEclipse]

Heard it’s McGills that have won the 13.

is there any confirmation of this yet? I would be very disappointed about this too. I can't imagine McGill's being anything but a significant downgrade compared to ECL. If they do take over then when is it due to happen?

 

[AndrewTaylor95]

I have no idea. I don’t think that they have any solos left it’s possible that they could use E300s as they have 3 at Bannockburn depot which could be transferred unless they get new buses for the Airport Express then they can use the E300s from that but they are getting very tired now so I can’t see it.

Not Euro 6 the ones that are still in use, Baffles me why First never had them done when they owned the ones that are now on the AIRX route

 

[Volvodart]

Not Euro 6 the ones that are still in use, Baffles me why First never had them done when they owned the ones that are now on the AIRX route

The grant only applied to a certain part of the First Scotland East area, so officially they could not receive a grant for the ones outside the low emission zone or such like area.

 

[NorthClyde320]

Would they use E300's? Have they got any solos left?

Sure all the Solos are gone or VOR, they could use the Merc Stratas (quite a few have left the fleet already), the shorter Enviro200MMC's or poss an electric type if they are able to install charging facilities at Livi? That's if they have won it or the 2 others though.

 

[roadierway77]

Heard it’s McGills that have won the 13.

The council would be out of their mind to award the 13 to McGill’s, given their poor track record with the 20, 63 and 68. I believe that during its last week of operation by McGill’s there were several days where the 68 did not run at all, which McGill’s did not publicise anywhere - they've long since abandoned the page on their website that lists short-notice cancellations. Not to mention the likely downgrade in vehicle provision from Evoras and MMCs to E300s and Streetlites.