Lothian could have have told First that. Just over a decade earlier, its cross-city 66/X66 from South Queensferry to Seton Sands was split for exactly the same reason.
Another factor in the 88's downfall was Dalkeith vehicles not having South Queensferry on their screens, with Westfield ones not having Rosewell on theirs - not exactly helpful to passengers. Not making sure that buses at Dalkeith and Westfield had the appropriate screens fitted before the 88 started was a typical First schoolboy howler and it was little wonder, when you had basic mistakes such as this being made on an all too frequent basis, that the local press gave First a well-deserved kicking. First didn't just shoot itself in the foot back then; it shot itself in both feet.