Houston's of Lockerbie

[VioletEclipse]

Is there an up to date fleetlist for Houston's of Lockerbie anywhere?

 

[Blindtraveler]

I'm sure if you asked nicely they might share one

I did a full run from Edinburgh to Dumfries on Wednesday of this week, the afternoon journey which currently requires a change of vehicle at Biggar
Volvo b9 plaxton bodied coach on the first leg and a solo SR on the second, the solo perhaps slightly inappropriate but it turned out to be a little flying machine and was at Dumfries academy Street 15 minutes early. Driver on the first vehicle was saying that the new buses enter service next month, I can assume they've picked up a delay of some kind in being delivered

Apparently passenger numbers are increasing and it's easy to see why, Houston's actually care about the root and those using it

 

[JKP]

I'm sure if you asked nicely they might share one

I did a full run from Edinburgh to Dumfries on Wednesday of this week, the afternoon journey which currently requires a change of vehicle at Biggar
Volvo b9 plaxton bodied coach on the first leg and a solo SR on the second, the solo perhaps slightly inappropriate but it turned out to be a little flying machine and was at Dumfries academy Street 15 minutes early. Driver on the first vehicle was saying that the new buses enter service next month, I can assume they've picked up a delay of some kind in being delivered

Apparently passenger numbers are increasing and it's easy to see why, Houston's actually care about the root and those using it

The use of coaches have not been appreciated by all the passengers on this route. Hopefully the new buses, originally scheduled for May, will be delivered before the private schools in Edinburgh return after the summer holidays.

I would suggest that if your bus was 15 minutes early at Dumfries, either the timetable needs a severe review (there are timing errors in it anyway) or your driver needs a reminder to drive slower and observe timing points. Operating a bus 15 minutes early is in no one’s interest.

 

[InOban]

The use of coaches have not been appreciated by all the passengers on this route. Hopefully the new buses, originally scheduled for May, will be delivered before the private schools in Edinburgh return after the summer holidays.

I would suggest that if your bus was 15 minutes early at Dumfries, either the timetable needs a severe review (there are timing errors in it anyway) or your driver needs a reminder to drive slower and observe timing points. Operating a bus 15 minutes early is in no one’s interest.

Unless they're following railway practice and adding a lot of recovery time after the final intermediate timing point.

 

[Blindtraveler]

I wouldn't like to speculate as to which one of these is the case but he did not leave any of his actual timing points, going by the timetable on bus times early. But yes the entire TT does need a rewrite, the schedule within Edinburgh is unrealistic whereas there is more padding than a soft play area on other parts of it.


I don't understand why the coaches have not been popular. They are PSVAR compliant and far more suited to the distance than a low back seated mini or middibus and the couple of passengers who he could see were struggling with the steps he was immediately out of his seat and assisting them

Personally what I think is that the service should be coach worked on a permanent basis, but their decision with their new fleet does make a lot of sense assuming that the interior is up to it and that the vehicles are reliable.

 

[Numpt33]

I wouldn't like to speculate as to which one of these is the case but he did not leave any of his actual timing points, going by the timetable on bus times early. But yes the entire TT does need a rewrite, the schedule within Edinburgh is unrealistic whereas there is more padding than a soft play area on other parts of it.


I don't understand why the coaches have not been popular. They are PSVAR compliant and far more suited to the distance than a low back seated mini or middibus and the couple of passengers who he could see were struggling with the steps he was immediately out of his seat and assisting them

Personally what I operating this service it would be coach worked on a permanent basis but their decision with their new fleet does make a lot of sense assuming that the interior is up to it and that the vehicles are reliable

Coaches on bus services are usually unpopular with the stena chairlift brigade over 60s - although they're wheelchair accessible (which is what is covered by PSVAR) , they aren't "knackety knees" accessible. "that's a noffy high step son, can ye no dae enihin about it?!!"

I don't think coaches have very visible banisters to help them haul themselves up the steps either. To be honest, if you can't manage the steps on the bus, you're unlikely to stay living independently for that much longer, given how probable a nasty fall is. The same cohort are the only ones who read local papers and write letters of complaint to operators, MPs, newspaper editors and other assorted miscreants.

 

[Blindtraveler]

There were certainly good handrails on this one and yes I think I agree with you on your other points

 

[VioletEclipse]

Am I right that they often use coaches on the full route runs between Dumfries and Edinburgh, while almost always regular buses on the Edinburgh-Biggar runs?

 

[JKP]

Am I right that they often use coaches on the full route runs between Dumfries and Edinburgh, while almost always regular buses on the Edinburgh-Biggar runs?

Yes they do. As far as I know, only buses are allocated to the Biggar outstation.

 

[oldman]

Am I right that they often use coaches on the full route runs between Dumfries and Edinburgh, while almost always regular buses on the Edinburgh-Biggar runs?

I've been in Biggar a couple of times recently and both times they used a coach and a Solo for the Dumfries runs:

The coach does the early run to Edinburgh then the 0920 and 1320 Dumfries services to Biggar only, exchanging passengers and drivers with a Solo coming up from Dumfries. I've seen a Solo in Edinburgh on the last round trip of the day, so I assume the coach works the 1720 all the way to Dumfries.

On both days helpful locals explained the situation so it must be a regular thing. The Solo is adequate for capacity south of Biggar and it must save fuel. The only problem is the mid-afternoon changeover, where the southbound service is scheduled to leave before the northbound is due to arrive.

 

[Blindtraveler]

Although presumably the diagrams will all change when their new dedicated fleet finally arrives, which I thought should have been by now, are Volvo or MCV having difficulties with parts or over large order book? I have to say a lot of the locals along the route do seem to have taken to the service compared to the reception stagecoach got particularly in the Twilight years of them running the route

 

[VioletEclipse]

Yes they do. As far as I know, only buses are allocated to the Biggar outstation.

thanks!

 

[oldman]

A 73 reg bus has appeared on the Biggar shorts. Shorter wheelbase than the buses Stagecoach used and rather cramped seating for a long journey. Also saw a simiar bus with 67 reg on the 102 from Dumfries, which had been a coach before.

 

[JKP]

A 73 reg bus has appeared on the Biggar shorts. Shorter wheelbase than the buses Stagecoach used and rather cramped seating for a long journey. Also saw a simiar bus with 67 reg on the 102 from Dumfries, which had been a coach before.

The contract states low floor buses. The use of coaches was only temporary until delivery of the new buses.

 

[Blindtraveler]

Whilst I agree coach operation will be better for the full length runs, it is still very pleasing to see investment on the route and hopefully a vaguely suitable interior for long distance.

 

[Blindtraveler]

Day trip to Dumfries on Wednesday just gone, nice journey South on one of the new Volvos which feature high back seats and USB chargers and even on the fastest sections of root are still a very quiet and pleasant environment to travel in. Friendly driver and on time pretty much throughout. Was less thrilled to see a solo with low back seats on the return leg, although it did seem appropriate for the number of passengers the service carried northbound and would certainly carry southbound on what is the final evening trip. Maybe now optare are manufacturing the diesel solo again they could purchase a pair of these that could nominally be allocated to quieter Edinburgh duties or short workings with again a more appropriate interior for the length of root.

Still a breath of fresh air compared to what's gone before in recent years on these services and the company's commitment to decent customer service is a big help

 

[computerSaysNo]

Still a breath of fresh air compared to what's gone before in recent years on these services

How is a Solo with low-back seats any better than an E300 with low-back seats?
And aren't their new B8RLEs just as good as the Scania E300s that Stagecoach ran?

 

[Blindtraveler]

I found the scania or in more truthfulness the body work a bit not drafty and rattly. The breath of fresh air for me comes in the more positive attitude of the operator 66

 

[JKP]

How is a Solo with low-back seats any better than an E300 with low-back seats?
And aren't their new B8RLEs just as good as the Scania E300s that Stagecoach ran?

The Stagecoach service suffered from regular breakdowns in more recent times. If I recall correctly, the Traffic Commissioner had a word at one point but no action was taken.

 

[GusB]

Four more Volvo/Evoras have been taken on.

Houston's Coaches takes four Volvo MCV Evora additions - routeone

Houston’s Coaches of Lockerbie has taken delivery of the first of four new Volvo B8RLEs with MCV Evora bodywork.

www.route-one.net

Houston’s Coaches of Lockerbie has taken delivery of the first of four new B8RLEs with MCV Evora bodywork, supplied by Volvo Bus UK and Ireland.

Three of the buses are 10.8m examples and one is a 12.1m variant. They will be utilised on long-distance services 101, 101A and 102 between Dumfries and Edinburgh. The smaller of the buses each seat 39 and the larger model, 47.

The vehicles’ usage case was prominent in choosing to go with the Volvo MCV combination, says Houston’s Coaches Owner William Houston. “The important thing for us when choosing our new buses is reliability,” he explains.

 

[VioletEclipse]

Four more Volvo/Evoras have been taken on.

Houston's Coaches takes four Volvo MCV Evora additions - routeone

Houston’s Coaches of Lockerbie has taken delivery of the first of four new Volvo B8RLEs with MCV Evora bodywork.

www.route-one.net

It took me a while to realise why they named that bus 'Whitney', that's clever.

 

[Bus9120UK]

Four more Volvo/Evoras have been taken on.

Houston's Coaches takes four Volvo MCV Evora additions - routeone

Houston’s Coaches of Lockerbie has taken delivery of the first of four new Volvo B8RLEs with MCV Evora bodywork.

www.route-one.net

The article refers to the existing three from earlier this year and new addition this month - not four more new eVoRas altogether.

 

[GusB]

The article refers to the existing three from earlier this year and new addition this month - not four more new eVoRas altogether.

Where does it refer to the existing three in the article?

 

[MasterSpenny]

Where does it refer to the existing three in the article?

I think you’re looking at the wrong thing - there are 3 existing as buslistsontheweb.co.uk has SJ73HSV, HSX and HSY as new in October 2023, whilst the 4th one, registered SJ73HSO is listed as new in December 2023. Within that timeframe, in theory they will go from new to existing.

 

[Bus9120UK]

Where does it refer to the existing three in the article?

I may have misunderstood the article. In that case, my apologies.

 

[GusB]

I think you’re looking at the wrong thing - there are 3 existing as buslistsontheweb.co.uk has SJ73HSV, HSX and HSY as new in October 2023, whilst the 4th one, registered SJ73HSO is listed as new in December 2023. Within that timeframe, in theory they will go from new to existing.

I'm taking the article as written, which states that Houston's have taken delivery of the first of four vehicles. That implies that there are three more to follow. If this is not the case and there's an error in the report, feel free to take it up with Route One, rather than having a go at me!

 

[Dfatcontroller]

I think you’re looking at the wrong thing - there are 3 existing as buslistsontheweb.co.uk has SJ73HSV, HSX and HSY as new in October 2023, whilst the 4th one, registered SJ73HSO is listed as new in December 2023. Within that timeframe, in theory they will go from new to existing.

The 4th one is SJ73HVO as illustrated in the article.
Houston only have 4 in total on order for the fleet.