Lothian Buses and ECB Discussion

[SpeedbirdA350]

We're waiting for bandit screen parts, then we need to paint the frames for said parts.

Wrightbus being helpful as ever - spat the dummy since we dont use them anymore.

Do the parts NEED to come from Wrightbus? I dont know the tech side of that but can't a third party supply the parts or even ADL? I understand Wrightbus being unhappy that Lothian went to ADL but surely as a professional company, you'd want to try win back Lothian somehow, by trying to please them and such but they seem to want to push Lothian away more?

Shame about cream though.

 

[OmniCity999]

Do the parts NEED to come from Wrightbus? I dont know the tech side of that but can't a third party supply the parts or even ADL? I understand Wrightbus being unhappy that Lothian went to ADL but surely as a professional company, you'd want to try win back Lothian somehow, by trying to please them and such but they seem to want to push Lothian away more?

Shame about cream though.

It's a Wright product with Wright parts... it'd be like buying a Volkswagen car and trying to fit a Ford door.

It's also a newer generation, for example, you cant fit mark 4 golf doors to a mark 5. We have plenty of Gemini 2/Gemini bandit screens but the Gemini 3/Streetdeck ones are the only ones that fit a Gemini 3. Those fitted to the ex Airlinks already in service with Skylink are those that came with 20001-20008. These buses came with bandit screens unfitted just in case we needed to fit them in later life.

If Wright point blank refused to supply the parts, we could tear one down and send it off to a supplier to get some made, but it's really not worth the hassle.

(Pointless pedantic note - I appreciate we're currently on the Mark 7.5 Golf, but the Mark 6/7/7.5 are all very similar so doors would fit, just wouldnt look right. Hence the use of older VW and Ford analogy... Sorry, massive Volkswagen nut over here)

 

[SpeedbirdA350]

It's a Wright product with Wright parts... it'd be like buying a Volkswagen car and trying to fit a Ford door.

It's also a newer generation, for example, you cant fit mark 4 golf doors to a mark 5. We have plenty of Gemini 2/Gemini bandit screens but the Gemini 3/Streetdeck ones are the only ones that fit a Gemini 3. Those fitted to the ex Airlinks already in service with Skylink are those that came with 20001-20008. These buses came with bandit screens unfitted just in case we needed to fit them in later life.

If Wright point blank refused to supply the parts, we could tear one down and send it off to a supplier to get some made, but it's really not worth the hassle.

(Pointless pedantic note - I appreciate we're currently on the Mark 7.5 Golf, but the Mark 6/7/7.5 are all very similar so doors would fit, just wouldnt look right. Hence the use of older VW and Ford analogy... Sorry, massive Volkswagen nut over here)

I did not know it was a whole new door it needed, I just thought it was a case of taking the screen, putting a frame around and attaching it to the current door. That makes more sense now. However, while you won't put a Ford door on a VW, you can put a 3rd party light lens on, thus I thought if it were just the actual screen, then a third party could be used. As I said, I don't know the technical side of things, so I appreciate the explanation here

 

[Jordan Adam]

It's a Wright product with Wright parts... it'd be like buying a Volkswagen car and trying to fit a Ford door.

It's also a newer generation, for example, you cant fit mark 4 golf doors to a mark 5. We have plenty of Gemini 2/Gemini bandit screens but the Gemini 3/Streetdeck ones are the only ones that fit a Gemini 3. Those fitted to the ex Airlinks already in service with Skylink are those that came with 20001-20008. These buses came with bandit screens unfitted just in case we needed to fit them in later life.

If Wright point blank refused to supply the parts, we could tear one down and send it off to a supplier to get some made, but it's really not worth the hassle.

(Pointless pedantic note - I appreciate we're currently on the Mark 7.5 Golf, but the Mark 6/7/7.5 are all very similar so doors would fit, just wouldnt look right. Hence the use of older VW and Ford analogy... Sorry, massive Volkswagen nut over here)

Quite laughable given parts for older ADLs are still fairly easy to get. And yet Wright wonder why they're struggling! I recall that a First division was having issues getting parts for Streetdecks too.

 

[TheEastCoaster]

Just for conversation really but been looking at Midlothian and thinking does it have the potential for a better service.

Few things ive heard mentioned on local groups and in conversation with other Midlothian locals:
- Limited services to Pathead
- Loss of the Saturday 15s
- Commutor routes to Western Edinburgh avoiding the Centre.
- Auchendinny overlooked.


On the OT front. Linking Ocean terminal does again raise the point for a Midlothian-Gyle link which I think would draw a lot more than East Lothian-OT.

Within East/Midlothian but within Lothians tenticles outwards does seem to point areas where there might be untapped footfall (maybe with minibuses/up to size of 1-50 being suited to them).

Depending on the projected market 3 things seem worth exploring:

Haddington-Pencaitland-Pathead-Gorebridge-Bonnyrigg-Straiton (Pathead service is quite limited, plus bonnyrigg-Straiton link would cater to a shopping market, Maybe hourly )

Diverting of some penicuik services via Auchendinny (Bridge a bit tight off the 47s route over eskhill so would need to go the long way or via beeslack, trim the X15 to penicuik centre to keep the number of buses the same and reintroduce an hourly Saturday run would seem the logical answer)

Penicuik/Dalkeith to Gyle/Airport via Bypass/Colinton, Westside Plaza and Edinburgh Park.

Looks like i’ll Be the one to respond to this then! I honestly forgot Pathhead was a part of Midlothian! I’m just thinking how the service idea you had would work? Since ECB have established a second home in Midlothian, would Pathhead be under the same fare Zone as the other towns in Midlothian? Since I’m pretty sure no Lothian service has ran out there before! Perhaps it could link Gorebridge and Vogrie Country Park? Before terminating at Straiton P&R via Bonnyrigg, Rosewell, Howgate, Penicuik, Auchindinny and Straiton

 

[OmniCity999]

I did not know it was a whole new door it needed, I just thought it was a case of taking the screen, putting a frame around and attaching it to the current door. That makes more sense now. However, while you won't put a Ford door on a VW, you can put a 3rd party light lens on, thus I thought if it were just the actual screen, then a third party could be used. As I said, I don't know the technical side of things, so I appreciate the explanation here

It's not a whole new door - just the bandit screen.

 

[Tom B]

What surprises me is that, even if Wrights aren't currently getting any orders, they'd surely be trying to be helpful and efficient in the parts/support process so that, when the next batch is needed, they haven't blotted their copy book?

 

[SpeedbirdA350]

What surprises me is that, even if Wrights aren't currently getting any orders, they'd surely be trying to be helpful and efficient in the parts/support process so that, when the next batch is needed, they haven't blotted their copy book?

All they are doing is locking the door for a Lothian return when they should be pretty much doing everything in their power to get Lothian back onside given their current status. While the chance of Lothian going back to Wright are (or were) low (now lower), you never say never but all they are doing is trying to p people off I think. Just being perpetulant.

 

[scosutsut]

It's surprising the number of suppliers ready to cut their noses off to spite their face. No long term thinking being employed at all.

Do any of the ex Skylink 15 plates not have bandit screens they could surrender? As they wouldn't be needed on ECB which is a mooted destination for some of them?

 

[SpeedbirdA350]

It's surprising the number of suppliers ready to cut their noses off to spite their face. No long term thinking being employed at all.

Do any of the ex Skylink 15 plates not have bandit screens they could surrender? As they wouldn't be needed on ECB which is a mooted destination for some of them?

I had came to the assumption that they would stay on those buses, as I see no reason why they could not go to the others if needed as same Gemini 3 body

 

[ScotRail158725]

All they are doing is locking the door for a Lothian return when they should be pretty much doing everything in their power to get Lothian back onside given their current status. While the chance of Lothian going back to Wright are (or were) low (now lower), you never say never but all they are doing is trying to p people off I think. Just being perpetulant.

tbh id like Lothian to go back to wright as im a fan of the Gemini 3, way prefer it to the XLB but that wont happen

 

[VioletEclipse]

I'm a bit late here but I'm going to be that one person to point out that the Gemini 3 with the seat counter is in fact 484 and not 403 or 483. Also, I've been on it a couple of times and I've never seen it displaying anything other than 49 regardless of how many seats are free upstairs.

 

[Lothian285]

https://www.lothianbuses.com/news/2019/08/centenary-weekend-extravaganza/

Centenary Weekend Extravaganza!
28 and 29 September 2019

We’re getting ready for a fantastic weekend of centenary celebrations at the end of September with a DOUBLE Centenary Celebration in Edinburgh.

On Saturday September 28, we’ll be holding our annual Doors Open Day at Central Garage in Annandale Street. The event will run from 1200 – 1600 and include a display of our fleet from throughout the decades, a bus-themed kid’s zone, bus wash trips and garage tours on open top vehicles. There wil also be Vintage Running Event on the Service 26, with vintage vehicles running the route from Haymarket to Eastfield.

On Sunday September 29, our Centenary Cavalcade will take place through the City Centre. The procession will begin at 1200 from Wester Coates and finish on Regent Road. The vehicles will then form a display on George Street from 1300 and 1500 for you all to take a look around.

 

[ScotRail158725]

https://www.lothianbuses.com/news/2019/08/centenary-weekend-extravaganza/

buzzing for this, glad the cavelcade is rescheduled as i would have missed the one in july

 

[CM]

buzzing for this, glad the cavelcade is rescheduled as i would have missed the one in july

The one in July never happened because of Managment petulance.

 

[ScotRail158725]

The one in July never happened because of Managment petulance.

yeah i know, i said i WOULD have missed the one in july had it gone ahead

 

[Lothian_Bus]

856 back at Central after a couple of months in Livingston.

To correct this. 856 is actually at Longstone. I just assumed when I saw it on the 44 today it was from the Central allocation to route 44 but I was wrong.

 

[SpeedbirdA350]

yeah i know, i said i WOULD have missed the one in july had it gone ahead

Annoyingly for me, it's the opposite.

 

[OmniCity999]

To correct this. 856 is actually at Longstone. I just assumed when I saw it on the 44 today it was from the Central allocation to route 44 but I was wrong.

it's a non allocated float.

 

[ANWP Tom]

Looks like i’ll Be the one to respond to this then! I honestly forgot Pathhead was a part of Midlothian! I’m just thinking how the service idea you had would work? Since ECB have established a second home in Midlothian, would Pathhead be under the same fare Zone as the other towns in Midlothian? Since I’m pretty sure no Lothian service has ran out there before! Perhaps it could link Gorebridge and Vogrie Country Park? Before terminating at Straiton P&R via Bonnyrigg, Rosewell, Howgate, Penicuik, Auchindinny and Straiton

Adding Penicuik and Auchendinny on to this one would be a tad complicated unless it served straiton first and terminated at penicuik going via 140 route from Lasswade and turning right in Loanhead. Running to/through the P&R to connect with 47s seems logical though.

 

[R Scandle]

I see 1125 got stuck at Lathalmond...

Fake news.

 

[Jordan Adam]

Fake news.

Except it's not.

 

[OmniCity999]

Except it's not.

Fake news.

You must be one of those "enthusiast" mob that think it "temporarily lost traction due to vegetation, rain and poor planning" anything as long as it's not Lothiand fault eh?

 

[awsnews]

Fake news.

I guess the people at the back of the bus in this image were just trying to keep warm then.
https://flic.kr/p/2h3Z31G

 

[Jordan Adam]

You must be one of those "enthusiast" mob that think it "temporarily lost traction due to vegetation, rain and poor planning" anything as long as it's not Lothiand fault eh?

If that's aimed at me then no. I'd have to look back however I'm fairly certain I said on here it was no ones fault really and just one of those "accidents".

 

[OmniCity999]

If that's aimed at me then no. I'd have to look back however I'm fairly certain I said on here it was no ones fault really and just one of those "accidents".

it's not aimed at you

 

[Jordan Adam]

it's not aimed at you

Fair enough, thanks for clarifying.

 

[OmniCity999]

Following negative stories in the press about the transport system in Edinburgh over August, i have a few thoughts.

Even the rest of the year, the bottleneck where the tram goes into St Andrew Square from Princes Street is a bad one.

The most suitable changes in my opinion would be:

Alter traffic signals in favour of buses.

Tighter moderation of the area outside The Balmoral, with heavy fines introduced. Waverley Bridge could contain a large Taxi Rank.

Airlink - West End, Princes Street, Frederick Street, George Street, Mound, Waverley Bridge

Tours - North St Andrew Square

Green Arrow - Lothian Road, Charlotte Square, George Street (Terminus), then loop back around St Andrew Square with a stop on the southside.

Lothian Country (inc. 43) - Running (Princes Street) West to East terminating on Regent Road or running via George Street terminating on the North Side of St Andrew Square.

East Coast - Running (Princes Street) East to West terminating at their current terminal points.

Any public services serving the Bus station using George Street. With First using Princes Street.

Private coaches, cars and private hire cars completely banned from Princes Street - with a hefty penalty charge in place for coaches. Keep Princes Street for local and commuter services, long distance services such as Megabus, City Link etc could use George Street or Queen Street.

All festival related events should be kept on the southside of Princes Street.

This could be a good start to start to ease congestion. I think serious planning needs to go into a proper solution, people from all main operators and police need to be involved. If only Transport for Edinburgh had been a successful venture, if it had more power of what happens and how the city roads run. This would be the exact thing they'd be in charge of.

 

[overthewater]

I would go even further,

* Ban cars The mound, Hanover street, waverley bridge and Market street. More importantly Queensferry street
* NO PARKING on queens street between 7am - 7pm
* All service to Orchard Brae would operate via George street, from frederick street onward, this will also be come a bus lane all car will have to go eastbound. During the book festival there is still a gap on the south side so buses can still travel down here. Just put up that special carbon netting.
* Queensferry street north bound stop are gone, THREE new bus stops on south side of Charlotte sq to replace them
* Hope street will now be one way for buses only. The road would be redesigned to give ryans bar more space
* The lights at Mellibe street are gone and replaced with a mini roundabout.

 

[A330Alex]

Although less ambitious, better parking enforcement is much needed. When it's busy it just takes one moron illegally parked in a bus lane to delay 100's. Adding suitable cameras to buses than can then issue fines to those blocking bus lanes & stops would be a great move.