Lothian Buses and ECB Discussion

[Tom B]

A triviality I noticed in Edinburgh at Easter is that, apart from City Airlink and East Coast Buses, Lothian buses from the 00s have mainly blue seats and from the 10s red seats.

When low floor vehicles were introduced they initially had beige flooring, grey seats with turquoise moquette,and orange handrails. After a couple of years this changed to the admittedly a little garish blue plastic, red handrails, tartan moquette. Some older buses were retro fitted with the tartan moquette when refurbished.

 

[CM]

Lothian's blue interior is horrific, it's basically the same as Stagecoach's interior specification with the exception of the seating moquette and the colour of the grab poles. It always looked out of place on Lothians fleet and still does, the sooner they get shot of buses with it the better.

 

[Tom B]

Lothian's blue interior is horrific, it's basically the same as Stagecoach's interior specification with the exception of the seating moquette and the colour of the grab poles. It always looked out of place on Lothians fleet and still does, the sooner they get shot of buses with it the better.

Whilst a little bright, I always thought it reasonably welcoming and aged quite well.

It looks odder now I guess, since the seats etc have been re trimmed to the modern fabric.

 

[GusB]

Lothian's blue interior is horrific, it's basically the same as Stagecoach's interior specification with the exception of the seating moquette and the colour of the grab poles. It always looked out of place on Lothians fleet and still does, the sooner they get shot of buses with it the better.

I must admit that the first time I travelled on one of one of the Trident/Presidents I was rather taken aback by the blue and tartan combo. The fleet still had a significant number of Olympians at the time, and the contrast was quite stark!

 

[CM]

It's about as welcoming as a kick in the teeth. An interior that looks like the colours were chosen by a toddler in buses that at the time had a madder/red/white livery just made no sense.

 

[Jordan Adam]

Lothian's blue interior is horrific, it's basically the same as Stagecoach's interior specification with the exception of the seating moquette and the colour of the grab poles. It always looked out of place on Lothians fleet and still does, the sooner they get shot of buses with it the better.

I agree, the current scheme is miles ahead of the old one. Blue, Yellow and Red all together is just too much, it's a bus not a nursery!

 

[ScotRail158725]

No vehicles sold to or aquired by Ensign from Lothian by Ensignbus in April

 

[scotrail158713]

Does anyone else think that Lothian’s insistence on running a Saturday service on the later May Bank holiday is a bit bizarre? They claim that there is enough of a reduction in passenger numbers to justify it, but I can’t see how that is true because Edinburgh and the Lothians take the previous Monday as a holiday and not the later one (I.e. 20th instead of 27th May this year). It just causes downright confusion as many people turn up at the bus stop at their usual weekday time and discover the bus has already been, or it’s still 15-20 minutes away.
I reckon East Coast have it right by just running a normal service on any bank holidays.

 

[SpeedbirdA350]

I'm not a fan of bank holiday services given most people still work on those bank holidays. I think Lothian still think people work Mon - Fri, 9-5 and not at weekedns or Bank holidays.

 

[herb21]

Bank holiday services are nonsense other than Christmas and new year. Even easter has more and more people working.

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

Former Dart 64 - SK52 OJH will hopefully be entering preservation this month, 64 was the last Dart to leave Lothian back in 2015. Dart 61 moved to Lathalmond today after being gifted by ARTEMIS though at this stage it will be tidied up and running the Sunday visitor tours to make it DDA compliant (not that it needs to be), I'm unsure what the plan is for it long term. 64 if all goes to plan will be restored to as new condition but will take some time to reach there

 

[Jordan Adam]

Former Dart 64 - SK52 OJH will hopefully be entering preservation this month, 64 was the last Dart to leave Lothian back in 2015. Dart 61 moved to Lathalmond today after being gifted by ARTEMIS though at this stage it will be tidied up and running the Sunday visitor tours to make it DDA compliant (not that it needs to be), I'm unsure what the plan is for it long term. 64 if all goes to plan will be restored to as new condition but will take some time to reach there

It's already PSVAR (DDA) compliant. Has been since new.

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

It's already PSVAR (DDA) compliant. Has been since new.

I never said it wasn't, I was saying the service offered at the site is currently run by non-DDA compliant buses and with 61 that will change

 

[Lothian_Bus]

Lothian's Saturday service is still pretty comprehensive. Admittedly there will be no rush hour X services running but the schools are off so they obviously feel a small reduction in morning services is justified.

 

[Lothian_Bus]

The article mentions the railings near the Caledonian Hotel. This was an issue on the first week of service but these railings have since been removed.

 

[ScotRail158725]

Update on next batch of XLBs, 36 for the main fleet with 15 for Airlink, 1105-1140 in the main fleet and most likely 1141-1155 for Airlink

 

[scotrail158713]

Lothian's Saturday service is still pretty comprehensive. Admittedly there will be no rush hour X services running but the schools are off so they obviously feel a small reduction in morning services is justified.

The Edinburgh schools take the previous Monday off (20th) as a holiday and not the 27th - when they’re running the Saturday service.

 

[Lothian_Bus]

The Edinburgh schools take the previous Monday off (20th) as a holiday and not the 27th - when they’re running the Saturday service.

Ah yes. Apologies. I thought we were just talking about this weekend.

 

[Lothian_Bus]

Update on next batch of XLBs, 36 for the main fleet with 15 for Airlink, 1105-1140 in the main fleet and most likely 1141-1155 for Airlink

All for Central?

 

[SpeedbirdA350]

Certainly looks like they are all for Central again this time. I wonder if they will cascade the Airlink fleet direct over to LCB or if they will be sent to Thorntons to add in seats/remove racks and put in to main stream fleet and if they will be staying at Central or going to another depot. Or, might Lothian look at a Skylink 500 and put them over to Longstone for that.

I honestly am a bit suprised that they are giving 15 to Airlink because when I see the airlink 100 service, it does not seem to be completely full and also the current fleet are only 2 years old. However, ADL seem to get the buses out fast enough so we might see a 3rd batch coming after this lot.

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

I still think 496-510 will end up on the 27 given the primary buses on the 8 and 23 are Gemini3's and the 27's PVR is 14. It's total guesswork atmo though.

With regards to the next batch of regular service XLB's (1105-1140), I think the 7 is almost guaranteed. That leaves just over 20 for presumably one route (or two lower frequency routes). I still have doubts over the 31 in terms of practicality. It's a busy route but has some bad turns in it, especially the turning point at Burnbrae. If there's parked cars there (which is normally the case) then an XLB will struggle. The 31 would be my favourite at this stage. Again the 2nd route is guesswork.

My first thoughts were another top-bottom Leith Walk route but the 10 is the only realistic choice (others are at other depots) and the numbers don't add up (Not to mention Bonaly as well). I think in the long term the 44 will get them if Longstone ever gets a batch. The 25 is extremely unlikely in my view, The likes of the 3 are more probable me thinks.

 

[SpeedbirdA350]

A few weeks ago on a Sunday, they ran the whole day on 31 with B8Ls and never had an issue which suprised me. I wondered if that were a test to see if it would be good for regular service. 7 is a certainty yeah. 10 needs it because peak the bus is standing room atm and often you can't even get on.

I think looking at Longstone, 3, 22, 33, 44 and Marine 26, 44.

 

[Jordan Adam]

Lothian's Saturday service is still pretty comprehensive. Admittedly there will be no rush hour X services running but the schools are off so they obviously feel a small reduction in morning services is justified.

Typically speaking Uk wide a Saturday service is the same as a Friday service, albeit with less frequent before 10am, a later overall start and no peak extras. The reason i say a Friday service is because many bus routes may have an extra later run on a friday/Saturday.

I honestly am a bit suprised that they are giving 15 to Airlink because when I see the airlink 100 service, it does not seem to be completely full and also the current fleet are only 2 years old. However, ADL seem to get the buses out fast enough so we might see a 3rd batch coming after this lot.

The 15 plates were replaced at around 2 years old. For obvious reasons with ADL being closer they can delivery buses to Lothian much faster and cheaper. I do have to agree with you though, unless they plan to reduce the frequency i can't see the need for buses so big on the Airlink.

 

[ScotRail158725]

Ex GAL now Lothian 1149 at Seafield Works. Looks like these 13 will be 1146-1158

 

[ScotRail158725]

Apologoes, i was misinformed about the XLB batch, turns out its 36 total. 1105-1125 to Central, 1126-1140 for Airlink. 1141 LX11 CVW, 1142 LX11 CVY, 1149 LX11 CWA. 1141-1153 are the 13 Ex GAL B9s

 

[oldman]

Typically speaking Uk wide a Saturday service is the same as a Friday service, albeit with less frequent before 10am, a later overall start and no peak extras.

Not in Edinburgh, though, where many Saturday routes are less frequent. The problem on the late May holiday is journeys to school when they haven't even got up to full Saturday frequency. I assume the drivers get more for working the holiday so it makes sense to cut down, but they might be better taking Victoria Day instead of the 27th.

Regarding Airlink they might go for a more spacious layout allowing room for cabin bags. You see a lot of people spread over two seats, which defeats the point of the extra seats. I doubt if they have the customer focus to do that though.

 

[OmniCity999]

Not in Edinburgh, though, where many Saturday routes are less frequent. The problem on the late May holiday is journeys to school when they haven't even got up to full Saturday frequency. I assume the drivers get more for working the holiday so it makes sense to cut down, but they might be better taking Victoria Day instead of the 27th.

Regarding Airlink they might go for a more spacious layout allowing room for cabin bags. You see a lot of people spread over two seats, which defeats the point of the extra seats. I doubt if they have the customer focus to do that though.

Early drawings that were shown off to staff showed overhead baggage storage for smaller bags, still with dual doors... roughly the same amount of baggage storage in lieu of seating (just an additional block of storage) but more seats overall.

Ofcourse this was when the batch still wasnt confirmed. It still isn't I believe, not to staff at least and none have been seen in Airlink livery, with loads of the next batch seen in Lothian livery...

 

[takno]

Early drawings that were shown off to staff showed overhead baggage storage for smaller bags, still with dual doors... roughly the same amount of baggage storage in lieu of seating (just an additional block of storage) but more seats overall.

Ofcourse this was when the batch still wasnt confirmed. It still isn't I believe, not to staff at least and none have been seen in Airlink livery, with loads of the next batch seen in Lothian livery...

I'm struggling to see how you'd get large enough overheads on buses to actually store any meaningful baggage, at least not without making it intolerable for tall people to sit under

 

[OmniCity999]

I'm struggling to see how you'd get large enough overheads on buses to actually store any meaningful baggage, at least not without making it intolerable for tall people to sit under

The curve to the ceiling on both decks is a lot shallower to allow for square bags to fit. At the deepest point (on the luggage shelf), you only lose 30cm height above seats. Same amount of headroom as given in coaches is allowed for.

Generally people arent standing in seated areas and there isnt that much head room lost. When accessing the seats you sit an an angle you dont walk in then sit down. Not that much of a drama.

Looks impressive, all the lighting is integrated into the shelf unit and frame. Grab handles also meet the frame.

Again, not confirmed but these were images that were shown to us. I'm not going to share them as I dont want to get into trouble.

 

[takno]

The curve to the ceiling on both decks is a lot shallower to allow for square bags to fit. At the deepest point (on the luggage shelf), you only lose 30cm height above seats. Same amount of headroom as given in coaches is allowed for.

Generally people arent standing in seated areas and there isnt that much head room lost. When accessing the seats you sit an an angle you dont walk in then sit down. Not that much of a drama.

Looks impressive, all the lighting is integrated into the shelf unit and frame. Grab handles also meet the frame.

Again, not confirmed but these were images that were shown to us. I'm not going to share them as I dont want to get into trouble.

I'm fairly sure I shuffle into the seat still standing and then sit down. The whole thing of needing to sit down in the aisle seat and mangle myself across is one of the reasons I hate coaches so passionately in comparison to a proper bus. We'll have to see anyway