Lothian Buses and ECB Discussion

[Jordan Adam]

The 4 Gemini 2's from Bullocks are indeed B5 Hybrids, annoying that the badging is wrong. I'll flag it - not that it's the biggest issue but someone somewhere will care.

Indeed, hardly something to cry about. But a wee part of me finds it triggering.

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

The 4 Gemini 2's from Bullocks are indeed B5 Hybrids, annoying that the badging is wrong. I'll flag it - not that it's the biggest issue but someone somewhere will care.

Another few things that these Bullocks Hybrids could do with are adverts and AVL’s. Hopefully the other 2 get repainted soon too.

 

[ScotRail158725]

Another few things that these Bullocks Hybrids could do with are adverts and AVL’s. Hopefully the other 2 get repainted soon too.

i agree with AVLs, no point in adverts really as LCB only use their own adverts and not commercial ones

 

[cnjb8]

Another few things that these Bullocks Hybrids could do with are adverts and AVL’s. Hopefully the other 2 get repainted soon too.

Have these been converted to diesel?

 

[ScotRail158725]

Have these been converted to diesel?

no they havent

 

[cnjb8]

no they havent

Oh, ok.

 

[ScotRail158725]

For anyone who cares, Ensign in July/August to do with Lothian:
SN04 AAK to Aintree Coaches
SN04 AEZ to Portsmouth City Bus

 

[CM]

True, the 16 plate Tours B5s have B7 torque setting stickers on their wheelarches as well.

I thought if someone was going to the trouble of strictly unnecessary flourishes like that, they'd at least get them right!

I'd imagine the torque settings for the wheel nuts non the B5TLs are the same as the B7TLs so a different sticker wouldn't be needed.

 

[cnjb8]

For anyone who cares, Ensign in July/August to do with Lothian:
SN04 AAK to Aintree Coaches
SN04 AEZ to Portsmouth City Bus

One of my local companies, Skills Coaches, has bought some but when I rode them on the NFFC tram shuttle, they sounded whining and awful!

 

[RomeoCharlie71]

Have these been converted to diesel?

Would be a waste of time doing so given that they spend most of their driving time using the engine anyway!

 

[scosutsut]

I'd imagine the torque settings for the wheel nuts non the B5TLs are the same as the B7TLs so a different sticker wouldn't be needed.

I'd imagine so but having bought B7s then B9s and then B5s I would have thought they'd have updated their stickers accordingly, given the normal attention to detail they usually adhere to for outward appearance.

 

[ScotRail158725]

One of my local companies, Skills Coaches, has bought some but when I rode them on the NFFC tram shuttle, they sounded whining and awful!

yeah they have 10 of them, tbh they're not bad but B7s are miles better

 

[CM]

I'd imagine so but having bought B7s then B9s and then B5s I would have thought they'd have updated their stickers accordingly, given the normal attention to detail they usually adhere to for outward appearance.

I think a tiny torque setting sticker with B7TL written on it being applied to a B5TL is something only the most anal rivet counters would get in a wee tizzy about.

 

[Weemidi135]

on 1047 just now and noticed on the dash a label saying “Hazard - Low Bridge Fauldhouse 12”0” ngl this is actually a good feature

It’s been on every LC Decker since the route went to deckers in April

 

[scosutsut]

I think a tiny torque setting sticker with B7TL written on it being applied to a B5TL is something only the most anal rivet counters would get in a wee tizzy about.

I've never heard that phrase before, it amuses and confuses me in equal measure! I'm not trying to count rivets, merely saying I'm surprised the rivet counters at Lothian aren't all over that.

 

[ScotRail158725]

It’s been on every LC Decker since the route went to deckers in April

aw, so its a **** feature then

 

[Nawm8]

Everyone is fully entitled to their opinion. Mine is that someone a shade over 6’ tall shouldn’t be at risk from bashing their head because of inadequate head height above a step. As I said above you wouldn’t expect to hit your head boarding the bus, I equally did not expect to hit my head upon mounting the step to the rear seating area.

Lothian Buses acknowledged this as a known issue yesterday. I would be willing to bet they are not in the least happy about this happening and did not expect or anticipate it.

I remain astonished at the replies here, particularly in light of LB’s admission and even my driver admitting he himself had hit his head.

Is that the first and only time you've used a bus? As Colin M said you are responsible for your own wellbeing. As someone who is 6'4" I'm well aware that the internal rear of the bus is considerably shorter than the internal front. As a driver, I can't stand upright in the cab or on the top deck of any of Lothian's service fleet and occasionally bang my head on fixtures and fittings. This, like in your situation, is my own fault.

If you had continually risk assessed as you moved up the bus you'd notice that the roofline stays the same yet there is a step, which indicates a decrease in available space between floor and roof. As you boarded the bus "no problem" this really should have been apparent.

 

[ScotRail158725]

Bit off topic but does anyone know if M-Line have sold their Ex Lothian tridents? Drew wilson coach sales have 662, 673, 680 in pictures for sale on their website

 

[OmniCity999]

Heard an interesting rumour today...

Hearing Lothian are looking at acquiring a fleet of electric mini buses and are in talks with Mercedes (Sprinter City Product) and Mellor (Orion E). If this is true, i hope they dont go with Mellor... The Mercedes product is sleeker and resembles the vehicle its based off. The Mellor Product is essentially a bread van.

 

[CM]

Heard an interesting rumour today...

Hearing Lothian are looking at acquiring a fleet of electric mini buses and are in talks with Mercedes (Sprinter City Product) and Mellor (Orion E). If this is true, i hope they dont go with Mellor... The Mercedes product is sleeker and resembles the vehicle its based off. The Mellor Product is essentially a bread van.

The Mellor Strata(you can't get the Sprinter with the Orion bodywork)is purpose built to be a bus whereas the Sprinter City is literally just the Sprinter Van with windows and a low floor so it's far more breadvan than the Mellor.

 

[Jordan Adam]

The Mellor Strata(you can't get the Sprinter with the Orion bodywork)is purpose built to be a bus whereas the Sprinter City is literally just the Sprinter Van with windows and a low floor so it's far more breadvan than the Mellor.

The Sprinter Citys are ice cream vans NOT bread vans... Get it right! (Sarcasm)

Joking aside i know they're not the most liked due to the cramp seating layout but i have a appreciate for the little Sprinters we have up here. The Mellors which basically look like a ASDA bag for life stuck on a Sprinter chassis are probably the better option for this reason.

 

[OmniCity999]

The Mellor Strata(you can't get the Sprinter with the Orion bodywork)is purpose built to be a bus whereas the Sprinter City is literally just the Sprinter Van with windows and a low floor so it's far more breadvan than the Mellor.

I'm aware of the differences, their talking to two separate companies about different products.

 

[A330Alex]

Heard an interesting rumour today...

Hearing Lothian are looking at acquiring a fleet of electric mini buses and are in talks with Mercedes (Sprinter City Product) and Mellor (Orion E). If this is true, i hope they dont go with Mellor... The Mercedes product is sleeker and resembles the vehicle its based off. The Mellor Product is essentially a bread van.

Twice a day service to Kirkliston in a mini bus so they can't complain about not having a service any more

 

[CM]

The Sprinter Citys are ice cream vans NOT bread vans... Get it right! (Sarcasm)

Joking aside i know they're not the most liked due to the cramp seating layout but i have a appreciate for the little Sprinters we have up here. The Mellors which basically look like a ASDA bag for life stuck on a Sprinter chassis are probably the better option for this reason.

I've travelled on a couple of Mellor Stratas and suprisingly they seem to be quite solidly built, and also very nippy. The Strata will probably last alot longer than the Sprinter City as well as afaik the Strata body is fiber glass so it won't dissolve, something that Sprinter vans enjoy doing very much and at a very young age at that.

 

[Jordan Adam]

I've travelled on a couple of Mellor Stratas and suprisingly they seem to be quite solidly built, and also very nippy. The Strata will probably last alot longer than the Sprinter City as well as afaik the Strata body is fiber glass so it won't dissolve, something that Sprinter vans enjoy doing very much and at a very young age at that.

Should point out my comment on the Strata was more on it's looks than build quality. Indeed Sprinters are renowned for rusting.

 

[OmniCity999]

Should point out my comment on the Strata was more on it's looks than build quality. Indeed Sprinters are renowned for rusting.

Believe the body/chassis on the newest generation of Sprinter is galvanised. Either way, if you regularly wash a Sprinter and keep the bodywork in good condition, rust will stay at bay. I've got a 2004 LWB Sprinter, notoriously the worst for rust, that i use for camping. The only rust it has is the aftermarket roof rack.

 

[Jordan Adam]

Believe the body/chassis on the newest generation of Sprinter is galvanised. Either way, if you regularly wash a Sprinter and keep the bodywork in good condition, rust will stay at bay. I've got a 2004 LWB Sprinter, notoriously the worst for rust, that i use for camping. The only rust it has is the aftermarket roof rack.

Perhaps veering off topic, however i saw a 2013 Sprinter the other day up in Dingwall and the whole rear end was just rust. On the other hand Ross's Mini Buses have a 2004 vintage Sprinter City (BU04UTN) and to be honest it's still very tidy with minimal rust.

 

[OmniCity999]

Perhaps veering off topic, however i saw a 2013 Sprinter the other day up in Dingwall and the whole rear end was just rust. On the other hand Ross's Mini Buses have a 2004 vintage Sprinter City (BU04UTN) and to be honest it's still very tidy with minimal rust.

It's like with anything, you look after it it will last. A lot of the 11 plate Gemini 2's at Marine are very rusty, but even the tridents that recently departed were free of rust.

 

[Observer]

The only real fault with the Stratas is that annoying beeping noise every time the door opens and closes, that would do the driver's head in all day. There probably is a way to disable that though.

At least Mellor are providing options up to 27 seats now.

 

[Lothian_Bus]

Sorry if already mentioned but I notice 431-437 are back on Skylink duty.