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West Lothian buses

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Megafuss

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Jordan Adam

Jordan Adam

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TheGrandWazoo said:
You've got a population of c.20k and not certain how many they can take off the train! Best described as "challenging"
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That's including the immediate area, Linlithgow only has a population of 13,460 (2011 census), 2016 estimate has that down to 13,260.
 
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overthewater

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Gingerbus1991 said:
Has ligo or bthgt ever had a coach service? That's could be enough to sway a decent few.
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Linlithgow had an express many many moons ago I think it was X19? Starting in Alloa I think, died off by 1997. As mentioned Bathgate had one until 2007.

TheGrandWazoo said:
You've got a population of c.20k and not certain how many they can take off the train! Best described as "challenging"
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Many are going to Edinburgh Park, Falkirk, Glasgow, etc This new route has just Linlithgow and that's it its not challenging it's idiotic. Every single time LCB shots themselves in the foot its like there want to fail...
 
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overthewater

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Here is a map:

uQmFSF9.png
 
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Bluebirdscot66

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smtglasgow said:
Do First get many punters from Linlithgow into Edinburgh on the 38? Something serving Kirkliston and Winchburgh could do them real harm, but don’t think this will worry them.
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Mostly concessions between lithgow bridge and Edinburgh , I would say .Walking groups too .
I’m wondering Where would the Ex2 turn at lithgow bridge though , list loaning maybe?
 
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Bluebirdscot66

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Bridgend folk had a gripe about the 38s not going through there ( little victory getting them on after 7pm) so would lcb do a service from there or from lithgow Bridgend winchburgh kirkliston to say the gyle .38A would pick up a few most journeys and would give lcb a presence there . Just a thought.
 
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CM

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overthewater said:
Many are going to Edinburgh Park, Falkirk, Glasgow, etc This new route has just Linlithgow and that's it its not challenging it's idiotic. Every single time LCB shots themselves in the foot its like there want to fail...
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They clearly must be making money on their venture as I doubt any company with even an ounce of common sence would expand the way LCB are if they were losing money on it.
 
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Gingerbus1991

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Colin M said:
They clearly must be making money on their venture as I doubt any company with even an ounce of common sence would expand the way LCB are if they were losing money on it.
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Even if they breakeven on the venture its still covers its own costs outside the initial investment and set up.

Midland Bluebird has been running at a loss for years!
 
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CM

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Gingerbus1991 said:
Even if they breakeven on the venture its still covers its own costs outside the initial investment and set up.

Midland Bluebird has been running at a loss for years!
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Apparantly Midland Scottish(and Midland Bluebird - pre-First days) was one of the more sucessfull SBG operations as it faced very little competition. You have to wonder how it's become such an un-profitable operation given that there still isn't much in the way of competition in it's main area compared to other places. Someone, somewhere has clearly made an arse of it!
 
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Gingerbus1991

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Colin M said:
Apparantly Midland Scottish(and Midland Bluebird - pre-First days) was one of the more sucessfull SBG operations as it faced very little competition. You have to wonder how it's become such an un-profitable operation given that there still isn't much in the way of competition in it's main area compared to other places. Someone, somewhere has clearly made an arse of it!
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To be fair a few things locally in the falkirk area have taken a turn commercially for businesses, not just the bus companies, but First has never offered anything in the past to at least help stem the reduction in passengers, so I think anyways.

It seems to be only now that the idea of slapping some flashy colours on the front of there buses is to mask the rest of there shortfalls.
 
Jordan Adam

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Colin M said:
Apparantly Midland Scottish(and Midland Bluebird - pre-First days) was one of the more sucessfull SBG operations as it faced very little competition. You have to wonder how it's become such an un-profitable operation given that there still isn't much in the way of competition in it's main area compared to other places. Someone, somewhere has clearly made an arse of it!
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Lack of investment in the 00s, with over investment in Aberdeen to some degree causing bus numbers to decline, no investment for a number of years saw a outdated fleet and further decline in bus use, opening of borders railway (FEdi Opco) and enhancements to train service on the whole saw a further decline.

There's been improvements financially in recent times, although still a long way to go and no doubt more cuts will ensue once the bus war is over.
 
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Gingerbus1991

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I’ve never seen First in at least the last 10-15 years come on in the way that Lothian has been able to!! It nearly seems that over night they have took drivers from AAA, Timberbush, Rabbies etc from stagecoach/dunfermline and First Scotland East this provided a decent amount of services as a result, it is impressive regardless of the routes chosen.
 
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overthewater

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And yet the first fleet is so much younger, the network by first is so much better and in some respect its been like that for a few years before Lothian come knocking. Your bias.

I will let In Focus explain why Lothian can't be making money on this right now, especial with the high amount of capital cost going out
 
Jordan Adam

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overthewater said:
And yet the first fleet is so much younger, the network by first is so much better and in some respect its been like that for a few years before Lothian come knocking. Your bias.
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Can you imagine having a fleet where 5 in 7 buses are 5 years old or newer..... GB91 likes to ignore the massive amount of investment in the area, and when he does pay attention to it it's always "well they could have done this, they could have done that". He has the cheek to label others bias when nearly all his posts are critical of First and he's just been exposed for lying and making false accusations about First. It really has been quite an entertaining day!

That aside i do think First should be doing more at this point, extending the 600 and repainting/allocation E400MMC's to it is a massive waste of resources.
 
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In Focus

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Gingerbus1991 said:
I’ve never seen First in at least the last 10-15 years come on in the way that Lothian has been able to!! It nearly seems that over night they have took drivers from AAA, Timberbush, Rabbies etc from stagecoach/dunfermline and First Scotland East this provided a decent amount of services as a result, it is impressive regardless of the routes chosen.
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It's not "impressive " its absolute business suicide and anyone with any sense knows this , its Russian roulette in the hope First will move out the area ,that's seems highly unlikely so flooding the area with vehicles running at less than 10%capacity seems to be plan B.
 
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