West Lothian buses

[TheEastCoaster]

Tut so no stop for the Tony carvey/iceland

Well I guess Kirk Loan is close enough, especially westbound!

 

[Darklord8899]

Tut so no stop for the Tony carvey/iceland

After a good feed at the Toby, I think a stiff walk to the bus stop is probably a good thing!

 

[overthewater]

Here is that 109 online timetable...

 

[Darklord8899]

Here is that 109 online timetable...

Wow 2003!! Didn't realise it had been *that* long since it started

 

[overthewater]

Wow 2003!! Didn't realise it had been *that* long since it started

Sorry to burst your bubble but its older than that, it's another 8 years...

 

[Darklord8899]

Sorry to burst your bubble but its older than that, it's another 8 years...

Well <censored> me sideways !!! lol

 

[overthewater]

1994/95 isn't it?

 

[TheEastCoaster]

After a good feed at the Toby, I think a stiff walk to the bus stop is probably a good thing!

Hear hear! now I’m hungry for a cavery damn it! needless to say it will be very interesting to see how this service plays out in both the city area and country area.

 

[Darklord8899]

1994/95 isn't it?

I remember it being round about the time when the circular night services were numbered 10x and 20x (one was the weekday night routes the other the weekend routes IIRC)

Was the 109 not in the old 9 (Livi) timetable at a point as well?

 

[Bluebirdscot66]

Sounds like same stopping pattern as first 24,25,38.

 

[sam120]

good sighting on the 275 today, 13 people on it. it’s plain to see it’s busying up!

 

[In Focus]

good sighting on the 275 today, 13 people on it. it’s plain to see it’s busying up!

6 to 13 it is Friday and schools out early for Livingston, do you think that will pay for the ones that run at night with 0 ?
Might pay for the damage to the wee buggy and trailer that one of them walloped this morning in Centre !
In all seriousness though it must be costing LCB an absolute fortune this venture .

 

[Darklord8899]

Is it not rather sad that a "good sighting" is 13 people?
I would like to see Lothian do well IMO they are a far better operator than First. However, only time will tell.
I don't really know West Lothian that well so don't know wether there is money to be made there or on which routes. The Lothian PR seems to suggest things are going well "rising passenger numbers bringing forward phase three to this side of the year" or is the reality "things are going down the pan, quick let's try out something else"?

 

[In Focus]

Is it not rather sad that a "good sighting" is 13 people?
I would like to see Lothian do well IMO they are a far better operator than First. However, only time will tell.
I don't really know West Lothian that well so don't know wether there is money to be made there or on which routes. The Lothian PR seems to suggest things are going well "rising passenger numbers bringing forward phase three to this side of the year" or is the reality "things are going down the pan, quick let's try out something else"?

What is rather sad is that 6 or 13 on a 70 seater ,6 miles to the gallon ,driver on £11.50 PH is seen as some sort of good thing....
PR can be made to make anything seem good ,Hitler had s decent one back in the day ,reality is they are losing approx £20 grand per per week , but they won't like that type of PR I'm guessing.
The only route making any kind of inroads is the 280 strangely enough an almost duplicate of First 25 ,the other ones have been a disaster .
Obviously they came with a plan and 6 phases and id guess they will see that through safe in the knowledge if it goes pear shaped they have recruited a fair amount of drivers for Lothian and ECB .

 

[In Focus]

What is rather sad is that 6 or 13 on a 70 seater ,6 miles to the gallon ,driver on £11.50 PH is seen as some sort of good thing....
PR can be made to make anything seem good ,Hitler had s decent one back in the day ,reality is they are losing approx £20 grand per week per bus ,that's a lot of losses , but they won't like that type of PR I'm guessing.
The only route making any kind of inroads is the 280 strangely enough an almost duplicate of First 25 ,the other ones have been a disaster .
Obviously they came with a plan and 6 phases and id guess they will see that through safe in the knowledge if it goes pear shaped they have recruited a fair amount of drivers for Lothian and ECB .

Per week per bus that should have read.

 

[overthewater]

275 is crap because passengers either want a direct bus to O Central or St Johns H and you get neither on that bus. First can operate a 20mins fast bus service up the fast link to broxburn and you can get full bus, it's possible. Lothian seems to have mist this trick... This is why I dont understand, why First just doesn't say sod it lets have 15min service Livingston - Ingliston P&R then either 30mins into Edinburgh city or Gyle, There is no off peak demand on from Broxburn into edinburgh, which make this X18 even stranger... What would have been better is hourly service via M8 instead of Broxburn, because you can't save much time for the broxburn passengers.

 

[TheEastCoaster]

good sighting on the 275 today, 13 people on it. it’s plain to see it’s busying up!

I was at the gyle the other day and saw a 275 passing in and out, barely saw many people on it, in fact when I got a 63 from there to Queensferry there was another 275 behind us that no one boarded and a good chunk of passangers boarded the already full 63 were only going as far as Ratho Station.

Now I can’t comment on other times and days because I’m not down at the gyle or West Lothian, maybe it was a slow day for LCB, but compared to the X27/X28 that I’ve actually seen carry passangers, sometimes loads sometimes few, It’s a shame to see such an empty vechile at that time. but I don’t know. I do plan to use the 275 somepoint next month on a trip to Livingston and see for myself if the service is utilised, especially in West Lothian.

Perhaps things will change when the X18 is introduced. Since I believe that most folk would usually use the 275 to switch over to another service at Gyle/Edin Park. at least the X18 would pick up the slack at Uphall and Broxburn.

 

[Tartanarmy85]

How's First West Lothian doing with Lothian County expanding with more phrases coming

 

[In Focus]

How's First West Lothian doing with Lothian County expanding with more phrases coming

Very well, slight effect on 25 with 280 (as it's a route LCB didn't invent) otherwise doing very well and to use the words of a LCB official "they are basically transporting fresh air" , be very interesting if and when they release thier figures for this wild venture.
It's also quite clear First are going nowhere in West Lothian and have plans to increase network further Afield once they have driver numbers back up with over 50 due to start by beginning of next year .
Also expect a "special fare " for Xmas on daily and weekly tickets which will put further pressure on LCB in the area.

 

[overthewater]

I hope First goes into Wester Inch just to show up LCB. Gyle bus is picking up.. its really the only one..

 

[In Focus]

I hope First goes into Wester Inch just to show up LCB. Gyle bus is picking up.. its really the only one..

That is unlikely with current fleet however if the introductions of Darts happens you could see a Arnadale ,Bathgate ,Whiteside ,Wester Inch ,Pyramids BP , Starlaw Road , Kirkton Campus ,Alba Campus, Livingston Centre route becoming a viable proposition.

 

[TheEastCoaster]

I hope First goes into Wester Inch just to show up LCB. Gyle bus is picking up.. its really the only one..

I think we must be seeing different things at different times then.. if you see the 275 when there’s passangers on it and I see the X27/X28 when there’s passangers on it, than the bottom line here is one way or another these services do get used and the talk of fresh air on these buses must be an exaduration since we can’t be everywhere all at once now can we? I can’t comment on the 280 and 287 however since I’m judging it as an Edinburgh resident lol, but to compare the X27/X28 with the 23/X23 passangers wise in the city I usually see the same amount of folk on each bus from passing so it’s seems both company’s aren’t doing too bad with this route.

 

[overthewater]

It would seem the buse do carry Fresh air at time, or it could be the fact only parts of the routes carry passengers while other parts are empty. The X23 is pretty empty when I see it come into Edinburgh.

 

[LiviCrazy]

It would seem the buse do carry Fresh air at time, or it could be the fact only parts of the routes carry passengers while other parts are empty. The X23 is pretty empty when I see it come into Edinburgh.

I’ve been catching the X23 for a few months now and it is far busier than the old X27 used to be at the same time. Have had a few standing loads over the last couple of weeks. The LCB X28 just in front usually has about 15-20 on it.

 

[In Focus]

It would seem the buse do carry Fresh air at time, or it could be the fact only parts of the routes carry passengers while other parts are empty. The X23 is pretty empty when I see it come into Edinburgh.

Apart from peak times it's nearly always empty after East Calder .
I know this won't happen but had LCB and First actually sat down and spoken prior to Firsts New network and LCB attempts to take over West Lothian I actually think a decent plan could have been thought up and both would have benefited .

 

[In Focus]

I’ve been catching the X23 for a few months now and it is far busier than the old X27 used to be at the same time. Have had a few standing loads over the last couple of weeks. The LCB X28 just in front usually has about 15-20 on it.

At peak times it can be busy but generally Deans to Livingston is not overly used and off peak I'd say it's very much which bus turns up in Centre first will attract Most passengers.

 

[In Focus]

I’ve been catching the X23 for a few months now and it is far busier than the old X27 used to be at the same time. Have had a few standing loads over the last couple of weeks. The LCB X28 just in front usually has about 15-20 on it.

I would also add if more people from thr. City knew how quick the X23 was from Edinburgh to Livingston they would use it as well.

 

[LiviCrazy]

I would also add if more people from thr. City knew how quick the X23 was from Edinburgh to Livingston they would use it as well.

I think the advantage First is gaining is still serving Dalry/Gorgie. Whenever I travel into the city centre, a lot of people are getting off there especially Haymarket. I don’t know if it is the speed LCB drive at but I didn’t feel the use of Western Approach Road cut off any time off peak and on peak the buses seem to get stuck in the traffic by the Caley Picture House/Caley Hotel.

 

[MrHopefull]

talk are at first depot about them trying to bulk up there staff to move more routes into Edinburgh

they have 25 buses coming to livi soon apparently

 

[Darklord8899]

.....this might end up being a repeat of last time.....
LB move west, First move to Edinburgh

There is only so much expansion Lothian can do.....*sarcasm* what will be next? LB in Fife? *end sarcasm*