West Lothian buses

[TheEastCoaster]

• Axe the EX1
• Enhance/improve the X18
• Improve ticketing options
• Make sure drivers actually know the routes
• Sort the rattling on the Ex-London Geminis
• Extend the EX2 to Falkirk with the surplus coaches from the EX1.

I would remove the stupid Green arrow farezone and keep the LCB zone as one, Linlithgow should be Zone B and LothianWest tickets should be valid on these services as well as Ridacards..

Weekly and monthly tickets should be a number one priority above all else, that’s how you win in a marketing scheme. However first are on top of that and LCB still haven’t responded with anything though it’s not like it would be too hard of a job to come out with something that folk would like, hell I could write out a concept in my spare time and have it look presentable!

Still sticking my gut with LCB as I want them to succeed as they wouldn’t of come this far if they weren’t serious about taking over the West Lothian Network, however unless they introduce a 38 style route to Linlithgow i’ll Stick to First for that one! Unfortunately these coaches will not be having me on as a passenger

 

[Bluebirdscot66]

38 is £4.20 single 7.20 return £25.00 weekly Linlithgow to Edinburgh

 

[Bluebirdscot66]

38 is £4.20 single 7.20 return £25.00 weekly Linlithgow to Edinburgh

I correct myself it’s £4.40 single £7.50 return

 

[In Focus]

Most likely too that punters will want to give their money to the company that they can trust.

Yup ,the ones who have been here and served them for many decades .

 

[In Focus]

The B****y things have not even turned a wheel and this lot have them doomed to failure . Lothian should sack every senior management figure and install this lot as there successor. Then the world would be a better place

One of your more sensible ideas (joking)

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

The B****y things have not even turned a wheel and this lot have them doomed to failure . Lothian should sack every senior management figure and install this lot as there successor. Then the world would be a better place

Of course - as George Burns said "Too bad that all the people who know how to run the country are busy driving taxicabs and cutting hair"

Can appreciate your view. Kinda feels though like there's a fair split of pro Lothian and pro First opinions, but that things tend to be a bit polarised with certain people on both sides of the divide. It's fine to question the moves of either business and enter into discourse but.... we should all be tolerant of views and recognise that, on this board, we won't have access to all of the facts.

I confess I don't know the area that well and have no allegiance, one way or the other. It is certainly the case that the EX services are a bold move. It may be a success - proof and pudding and all that. However, I do wonder (as I did with Transdev's Manchester to Leeds Cityzap) where the market is to sustain these services. If they can get sufficient commuters paying full whack and take some off the trains and the 38, augmented by pass holders, then fair enough. However, Linlithgow has a limited catchment and a decent rail service frequency so the opportunity doesn't seem clear cut. We shall see.

 

[Driver362]

TGW , if only all commenters shared the ability to look at things this way it would be a more civil thread to participate in. Of course im pro lothian , i work there , but i had over a decade @ first before hand so can see it from both sides , but it can be hard going on here at times with to use your word "partisan" views

 

[Driver362]

One of your more sensible ideas (joking)

Why thank you

 

[Driver362]

I wouldn't consider myself anti-Lothian, without going in to a detailed explanation i don't hate Lothian, i just think some of their ideas and moves lately have been poorly thought out and executed. I also do think the management are getting far too ego driven and petty.

It's hard to defend the EX1/EX2 when it's such a poor idea, it has next to no redeeming features other than the fact it uses coaches, a gimmick that the bulk of the public won't fall for and has failed in the past. The only thing they've got right in WL so far is the X18 and even that could be questionable.

Like painting buses pink . Then extending its route so it can run empty even longer and trust me and im not being pety , the vast majority do! . I could go on but really can't be bothered . And please dont tell me there busy as the are just not fact!

 

[overthewater]

No one is really busy, that is the problem. Neither company is hitting a home run out of the park. Lothian should on paper walk this but it hasn't and it's clear why.

 

[Jordan Adam]

Like painting buses pink . Then extending its route so it can run empty even longer and trust me and im not being pety , the vast majority do! . I could go on but really can't be bothered . And please dont tell me there busy as the are just not fact!

Clearly you are bothered since you constantly go on the defensive for LCB. I've at no point claimed the 600 is busy (it's not), but this is the Lothian Country thread not the First one!

 

[Driver362]

I would agree but that post was re: jordans post that the coaches were a gimmick . I was suggesting pink buses on the 600 was also a gimmick thats not working out .

 

[Jordan Adam]

I would agree but that post was re: jordans post that the coaches were a gimmick . I was suggesting pink buses on the 600 was also a gimmick thats not working out .

If you're comparing the two then you're clearly missing the point. The vehicles on the 600 are existing vehicles in the fleet and don't have much special about them other than the paint job. One could argue that allocating deckers to the 600 is a marketing gimmick and while i would agree, i don't think it's to the same degree as Lothian's new coaches.

 

[Driver362]

Does anyone know if other service changes are coming on the 30th e.g. the next phase?

Not phase coaches are coming in , but a new one after that .thats all im willing to say as i quite like my job lol

 

[Driver362]

If you're comparing the two then you're clearly missing the point. The vehicles on the 600 are existing vehicles in the fleet and don't have much special about them other than the paint job. One could argue that allocating deckers to the 600 is a marketing gimmick and while i would agree, i don't think it's to the same degree as Lothian's new coaches.

I would agree ,.but thanks for respecting my point . Look as an employee i sometimes wonder im not going to lie . But like the open toppers you have to try before you find out eh

 

[Jordan Adam]

I would agree ,.but thanks for reslecting my point . Look as an employee i sometimes wonder im not going to lie . But like the open toppers you have to try before you find out eh

Fair enough. To be fair it's to be expected that any employee at an operator may lean more in their favour. I won't go in to the open toppers as this is the wrong place, but it'll be interesting to see pan out.

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

I guess my biggest problem is more the presentation of the buses in WL. The biggest thing First keep doing wrong (they've done this for years and it won't change) is branding buses (in this case for 23, 600) and then they start showing up on the 24 and the 25, I've not seen this happen just once but almost every day or two I see at least one of these MMC's at somepoint on the 24 or 25.

Dunno where to start with Lothian, too many things to list but the biggest problem is probably the inconsistent fare structure, ECB have a similar problem. M-tickets are nit obsolete but are not the most popular way. The Zone system is flawed and tbh a fare stage would be so much easier in a scenario such as this. Lothian ultimately have profit to play with (£10m+ I think) thats why they can afford the loses.

First have things simple and straightforward, Lothian are Lothian so it's difficult to tell.

As many people have said how long will it really last?

 

[Jordan Adam]

I guess my biggest problem is more the presentation of the buses in WL. The biggest thing First keep doing wrong (they've done this for years and it won't change) is branding buses (in this case for 23, 600) and then they start showing up on the 24 and the 25, I've not seen this happen just once but almost every day or two I see at least one of these MMC's at somepoint on the 24 or 25.

Dunno where to start with Lothian, too many things to list but the biggest problem is probably the inconsistent fare structure, ECB have a similar problem. M-tickets are nit obsolete but are not the most popular way. The Zone system is flawed and tbh a fare stage would be so much easier in a scenario such as this. Lothian ultimately have profit to play with (£10m+ I think) thats why they can afford the loses.

First have things simple and straightforward, Lothian are Lothian so it's difficult to tell.

As many people have said how long will it really last?

Aren't those 600 vehicles on the 24/25 deliberate. I'm sure in the morning there's a few runs that interwork. But i agree, they need to be more consistent with allocations.

 

[In Focus]

Like painting buses pink . Then extending its route so it can run empty even longer and trust me and im not being pety , the vast majority do! . I could go on but really can't be bothered . And please dont tell me there busy as the are just not fact!

None of the 2 are busy to the extent massive profits are on the horizon ,that was always going to be the case as was stated ,which once again raises the same old point, why would Lothian think there would be sustainable profits after the cost of putting so many vehicles into the area and the general cost of operating the whole LCB side of the business?
It was aggressive attempt at bullying First out of the area ,whether it works only time will tell !

 

[Volvodart]

The EX1/2 fares are now on the Lothian Country website, but I could not see the values on my mobile device.

 

[overthewater]

£39 for 10 journey, this its not cheap

 

[GusB]

For the benefit of those who rely on screen readers etc. and cannot read the text in screenshots:
https://greenarrowexpress.co.uk/fares/

Buy your tickets on-board
Adult Child (5-15 yrs)
Green Arrow Single
Valid for one single journey £5.00 £2.50
Green Arrow Day Return
Valid for one return journey between Linlithgow/Bathgate and Edinburgh £8.00 £4.00
Network Day Ticket
Unlimited travel on all Green Arrow, Lothian, Lothian Country, East Coast Buses, Airlink, Skylink and Edinburgh Trams. It also covers NightBus and East Coast Buses' NightHawk services until 04.30 the following morning. £9.00 £4.50

 

[Train368]

Not phase coaches are coming in , but a new one after that .thats all im willing to say as i quite like my job lol

Does this mean new coaches are coming for more Green Arrow Services?

 

[Train368]

From looking on their new Facebook status their is already people in the comments section saying they're staying with the X18, although everyone seems pretty happy Lothian are at least trying new routes.

 

[Gingerbus1991]

I still can’t understand why they didn't just try the EX2 as Falkirk > Polmont > Linlithgow > Springfield > M9 and so on...

First left a hole when they removed the x38.

 

[TheEastCoaster]

I still can’t understand why they didn't just try the EX2 as Falkirk > Polmont > Linlithgow > Springfield > M9 and so on...

First left a hole when they removed the x38.

Probably trying very hard to avoid extending beyond the Lothian region that’s probably why it’s not extended beyond Linlithgow, otherwise they might introduce a new network dayticket for beyond the Lothians.

However stranger things have happened

 

[In Focus]

View attachment 64625

£39 for 10 journey, this its not cheap

If these services even cover drivers wages I will be amazed ,absolutely no incentive to leave train to go by bus .

 

[CM]

View attachment 64625

£39 for 10 journey, this its not cheap

There is no 10 journey ticket listed there for £39. Ten journeys at £5(the single fare) would be £50.

 

[Jordan Adam]

There is no 10 journey ticket listed there for £39. Ten journeys at £5(the single fare) would be £50.

10 Journeys (5 Return fares) gets to £40. I can only assume that's what OTW was referring to.

 

[CM]

10 Journeys (5 Return fares) gets to £40. I can only assume that's what OTW was referring to.

His calculator must have been broken...