West Lothian buses

[overthewater]

Doubt they would have any interest plus it was only retendered recently for 7 years was it not?

You would never know.

The council cuts in September are only the start, the rest of the services are up for grabs in March 2020....

This means the following service are deffo up for review in six months times, If your wonder why is this being pointed out here, will just take a look at the routes you might see even more overlaps:

Bus services

• L1 Lithlingow Local service - EX2 covers alot of the route
• No2 Broxburn local service
• 5A/B - Bathgate local service - 287 covers Wester inch
• No6 Armadale/Whitburn local service.
• 7 - Queensferry or Winchburgh - Uphall or St Johns's Hosp, No600 covers all most of the route.
  
• 8 - Boghall - BathgateS SUNDAY
• 9A - Livingston - Murieston circular
  
• 16 - Livingston - Edinburgh Western General Hospital
  
• 23A - Linlithgow - South Queensferry two early morning journeys
  
• 26A - First two early morning journeys from Fauldhouse to Bathgate - 0519 0604
• 31 - Linlithgow - Livingston - 287 Covers wester Inch, and Ex2 covers part of Linlithgow.
• 40/X40 - Livingston St John's Hospital - Edinburgh Royal Infirmary
• 50 - Boghall - Harthill Evenings
• 449 - Bathgate - Linlithgow and Bo'ness 6am!

First and Lothian has taken on other evening runs on top of this.

 

[Volvodart]

PM0003023/144 Cancelled
E & M HORSBURGH LTD

Route: Livingston Bus Terminal to Birniehall Roundabout, Bathgate via Bridgend, Philipston, Ecclesmachan, Uphall, Dechmont, St Johns

Service number: 31 ()

Service type: Normal Stopping

Effective date: 29 Sep 2019

 

[overthewater]

Well..... That wasn't suspose to happen until next March. What is going on as the route still needs to be covered and the council still wishes to keep it.

 

[lastbus]

Well..... That wasn't suspose to happen until next March. What is going on as the route still needs to be covered and the council still wishes to keep it.

Someone is probably taking the route on commercially.

 

[overthewater]

Why would first or lcb want to do that? If you make some adjustments you can operate the route with 3 buses and not 4.

 

[DunsBus]

As I understand it, you can't have a tendered service being paralleled by a commercial one.

 

[overthewater]

The council were happy to leave that route "as is" until March.

If Phrase 6 is planned for early September, then surely we will be hearing something within days? However it will be rather telling if nothing happens.

 

[Journeyman]

As I understand it, you can't have a tendered service being paralleled by a commercial one.

If the EX2 is to replace the L1 in Linlithgow, they'd need to introduce local fares on it.

 

[Bluebirdscot66]

how much it is on Ex2? , say Mill rd to the Linlithgow cross compared to the L1 as I only know the 38 fare from mill rd is £1.60 . I thought it would be same or £1.70 .

If the EX2 is to replace the L1 in Linlithgow, they'd need to introduce local fares on it.

 

[Journeyman]

how much it is on Ex2? , say Mill rd to the Linlithgow cross compared to the L1 as I only know the 38 fare from mill rd is £1.60 . I thought it would be same or £1.70 .

I'm pretty sure the only single ticket available is the one all the way to Edinburgh, which is a fiver.

 

[Bluebirdscot66]

Crikey ! Yeah they need a local fare then .

 

[Journeyman]

Crikey ! Yeah they need a local fare then .

They might have one, but they certainly aren't publicizing it if they have!

 

[scotrail158713]

Crikey ! Yeah they need a local fare then .

But since this is being marketed as an express route, do they want to be carrying local passengers for a couple of stops?

 

[Journeyman]

But since this is being marketed as an express route, do they want to be carrying local passengers for a couple of stops?

I don't think they can afford to be too picky about it, to be honest.

 

[scotrail158713]

I don't think they can afford to be too picky about it, to be honest.

Although what can they afford in this move out to WL?

 

[Darklord8899]

With regards to Green Arrow fares only two single fares are published:

The single £5 fare and a Ratho Station/Gogarburn/Maybury to Edinburgh £2.50 single

https://greenarrowexpress.co.uk/fares/

 

[overthewater]

I have spotted a few more Ex1 and Ex2 and there are picking up a few more passengers, nothing to shout home about. However X18 still carries a good number but always seems to be running late: why?

 

[Weemidi135]

I have spotted a few more Ex1 and Ex2 and there are picking up a few more passengers, nothing to shout home about. However X18 still carries a good number but always seems to be running late: why?

Where are you seeing the X18 when it’s late ?

 

[CM]

I have spotted a few more Ex1 and Ex2 and there are picking up a few more passengers, nothing to shout home about. However X18 still carries a good number but always seems to be running late: why?

Buses run late, no reason is needed, it's a daily occurence and always will be and can be down to many factors.

 

[Jordan Adam]

Buses run late, no reason is needed, it's a daily occurence and always will be and can be down to many factors.

Agree, however there can sometimes be reasons for services running late that are "self inflicted". Often poor running time, the same defective vehicle being pushed in to service etc.

 

[LiviCrazy]

I don’t know about lateness but I’ve noticed that LCB seem to drive particularly fast, especially in comparison to First. I’ve often wondered if they have made their timetables too tight. I quite regularly see them going around my area at 35+ which is a 30 road.

On the note to the X18, I was wondering whether it would be worth them having it go into Deer Park between Uphall and Dechmont. It would provide a connection to the Livingston services and would also give the people in North Livingston a connection to Bathgate without having to go via Town Centre.

 

[Bluebirdscot66]

I don’t know about lateness but I’ve noticed that LCB seem to drive particularly fast, especially in comparison to First. I’ve often wondered if they have made their timetables too tight. I quite regularly see them going around my area at 35+ which is a 30 road.

First vehicles are monitored for speeding using drive green system,and drivers are spoken to if they have been over the 10%+2 rule for any more than 10 seconds . Is it possible that the ex first drivers are having fun not being monitored , or does lcb have a similar system.?

 

[overthewater]

I've spotted x18 running all over the place, coming into Edinburgh, coming out of Edinburgh. X18 always (It seem Jordan has hit the nail on the head) has poor time keeping, especially since it went to Whitburn. X17 seem to fare alot better.

 

[Jordan Adam]

I've spotted x18 running all over the place, coming into Edinburgh, coming out of Edinburgh. X18 always (It seem Jordan has hit the nail on the head) has poor time keeping, especially since it went to Whitburn. X17 seem to fare alot better.

A quick check shows me on the X17...
103 (6 Late)
945 (5 Late)
1003 (On time)
1028 (4 Late)
1040 (7 Late)
1046 (8 Late)

Then on the X18...
104 (6 Late)
574 (15 Late)
578 (On time)
1037 (4 Late)
1038 (5 Late)
1047 (On time)

It should be noted that 578, 1003 & 1047 have all just started their run as i've noted this down. So it would appear there's a lack of running time.

 

[TheEastCoaster]

So what can we expect out of Phase 6? Whenever that happens. Bathgates fully covered in bus services so I doubt another Edinburgh - Bathgate service is in the works right now. We have 7 services Edinburgh - West Lothian currently by LCB, and 3 within West Lothian. The only areas that aren’t covered are Harthill, Kirkliston (properly), Winchburgh and all the villages leading to Linlithgow.

But if Phase 6 focuses on ticket offers instead of a new service or some current service changes, then it could work to be successful, because honestly the best guess for a new service would be a copy of the 38 to Linlithgow or extend the 275 to Harthill.

 

[Jordan Adam]

So what can we expect out of Phase 6? Whenever that happens. Bathgates fully covered in bus services so I doubt another Edinburgh - Bathgate service is in the works right now. We have 7 services Edinburgh - West Lothian currently by LCB, and 3 within West Lothian. The only areas that aren’t covered are Harthill, Kirkliston (properly), Winchburgh and all the villages leading to Linlithgow.

But if Phase 6 focuses on ticket offers instead of a new service or some current service changes, then it could work to be successful, because honestly the best guess for a new service would be a copy of the 38 to Linlithgow or extend the 275 to Harthill.

A new West Lothian to Edinburgh Airport direct service to take on the 600? I still think the gap being missed out is Edinburgh to Whitburn via Blackburn

 

[A330Alex]

How are things doing passenger wise out in West Lothian? It’s not unusual to see the X18 heavily loaded on Princes Street but the X17 tends to be pretty light with a handful of people.

 

[Jordan Adam]

How are things doing passenger wise out in West Lothian? It’s not unusual to see the X18 heavily loaded on Princes Street but the X17 tends to be pretty light with a handful of people.

Can't comment, but i think if they got rid of the EX1 (in it's current format) and put the X18 up to a 20 minute frequency and really marketed it they could be on to something.

 

[TheEastCoaster]

Can't comment, but i think if they got rid of the EX1 (in it's current format) and put the X18 up to a 20 minute frequency and really marketed it they could be on to something.

It’s all about the money, and this time I do get it, while the Ex1 is obviously faster than the X18, it’s still 30p more for a Single and offers a return rather than a dayticket (not counting the Network dayticket). They have the idea but not the good execution. It would of been fine if they were in line with LCB. At least it would attract more customers. But the X18 also has the advantage of serving Armadale and Whitburn.

I would much rather use the X18 to visit Bathgate simplify because of the fares. Though it’s deja vu in a way because it’s like folk who use first over LCB who stick because of the fares. I get it’s a premium service like the 100 but I suppose it’s best to have other options too.

As for the EX2, if it had local fares within Linlithgow what’s to say it wouldn’t be the case for the EX1 in Bathgate/Boghall! But if LCB tackle the Linlithgow corridor again with a new service they might not feel the need to do so

 

[Jordan Adam]

It’s all about the money, and this time I do get it, while the Ex1 is obviously faster than the X18, it’s still 30p more for a Single and offers a return rather than a dayticket (not counting the Network dayticket). They have the idea but not the good execution. It would of been fine if they were in line with LCB. At least it would attract more customers. But the X18 also has the advantage of serving Armadale and Whitburn.

I would much rather use the X18 to visit Bathgate simplify because of the fares. Though it’s deja vu in a way because it’s like folk who use first over LCB who stick because of the fares. I get it’s a premium service like the 100 but I suppose it’s best to have other options too.

As for the EX2, if it had local fares within Linlithgow what’s to say it wouldn’t be the case for the EX1 in Bathgate/Boghall! But if LCB tackle the Linlithgow corridor again with a new service they might not feel the need to do so

As i've said before, the issue with the EX1 is that it does nothing but compete with the X18. Rule 1 of running a business is that you shouldn't compete with yourself!