West Lothian buses

[TheEastCoaster]

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!

Yeah when you put it like that it’s sounds really daft on LCB part, but if they feel confident it will work then who am I to judge!

It reminds me of when ECB launches the 124/X24 about 3 years ago, all I got from it was it was competing against the X15 between The Filmhouse and Prestonpans, and in the end that’s what killed the 15 in East Lothian, but it’s not a big loss now since the 124 is a good service.

Perhaps a 20 minute frequency on that corridor could be a good thing, if it’s one of LCB most popular routes, from what I’ve read it looks to be picking up more and more passengers.

 

[Stopper]

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

This was a horrible little bus so I’m not surprised at this news. It does cut off direct ties between Linlithgow and Bathgate/Livingston/Uphall and Philpstoun (which was quite well travelled due to the towns being sort-of linked). The bus didn’t travel via Bridgend though.

 

[overthewater]

It should be pointed out 31 IS staying, its just going back to it pre 2016 change. This will mean the bus will no longer operate to Ladywell West NOR Dechmont. This will result in a saving of one bus, this service will stay in place until next spring. If the 31 comes out of Ladywell West... no buses will serve the estate, does that mean Lothian is planning a new route within that part Livingston???

 

[TheEastCoaster]

Like a local service? Kind of what the 27 does. I’m just thinking of parts of Livingston LCB don’t service, besides Livingston Villiage, Livingston South & Murieston.

Be very interesting to see if LCB take up any tenders next year, especially the 40

 

[VioletEclipse]

Chances of a slight frequency increase on Lothian Country services in Edinburgh during the Lothian driver strike?

 

[TheEastCoaster]

Chances of a slight frequency increase on Lothian Country services in Edinburgh during the Lothian driver strike?

Maybe on certain services like the X18 or X27/X28 for the Corstorphine/Sighthill corridors, but I doubt it

 

[VioletEclipse]

Maybe on certain services like the X18 or X27/X28 for the Corstorphine/Sighthill corridors, but I doubt it

They're definitely going to get a lot of passengers even if they do increase the frequency, similar to the ECB services that go into the city.

 

[Jordan Adam]

Suspect they'd put on duplicates to/from the edge of the city...

 

[overthewater]

Making them Limited stop doesn't seem like a good idea now.. First bus will get all the passengers now.

 

[VioletEclipse]

Making them Limited stop doesn't seem like a good idea now.. First bus will get all the passengers now.

That a very good point, First will probably get more passengers in Edinburgh than they've had since 2003.

 

[overthewater]

If first were smart they would put in £1 flat fare for all city passengers that day to help keep things ticking over. Back to West Lothian it does seem that 29 Sep 2019 is when the Phrase 6 is coming, and surely we are getting another route? Maybe the 275 will get diverted via Ladywell west?

 

[CM]

If first were smart they would put in £1 flat fare for all city passengers that day to help keep things ticking over. Back to West Lothian it does seem that 29 Sep 2019 is when the Phrase 6 is coming, and surely we are getting another route? Maybe the 275 will get diverted via Ladywell west?

I'd be very surprised if there is a phase six if the rumour about Mr Hall being summoned to castle greyskull and put infront of his bosses. IF he gets handed his jotters then the future of LCB could quite easily be drawn into question.

 

[Jordan Adam]

I'd be very surprised if there is a phase six if the rumour about Mr Hall being summoned to castle greyskull and put infront of his bosses. IF he gets handed his jotters then the future of LCB could quite easily be drawn into question.

I agree, a management shake up could prove interesting in West Lothian. The council are already not on the best terms with RH, especially not after the issues with the XLB's and the whole registration plate scandal. While technically speaking LCB isn't taking anything from the tax payer i can't imagine the council are happy that money which could potentially be spent on better things is being used on a loss making venture that duplicates existing services.

 

[RomeoCharlie71]

I'd be very surprised if there is a phase six if the rumour about Mr Hall being summoned to castle greyskull and put infront of his bosses. IF he gets handed his jotters then the future of LCB could quite easily be drawn into question.

My thoughts exactly.

 

[overthewater]

I believe West Lothian council who are also a shareholder are very happy with the current bus war. However If Lothian has already submitted the changes to the council for review, It might be too late to stop it.

 

[Jordan Adam]

I believe West Lothian council who are also a shareholder are very happy with the current bus war. However If Lothian has already submitted the changes to the council for review, It might be too late to stop it.

Obviously they will be as they're spending less on supported bus services!

 

[A330Alex]

I believe West Lothian council who are also a shareholder are very happy with the current bus war. However If Lothian has already submitted the changes to the council for review, It might be too late to stop it.

It's a win win for them really. Save £££ from cutting the subsidised routes while not really caring if LCB don't make money since their cut of the dividend is tiny.

 

[SpeedbirdA350]

I'd be very surprised if there is a phase six if the rumour about Mr Hall being summoned to castle greyskull and put infront of his bosses. IF he gets handed his jotters then the future of LCB could quite easily be drawn into question.

This depends on if RH is handed his jotters and if he is going to be, who his replacement would be. I posted about that on the LB ECB thread but I said on there that as much as folk will laugh, Andrew Jarvis would not be the worst name to think off offering the job to and if he did get it, if of course RH is let go.

 

[Jordan Adam]

This depends on if RH is handed his jotters and if he is going to be, who his replacement would be. I posted about that on the LB ECB thread but I said on there that as much as folk will laugh, Andrew Jarvis would not be the worst name to think off offering the job to and if he did get it, if of course RH is let go.

If Jarvis took over from Hall it would be quite funny. I agree, Jarvis would be more than up to the job, although that said i can't see him leaving First just now.

 

[Andyh82]

I agree, a management shake up could prove interesting in West Lothian. The council are already not on the best terms with RH, especially not after the issues with the XLB's and the whole registration plate scandal. While technically speaking LCB isn't taking anything from the tax payer i can't imagine the council are happy that money which could potentially be spent on better things is being used on a loss making venture that duplicates existing services.

Sounds to me you are getting a tad over excited, you are adding 2 + 2 and getting 4000.

It’s quite funny that on the back of the drivers strike, you are wishing that LCB was closed down and hence all their drivers were made redundant, just because of who was behind the venture...

 

[Jordan Adam]

Sounds to me you are getting a tad over excited, you are adding 2 + 2 and getting 4000.

It’s quite funny that on the back of the drivers strike, you are wishing that LCB was closed down and hence all their drivers were made redundant, just because of who was behind the venture...

I'm not actually wishing anything (other than for all this to be resolved the correct way), so there's no need to speak words that i didn't say! I was just stating that i can't imagine Edinburgh Council are happy with the LCB venture when the money wasted could go to better use in the city.

 

[CM]

Sounds to me you are getting a tad over excited, you are adding 2 + 2 and getting 4000.

It’s quite funny that on the back of the drivers strike, you are wishing that LCB was closed down and hence all their drivers were made redundant, just because of who was behind the venture...

You don't half talk some nonsense. Nobody is wishing anything like what you say. I'm guessing your one of the Lothian fanboy brigade who won't hear a single bad word said about the company.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

You don't half talk some nonsense. Nobody is wishing anything like what you say. I'm guessing your one of the Lothian fanboy brigade who won't hear a single bad word said about the company.

Hardly a Lothian fanboy. He's made 1427 posts in total and never on this thread until now. In fact, it's the first post he's made in relation to Lothian AT ALL so quite fanatical yet remarkably restrained. Perhaps his view is a reflection that there's no joy to be taken in this continued partisan sniping (from both sides of the argument).

FWIW, there are some rather odd things being stated on this board. The "registration plate scandal" may have garnered a few lines in the local rag but the council leaders won't actually care less. The incursion into West Lothian will have been done with the knowledge and support of the councils, most certainly after Phase One.

What is will be of more consequence is:

• Impact of any industrial action should it take place - both financially and in terms of disruption to the public
  • The perception of a bullying culture doesn't play well (and the union know that)
• The extent of any continuing losses on LCB
  • I assume that it's still making losses but are these better or worse than the initial business plan? We don't know but then again, we're not the ones making decisions against that
• The impact of BBT on the Lothian open top business
  • Lothian will still be making money but a) are they now carrying fewer passengers; the market may be growing but has it grown to such an extent overnight not to abstract trade from Lothian, and b) even if they are (in the unlikely event) not losing trade to BBT, every passenger that BBT carry is one that Lothian might have expected to carry

If Mr Hall is being grilled by the council shareholders, it will be on those issues, not some registration plates.

 

[Andyh82]

You don't half talk some nonsense. Nobody is wishing anything like what you say. I'm guessing your one of the Lothian fanboy brigade who won't hear a single bad word said about the company.

First time I’ve ever posted in this thread as a result of visiting the area and thinking I might be able to find something out about how it all works.

Is there somewhere you can discuss Lothian without it feeling like I’m stepping foot into a union meeting?

 

[smtglasgow]

Something appears to have been going wrong with Lothian’s management culture for some time. Wasn’t the previous MD, Ian Craig, accused (amongst other things) of allowing a bullying culture to develop – although he was (I think) eventually cleared of just about everything. We may be clutching our pearls about the registration plate scandal, but wasn’t Craig involved in an umbrella scandal (the details escape me, fortunately).

It seems odd that the management’s touchiness to criticism appears to have grown at a time when the Lothian business as a whole has been turning in some impressive results, including turning around East Lothian. They’ve got a lot to be proud of with their city operations.

For what its worth, I reckon Lothian have invested too much in West Lothian to pull out now. They’ll be looking to grind out a win through a war of attrition as First prepare for a sale – although, counter-intuitively, I wonder if Livingston may be attractive (even with LCB in place) to one of the other big groups for its access to Edinburgh’s western fringes.

 

[cnjb8]

Something appears to have been going wrong with Lothian’s management culture for some time. Wasn’t the previous MD, Ian Craig, accused (amongst other things) of allowing a bullying culture to develop – although he was (I think) eventually cleared of just about everything. We may be clutching our pearls about the registration plate scandal, but wasn’t Craig involved in an umbrella scandal (the details escape me, fortunately).

It seems odd that the management’s touchiness to criticism appears to have grown at a time when the Lothian business as a whole has been turning in some impressive results, including turning around East Lothian. They’ve got a lot to be proud of with their city operations.

For what its worth, I reckon Lothian have invested too much in West Lothian to pull out now. They’ll be looking to grind out a win through a war of attrition as First prepare for a sale – although, counter-intuitively, I wonder if Livingston may be attractive (even with LCB in place) to one of the other big groups for its access to Edinburgh’s western fringes.

Umbrella scandal?

 

[smtglasgow]

I genuinely can’t remember the details, but he apparently ordered a vast number of promotional (golf?) umbrellas about the time the trams launched without consulting the board. This was front page news. Edinburgh takes its excitement where it can.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

First time I’ve ever posted in this thread as a result of visiting the area and thinking I might be able to find something out about how it all works.

Is there somewhere you can discuss Lothian without it feeling like I’m stepping foot into a union meeting?

No Brother

Umbrella scandal?

Don't tell me the Lothian management were involved in the murder of Georgi Markov????? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bulgarian_umbrella

 

[cnjb8]

Don't tell me the Lothian management were involved in the murder of Georgi Markov????? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bulgarian_umbrella

Well I should hope not

 

[Darklord8899]

Chances of a slight frequency increase on Lothian Country services in Edinburgh during the Lothian driver strike?

..... I would have thought that any "spare" LCB driver would be drafted to cover City routes..... but with Lothian just now, anything is possible.....