West Lothian buses

[TheEastCoaster]

On a slightly off topic question here, how are the N23/N25 & N28/N43 in terms of popularity?

I was out last night and I saw a N23 with 6 people on it but a N28 with 10-12ish around Scott monument after 3am! I know the N23 has the double advantage of serving both Kirknewton and Bathgate since the N28 doesn’t so I’m just wondering what it is, maybe the night tickets or just a personal preference.

 

[Jordan Adam]

On a slightly off topic question here, how are the N23/N25 & N28/N43 in terms of popularity?

I was out last night and I saw a N23 with 6 people on it but a N28 with 10-12ish around Scott monument after 3am! I know the N23 has the double advantage of serving both Kirknewton and Bathgate since the N28 doesn’t so I’m just wondering what it is, maybe the night tickets or just a personal preference.

Out of curiosity, what time did you see the N23 at?

 

[TheEastCoaster]

Out of curiosity, what time did you see the N23 at?

Must of been around 3:15-3:20, I did have abit of drink in me too so the numbers might not be 100% accurate

 

[wlbusser]

The talk on what part of the X38 route will be the most popular is definitely an interesting one.

Like OTW and others have stated before Kirkliston will be the big winners on this with the Ridacard revenue and will no doubt be the reason this service is every 20 minutes!

Winchburgh is obviously a gamble but I guess only time will tell, if the residents are looking to travel to somewhere specific in Edinburgh besides the city centre then LCB is no doubt for them

It all comes down to price for me.
Why would I spend £25 (M-ticket price) for 5 days travel with LCB when I can get 7 days with first for £21.50.

Sure all lothian services, and the tram is a good addition but is it worth something for the non important travel I'd use it with VS the extra 2 days I get with first?

 

[overthewater]

It all comes down to price for me.
Why would I spend £25 (M-ticket price) for 5 days travel with LCB when I can get 7 days with first for £21.50.

Sure all lothian services, and the tram is a good addition but is it worth something for the non important travel I'd use it with VS the extra 2 days I get with first?

Do you go down to Livingston on the 600?

 

[wlbusser]

Do you go down to Livingston on the 600?

I do but that's more because I can rather than a need to.

I will admit the 600 is convenient for the odd times I can grab a 24/25 along from Edinburgh to Ratho St and get it there rather than wait for a 38, since the 600 stops closer are closer to home for me.

 

[Bus9120UK]

Yesterday when I arrived back in Edinburgh, I spotted a 23 branded E400 MMC on the 600. And Last Week I also spotted a Scania Omnidekka on the 25.

 

[Darklord8899]

Yesterday when I arrived back in Edinburgh, I spotted a 23 branded E400 MMC on the 600. And Last Week I also spotted a Scania Omnidekka on the 25.

... I quite often see a 600 branded bus on the 23 in the (early) morning at Sighthill heading into town (before 7am)

 

[wlbusser]

Can't remember what it was exactly, but got a 38 bus that happened to be on loan from Glasgow yesterday.
As I got on I noticed it looking god awful on the inside, definitely not well maintained in a while and very dated with the reverse seats further up the back of the bus which I've not seen in ages.

I assume there was a good reason for it being in service, just can't see why they would put something that bad out.
Wasn't uncomfy and the ride was OK, but couldn't look past the state of the interior.

 

[Jordan Adam]

Can't remember what it was exactly, but got a 38 bus that happened to be on loan from Glasgow yesterday.
As I got on I noticed it looking god awful on the inside, definitely not well maintained in a while and very dated with the reverse seats further up the back of the bus which I've not seen in ages.

I assume there was a good reason for it being in service, just can't see why they would put something that bad out.
Wasn't uncomfy and the ride was OK, but couldn't look past the state of the interior.

Fleet shortages due to Wright being in administration. As such some Solars were transferred to cover.

 

[Bluebirdscot66]

Can't remember what it was exactly, but got a 38 bus that happened to be on loan from Glasgow yesterday.
As I got on I noticed it looking god awful on the inside, definitely not well maintained in a while and very dated with the reverse seats further up the back of the bus which I've not seen in ages.

I assume there was a good reason for it being in service, just can't see why they would put something that bad out.
Wasn't uncomfy and the ride was OK, but couldn't look past the state of the interior.

as well as the state of the cabs / dash .botch jobs galore on at least 1 I seen (65757)

 

[AndrewTaylor95]

It's the old Hutchy Scania's, there's a native one on loan to Larbert from Midland Bluebird SN04 CKY 65700 that's still in not bad condition

 

[Observer]

Have there been any surplus X36 branded E300s transferred? Did see one in the Larbert car park a few days ago.

 

[TheEastCoaster]

The new timetables are on bustimes

287 seemed to have gotten its evening timetable completely scrapped!

X38 seems relatively fair and sounds like it won’t serve Bridgend village

 

[Bluebirdscot66]

Have there been any surplus X36 branded E300s transferred? Did see one in the Larbert car park a few days ago.

they go there for prep and mot .

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

The new timetables are on bustimes

X38 seems relatively fair and sounds like it won’t serve Bridgend village

X38 is serving Bridgend, the timing point is just the ‘road end’, when you do ‘show all stops’ it pops up

 

[wlbusser]

Fleet shortages due to Wright being in administration. As such some Solars were transferred to cover.

Ahh right, thanks for that.

as well as the state of the cabs / dash .botch jobs galore on at least 1 I seen (65757)

I don't mind older vehicles, and I actually prefer some over a streetlite. When it looks in a right state inside almost like its for scrap then yeah I'm not a fan.

 

[Jordan Adam]

X38 is serving Bridgend, the timing point is just the ‘road end’, when you do ‘show all stops’ it pops up

It isn't, the X38 is only serving the road end. It doesn't go up Auldhill Road.

 

[Bus9120UK]

Fleet shortages due to Wright being in administration. As such some Solars were transferred to cover.

Wright Bus is no longer in adminstration.

 

[overthewater]

SO this what we know:

First
* Are cutting back on evening services
* Revised its No27 to every 20mnis

LCB:
* Are pulling off the 281,
* no service for kirkton which I think is silly.
* while keeping the X17 and X18 the same Freq.
* Revised 275 has slightly different timetable with 40min gap at certain points in peak time.
* X27 Is now every 30mins, but still goes via Delridge west and howden before St Johns
* X28 is now every 30mins , but the running time end to end is still poor.
* X43 have been improved at peak times to be every 15mins.
* X38 is just as fast as First service, Ex2 still save 15 over both, and if you live in Springfield it even quicker

Hopeful the next set of changes in 2020 will see further changed to get the network even better, X27/X28 and 280 are fine for now, however some minor route changes to 27 and 28 would make them even better.

Since LCB has pulled back I wonder if certain Blue bus routes can stay?

This is the more important bit, WCL service review is taking place over the next 5 months, this is where it could get interesting.

 

[Jordan Adam]

Wright Bus is no longer in adminstration.

Indeed they are not, however that's irrelevant as they were in administration and the effects of that are still being felt by operators.

 

[Bluebirdscot66]

From what I see of the x38 it’s only missing out the stops at Balgreen and western corner ,apart from that it’s exactly same stops as 38 albeit getting less running time than the 38 , that doesn’t make it quicker ,just more late . Interesting

 

[Observer]

Maybe they can think they can run it on time because unlike First it's not going all the way to Falkirk or Stirling?

Will just need to see what happens but as said plenty of times before this should have been one of the first routes launched, if they went on the pounce when First's frequency was reduced it could have made a dent. But maybe once this is done First will get their act together and order new buses for their 38, as the StreetLites have never been the right vehicle for them. Saying that, it's likely they'd end up being long ADL E200MMCs...

they go there for prep and mot .

Makes sense, keep on forgetting Larbert is where the MOTs are done, even though there's a sign outside and I've been in the place once.

 

[Darklord8899]

Maybe they can think they can run it on time because unlike First it's not going all the way to Falkirk or Stirling?

Will just need to see what happens but as said plenty of times before this should have been one of the first routes launched, if they went on the pounce when First's frequency was reduced it could have made a dent. But maybe once this is done First will get their act together and order new buses for their 38, as the StreetLites have never been the right vehicle for them.

..... I'm no business man, accountant or expert on bus operations...
But I really think the majority of people on here banging on about what LCB *should * have done are missing the point.....

LCB move into West Lothian, was NEVER about wiping the floor with First and kicking them out, if it had been about that then the management and bean counters would of had a vastly different strategy and plan.
(Of course they would have attacked the 38 corridor first and the LCB network would look very similar to First's maybe with some little tweaks linking places with no direct link, trying to squeeze First out. There would have been cut price "introductory" fares, probably some sort of WL Ridacard.... but this is not what's happened! Why?.....
Because it was never about a swift moving in and taking over! I think, it was a very careful and calculated plan by Lothian Management to not have to pay the £20m that the council were wanting them to for the tram extension.

 

[ScotRail158725]

176-181 away getting repainted, looks like these are the ones for the X38

 

[Bus9120UK]

176-181 away getting repainted, looks like these are the ones for the X38

For me this is great news. They would look Fabulous on the X38.

 

[ScotRail158725]

For me this is great news. They would look Fabulous on the X38.

tbh im not the biggest fan of that batch as they’re quite poorly both externally an internatlly, hopefully this gives them a good refresh though. tbh id prefer doubles on it but the bridges on the route say otherwise

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

176-181 away getting repainted, looks like these are the ones for the X38

I’m guessing that means we might see 1 or 2 04 plates pop up, wonder long term if the other ones would move over if new singles joined the city fleet

 

[ScotRail158725]

I’m guessing that means we might see 1 or 2 04 plates pop up, wonder long term if the other ones would move over if new singles joined the city fleet

id assume so but the priority would be the 04 plates in the city fleet which have been reinstated at Marine to cover for 176-181 and any others that come over then they’d replace the 04 plates at LC. almost 16 years old and in terrible condition and they definitely need replacing quickly

 

[SpeedbirdA350]

..... I'm no business man, accountant or expert on bus operations...
But I really think the majority of people on here banging on about what LCB *should * have done are missing the point.....

LCB move into West Lothian, was NEVER about wiping the floor with First and kicking them out, if it had been about that then the management and bean counters would of had a vastly different strategy and plan.
(Of course they would have attacked the 38 corridor first and the LCB network would look very similar to First's maybe with some little tweaks linking places with no direct link, trying to squeeze First out. There would have been cut price "introductory" fares, probably some sort of WL Ridacard.... but this is not what's happened! Why?.....
Because it was never about a swift moving in and taking over! I think, it was a very careful and calculated plan by Lothian Management to not have to pay the £20m that the council were wanting them to for the tram extension.

I said this months ago, it's about saying to the council that they can't afford the dividend.

To be honest, LB should have nothing to do with the trams, as the 100 and tram are in direct competition with each other!