Lothian Group discussion (Lothian City, Lothian Country Bus and East Coast Buses)

[OmniCity999]

Fair enough, ours have a habit of going through every gear too and revving their balls off as well. They do a good job at filling the city centre with smoke... Someone did tell the driver about the smoke but just told them to open windows/move upstairs (control had told him to carry on as it's "normal").

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Finally, someone has taken one for the team and said the new B8s are MCV bodied... I had known for a wee while now. Although, I hadn't signed the Lothian Secrecy Act 2020, I did find it quite amusing reading the conspiracy theories

No NDA's are involved...

 

[Aaronb2601]

I’m thinking off taking a trip down to seafield tomorrow, will there be any of the new B8RLE’s outside there?

 

[OmniCity999]

I’m thinking off taking a trip down to seafield tomorrow, will there be any of the new B8RLE’s outside there?

Potentially, but it's the weekend so Seafield will be quiet. Remember, its Seafield works, next to Peugeot not Marine, which is the depot - Next to BMW.

I cant share any images. But people want to see one - if you see one of the B8RLE's outside from public ground, feel free to share a photo. Many people will be pleased.

 

[Aaronb2601]

I cant share any images. But people want to see one - if you see one of the B8RLE's outside from public ground, feel free to share a photo. Many people will be pleased.

Okay I will do!

 

[TheEastCoaster]

Is there a reason why Lothian haven't introduced a a season ticket for their country services? Last year when staying in North Berwick it was only possible to buy a pack of day tickets.

Both ECB and LCB have been asked this countless times since they expanded in 2016/2018 respectively and they kept either offing to the M-ticket app or said it was coming soon, as time goes on I doubt they will ever introduce one unfortunately

 

[Jordan Adam]

Both ECB and LCB have been asked this countless times since they expanded in 2016/2018 respectively and they kept either offing to the M-ticket app or said it was coming soon, as time goes on I doubt they will ever introduce one unfortunately

"Soon" is a nice way of saying never!

It's pretty evident they have no plans to roll out season tickets otherwise they would've done long ago.

 

[scosutsut]

I wonder with the ECB/LCB ridacards (or lack thereof) is there a technological blocker to introducing them (given that they are currently single, and not multi zone) or is it just a business decision of 'we don't want to?'

I suspect the system would need updating to handle it, ticket machines too - all that costs money - money that would have to be spent to make the company lose more money (i.e customers already buying m tickets regularly convert to ridacards and thus pay less) You can see why that business case wouldn't stand up or get off the ground at any firm, in any industry! They are handling the "noise" that they don't offer them, if they were getting constantly roasted for it they'd then view it differently.

I'd also assume that overall ridacards are viewed as a legacy product, and there will be a future where ridacards and m-tickets are both phased out and replaced by a singular system that's based around an app and not physical cards - as that would further reduce costs and admin.

 

[SpeedbirdA350]

I'd also assume that overall ridacards are viewed as a legacy product, and there will be a future where ridacards and m-tickets are both phased out and replaced by a singular system that's based around an app and not physical cards - as that would further reduce costs and admin.

Lothian won't get rid of Ridacards or card-based products. Elderly, disabled, and even those who have an extremely limited income might not have smartphones. Then there are those who have left their phone behind and others who have let the battery die.

 

[Swanny200]

So I am assuming that the MCV's would be like for like, replacing older Wright bodied heavyweights, do ADL do any heavyweight bodies for the uk market?

 

[Aaronb2601]

Potentially, but it's the weekend so Seafield will be quiet. Remember, its Seafield works, next to Peugeot not Marine, which is the depot - Next to BMW.

I cant share any images. But people want to see one - if you see one of the B8RLE's outside from public ground, feel free to share a photo. Many people will be pleased.

So I’ve just went to the wrong depot haha, I got the 19 as I thought it stopped at the depot where the new B8’s were. However I did notice there were still some 04 plate B7RLE’s there.

 

[OmniCity999]

So I’ve just went to the wrong depot haha, I got the 19 as I thought it stopped at the depot where the new B8’s were. However I did notice there were still some 04 plate B7RLE’s there.

Yeah Seafield itself is a bit further along!

 

[CBlue]

So I am assuming that the MCV's would be like for like, replacing older Wright bodied heavyweights, do ADL do any heavyweight bodies for the uk market?

There isn't really a difference in terms of "heavyweight" or "lightweight" as far as bodywork goes, although there is for chassis. These MCV's are Volvo chassis so would be considered heavyweight.

I don't think ADL produce any body-on-chassis single deckers since they stopped making the Enviro300. The E400 however can be built on heavyweight Volvo or Scania running gear.

 

[Aaronb2601]

Yeah Seafield itself is a bit further along!

Yeah I have just walked past, no new B8 to be seen, just an old B7TL and apart from that it was empty.

 

[scosutsut]

Lothian won't get rid of Ridacards or card-based products. Elderly, disabled, and even those who have an extremely limited income might not have smartphones. Then there are those who have left their phone behind and others who have let the battery die.

All valid and I'm not disputing it but the day will still come. Not today, not tomorrow, but some day. Plenty of operators don't have physical card options, providing you can pay as you board other options don't have to be 100% accessible.

The costs of administering the cards alone will make sure of it. And it will be done under the oft misused guise of "progress"

 

[OmniCity999]

All valid and I'm not disputing it but the day will still come. Not today, not tomorrow, but some day. Plenty of operators don't have physical card options, providing you can pay as you board other options don't have to be 100% accessible.

The costs of administering the cards alone will make sure of it. And it will be done under the oft misused guise of "progress"

Apps aren't the way forward - they cost money to maintain; alot of money at that!

The way forward is scrap the app, everyone should use contactless card or Ridacard. Contactless cards should then charge you singles until you get to the equivalent of a day ticket, then after a few days once you've bought enough day tickets the quivelent of a ridacard per week, it would act as a ridacard and so forward, per month, per year etc.

Capping, its the way forward. Zonal of course for the subsidiaries.

Apps are pointless. The only use I can see is for visitors to the city. Even then, there are plenty of other options.

 

[Graham Alexand]

Are the 58 plate B7RLE Wright Eclipse 1/2 getting Withdrawn?

 

[CN04NRJ]

Are the 58 plate B7RLE Wright Eclipse 1/2 getting Withdrawn?

It's already been answered that the 30 B8RLEs are directly replacing 30 B7RLEs and no more than that.

 

[Graham Alexand]

It's already been answered that the 30 B8RLEs are directly replacing 30 B7RLEs and no more than that.

Sorry, i haven't been on the forum for a while, so it must only be the 2004 to 2006 ones then.

 

[Swanny200]

I'm interested on seeing how the new buses look with the livery on, I am assuming it will be standard livery or is it going to be different,if it is standard livery then I think they will look bang on!

 

[Jordanscot]

It’s standard livery... livery looks the same as the 7900’s have got now with madder and white

 

[ScotRail158725]

It’s standard livery... livery looks the same as the 7900’s have got now with madder and white

not the same as the XLBs with the curves instead of points?

 

[CN04NRJ]

Sorry, i haven't been on the forum for a while, so it must only be the 2004 to 2006 ones then.

No worries, it's been answered a few times in the last few pages though.

 

[OmniCity999]

Also with the B8’s arriving the majority of B7rle’s are being sold...

Common misconception among enthusiasts - 30 B8RLE's are due. There are around 60-70 B7RLE's in the fleet, 30 doesn't replace 70. 30 replaces 30.

Are the 58 plate B7RLE Wright Eclipse 1/2 getting Withdrawn?

It's already been answered that the 30 B8RLEs are directly replacing 30 B7RLEs and no more than that.

Sorry, i haven't been on the forum for a while, so it must only be the 2004 to 2006 ones then.

No Problem

 

[Lothiangem22]

~49 seated im led to believe - with a nice amount of standing space.

49 is a massive capacity increase for seating capacity of nearly 50%! The current 7900’s only have 34 seats. Looking forward to driving these in service.

 

[OmniCity999]

49 is a massive capacity increase for seating capacity of nearly 50%! The current 7900’s only have 34 seats. Looking forward to driving these in service.

Their practically warehouses on wheels, oodles of space. With aerodynamics of a warehouse too I kid of course, their lovely to drive.

 

[scosutsut]

Do we know / are we able to say if ADL were ever in play for the new singles, or was it always MCV from the start because that's what Volvo pushes as a solution?

 

[Jordan Adam]

Do we know / are we able to say if ADL were ever in play for the new singles, or was it always MCV from the start because that's what Volvo pushes as a solution?

I get the impression that the order was originally meant to be ADL but (perhaps to due Covid), it had to be changed earlier in the year to MCV as ADL couldn't develop a B8RLE body on time.

 

[CN04NRJ]

Their practically warehouses on wheels, oodles of space. With aerodynamics of a warehouse too I kid of course, their lovely to drive.

When they undoubtedly stray onto the 36/38 some parts of the route might be a little 'interesting' - especially on the 36 when you meet the other bus right on the corner of Leslie Place/Kerr Street and the left hander from Queensferry Rd/Craigleith Cres.

If we still had the 20 that would have been even more fun

 

[scotrail158713]

I wonder with the ECB/LCB ridacards (or lack thereof) is there a technological blocker to introducing them (given that they are currently single, and not multi zone) or is it just a business decision of 'we don't want to?'

It’s just ‘we don’t want to’. When ECB first launched under Lothian Country, and just had the 104 & 113 there were Ridacards for zones C & D. I want to say that they still exist, however there’s no mention of them anywhere on the website, so I think it’s just a case of continuing the service to those who still have one from back then. It’s a massive frustration though, as I think there would be a decent market for them from the likes of Dirleton, East Linton, Gullane etc.

 

[OmniCity999]

When they undoubtedly stray onto the 36/38 some parts of the route might be a little 'interesting' - especially on the 36 when you meet the other bus right on the corner of Leslie Place/Kerr Street and the left hander from Queensferry Rd/Craigleith Cres.

If we still had the 20 that would have been even more fun

That's why they have the rear steer axle

i kid i kid