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

RomeoCharlie71

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Service changes from Sunday 12th September have been confirmed. https://www.lothianbuses.com/news/2021/08/service-change-12-september-2021/

A service change will take effect across Lothian Buses, EastCoastbuses, Lothiancountry, Airport and NightBus services from Sunday 12 September.

Teams across Lothian have been analysing travel patterns and monitoring customer demand in order to best meet the needs of those travelling with us now that Covid restrictions in Scotland have moved past Level 0.

We would like to take this opportunity to thank all our customers and colleagues for their patience, understanding and ongoing support over the last 18 months.

Key changes to the network will include:

Service 15 – the morning and evening peak frequency will be increased up to every 10 minutes for staff and students travelling to Easter Bush Campus.
Service 25 – the Monday to Friday daytime frequency will be increased to every 10 minutes to provide additional capacity for students returning at Heriot-Watt and Napier Universities.
Service 33 – the service will be extended from Sheriffhall Park and Ride to the new housing development at Millerhill via Shawfair Park.
Service X33 – the service will be extended from Newtongrange Dalhousie Road to the new housing development at Orchard Grange via Newtongrange High Street. An additional morning journey will also be introduced towards Edinburgh.
Service 45 – the service will be fully reintroduced between Heriot-Watt University and Queen Margaret University via Currie, Colinton, Bruntsfield, City Centre, Meadowbank, and Portobello, running every 30 minutes during the day on Mondays to Fridays.
Nighthawk N106 – the service will be reintroduced and will operate via Duddingston Park South, Fort Kinnaird, Newcraighall Road and Newhailes (with one journey on Saturday and Sunday mornings).
Lothian is pleased to now be in a position to reinstate bus panel information at stops across the city. Timetables will be in position for the service change taking effect on Sunday 12 September. Customers are encouraged to continue to refer to our website and app for the latest service information, or call bus information on 0131 555 6363 for assistance.

Details of the service change across the network can be found below.

Service 1
Minor timetable changes.

Service 2
Minor timetable changes.

Service 4
Minor timetable changes.

Service 5
Revised timetable. The Monday-Friday and Saturday daytime frequencies are reduced to every 20 minutes.

Service 7
Minor timetable changes.

Service 8
Minor timetable changes.

Service 10
Revised timetable. The Saturday daytime frequency is reduced to every 20 minutes.

Service 11
Minor timetable changes.

Service 12
Minor timetable changes.

Service 14
Minor timetable changes.

Service 15
Revised timetable. The morning and evening peak frequency is increased up to every 10 minutes for students and staff travelling to Easter Bush Campus.

Service 16
Revised timetable. The morning and evening peak frequency on Mondays to Fridays is reduced to every 12 minutes.

Service 19
Minor timetable changes.

Service 21
Revised timetable. The Monday-Friday daytime frequency is reduced to every 15 minutes.

Service 22
Minor timetable changes.

Service 23
Revised timetable. The Saturday daytime frequency is reduced to every 20 minutes.

Service 25
Revised timetable. The Monday-Friday daytime frequency is increased to every 10 minutes to provide additional capacity for students returning at Heriot-Watt and Napier Universities.

Service 26
Revised timetable. The Saturday daytime frequency is reduced to every 12 minutes.

Service 27
Revised timetable. The Saturday daytime frequency is reduced to every 20 minutes.

Service 30
Revised timetable. The Monday-Friday, Saturday and Sunday daytime frequencies are reduced to every 12 minutes.

Service 31
Revised timetable. The Monday-Friday and Saturday daytime frequencies are reduced to every 12 minutes.

Service 33
Revised route and timetable. Service 33 is extended from Sheriffhall Park & Ride to the new housing development at Millerhill via Shawfair Park.

Service X33
Revised route and timetable. Service X33 is extended from Newtongrange Dalhousie Road to the new housing development at Orchard Grange via Newtongrange High Street. An additional morning journey is introduced towards Edinburgh.

Service 34
Minor timetable changes.

Service 35
Minor timetable changes.

Service 38
Revised timetable. Some early morning journeys on Saturday and Sunday are withdrawn due to low usage.

Service 41
Minor timetable changes.

Service 42
Minor timetable changes.

Service 44
Revised timetable. The Saturday daytime frequency is reduced to every 15 minutes.

Service 45
Service fully reintroduced between Heriot-Watt University and Queen Margaret University via Currie, Colinton, Bruntsfield, City Centre, Meadowbank, and Portobello, running every 30 minutes during the day on Mondays to Fridays.

Service 49
Revised timetable on all days to allow coordination with revised Service 33 between Sheriffhall and North Bridge.

Service X7
Minor timetable changes.

Service 106
Minor timetable changes.

Service 113
Minor timetable changes.

Service 124
Minor timetable changes.

Service 139
Revised timetable. The Monday to Friday frequency is reduced to hourly.

Service 43
Minor timetable changes.

Service 275
Minor timetable changes.

Skylink 200
Revised timetable. The evening frequency is reduced to every 45 minutes.

Skylink 300
Revised timetable with some early morning and evening trips withdrawn due to low usage. The service will also be withdrawn on Saturdays.

Skylink 400
Minor timetable changes.

NightBus N14
Revised timetable. An additional journey is introduced from St Leonard’s at 23:57 towards Muirhouse.

Nightbus N25
Revised timetable. The frequency is increased to every 30 minutes on all nights of the week.

Nighthawk N106
Service reintroduced and revised route. The route between Edinburgh and Dunbar is changed to operate via Duddingston Park South, Fort Kinnaird, Newcraighall Road and Newhailes, served by one journey on Saturday and Sunday mornings.

Nighthawk N124
Revised route. Nighthawk N124 is extended from Longniddry to North Berwick, served by one journey on Saturday and Sunday mornings.
(I have removed any services from the quote with "no change" to save the post being too long!)
 
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ScotRail158725

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Service changes from Sunday 12th September have been confirmed. https://www.lothianbuses.com/news/2021/08/service-change-12-september-2021/


(I have removed any services from the quote with "no change" to save the post being too long!)
The 30 reduction is quite a surprise to be honest. The 30 was just coping as it is.

I'm also disappointed with the lack of night services on weekends. Half hourly on some routes throughout the night could definitely suffice.

The Millerhill/Shawfair extension has been inevitable for the past 3 years now and the 33 will probably be the best route to serve said area. Where about exactly will it terminate in Millerhill/Shawfiar though? Theres a good few Square miles of housing being built.

I also dont know why they don't just put the 300 out of its misery and withdraw. It's slowly getting cut back and cut back more and more and it will inevitably be completely withdrawn one day.
 
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TheEastCoaster

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Service changes from Sunday 12th September have been confirmed. https://www.lothianbuses.com/news/2021/08/service-change-12-september-2021/


(I have removed any services from the quote with "no change" to save the post being too long!)
It's good news about the 33, 45 and both the N106 And N124.

I'm disappointed that the 15 still hasn't been fully extended back to its glory but there is no point holding our breath about it.

And i know I joked about the 300 being cut back but it’s the sad reality, at this rate the service is better withdrawn or reinvented.
 
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Edirim

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The Millerhill/Shawfair extension has been inevitable for the past 3 years now and the 33 will probably be the best route to serve said area. Where about exactly will it terminate in Millerhill/Shawfiar though? Theres a good few Square miles of housing being buit

Heres is a link showing the proposed extension to the route of the 33 - https://goo.gl/maps/9w2sqaHusaLq7jhM9

The usual complaints will be incoming about the lack of extension to the 15 and the lack of return of the X5.
I find the routing of the N106 as interesting given an N30 already covers that part of the world.
 
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TheEastCoaster

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Link showing the proposed extension to the route of the 33 - https://goo.gl/maps/9w2sqaHusaLq7jhM9

Usual complaints will be incoming about the lack of extension to the 15and the lack of return of the X5.
Find the routing of the N106 as interesting given an N30 already covers that part of the world.

I forgot about the X5 actually, another silly mistake! I can’t wait for the uproar!
 
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Service changes from Sunday 12th September have been confirmed. https://www.lothianbuses.com/news/2021/08/service-change-12-september-2021/


(I have removed any services from the quote with "no change" to save the post being too long!)
There seem to be an awful lot of frequency reductions both Monday to Friday and at weekends, just when people are starting to need to use the services again; is this due to a reduced number of drivers available at the moment because of self isolation etc?
 

Auld reekie

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There seem to be an awful lot of frequency reductions both Monday-Friday and at weekends, just when people are starting to need to use the services again; is this due to a reduced number of drivers available at the moment because of self isolation etc?
Maybe there is a shortage of drivers and Lothian are reducing frequencies on some routes to allow other services to be improved.
 

CN04NRJ

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The 30 reduction is quite a surprise to be honest. The 30 was just coping as it is.

Also dissapointed with the lack of night services on weekends. Half hourly on some routes throughout the night could definitely suffice

The Millerhill/Shawfair extension has been inevitable for the past 3 years now and the 33 will probably be the best route to serve said area. Where about exactly will it terminate in Millerhill/Shawfiar though? Theres a good few Square miles of housing being buit

I also dont know why they dont just put the 300 out if its misery and withdraw. Its slowly getting cut back and cut back more and more and it will inevitably be completely withdrawn one day

I agree with the comment on the 30. It's been extremely busy as of late, but it may just be due to the festival/tourism. Services are even running up to 10 minutes late after 2200 due to passenger numbers and frequent stopping.

I'm just glad I won't be driving it anymore - my last 30 is on the 11th then I'm off to Central. It'll be a nightmare when the universities/colleges return.
 

Blindtraveler

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Nowhere near enough to a Pacer :(
They are presumably going to use the excuse when challenged that they have larger buses and fewer passengers. No doubt when the complaints are all coming in thick and fast about them being overcrowded and poor on timekeeping, they'll sneakily reinstate a few services.
 

TheEastCoaster

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With the risk of having pitchfork and torches being ignited I have to ask because I’m sure someone else might be thinking this also :D

I’ve noticed First West Lothian‘s services are being reduced slightly, 600 being curtailed, X25 getting the 275/276 treatment and the X38 being every half hour (I’m aware that service is technically Midland but whatever)

You think this could give LCB an advantage in the area? when the X23 was suspended I thought the X28 would pick up and with the X25 curtailed that might improve the X18 passengers, and with the X38 decreasing in frequency will LCB maybe consider Linlithgow an option?

I can already tell that there are loads of doubts on these claims but the mind bogles.
 

Blindtraveler

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Nowhere near enough to a Pacer :(
I've made a couple of journeys to Livingston recently using the x27 and x28. The x27 is a good fast service for Livingston so does well anyway with passengers wanting to make an end-to-end journey. On the x28, being slightly slower but calling and serving more places, I couldn't help observing that it had a healthy load on even in the middle of the day for most of the journey. Admittedly this was during the school holidays so I might need to have another go for the sake of observation next week or something but it certainly might favour them in future if it's not already doing so.
 
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freddiem

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I've made a couple of journeys to Livingston recently using the x27 and x28. The x27 is a good fast service for Livingston so does well anyway with passengers wanting to make an end-to-end journey. On the x28, being slightly slower but calling and serving more places, I couldn't help observing that it had a healthy load on even in the middle of the day for most of the journey. Admittedly this was during the school holidays so I might need to have another go for the sake of observation next week or something but it certainly might favour them in future if it's not already doing so.
I have also noticed a rise in the number of people using the X27 in particular, its recent change to serve Calderwood has proven to be popular whenever I travel on it, and it picks up plenty of people making short journeys along the route. I think part of its recent increase in patronage has been due to the withdrawal of the First Bus X23 meaning Lothian Country are the main operator on the A71 corridor to West Lothian.

As a resident of Livingston, I always try to use the X27 when travelling to Edinburgh as the X28 is painfully slow when trundling round Craigshill, and taking in the sights of Kirknewton feels like a lengthy detour.

I also must note that the use of the West Approach Road is a huge time-saver over Gorgie/Dalry which reduces journey times and makes the bus a more attractive option for West Lothian.
 
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Jordan Adam

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I think part of its recent increase in patronage gas been due to the withdrawal of the First Bus X23 meaning Lothian Country are the main operator on the A71 corridor to W Lothian.
There probably has however, i would imagine it's more just due to the easing of Covid restrictions, patronage has been significantly increasing over the last month or so across the board anyway.
With the risk of having pitchfork and torches being ignited I have to ask because I’m sure someone else might be thinking this also :D

I’ve noticed First West Lothian‘s services are being reduced slightly, 600 being curtailed, X25 getting the 275/276 treatment and the X38 being every half hour (I’m aware that service is technically Midland but whatever)

You think this could give LCB an advantage in the area? when the X23 was suspended I thought the X28 would pick up and with the X25 curtailed that might improve the X18 passengers, and with the X38 decreasing in frequency will LCB maybe consider Linlithgow an option?

I can already tell that there are loads of doubts on these claims but the mind bogles.
I can't see why it would make much difference on the Broxburn corridor when First are still offering the same level of service as Lothian.

Keep in mind these First changes are only temporary due to the Covid-related driver shortage, although that's a topic for a different thread.
 

Lothianbus703

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With the 45 coming back soon, do you think it will be run with single deckers or double deckers? Longstone or marine? I was just wondering what you think.
 
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FlybeDash8Q400

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With the 45 coming back soon, do you think it will be ran by single deckers or double deckers?, Longstone or marine?, I was just wondering what you think.
I’d expect 7900’s from Marine with one or two rotas as doubles during the morning peak. One rota appears to be Central run as well. I can’t see the need for double decks on it throughout the day, and the Tron buses that Longstone ran at the end of service aren’t back as yet either.


309 is back at Central again, having been out the last week or so. 431-435 are all now either at Seafield or King’s (Grangemouth) so I wonder if all 5 are getting the conversion to city spec rather than the 3 or 4 that was previously mentioned.

The first of the 71 plates should now be at Seafield as well by the looks of it. I haven’t had a chance to go down and have a look.
 
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Bus9120UK

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I’d expect 7900’s from Marine with one or two rotas as doubles during the morning peak. One rota appears to be Central run as well. I can’t see the need for double decks on it throughout the day, and the Tron buses that Longstone ran at the end of service aren’t back as yet either.


309 is back at Central again, having been out the last week or so. 431-435 are all now either at Seafield or King’s (Grangemouth) so I wonder if all 5 are getting the conversion to city spec rather than the 3 or 4 that was previously mentioned.

The first of the 71 plates should now be at Seafield as well by the looks of it. I haven’t had a chance to go down and have a look.
431 had been at Grangemouth for some time, and has returned to Seafield a few days ago. We will most likely see it back on the road very soon.
 

ScotRail158725

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Ensign in July:
From Lothian : B9TLs SN09CTK / CTO SN08BYH / BYK / BYL / BYM / BYO / BYP / BYR / BYT / BYU

Out:
Volvo B9TLs SN09CTK / CTO : Happy Als, Liverpool.
Volvo B9TL SN08BXY : Heyfordian , Bicester.
Volvo B7RLE SK07CGU : Ipswich Buses

925 was listed on that list too but considering i seen it pass my work about half an hour ago that’s an error
 

CN04NRJ

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According to the Lothian Buses tracker 651-654 are listed as 21 plates.

If they haven't been used on the road I think they can be re registered as 71 plates? Just checked and none of them are taxed yet.

If I recall correctly some of the XLBs were delivered as 68s but went into service on 19 plates.
 

ScotRail158725

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If they haven't been used on the road I think they can be re registered as 71 plates? Just checked and none of them are taxed yet.

If I recall correctly some of the XLBs were delivered as 68s but went into service on 19 plates.
Correct, the first 15 or so XLBs were reregistered.

You can re register vehicles as long as they’ve not been used on the road without trade plates. The XLBs that were on 68 plates had an outing to the Castle to launch them and they were still on 68 plates then but were moved with trade plates hence how they could be re registered
 

CN04NRJ

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From the Ensign fleet news;

From Lothian : B9TLs SN09CTK / CTO SN08BYH / BYK / BYL / BYM / BYO / BYP / BYR / BYT / BYY / BYV

First of the 09 plates (301+302) has departed, 301 is shown as going to Happy Al's, Liverpool.

The list is incorrect as 925 is still in service, perhaps it's due to go shortly though.
 
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ScotRail158725

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From the Ensign fleet news;

From Lothian : B9TLs SN09CTK / CTO SN08BYH / BYK / BYL / BYM / BYO / BYP / BYR / BYT / BYY / BYV

First of the 09 plates (301+302) has departed, 301 is shown as going to Happy Al's, Liverpool.

The list is incorrect as 925 is still in service, perhaps it's due to go shortly though.
Already been posted a bit further up:D
 

ScotRail158725

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Needs my eyes checking! :lol:

I queried it and it is indeed sold, but required for "a little longer". Assuming it'll go as soon as 651 enters service.
Yeah i’d guessed it had been sold hence it being on the list but it would stay until the next arrivals similarly to how those ECB B7s were sold but stayed until they weren’t needed.
 

ScotRail158725

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Have any other buses been sold but required for "a little longer"?
As i just said above, 20794-20800, which were with East Coast, were sold to the Green bus along with 15 others in October 2019, however they lasted until September last year. Funnily enough they ended up not even going to The Green bus and ended up being sold to Ensign, then 2 different areas of Stagecoach, before being sold to Moffat & Williamson.
 
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Lothianbus703

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As i just said above, 20794-20800 with East Coast were sold to the Green bus along with 15 others in October 2019 however they lasted until September last year. Funnily enough they ended up not even going to The Green bus and ended up being sold to Ensign then 2 different areas of Stagecoach before being sold to Moffat & Williamson
I was meaning currently (like along with 925)
 

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