They're also reducing their operating costs by doing that though remember. Less money on fuel etc. Unless the Traffic Commissioner starts getting involved which at this point I'd be surprised they'll be fine for remaining in the area. Not being able to cover their services isn't fine but it won't stop them surviving unless Lothian win far more people over
No, if you had say a 20 minute frequency and had a full compliment of driver to operate that service but are reducing that frequency to every 30 minutes because ridership had decreased and therefore revenue had fallen, certainly, there would be a saving there by reducing the frequency under normal circumstances.
However, simply reducing a posted timetable frequency will not under current circumstances save anything, if the bus is already not running it is not using fuel but it is also not collecting revenue either, it’s a double-edged sword so to speak, however, factor in costs like road tax etc and it’s become more bleak the then there’s the sustainability factor to consider.
Not sustainability in term of just revenue but also sustainability in terms of your ridership numbers in the future if you lose your so called “loyalty” from passengers.
Or perhaps there's a lack of demand? The unreliability of First and the constant Lothian Country route/timetable changes are not passenger friendly in the slightest, and could likely have pushed more folk into cars.
Expected unreliability at First or refinement of what Lothian Country is offering is not the same thing.
If both cut because they have to, I’m fine with that, but if you cut and even then don’t have the driver numbers or dedication from your workforce your up a creak with no paddle.
I assume that Lothian Country changing things up in West Lothian was to allow more drivers to be placed on to the 43 being increased in frequency to every 20 minutes, given that it operates in the Edinburgh council area and will likely be taking superior revenue than some other Lothian Country routes that operate within West Lothian Only.
I won’t dispute it with anyone, Factually I guarantee you that Lothian Country have already soaked up the ridership along the West Lothian-Edinburgh corridors on the x18 & x28, aside from Larburts x38 of course given that it’s serving Linlithgow, Winchburgh and Kirkliston.
If Lothian Country keeps that up long term and LC can generate & maintain loyalty, that is not good for the future prospects of Livingston depot offering domestic services outside of council contracts like the 20, 63 & 68 or maybe even schools or the dribbles of people found on the x25 between Blackridge & Almondvale, the 280 & x25 are carrying similar amounts, however, that is not enough, particularly if we are to see yet further cuts.
Given I rely on First I do. It's a positive to those at the top and that's my point. Money is the most important thing to them
It’s was and likely still is, my guess is that this is one of the very reasons that the company is in such a bad way.
I’ll tell you this much, most bus drivers would rather aspire to drive a 12yr old B7RLE than they would a Wright StreetLite.
Livingston’s Streetlites are some of the worst vehicles I’ve driven in years, few bus driver would choose not to relate to this, it’s a simple thing but it’s still particularly relevant.
StreetLites being both cheaper to buy and cheaper to run than an equivalent heavy weight bus.
I think that the Council need to properly work with bus companies to help them boost people’s confidence in public transport. They should get a network in place, stick to it and bring in a proper good value ticket or pass that allows you to travel on any bus service (or One-Ticket should be subsidised by the Council so that West Lothian residents get some sort of discount and this would help grow passenger numbers).
I specifically would say that the future goal for many of our local authority councillors or our devolved GOV is to municipalise/nationalise buses before any reform of major funding was to be considered, for the simple fact that tax payer money should not be at the beckon call to a private company.
Unfortunley It really does look like something like this has happen, We could also include Broxburn.
convenience is king for a majority now, even if we had a great, well connected bus network.
