Lothian Buses acquires Eve Coaches

[YorkRailFan]

It's interesting that they're keeping the Eve's brand and not sticking it under Lothian Motorcoaches branding.

 

[stevenedin]

It's interesting that they're keeping the Eve's brand and not sticking it under Lothian Motorcoaches branding.

It may have been part of the deal from the previous owners. They could rebrand Lothian Motorcoaches as EVE Coaches but it depends on if they want to keep the name in the long term or not.

 

[YorkRailFan]

It may have been part of the deal from the previous owners. They could rebrand Lothian Motorcoaches as EVE Coaches but it depends on if they want to keep the name in the long term or not.

Wouldn't surprise me if that's case regarding the owners. It will be interesting to see what happens to the Lothian Motorcoaches brand though.

 

[LothianBusesPh]

It may have been part of the deal from the previous owners. They could rebrand Lothian Motorcoaches as EVE Coaches but it depends on if they want to keep the name in the long term or not.

That would make sense since it is the Eve owner who approached Lothian.

 

[CSB0241]

This is a bit of a long post but oh well!

Well if this is the current Lothian family’s fleet…;
1-14 • Volvo 7900Hs (CE)
15-28 • Volvo 7900Hs (LS)
29-41 • Volvo 7900Hs (CE)
42-50 • Volvo 7900Hs (MA)
51-65 • Wright Eclipse 3s (MU)
66-95 • MCV Evoras (LS)
172 • Wright Eclipse 2 (MA)
176-190 • Wright Eclipse 2s (MA)
221-250 • Wright Gemini 3s (MA)
291-294 • ADL E400EVs (CE)
351-400 • Wright Gemini 2s (CE)
401-425 • Wright Gemini 3s (MA)
426-468 • Wright Gemini 3s (CE)
469-495 • Wright Gemini 3s (MA)
496-510 • Wright Gemini 3s (LS)
511-518 • Wright Gemini 3s (MU)
551-570 • Wright Gemini 3s (LS)
571-590 • Wright Gemini 3s (LV)
601-637 • ADL E400MMCs (LS)
638-650 • ADL E400MMCs (MA)
651-667 • ADL E400MMCs (LS)
668-698 • ADL E400MMCs (CE)
841-850 • Wright Geminis (LV)
905/906 • Wright Geminis (MA)
926-928 • Wright Gemini 2s (MA)
929 • Wright Gemini 2 (LS)
930 • Wright Gemini 2 (CE)
931 • Wright Gemini 2 (TBC)
932-936 • Wright Gemini 2s (LV)
937-950 • Wright Gemini 2s (MU)
951-960 • Wright Gemini 2s (MA)
1000-1002 • Wright Gemini 2s (Varied)
1003-1032 • Wright Gemini 2s (MA)
1033-1049 • Wright Gemini 2s (LV)
1050 • Wright Gemini 2 (Varies)
1051-1062 • Wright Gemini 3s (MU)
1063-1140 • ADL E400XLBs (CE)
1141-1151 • Wright Gemini 2s (LS)
9001-9011 • Plaxton Panthers (NB)
9101/9102 • Mercedes Sprinter 514CDis (NB)
9201-9208 • Plaxton Leopards (NB)
TB1-TB7 • Wright Eclipse 2s (LS)
???-??? • Volvo BZL DDs (CE) [likely 701-750]

…& this is the current Eve Coaches fleet…;
E18 • Mercedes Sprinter 514CDi
E19 • Noone Tucas
E20 • Mercedes Sprinter City 45
E21/E22 • Mercedes Sprinter 514CDis
E23/E24 • ADL E200MMCs
E25 • Optare Solo
E26 • ADL E200MMC
E27 • Optare Solo SR
E29 • Rosero Connect
E32/E33 • Ferqui SR
E35 • Temsa MD9
E38 • Okotar Navigo
E39 • Irizar i6S
E41 • Sunsundegui Sideral
E42 • Sunsundegui SC5
E51/E52 • Mercedes Tourismos
E53 • Plaxton Panther
E57 • Irizar i6
E58/E59 • Mercedes Tourismos
E60 • Plaxton Leopard
E61 • Plaxton Panther
E72/E73 • Setra S416GT-HDs
E75 • Plaxton Panther
E100 • Optare Olympus

…then I think arranging these all should be fairly easy!


1. What to do with Lothian Motorcoaches
This is probably going to be something that everyone is going to be really mixed on, but I think that Lothian will just turn Lothian Motorcoaches into Eve Coaches. All minibuses & coaches’ branding to Eve Coaches.


2. Buses used on public services
First, I think the buses used for public services should be kept around the 100s. They are as follows; E20, E23, E24, E25, E26, E27, E29.

I think that the E200MMCs would fit best as 96-98, just as a good way to round off the double digits. Branding to EastCoastBuses.

To start off the 100s, I think that E29 should kick things off as 111, with E20 following suit as 112. After that, E25 & E27 would probably fit as 113/114. Room has been left incase of any more E200MMC orders (how likely that is, I’m unsure). Branding to EastCoastBuses.


3. Private hire minibuses
First, I think we should distinguish all the private minibuses, & they are as follows; E18, E19, E21, E22, E32, E33, E38.

I’d assume it's obvious that E18, E21, & E22 should just become 9103-9105, seeing as they are the same model as 9101/9102. Branding unchanged.

After that, I think that E19 can become 9106, E32 9107, E33 9108, & E38 to 9109. Branding unchanged.


4. Private hire coaches
So, excluding E100, all of the remaining vehicles are private hire coaches, most of which are fairly easy to sort.

E60 can be converted into 9209, & E53, E61, & E75 to 9012-9014 for (I’d assume) obvious reasons. Branding unchanged.

E39 & E57 can become 9015/6, following swiftly after the Panthers. After that, we can see E51, E52, E58, & E59 becoming 9017-9020. Branding unchanged.

Jumping up a bit, E72 & E73 can become 9051 & 9052, with E41 & E42 following as 9053 & 9054, & E35 as 9055. Branding unchanged.


5. What to do with E100
I was debating whereabouts this should go on the fleet list, but I realised that Lothian only ordered 97 E400MMCs, leaving 699 & 700 free, so I thought that there’s no better place for it than 699! I think that to aid with the double decker disaster at Lothian, maybe it could aid Central by being used on the 11/16/31/47?

 

[YorkRailFan]

That would make sense since it is the Eve owner who approached Lothian.

Post #12 links to a tweet confirming it.

 

[NorthClyde320]

A surprising and unexpected development indeed. Prior to seeing it was the Eve owner who approached Lothian I had thought this was maybe Lothian's way of getting back at and attempting to eat into Prentice's work after some of the bad feeling that has existed over the years, though I think relations have improved more recently. It certainly puts Lothian in a better position to bid for future council supported service work, but on the flip side Prentice's may try and win more service work too; after all they weren't happy when they lost the 121 and 123 to Eve's a few years after replacing First and dramatically improving those services, but time will tell.

I would imagine that East Coast fares and tickets will be available on Eve's services as it is all owned by the same company and may be announced in due course, but I agree it would make sense to rebrand the bus services under the East Coast Buses banner. Again, part of the sale may be that the Eve name has to remain for a certain amount of time.

It will be interesting to see what happens with the Lothian Motorcoaches brand and fleet though as it has maybe struggled more since COVID and the fleet has reduced somewhat; integration with Eve's could be an answer.

Interesting and exciting times ahead indeed.

 

[TheEastCoaster]

I would imagine that East Coast fares and tickets will be available on Eve's services as it is all owned by the same company and may be announced in due course, but I agree it would make sense to rebrand the bus services under the East Coast Buses banner but again part of the sale may be that the Eve name has to remain for a certain amount of time.

To be honest, I think the Integrated ticket options is what would make this a big deal breaker for the services, Imagine your travelling out to North Berwick for the day from the city on the 124/X5, and once you've seen everything you want to see, you hop on the 120 service towards Dunbar to explore the town, and it's getting late so you jump on the X7 back to Edinburgh, all of this for about £8.50, and even cheaper if your only travelling within East Lothian.

I could see the appeal really benefiting the residents of East Lothian too who want to make connecting journeys without having to spend more money, overall I say this is a good investment.

 

[Ricky Kane]

I Noticed that the EVE Optare 100 seater is currently at Marine Depot.

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

I Noticed that EVE Optare 100 seater is currently at Marine Depot.

There’s been quite a few Eve’s vehicles at Marine recently. I can only assume that they’re there for inspection and as a way to formally register them into Lothian’s fleet perhaps?

 

[Ricky Kane]

There’s been quite a few Eve’s vehicles at Marine recently. I can only assume that they’re there for inspection and as a way to formally register them into Lothian’s fleet perhaps?

I Believe they are there for Inspection.

 

[LothianBusesPh]

I Believe they are there for Inspection.

The two Irizars have been there too and another unidentified one is at Seafield Works.

 

[VioletEclipse]

I have seen it mentioned that the Eve fleet are to have new fleet numbers applied soon, but I'm treating that as pure speculation for now.

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

I have seen it mentioned that the Eve fleet are to have new fleet numbers applied soon, but I'm treating that as pure speculation for now.

I’d imagine it’ll be a case of putting them neatly where it suits. All coaches with the 9xxx region and the service vehicles as and where they fit best.

 

[TheEastCoaster]

Just noticed on the diversion updates via the App. with the 124/X5 diversion in place in North Berwick also mentions Services 120/121 from Eve Coaches.

I know Lothian obviously have bought Eve coaches but since the purchase we have heard nothing and this inclusion was very interesting to say the least.

 

[Highland050261]

Just noticed on the diversion updates via the App. with the 124/X5 diversion in place in North Berwick also mentions Services 120/121 from Eve Coaches.

I know Lothian obviously have bought Eve coaches but since the purchase we have heard nothing and this inclusion was very interesting to say the least.

Possibly the start of the integration.

 

[TheEastCoaster]

Possibly the start of the integration.

I'm still wondering when they will finally announce the plans they have for Service 120/121 etc.

I'm assuming now they don't allow ECB day tickets on these services.

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

I'm still wondering when they will finally announce the plans they have for Service 120/121 etc.

I'm assuming now they don't allow ECB day tickets on these services.

For now though, but I can’t see it being long before the fares are integrated together. It requires Eve’s though to be brought up to Lothian spec internally as well which will take time.

 

[Grumpyscot]

Now that Eve's comes under the Lothian umbrella....

https://lothian-storage.eu-central-1.linodeobjects.com/eve/DRT131.pdf

DRT Route 131 is a Demand Responsive Transport 3-month trial from funding from the community bus fund, using 17-
seater low floor wheelchair accessible bus.
The DRT operation service hours would be linked to commuting services Mondays to Fridays 0700-2100and from direct
points only from the area covered: Oldhamstocks, Dunglas, Bilsdean, Innerwick, Thorntonloch, Skateraw and Broxburn to:
• Asda Spott road – Access to the public bus services: X7, 253, 120 &130
• Dunbar Railway Station – Access to train services.
• Dunbar Medical practice – Access to medical appointments.