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

[ScotRail158725]

I seen 3 ex Lothian B7TLs yesterday heading up the M74, anyone know why?

where about on the M74? Nothing to do with Lothian regardless will be out used for some type of service, returning to the depot or off for repaint with their new operators

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

As expected, looks like some (or all) Blue interiored Eclipse 2's are now becoming Training Buses replacing the Eclipse 1's (not my photo)View attachment 94583
Also some E400 MMC's (apparently E400 BT's) in the background, more photos coming of them

I was expecting this to happen, how times have changed. I never thought I’d see the day when Eclipse2’s become trainers. But they’re at that age now so was not surprised at all to see it.

 

[OmniCity999]

@Ricky Kane

i cant reply to you as you're writing your posts as quotes?

Will the new training buses receive TB fleet numbers, and if so will they keep their current fleet number as well?

TB numbers will be used.

 

[Highland050261]

@Ricky Kane

i cant reply to you as you're writing your posts as quotes?

TB numbers will be used.

Sorry have fixed it and thank you for the answer.

 

[route101]

where about on the M74? Nothing to do with Lothian regardless will be out used for some type of service, returning to the depot or off for repaint with their new operators

Near Crawford heading North.

 

[Lothianbus703]

Just a question but do any of you think the Gemini 1s will be withdrawn straight away or slowly as the E400MMCs come into service?

 

[TheEastCoaster]

Off Topic but i was doing some looking back on that Wayback Machine and found the old network map (probably 2005/2006ish) and thought you guys would enjoy this! interesting to see all the old routes on here like the 13,17,32 and the 12 going to Jewel, or 24 going to Edinburgh Park and the 42 to Silverknowes! amazing to see how much the network has changed drasticly in over 15 years, not sure if for the better in some aspects, but there was some good links here and there, anyway back on topic to Gemini's and and such

 

[scotrail158713]

Off Topic but i was doing some looking back on that Wayback Machine and found the old network map (probably 2005/2006ish) and thought you guys would enjoy this! interesting to see all the old routes on here like the 13,17,32 and the 12 going to Jewel, or 24 going to Edinburgh Park and the 42 to Silverknowes! amazing to see how much the network has changed drasticly in over 15 years, not sure if for the better in some aspects, but there was some good links here and there, anyway back on topic to Gemini's and and such

View attachment 94729

Interesting. I do find it fascinating to look at how stuff changes over the years. It does show its age by mentioning the Eastern General Hospital.

 

[Bus9120UK]

Looks like there will be service changes from Sunday - https://www.lothianbuses.com/news/2021/04/service-change-from-sunday-25-april/

A further service change will take effect on our network from Sunday 25 April, with improved reliability and increased frequency across Edinburgh and the Lothians, as well as new direct links in West Lothian to and from the vaccination centre at Pyramids Business Park.

Teams across Lothian have been analysing travel patterns and monitoring customer demand in order to best meet the needs of those travelling with us while we continue to move through the Scottish Government’s route-map to recovery.

Key changes to the network will include:

• More buses during the day on Services 3, 8, 19, 21, 43 and 47.
• Increased frequency on Monday to Saturday evenings until 2200 hrs approximately on Services 7, 11, 14, 16, 22, 25 and 26, to coincide with the reopening of the hospitality sector.
• Improved reliability across the network, particularly for morning journeys.
• New direct links in West Lothian between the Vaccination Centre in Bathgate and Addiewell, Polbeth and West Calder.

Still no full return of route 45.

The Shandwick Place Travelhub will also reopen for Ridacard Customers:

We are also pleased to announce that Shandwick Place TravelHub will reopen from Monday 26 April between 0830 – 1730 hrs from Monday to Saturday for Ridacard customers only. Other TravelHubs will remain closed at this time until further notice.

 

[Lothianbus703]

I have just visited Seafield and taken some more pictures of the Eclipse 2s. I think 167 - 170 are the ones becoming training buses (I know it was mentioned earlier).

 

[TheEastCoaster]

Interesting. I do find it fascinating to look at how stuff changes over the years. It does show its age by mentioning the Eastern General Hospital.

your right I didn’t even notice that! Also feels surreal to see Pencaitland and Ratho on the map with no fare zone and the 15 in Tranent!

Looks like there will be service changes from Sunday - https://www.lothianbuses.com/news/2021/04/service-change-from-sunday-25-april/

Still no full return of route 45.

The Shandwick Place Travelhub will also reopen for Ridacard Customers:

Interesting decision to extend the 276 to Bathgate instead of Fauldhouse, I can see why with the Vaccination centre, but hope this will prove to be handy in the long run also!

your right I didn’t even notice that! Also feels surreal to see Pencaitland and Ratho on the map with no fare zone and the 15 in Tranent!



Interesting decision to extend the 276 to Bathgate instead of Fauldhouse, I can see why with the Vaccination centre, but hope this will prove to be handy in the long run also!

Also still disappointed at the lack of the 275 going back to the Gyle with the shops opening, they took the X17/X38 off the stop signs for LCB in the Ratho-Maybury section but not the 275!

 

[scosutsut]

I noticed on a drive the other day it looks like much of the hard shoulder on the M8, Edinburgh bound from junction 2 and 1 (Hermiston Gait) being prepared to be a bus lane, ironic timing given everything that happened with Green Arrow as that could have revolutionised peak journey times, pandemic aside.

 

[buslad1988]

Also still disappointed at the lack of the 275 going back to the Gyle with the shops opening, they took the X17/X38 off the stop signs for LCB in the Ratho-Maybury section but not the 275!

What shops?! There’s barely any non essential shops left at the Gyle Centre now. Many of the offices in the area have now permanently closed too or staff still working from home.

Think the next change will come when the new St James Quarter opens at the end of June to coincide with the end of most (hopefully all) restrictions. They’ll foresee a surge in demand for that plus the tourist season.

 

[CN04NRJ]

What shops?! There’s barely any non essential shops left at the Gyle Centre now. Many of the offices in the area have now permanently closed too or staff still working from home.

Think the next change will come when the new St James Quarter opens at the end of June to coincide with the end of most (hopefully all) restrictions. They’ll foresee a surge in demand for that plus the tourist season.

Bang on the money from what I've heard. August probably looking alot closer to a pre covid service?

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

Bang on the money from what I've heard. August probably looking alot closer to a pre covid service?

I think a service level similar to August/September last year is what is likely, certainly the industry I work in is planning a full pre March 2020 service by then.

 

[Auld reekie]

Looks like there will be service changes from Sunday - https://www.lothianbuses.com/news/2021/04/service-change-from-sunday-25-april/

Still no full return of route 45.

The Shandwick Place Travelhub will also reopen for Ridacard Customers:

Disappointed about the 45 but with universities not fully opened I can understand the reason.

 

[TheEastCoaster]

What shops?! There’s barely any non essential shops left at the Gyle Centre now. Many of the offices in the area have now permanently closed too or staff still working from home.

Morrisons, Boots, Mark and Spencer’s, Schuh, Superdrug, Holland and Barrett, WHSmith, Pandora, New Look! oh yeah and folk living west no doubt work there too

Also all the other services running to the Gyle haven’t been cut back so there’s no reason why the 275 should not be extended beyond Broxburn!

 

[Blindtraveler]

Frequency and reliability improvements on the 21 certainly very welcome buy this regular user. I have used this bus frequently during lockdown to meet a friend for exercise and takeaway coffee in Portobello once a week travelling from North West Edinburgh and and whilst January and February were ok as soon as they started to send some schools back quite a few journeys simply became hopelessly late and never really recovered thanks to a combination of roadworks, drivers breaks and and whatever else.

 

[Baileygirl]

I noticed on a drive the other day it looks like much of the hard shoulder on the M8, Edinburgh bound from junction 2 and 1 (Hermiston Gait) being prepared to be a bus lane, ironic timing given everything that happened with Green Arrow as that could have revolutionised peak journey times, pandemic aside.

This will be for all the non existing services which use this route. Even Green Arrow did not use this section as it came they came off at Newbridge. They would have benefitted from the new bus lane westbound on the A8 though.

 

[scosutsut]

This will be for all the non existing services which use this route. Even Green Arrow did not use this section as it came they came off at Newbridge. They would have benifitted for the new bus lane west bond on the A8 though.

Genius, didn't think about this, not even the 900s do, do they? They'll come off at 2 as well! Epic fail!

Not sure if the bus lane goes any further back up (between say 3 and 2) as I joined at 2. At least that would be worth something.

 

[Edirim]

It's for the Stagecoach Autonomous bus

 

[CraigLockhart]

It's for the Stagecoach Autonomous bus

Is that not the 747 that goes down the A8 to the airport

 

[route101]

It's for the Stagecoach Autonomous bus

Wondered if that's going ahead.

 

[CN04NRJ]

Morrisons, Boots, Mark and Spencer’s, Schuh, Superdrug, Holland and Barrett, WHSmith, Pandora, New Look! oh yeah and folk living west no doubt work there too

Also all the other services running to the Gyle haven’t been cut back so there’s no reason why the 275 should not be extended beyond Broxburn!

If it's still being extended i'd say the target market would be office workers if not for shoppers. Doubt it would justify the extra vehicle(s) needed at the moment until demand comes back more strongly (although it would personally be handy for me occasionally if it went to the Gyle as it goes past my house!).

 

[Jordan Adam]

Morrisons, Boots, Mark and Spencer’s, Schuh, Superdrug, Holland and Barrett, WHSmith, Pandora, New Look! oh yeah and folk living west no doubt work there too

Also all the other services running to the Gyle haven’t been cut back so there’s no reason why the 275 should not be extended beyond Broxburn!

I too am surprised they've not extended the 275 back, even if it was just on an hourly basis, especially as they're extending the 276 from Loganlea to Bathgate which seems rather pointless given it's a route that's been done countless times before and never worked.

 

[Graham Alexand]

I too am surprised they've not extended the 275 back, even if it was just on an hourly basis, especially as they're extending the 276 from Loganlea to Bathgate which seems rather pointless given it's a route that's been done countless times before and never worked.

The reason service 276 is extended is to create more links to the Pyramids Business Park Bathgate for vaccinations

 

[Humberscot]

I too am surprised they've not extended the 275 back, even if it was just on an hourly basis, especially as they're extending the 276 from Loganlea to Bathgate which seems rather pointless given it's a route that's been done countless times before and never worked.

Personally I don't think there is the market out there for either the 275 or the 276. I see endless numbers of totally empty double deckers on the 2 routes every day. That's in and around Broxburn - not sure if it picks up business in other areas? Is frightening how much money is being spent on running completely empty buses around. LCB keep tinkering with these 2 routes trying to find passengers and then go and pull the X38 which was picking up passengers pre COVID and the First X38 is now becoming busier again as some semblance of normal life returns. This at a time when the First X38 is unpopular and unreliable, certainly in Winchburgh where I am, which is one of the biggest areas of housing development in the UK with a massive ongoing population increase and the much needed planned railway station keeping being pushed back with large amounts of commuter journeys in and out of Edinburgh with new A8 bus lanes to tap into along the Winchburgh/Kirkliston/RBS/corridor. Questionable and baffling decision making in my opinion.

 

[freddiem]

Personally I don't think there is the market out there for either the 275 or the 276. I see endless numbers of totally empty double deckers on the 2 routes every day. That's in and around Broxburn - not sure if it picks up business in other areas? Is frightening how much money is being spent on running completely empty buses around. LCB keep tinkering with these 2 routes trying to find passengers and then go and pull the X38 which was picking up passengers pre COVID and the First X38 is now becoming busier again as some semblance of normal life returns. This at a time when the First X38 is unpopular and unreliable, certainly in Winchburgh where I am, which is one of the biggest areas of housing development in the UK with a massive ongoing population increase and the much needed planned railway station keeping being pushed back with large amounts of commuter journeys in and out of Edinburgh with new A8 bus lanes to tap into along the Winchburgh/Kirkliston/RBS/corridor. Questionable and baffling decision making in my opinion.

I also see the 275 passing through my area completely empty most of the time. Think the only bit of it that actually serves a purpose at the moment is Seafield - Blackburn - Pyramids - Wester Inch - Bathgate, and even then is predominantly OAP passes. The issue seems to be with the 276 is on it's western end from Livingston Bus Terminal - Loganlea is the 26/A is always just a few minutes ahead of it, combined with 6 buses an hour (2x 276, 4 x 26/A) the whole corridor is greatly overserved.

 

[TheEastCoaster]

I also see the 275 passing through my area completely empty most of the time. Think the only bit of it that actually serves a purpose at the moment is Seafield - Blackburn - Pyramids - Wester Inch - Bathgate, and even then is predominantly OAP passes. The issue seems to be with the 276 is on it's western end from Livingston Bus Terminal - Loganlea is the 26/A is always just a few minutes ahead of it, combined with 6 buses an hour (2x 276, 4 x 26/A) the whole corridor is greatly overserved.

I can’t speak for West Lothian as I don’t live out there but I can see the 276 extension As a sensible thing for now since it links the vaccine centre, I’m suprised they haven’t rerouted the 280 or 281 up that way yet though!

 

[freddiem]

I can’t speak for West Lothian as I don’t live out there but I can see the 276 extension As a sensible thing for now since it links the vaccine centre, I’m suprised they haven’t rerouted the 280 or 281 up that way yet though!

Absolutely agree, think an extension to Winchburgh for either 275 or 276 would be beneficial too, or maybe the 600 could cover it as it passes through livingston quicker than either of the LC routes