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

[Bus9120UK]

Don't really feel comfortable saying other than if you look closely at the cab under the ticket machine you'll notice something missing. You can probably draw a conclusion from that and what it means... sorry for being so cryptic.

Cheers! I know exactly what you are on about.

 

[Graham Alexand]

Out of curiosity, have any of the sold B7RLE's or B9TL's stayed in Scotland?
Thanks .

 

[vla50]

Are the B9TLs that arrived from Metroline/Go Ahead London/Tower Transit back in 2018-19 getting replaced by B5TLs ordered?

 

[CN04NRJ]

Are the B9TLs that arrived from Metroline/Go Ahead London/Tower Transit back in 2018-19 getting replaced by B5TLs ordered?

No, it's already been stated on the previous page. I'm not sure how 90 buses would replace 826-925 and 37 London B9TLs in the main fleet that have just been upgraded to euro 6.

 

[OmniCity999]

Are the B9TLs that arrived from Metroline/Go Ahead London/Tower Transit back in 2018-19 getting replaced by B5TLs ordered?

They're replacing B9TL Gemini's.

by next year, all Gemini's will have gone and some of the Gemini2's will be gone with mostly the ex-London examples staying.

New deliveries are replacing resident B9's. The second hand examples are staying longer.

Out of curiosity, have any of the sold B7RLE's or B9TL's stayed in Scotland?
Thanks .

Some have, yes. Full details of which are available through any of the multiple Facebook groups.

there's a list going around somewhere.

 

[Graham Alexand]

Some have, yes. Full details of which are available through any of the multiple Facebook groups.

there's a list going around somewhere.

Thank you .
By any chance do you know of a group that may include this?
Thanks again .

 

[MotCO]

Cheers! I know exactly what you are on about.

I don't

 

[RomeoCharlie71]

I don't

It sounds to me like the new vehicles do not have tracking equipment fitted, which is usually fitted below the ticket machine

 

[Lothianbus703]

New deliveries are replacing resident B9's. The second hand examples are staying longer.

Some have, yes. Full details of which are available through any of the multiple Facebook groups.

there's a list going around somewhere.

So even the brown interior Volvo b9tl

 

[OmniCity999]

Thank you .
By any chance do you know of a group that may include this?
Thanks again .

any of the Lothian enthusiasts groups will be able to sort you out - but you'll need to ask.

So even the brown interior Volvo b9tl

The blue interior ones (anything up to 2009) are the first to go.

First it will be anything upto 2008, then 2009, then 2011.

The East Coast examples (2010) are not included in this, the timeline for them is different.

It sounds to me like the new vehicles do not have tracking equipment fitted, which is usually fitted below the ticket machine

yes and no.

There are changes afoot in this general department, but it is commercially sensitive information and cannot be discussed freely online.

 

[Graham Alexand]

any of the Lothian enthusiasts groups will be able to sort you out - but you'll need to ask.


The blue interior ones (anything up to 2009) are the first to go.

First it will be anything upto 2008, then 2009, then 2011.

Thank you .
Will this include LothianCountry's 928 - 936?

 

[Auld reekie]

any of the Lothian enthusiasts groups will be able to sort you out - but you'll need to ask.


The blue interior ones (anything up to 2009) are the first to go.

First it will be anything upto 2008, then 2009, then 2011.

The East Coast examples (2010) are not included in this, the timeline for them is different.


yes and no.

There are changes afoot in this general department, but it is commercially sensitive information and cannot be discussed freely online.

That’s good to hear as I find the app that’s used just now is rubbish.

 

[Lobuster]

It’s nearly 20 years old in all fairness, interesting to see what replaces it

 

[CN04NRJ]

More B5TLs have arrived at Longstone, highest fleet number I saw was 618 but there was some more parked around the place I didn't get a look at.

Also 168 is now TB2 and 169 is TB3. They've got full training bus interiors (I.e extended cab platform for instructor seat, reduced seating and tables).

 

[OmniCity999]

Thank you .
Will this include LothianCountry's 928 - 936?

Eventually they will be replaced.

That’s good to hear as I find the app that’s used just now is rubbish.

The app isn't the issue, it's perfect. It's the data it receives that is the issue.

It’s nearly 20 years old in all fairness, interesting to see what replaces it

Nothing noticible to the public. Just reliability more than anything.

Main issue that's being had is that once you do some of the fleet, you kinda have to do them all - so everything works in unison.

I believe currently the trackers use triangulation from a 2g phone network.

That is to say the system works out where the vehicle (sim card device) is in correlation to how close it is to the phone masts.

The future system is to be 4g, separate to the ticket machine and separate to the on board wifi, so each bus will have three separate 4g networks on it - but only one accessible to customers.

1 - ticketing data
2 - tracking data
3 - wifi data

 

[Auld reekie]

Eventually they will be replaced.

The app isn't the issue, it's perfect. It's the data it receives that is the issue.

Nothing notixible to the public. Just reliability more than anything.

Main issue that's being had is that once you do some of the fleet, you kinda have to do them all - so everything works in unicen.

I believe currently the trackers use triangulation from a 2g phone network.

That is to say the system works out where the vehicle (sim card device) is in correlation to how close it is to the phone masts.

The future system is to be 4g, separate to the ticket machine and separate to the on board wifi, so each bus will have three separate 4g networks on it - but only one accessible to customers.

1 - ticketing data
2 - tracking data
3 - wifi data

The app’s great then.

 

[cnjb8]

More B5TLs have arrived at Longstone, highest fleet number I saw was 618 but there was some more parked around the place I didn't get a look at.

Also 168 is now TB2 and 169 is TB3. They've got full training bus interiors (I.e extended cab platform for instructor seat, reduced seating and tables).

Will they receive the yellow livery then if they've already had the conversion?

 

[CN04NRJ]

Will they receive the yellow livery then if they've already had the conversion?

Probably one for @OmniCity999, but I'm sure he's already said they're not going to be repainted as there's no real need for a dedicated training livery.

From my own personal point of view I think it would be helpful for customers to put a vinyl over the screens with some sort of driver training logo as they're rollers so can't display driver training otherwise. Similar to what First have on their training buses.

 

[OmniCity999]

Probably one for @OmniCity999, but I'm sure he's already said they're not going to be repainted as there's no real need for a dedicated training livery.

From my own personal point of view I think it would be helpful for customers to put a vinyl over the screens with some sort of driver training logo as they're rollers so can't display driver training otherwise. Similar to what First have on their training buses.

I believe a couple are getting a dedicated livery but some (as of the start of the project) are staying in fleet so they can be be used in service with easy changes.

Whether this has changed or not I'm not 100% sure. It's getting the repaint slots that is proving difficult.

 

[cnjb8]

Probably one for @OmniCity999, but I'm sure he's already said they're not going to be repainted as there's no real need for a dedicated training livery.

From my own personal point of view I think it would be helpful for customers to put a vinyl over the screens with some sort of driver training logo as they're rollers so can't display driver training otherwise. Similar to what First have on their training buses.

I believe a couple are getting a dedicated livery but some (as of the start of the project) are staying in fleet so they can be be used in service with easy changes.

Weather this has changed or not I'm not 100% sure. Its getting the repaint slots that is proving difficult.

Ah thank you!

 

[Graham Alexand]

This is just a general question about services, I've noticed that Lothian Country haven't been as punctual as usual with buses running in pairs particularly the 275, I can't find anything but is there any roadworks or high traffic areas that anyone on here knows about what could be contributing to this?
Thanks

 

[CN04NRJ]

I believe a couple are getting a dedicated livery but some (as of the start of the project) are staying in fleet so they can be be used in service with easy changes.

Whether this has changed or not I'm not 100% sure. It's getting the repaint slots that is proving difficult.

I'll be interested to see what they come up with in terms of livery. Hopefully something more than plain yellow - a variant of the main livery pattern would be nice.

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

I'll be interested to see what they come up with in terms of livery. Hopefully something more than plain yellow - a variant of the main livery pattern would be nice.

A two-tone yellow of the current livery would certainly look the part. Will be interesting to see how they look.

 

[stantheman]

What bus trackers are for Lothian showing numbers , only one I know is Finlaysmith

 

[OmniCity999]

I'll be interested to see what they come up with in terms of livery. Hopefully something more than plain yellow - a variant of the main livery pattern would be nice.

A two-tone yellow of the current livery would certainly look the part. Will be interesting to see how they look.

Urgh the "new" livery in yellow would be horrific. Its really not an attractive livery...

 

[RomeoCharlie71]

What bus trackers are for Lothian showing numbers , only one I know is Finlaysmith

There are various.

London Vehicle Finder (http://lvf.io - type LRT in the search box to change to Lothian), Bus Times (http://bustimes.org/map) and the TfE app are a few others

 

[CN04NRJ]

Urgh the "new" livery in yellow would be horrific. Its really not an attractive livery...

Oh I wasn't thinking yellow, maybe some other more tasteful variant. Agree with you on the livery design, though I think the absolute worst application is on the 17 plate Skylinks. That grey is awful.

 

[mb88]

This is just a general question about services, I've noticed that Lothian Country haven't been as punctual as usual with buses running in pairs particularly the 275, I can't find anything but is there any roadworks or high traffic areas that anyone on here knows about what could be contributing to this?
Thanks

You've seen 275s running in pairs? Seriously? As in more than once or just on one occasion? There's nothing on that route currently that would lead to 30 minute delays on a regular basis. The only LC route that from my own experience driving them is starting to suffer from reliability issues is the 43. Running times were cut quite drastically as was layover at each end of the route. Fine during lockdown but it's getting more and more difficult to keep to time. I'm hoping the original schedules are brought back with the next service change.

 

[OmniCity999]

Oh I wasn't thinking yellow, maybe some other more tasteful variant. Agree with you on the livery design, though I think the absolute worst application is on the 17 plate Skylinks. That grey is awful.

In my opinion, there's nothing more classy than the previous swoops livery.

Lovely in Madder/White/Gold
Crisp in Green/Cream/Gold

It would even look good in East Coast Green/Grey/White or either version of Skylink, Blue/Grey/White/Gold

It made best use of every body type, looked a bit funky on the Gemini 3's, but I think it would look great on the XLB's or the new Enviros.

I'd even go as far to say as timeless.

 

[Graham Alexand]

You've seen 275s running in pairs? Seriously? As in more than once or just on one occasion? There's nothing on that route currently that would lead to 30 minute delays on a regular basis. The only LC route that from my own experience driving them is starting to suffer from reliability issues is the 43. Running times were cut quite drastically as was layover at each end of the route. Fine during lockdown but it's getting more and more difficult to keep to time. I'm hoping the original schedules are brought back with the next service change.

I've seen it about 3/4 times within the last month or so, even more with them being between 15 and 25 minutes late.

Yea it's understandable, I've noticed a drastic increase in traffic in Broxburn and Pumpherston so yea hopefully they do go back to normal schedules.