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

[CLwmb]

Pre-warning; I apologise for my ignorance but I've not used this forum in while so I've been kept out the loop (so to speak).

I'm planning a visit for Saturday; would anybody be able to look into their crystal ball and tell me: Do both/either BZL demonstrators typically get sent out on a weekend? I notice they're not on any public fleet list (i.e. bustimes.org) but from recent photos I've seen, I gather they're usually allocated to the 1 & 24.

Any help would be greatly appreciated; thanks in advance.

 

[LothianBusesPh]

Pre-warning; I apologise for my ignorance but I've not used this forum in while so I've been kept out the loop (so to speak).

I'm planning a visit for Saturday; would anybody be able to look into their crystal ball and tell me: Do both/either BZL demonstrators typically get sent out on a weekend? I notice they're not on any public fleet list (i.e. bustimes.org) but from recent photos I've seen, I gather they're usually allocated to the 1 & 24.

Any help would be greatly appreciated; thanks in advance.

I was on BV22 KPF on Monday and it was on the 1, it has been on the 1 pretty much all its time after failing on the 23.

BV23 NNT typically gets allocated to the 24, but it has also been spotted on the 7, 8 and 23.

 

[CLwmb]

I was on BV22 KPF on Monday and it was on the 1, it has been on the 1 pretty much all its time after failing on the 23.

BV23 NNT typically gets allocated to the 24, but it has also been spotted on the 7, 8 and 23.

Nice one mate. Good to know for sure.

 

[Highland050261]

199 was back out yesterday.

 

[stevenedin]

181 is also back out and on the 2 today.

 

[Bus9120UK]

181 is also back out and on the 2 today.

183 and 184 have just moved to Central.

 

[bonnyrigglad1]

I was on BV22 KPF on Monday and it was on the 1, it has been on the 1 pretty much all its time after failing on the 23.

BV23 NNT typically gets allocated to the 24, but it has also been spotted on the 7, 8 and 23.

BV22KPF has also occasionally ventured out on to the 12, but not very often, majority of the time on the 1.

BV23NNT has mainly been on the 24 in the last few weeks

 

[computerSaysNo]

199 was back out yesterday.

Was it in East Coast (ECB) livery or City? I can't really see ECB needing any further single deckers unless one of the new routes is being ran from Musselburgh instead of Marine.

 

[Bus9120UK]

Was it in East Coast (ECB) livery or City? I can't really see ECB needing any further single deckers unless one of the new routes is being ran from Musselburgh instead of Marine.

It's in EastCoast livery.

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

199 was back out yesterday.

Looks like it has re-entered service on a peak run this morning after moving along from Marine last night. I assume it will probably be out again later on.

 

[Bus9120UK]

189 to Marine now and 186 to Longstone. Again I expect 186 to join 187 receiving mechanical work before moving back to Marine where it will be based from the changes.

 

[cam22]

Anyone know if the tri-axle vehicles will be retained on the new 47 when it changes to Penicuik - Cammo?

 

[alexf380]

Was it in East Coast (ECB) livery or City? I can't really see ECB needing any further single deckers unless one of the new routes is being ran from Musselburgh instead of Marine.

We'll need one more single deck each day with the X7 running time increase.

Looks like it has re-entered service on a peak run this morning after moving along from Marine last night. I assume it will probably be out again later on.

16:17 from Haymarket is the afternoon equivalent journey, I'd expect it will be out then too.

 

[roadierway77]

Anyone know if the tri-axle vehicles will be retained on the new 47 when it changes to Penicuik - Cammo?

I imagine so, as I saw an XLB running not in service on the route of the 41 the other day, perhaps a driver familiarisation run to get them used to navigating the route in longer vehicles.

 

[cam22]

I imagine so, as I saw an XLB running not in service on the route of the 41 the other day, perhaps a driver familiarisation run to get them used to navigating the route in longer vehicles.

Thanks. I was hoping they might be retained. I noticed that they have been in service on the route every now and again during the past few weeks. It will be an upgrade in capacity and comfort from the current 11 plates on the route.

 

[paul47B]

How long until the 45 is cut to serve Heriot Watt to Leith Street? I dont see Leith Street to Kings Road being very well served

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

How long until the 45 is cut to serve Heriot Watt to Leith Street? I dont see Leith Street to Kings Road being very well served

I myself think eventually it’ll revert to doing just Hanover Street to Heriot Watt, with potentially a small number of peak only journeys extending to the East of the city.

 

[LothianBusesPh]

I myself think eventually it’ll revert to doing just Hanover Street to Heriot Watt, with potentially a small number of peak only journeys extending to the East of the city.

If they are going to curtail the route even further, then I think they would probably do Heriot-Watt to Waterloo Place, since that seems to be the terminus of everything nowadays. If anything I think it is becoming a "bus station" of such.

 

[ScotRail158725]

If they are going to curtail the route even further, then I think they would probably do Heriot-Watt to Waterloo Place, since that seems to be the terminus of everything nowadays. If anything I think it is becoming a "bus station" of such.

It used to serve a lot more. often there would be a row of around 5 or 6 First Buses alone at any one time. Mind you we’re talking 10-15 years ago now

 

[eh1]

I imagine so, as I saw an XLB running not in service on the route of the 41 the other day, perhaps a driver familiarisation run to get them used to navigating the route in longer vehicles.

Being realistic here I'd say it was most likely running off service somewhere, perhaps to East Craigs even. May have been training school doing a run to check if the bus is suitable/risk assessed for it but would be surprised if they were to take every central driver down the route in a tri axle!

 

[roadierway77]

Being realistic here I'd say it was most likely running off service somewhere, perhaps to East Craigs even. May have been training school doing a run to check if the bus is suitable/risk assessed for it but would be surprised if they were to take every central driver down the route in a tri axle!

That's true, I remember it wasn't tracking on bustimes and I was on a bus myself heading into the city at the time so I'm honestly not sure what it was doing.

 

[Darklord8899]

Being realistic here I'd say it was most likely running off service somewhere, perhaps to East Craigs even. May have been training school doing a run to check if the bus is suitable/risk assessed for it but would be surprised if they were to take every central driver down the route in a tri axle!

Yes, it could well be just dead running to somewhere. I have seen them (the tri-axles) running out of service on Calder Road on more than one occasion.

Also, I'm pretty sure that if tri-axles were to be retained on the 47, that their suitability for the route would have been established long before now. (As others have said in the past, they can pretty much cope with any route currently run)

 

[stevenedin]

189 is back out and on the 2 today

 

[eh1]

Yes, it could well be just dead running to somewhere. I have seen them (the tri-axles) running out of service on Calder Road on more than one occasion.

Also, I'm pretty sure that if tri-axles were to be retained on the 47, that their suitability for the route would have been established long before now. (As others have said in the past, they can pretty much cope with any route currently run)

Sometimes you have to get creative with off service routes, when they put diversions on! Could have also come off the X33/34 run from Riccarton.

 

[Vectron383]

Lothian Buses shortlisted at this year's Scottish Transport Awards - Lothian Buses

Lothian Buses has been shortlisted in six categories at this year’s Scottish Transport Awards. The Scottish Transport Awards offer the opportunity to bring together the transport community to recognise and celebrate industry achievements across Scotland. The categories we have been nominated in...

www.lothianbuses.com

Lothian shortlisted in multiple categories for the Scottish Transport Awards.

The Scottish Transport Awards offer the opportunity to bring together the transport community to recognise and celebrate industry achievements across Scotland.

The categories we have been nominated in are as follows:

Public Transport Operator of the Year
Most Effective Road Safety, Traffic Management and Enforcement – for the Risk Factory Bus
Excellence in Technology and Innovation – for LB Roads
Transport Team/Partnership of the Year – for Lothian and Change Mental Health (formerly Support in Mind Scotland)
Most Innovative Transport Project of the Year – for the Risk Factory Bus
Excellence in Transport Accessibility
Supported by the Scottish Government, Transport Scotland, Network Rail and The Railway Industry Association, the Scottish Transport Awards will take place at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Glasgow on 22 June 2023.

Anyone else find it mildly interesting that they used a picture of 997? Surely it would have taken more effort to choose a picture of what is a unique vehicle in the Lothian fleet right now instead of the several hundred modern Lothian-branded buses.

 

[LothianBusesPh]

Lothian Buses shortlisted at this year's Scottish Transport Awards - Lothian Buses

Lothian Buses has been shortlisted in six categories at this year’s Scottish Transport Awards. The Scottish Transport Awards offer the opportunity to bring together the transport community to recognise and celebrate industry achievements across Scotland. The categories we have been nominated in...

www.lothianbuses.com

Anyone else find it mildly interesting that they used a picture of 997? Surely it would have taken more effort to choose a picture of what is a unique vehicle in the Lothian fleet right now instead of the several hundred modern Lothian-branded buses.

It's probably something to do with stepping into the world of electric or something as people may search it thinking it's unique.

 

[CN04NRJ]

I imagine so, as I saw an XLB running not in service on the route of the 41 the other day, perhaps a driver familiarisation run to get them used to navigating the route in longer vehicles.

XLBs are used fairly regularly on the 41 on the afternoon rush bus that goes on there, I've had one on there a few times and no bother. Certainly the Cammo end of the route is no trouble at all for one.

They're already route proved for everything except the 8 and low bridge routes.

 

[Vectron383]

It's probably something to do with stepping into the world of electric or something as people may search it thinking it's unique.

Sounds very likely- a small part of me wonders if it could be a premonition for a new order.

(Take this with a swimming pool of salt though I am not being serious here)

 

[Bus9120UK]

Today marks two years since the first of 601-698 entered service. Time has flown quickly.

 

[LothianBusesPh]

Sounds very likely- a small part of me wonders if it could be a premonition for a new order.

(Take this with a swimming pool of salt though I am not being serious here)

I have my sources!