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

[DunsBus]

Does no one remember when First operated the No18 off peak?

A similar situation to when Eastern Scottish ran the evening and Sunday journeys on the 23, 34/35 and 42/46 as council tenders after deregulation, along with all journeys on the 13, 38 and the night buses.
As with the off-peak 18, Ridacards were not valid on the non-Lothian journeys.

 

[stevenedin]

Does no one remember when First operated the No18 off peak?

I remember and used to use it regularly it was very well run with friendly drivers from Dalkeith depot and later Musselburgh depot.

 

[Blindtraveler]

Yes, I used to use the 18 quite a bit as well. Hope both it and the 17 continue to serve the airport long-term and that this isn't the first stage of cutting them back to some random terminating point

 

[TheEastCoaster]

Yes, I used to use the 18 quite a bit as well. Hope both it and the 17 continue to serve the airport long-term and that this isn't the first stage of cutting them back to some random terminating point

The 400 (well 18 now) is very well used, although i'm sure like most other services, most of it's patrage is under 22's and over 60's who get free travel anyway, so it would be a loss for them to cut it completly, i was disapointed to hear they are cutting it back to every 40 minutes on a Saturday also, hope this won't end up turning into an hourly frequency in the future too.

 

[Bus9120UK]

Lothian briefly published an article on their site announcing East Coast Buses have been awarded the 120, 121 and 123 with route and schedule alterations as part of this.

The article is back, here: https://www.lothianbuses.com/news/2025/03/east-coast-buses-awarded-services-120-121-and-123/

Following the award and acceptance from East Lothian Council for three tender services, East Coast Buses will now operate supported Services 120, 121 and 123, effective from Sunday 6 April.

Formerly operated by Eve Coaches, these supported services will now be provided by East Coast Buses with revised routes and timetables in place to improve connectivity with the wider East Coast Buses network.

A fares review will also take effect from Sunday 6 April, with details available below. A summary of the revised routes, including download links to timetables, is also available below.

More on the article.

 

[stevenedin]

Lothian briefly published an article on their site announcing East Coast Buses have been awarded the 120, 121 and 123 with route and schedule alterations as part of this. The article was removed but for the time being I've screenshotted and downloaded what was on the page. All graphics are Lothians. I presume it'll be published again in due course, at which point I'll remove these. I am also happy to remove if requested

The article was here: https://www.lothianbuses.com/news/2025/03/east-coast-buses-awarded-services-120-121-and-123/

That's good news that they have been awarded the contract and hopefully this will allow the East Coast Buses network to grow into the future as well. It will be nice to see the Eve Coaches Buses in the East Coast Buses livery.

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

That's good news that they have been awarded the contract and hopefully this will allow the East Coast Buses network to grow into the future as well. It will be nice to see the Eve Coaches Buses in the East Coast Buses livery.

Somehow I also think the Eve service vehicles might be replaced by Lothian type stock.

No 130 either. Is this moving to another operator or might this be why it was deleted?

 

[stevenedin]

Somehow I also think the Eve service vehicles might be replaced by Lothian type stock.

No 130 either. Is this moving to another operator or might this be why it was deleted?

I just noticed that the 130 was missing. Perhaps it hasn't been subsidised or went to another operator.

 

[Bus9120UK]

I've additionally been able to retrieve the timetable PDFs from my history. These are still published officially and are linked here:

120
121
123

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

It will be interesting to see if the transferred Eve network works as a circuit, ie starting at Dunbar then 120>121>123->121->120 and back to Dunbar. Seems possible.

EDIT: Answered my own question haha.

120 is 2 buses and is self contained.

121 and 123 interwork generally in this circuit:

Starting at North Berwick:

121 to Haddington>Short 123>Long 123>121 to North Berwick.

Only exception I’ve found to this is the First circuit where the long 123 is replaced with the school clockwise run and goes first, and the short run is second instead of first.

 

[TheEastCoaster]

Lothian briefly published an article on their site announcing East Coast Buses have been awarded the 120, 121 and 123 with route and schedule alterations as part of this. The article was removed but for the time being I've screenshotted and downloaded what was on the page. All graphics are Lothians. I presume it'll be published again in due course, at which point I'll remove these. I am also happy to remove if requested

The article was here: https://www.lothianbuses.com/news/2025/03/east-coast-buses-awarded-services-120-121-and-123/

Interesting.. very surprised they took this down quickly and quietly, maybe they backed down or maybe they are going to wait later on down the line, of course they will need to have enough single deckers for those routes, now i understand the new Zone G and H that was on the graphic maps, although it does make it look more clunky, but i suppose its an excuse for them to keep the fares the same as they were with Eve Coaches, especully for the 120, which seems to be getting an upgrade in frequency.

Only time will tell, i assume this change was meant to take place along with the other changes in April?

 

[ScotRail158725]

Lothian briefly published an article on their site announcing East Coast Buses have been awarded the 120, 121 and 123 with route and schedule alterations as part of this. The article was removed but for the time being I've screenshotted and downloaded what was on the page. All graphics are Lothians. I presume it'll be published again in due course, at which point I'll remove these. I am also happy to remove if requested

The article was here: https://www.lothianbuses.com/news/2025/03/east-coast-buses-awarded-services-120-121-and-123/

Interesting to note the route changes to take out some of the tighter streets in and around haddington. i assume this could be a measure to cover any last minute substitutions incase any of the current east coast singles, specifically the b8rles, on these routes?

I've additionally been able to retrieve the timetable PDFs from my history. These are still published officially and are linked here:

120
121
123

Is the 120 is warranting of an hourly frequency? never used the route more than once or twice and never expected that demand to be there, good news if it is

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

Is the 120 is warranting of an hourly frequency? never used the route more than once or twice and never expected that demand to be there, good news if it is

I wonder if Lothian are hopeful that demand will rise with it being under their brand.

Will be interesting to see what happens with the buses. Might a fleet of 5 new buses be added? Would realistically have to be small Evora’s.

 

[TheEastCoaster]

I wonder if Lothian are hopeful that demand will rise with it being under their brand.

That was my thought process, if it's intergrated into the mainstream network than more folk will be aware of it and be more inclined to try it, tourists wanting to bus it to the likes of North Berwick can now realise they could swap over to a 120 to Tantallion Castle easy peasy.

 

[Resuwen]

Saw one of the 64 plates on the Uni Shuttle this morning.

Demise of 905/6 imminent?

 

[JKP]

The new 120 has an extension beyond Spott Road in Dunbar into the new housing at Yosemite Park.

 

[Edirim]

Saw one of the 64 plates on the Uni Shuttle this morning.

Demise of 905/6 imminent?

Think the morning peak requires 3 vehicles?

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

The new 120 has an extension beyond Spott Road in Dunbar into the new housing at Yosemite Park.

Interestingly this is an area the 130 currently covers.

 

[Edirim]

New timetable for Council supported bus services announced | East Lothian Council

New timetable for Council supported bus services announced - New timetable for Council supported bus services announced

www.eastlothian.gov.uk

130 cancelled
Prentice have a 115 to cover the 26 change. Prentice 122 going to North Berwick also
Didn't realise 124 cut back to princes street?

 

[overthewater]

Prentice were pretty fast getting it's information up today aswell.

Forthcoming Timetable Changes - Prentice of Haddington

www.prentice.info

 

[stevenedin]

East Coast Buses awarded contract for Services 120, 121 and 123 - Lothian Buses

Following the award and acceptance from East Lothian Council for three tender services, East Coast Buses will now operate supported Services 120, 121 and 123, effective from Sunday 6 April. Formerly operated by Eve Coaches, these supported services will now be provided by East Coast Buses with...

www.lothianbuses.com

East Coast Buses awarded contract for Services 120, 121 and 123
Supported services to be provided by East Coast Buses
March 11, 2025
Image shows the front bumper of an East Coast bus beside a bus stop.
Following the award and acceptance from East Lothian Council for three tender services, East Coast Buses will now operate supported Services 120, 121 and 123, effective from Sunday 6 April.

Formerly operated by Eve Coaches, these supported services will now be provided by East Coast Buses with revised routes and timetables in place to improve connectivity with the wider East Coast Buses network.

A fares review will also take effect from Sunday 6 April, with details available below. A summary of the revised routes, including download links to timetables, is also available below.

New timetable for Council supported bus services announced | East Lothian Council

New timetable for Council supported bus services announced - New timetable for Council supported bus services announced

www.eastlothian.gov.uk

130 cancelled
Prentice have a 115 to cover the 26 change. Prentice 122 going to North Berwick also
Didn't realise 124 cut back to princes street?

It's very unclear that the 113 and 124 will be cut back to Princes Street (Frederick Street?). The Lothian website is still advertising them as Haymarket and Semple Street as before.

 

[H00V3R]

New timetable for Council supported bus services announced | East Lothian Council

New timetable for Council supported bus services announced - New timetable for Council supported bus services announced

www.eastlothian.gov.uk

130 cancelled
Prentice have a 115 to cover the 26 change. Prentice 122 going to North Berwick also
Didn't realise 124 cut back to princes street?

122 going to North Berwick is a nice addition, Church Road will certainly be busy now! As for the 124 there is no mention for this on either of Lothians service changes, and the timetable still shows it going down Lothian Road so there may be a release put out later on unless it is kept commercially?

 

[VioletEclipse]

As for the 124 there is no mention for this on either of Lothians service changes, and the timetable still shows it going down Lothian Road so there may be a release put out later on unless it is kept commercially?

I'm assuming by 'Princes Street' they mean laying over on Torphichen Street like the X7 does, although it's not made clear and it could theoretiacally mean not stopping at the west end.

 

[TheEastCoaster]

I'm assuming by 'Princes Street' they mean laying over on Torphichen Street like the X7 does, although it's not made clear and it could theoretiacally mean not stopping at the west end.

I'm surprised they are changing the 124 terminus at all, i'm sure it will go over well like the X6 when it was cut to Fredrick Street

 

[Bus9120UK]

I'm surprised they are changing the 124 terminus at all, i'm sure it will go over well like the X6 when it was cut to Fredrick Street

They aren't. Not sure why it says that. It obviously means Lothian Road because the commercial layover point changed between now and the last time they tendered these supported services.

 

[ecb124]

Is it clear whether the current EVE fleet will be repainted in time for the timetable change and will they finally get Lothian vehicle tracking?

 

[JKP]

Interestingly this is an area the 130 currently covers.

I see from the East Lothian press release that there were no bids received for the 130. I am assuming that the Council has had to do some negotiating with Lothian to run the 120 into the new housing area of the town.

 

[Resuwen]

Unlikely on the repaints as they’ll be needed until the day before.

 

[ScotRail158725]

Unlikely on the repaints as they’ll be needed until the day before.

Speaking of them 4 and 401 returned from ferrymill repainted today. All of 401-425 painted now?

 

[Bus9120UK]

Speaking of them 4 and 401 returned from ferrymill repainted today. All of 401-425 painted now?

Of all the ones that are meant to be repainted, yes. I don't believe 422-425 will be, though 424 seems to be the bus becoming the next Charity of Choice vehicle (not confirmed).
Oddly, 4 spent exactly three weeks at Ferrymill.

455 and 459 are now at Livingston.