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

Scotrail314209

Scotrail314209

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Currently on bus 454 on a Service 31 (SJ66 LPU)

To my surprised, there’s automated announcements playing even though there’s no screens fitted.

Is this a new thing? It’s in a text-to-speech voice too.
 
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Auld reekie

Auld reekie

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Scotrail314209 said:
Currently on bus 454 on a Service 31 (SJ66 LPU)

To my surprised, there’s automated announcements playing even though there’s no screens fitted.

Is this a new thing? It’s in a text-to-speech voice too.
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The 407 on the 44 yesterday was the same 64 plate.
 
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Lothiangem22

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All buses in the fleet will be fitted with this. It’s linked to the new AVL consoles. The text to speech, instead of previously used pre-recorded announcements ensures irregular information can be given in case of ad hoc road closures - for example an announcement of diversion, affected stops, new stops and several other features which can be input live by the control room
 
FlybeDash8Q400

FlybeDash8Q400

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Lothiangem22 said:
All buses in the fleet will be fitted with this. It’s linked to the new AVL consoles. The text to speech, instead of previously used pre-recorded announcements ensures irregular information can be given in case of ad hoc road closures - for example an announcement of diversion, affected stops, new stops and several other features which can be input live by the control room
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It’s a good thing to have. Just a pity that it uses Text-to-speech to work. As far as I know 401 still remains the only vehicle with retrofitted screens similar to those on the BZL’s.
 
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Lothiangem22

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Blindtraveler said:
Again I agree. It's a shame it's TTS, but I certainly welcome it as a much needed feature
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It is a shame, though the functionality is far greater and the system is designed for clear audio and visual communication giving the best and most up to date information.

The list of commands that would need pre recorded would be endless without TTS.

It also negates the need to update the Hanover system in the event of service changes or name changes to stop points.

A good example just now is the temporary northbound diversion on north bridge… the hanover systems haven’t been updated, though the electric buses are automatically done through the control room when a diversion is activated
 
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Blindtraveler

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That is indeed a good example, another being the foot of pennywell road where the 37 has not been turning left to go through the estate for some months now and is instead pretending to be a 27 and running straight along the main road, surely that diversion has been on so long now that they need to register it as an official route change. I totally agree that the functionality and flexibility will be fantastic and in a city so congested is Edinburgh where they might wish to try and divert services or juggle things around at short notice to minimise delays or help things along at busy times. It's a really good idea, especially when at certain times of year there are enough road closures to fill at least one full page on the website
 
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TheEastCoaster

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Blindtraveler said:
That is indeed a good example, another being the foot of pennywell road where the 37 has not been turning left to go through the estate for some months now and is instead pretending to be a 27 and running straight along the main road, surely that diversion has been on so long now that they need to register it as an official route change. I totally agree that the functionality and flexibility will be fantastic and in a city so congested is Edinburgh where they might wish to try and divert services or juggle things around at short notice to minimise delays or help things along at busy times. It's a really good idea, especially when at certain times of year there are enough road closures to fill at least one full page on the website
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It was the same with the 25, now it's running along Marionville Road full time, surely this should be a fixable problem.
 
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Blindtraveler

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Well the problem at the Northern end of the 37 is inconsiderate parking but it's been going on for so long, I think last September or October the diversion went in place. That surely now after a good 6 months it should be an official registered change of root.
 
FlybeDash8Q400

FlybeDash8Q400

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Blindtraveler said:
Well the problem at the Northern end of the 37 is inconsiderate parking but it's been going on for so long, I think last September or October the diversion went in place. That surely now after a good 6 months it should be an official registered change of root.
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I think the issue with the 37 is that, unlike the 25, it is only diverted one way.
 
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CN04NRJ

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The M92 to Aberdeen and M90 has been added to the Lothian driver training YouTube channel. Guess they've picked up some work.
 
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ecb124

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CN04NRJ said:
I have heard (emphasis on heard) that new coaches are due, probably in Citylink livery?
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Ooh, lovely. Im definately not averse to lothian doing citylink runs. Wonder if they've gone for 9700s or plaxton bodied volvo chassis? Unless they are putting some of their panthers on them?
 
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Vectron383

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This is a bit left field if true… didn’t Lothian abandon the coaching work last time they took some on? Or was that more due to the state of the coaches they’d picked up for it?
 
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Busman757

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ecb124 said:
Yeah, the passanger usage, at least for the green arrow work was significantly lower than expected.
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The EX2 from Linlithgow was just starting to pick up before Covid hit. The EX1 to Bathgate not so much. Remember LMC covered a citylink run with white Volvo Levante.
 
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ecb124

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Busman757 said:
The EX2 from Linlithgow was just starting to pick up before Covid hit. The EX1 to Bathgate not so much. Remember LMC covered a citylink run with white Volvo Levante.
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Were they not usually covering a Edinburgh to fort William 913, it has wildly fluctuating passenger levels. The M92 and M90 is consistently busier so may be a better reintroduction for LMC, could lead to a stronger partnership in the future if goes well
 
AndrewTaylor95

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ecb124 said:
Ooh, lovely. Im definately not averse to lothian doing citylink runs. Wonder if they've gone for 9700s or plaxton bodied volvo chassis? Unless they are putting some of their panthers on them?
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Be 9700s or MCV Evotors, Plaxton aren't building Coaches just now
 
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