Lothian group (Network/Route Speculation)

[stevenedin]

Might be most realistic to speculate about service changes that don't require any more buses than are currently in the fleet, seeing as there's not exactly an excess of spare buses currently.

It would be nice if they kept their current fleet at least until the next order after this 50 have arrived. They used to have over 600 buses in their city fleet in the past. Hopefully can get back there again.

 

[Bus9120UK]

Assuming all of 717, 721, 723-750 are ready by then (not necessarily, but a good number have already arrived with a good amount of time to go) then there will be a few spares.
715, 716 and 722 have allowed the first three buses to start work for movement to their next depots (447, 497 and 499). Another 21 will be required to free the remainder of the buses, which should give 9 extra. I don't believe any of the 09 plates are set to leave just now.

 

[stevenedin]

I wonder if they have plans to replace 905 and 906 with say 926 and 927

 

[TheEastCoaster]

So supposedly the next service change is meant to be April 6th?

 

[Bus9120UK]

So supposedly the next service change is meant to be April 6th?

Like last year its on the same date as the tour buses change. Registration have to be sent in by the end of the week I believe.

 

[TheEastCoaster]

And with the talk of it being the X7 moving to Dunbar, the speculation talk is the Eve Routes are getting the full ECB makeover, and now freeing up Musselburgh from any of the Dunbar routes.

Here's what I think could happen.

X5 - Sunday service introduced.
X7 - Moves to Dunbar.
106 - full evening service introduced to maintain link between Haddington and Musselburgh, runs alongside 107

107 - Withdrawn or service revised to run all day along with Service 106, maintains 30 minute frequency between Musselburgh and Haddington along with revised service 106
113 - 30 minute frequency on Sundays
124 - Additional peak runs Monday - Friday
140 - Now runs via Auchindinny

N113 - now runs to Pencaitland

But this is just my guess.

 

[Avenger20]

I'd like to see the X6 return to every 30 minutes on Sundays. They currently have the timetable built rather well with the 113 and X6 running at 30 minute intervals to one another from Tranent to Wallyford but given the constant expansion of these areas, it'd be nice to see further investment in transport infrastructure.

Better night bus/early morning links across East Lothian would be ideal.

 

[stevenedin]

I'd like to see the X6 return to every 30 minutes on Sundays. They currently have the timetable built rather well with the 113 and X6 running at 30 minute intervals to one another from Tranent to Wallyford but given the constant expansion of these areas, it'd be nice to see further investment in transport infrastructure.

Better night bus/early morning links across East Lothian would be ideal.

Now that they are using Dunbar depot you'd like to hope that they will work towards bettering the network in East Lothian. It's a shame that they don't have a depot in Midlothian as that could allow better expansion there as well.

 

[TheEastCoaster]

Now that they are using Dunbar depot you'd like to hope that they will work towards bettering the network in East Lothian. It's a shame that they don't have a depot in Midlothian as that could allow better expansion there as well.

If they had a depot in Midlothian they could fully run the 46/48/139/140/141 and maybe introduce some new local services

I could see the following options being possible.

Midlothian service changes


139 - Renumbered 39, extended from Midlothian Community Hospital to Gorebridge


140 - Renumbered 40, extended to Fort Kinnard and InterWorks with Service 46, bus runs via Auchindinny and extends to Pencuik on Sundays


141 - Renumbered 41, extended to Fort Kinnaird and InterWorks with Service 48, now runs on Sundays and evenings.

42 - New Local Service, running Gorebridge to Pencuik via Newtongrange, Cockpen, Roswell, Polton, Bonnyrigg, Lasswade, Loanhead Straiton Retail Park, IKEA, Auchindinny.

46 - Cut back to Fort Kinnard, InterWorks with new 40

48 - Cut back to Fort Kinnard, InterWorks with new 41 and now runs late evenings and Sundays to Fort Kinnaird

Some peak runs could also run from the Midlothian garage.

 

[CSB0241]

Just a question to spark a bit of speculation, what are we all expecting from the upcoming network changes?

Not what I expect, per say, but rather what I think should happen;

• Aiding capacity on the 72 (i.e; running every 30min between Fauldhouse & Broxburn or having a new hourly service running parallel to it between Whitburn West End & East Mains Industrial Park in Broxburn, maybe with a slight deviation in the route at Eliburn serving Livingston Village instead).
• Frequency increases on vital routes (the 4, 14, 44, & 73 all come to mind).
• Curtailing the 30 to Fort Kinnaird so it can use deckers.
• Rejigging the 38 timetable (this is sheerly for my own benefit ).

Replying from the main Lothian Group thread.
Ideally what we want to see is:

-Bus service to serve West Craigs.

Forgot about this but yes, any excuse for an extra bus to get added onto the 32 for reliabilities sake would be brilliant, especially if it means serving the new estate.

-Bus service from Rosewell to Edinburgh City Centre even if its one per hour.

I do think the X31 & X26 should be ran hourly during the day, both for the sake of aiding capacity on both of their daytime counterparts (which struggle with capacity), but also because of what you suggested in reference to Rosewell.

-Direct Bus service from Armadale to Livingston Centre via Livingston Village, Kirkton Campus & Simpson Parkway and Charlesfield Road at peak times.

Good thinking.

-It would be nice to have a Livingston Centre - Musselburgh town centre service but can't see that happening.

I don’t see it either, that’s very specific.

I've previously suggested to LB that perhaps the N26 could be rerouted between Levenhall and Prestonpans to include Wallyford at The Loan which would require some rejigging of the timetable to fit it in but would deal with the demand with least expenses on resources.

Might be hard to do but I see it being worth it.

It’s a shame the Kirkliston to Livingston Centre section of the 72 is tendered as they could do with cutting it back just to run Winchburgh to Fauldhouse which would help massively with its reliability. In its current form it runs hopelessly late pretty much all day. The small number of people who travel on it between Kirkliston and Broxburn/Uphall/Livingston could use the X19 and change at Winchburgh.

& in regards to people heading between Kirkliston & Livingston, the Stagecoach X51’s much quicker & just as frequent (every 60min daily).

Might be most realistic to speculate about service changes that don't require any more buses than are currently in the fleet, seeing as there's not exactly an excess of spare buses currently.

Yeah, probably. Don’t see that happening though.

It would be nice if they kept their current fleet at least until the next order after this 50 have arrived. They used to have over 600 buses in their city fleet in the past. Hopefully can get back there again.

Even when all 50 of these BZLs come in, we’ll still be ~30 short at least.

Assuming all of 717, 721, 723-750 are ready by then (not necessarily, but a good number have already arrived with a good amount of time to go) then there will be a few spares.

I know that 724’s in service now (saw it running as Not In Service on Forrest Road this morning), so hopefully more should be coming soon.

I wonder if they have plans to replace 905 and 906 with say 926 and 927

905/6 are perfect for the university shuttle currently (since it has a peak vehicle requirement of 2 & 905/6 have blinds that are literally programmed with a custom blind for the shuttle), so I assume they’re gonna want to hold onto them for a while longer. If I’m being completely honest I see 905/6 getting withdrawn & sold off at the same time as the 09-plates as they’re basically the same, albeit with some slight external differences.

So supposedly the next service change is meant to be April 6th?

Great to hear, can’t wait for West Lothian to get shafted yet again.

Now that they are using Dunbar depot you'd like to hope that they will work towards bettering the network in East Lothian. It's a shame that they don't have a depot in Midlothian as that could allow better expansion there as well.

I came up with an idea for a new Midlothian depot (maybe based near the new builds in Cockpen?) last night actually, this is how I felt they could incorporate it;
3; 601-620 moved to Midlothian, driver changes at Mayfield terminus.
29; 671-698 moved, driver changes at Dalhousie Road (S-bound).
31; 1063-1080 moved, driver changes at Dobbies Road (S-bound) or Hopefield Terminus.
37; 671-698 moved, driver changes at Muirfield Gardens (N-bound).
46; 172-190 moved, driver changes at Mayshade Garden Centre (E-bound).
48; 172-190 moved, driver changes at Station Road (S-bound).
139; 511-518 moved, driver changes at Midlothian Community Hospital.
140/1; 511-518 moved, driver changes at Mayshade Garden Centre (E-bound).

 

[LothianBusesPh]

139; 511-518 moved, driver changes at Midlothian Community Hospital.
140/1; 511-518 moved, driver changes at Mayshade Garden Centre (E-bound).

If these routes were to move to Midlothian, they’d become Lothian operated.

 

[TheEastCoaster]

Forgot about this but yes, any excuse for an extra bus to get added onto the 32 for reliabilities sake would be brilliant, especially if it means serving the new estate.

Seriously though, the 32 needs to be sorted, it has become so unreliable the past few weeks and some journeys have been cut short or no shows at all, it's actually screwed me over a few times myself.

I know it's a council tender but Lothian could at least try and get it running on time, an hourly service should not be hard to get right.

If they made it every 30 minutes at least if one is late another one is bound to show up.

 

[JKP]

Seriously though, the 32 needs to be sorted, it has become so unreliable the past few weeks and some journeys have been cut short or no shows at all, it's actually screwed me over a few times myself.

I know it's a council tender but Lothian could at least try and get it running on time, an hourly service should not be hard to get right.

If they made it every 30 minutes at least if one is late another one is bound to show up.

Suspect that traffic congestion is affecting the reliability of this route.

As a Council tender, it is extremely unlikely frequency would be improved unless there is an upsurge in demand and the route became commercially viable. Is there much demand at the Cramond end? Possibly cut back to Barnton?

 

[Auld reekie]

Suspect that traffic congestion is affecting the reliability of this route.

As a Council tender, it is extremely unlikely frequency would be improved unless there is an upsurge in demand and the route became commercially viable. Is there much demand at the Cramond end? Possibly cut back to Barnton?

Certainly at the Balerno it seems to be used quite well.

 

[TheEastCoaster]

As a Council tender, it is extremely unlikely frequency would be improved unless there is an upsurge in demand and the route became commercially viable. Is there much demand at the Cramond end? Possibly cut back to Barnton?

To be fair, everyone I've been on it it is well used.

Guess there's not much that can be done except to wait and see, but the amount of reliability issues shouldn't be ignored to be fair, unless they throw on an extra bus on peak times to help.

 

[Auld reekie]

To be fair, everyone I've been on it it is well used.

This.

 

[TheEastCoaster]

Hopefully we will hear something next week at the earliest.

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

To be fair, everyone I've been on it it is well used.

Guess there's not much that can be done except to wait and see, but the amount of reliability issues shouldn't be ignored to be fair, unless they throw on an extra bus on peak times to help.

The issue is; which both I and others highlighted at the time, that the route is too long for 2 buses. It was always going to be unreliable in that form. Cutting it short reduces its viability even further.

The council won’t be able to afford the costs of a third bus, which Lothian or any operator would need a higher subsidy from the council to run. I highly doubt the route will ever be commercially viable. One workaround could be to reduce the frequency to every 75 minutes which is likely to have a detrimental impact to the routes chances.

That aside, one option could be to keep it hourly and add a third bus, while diverting the route to serve both East Craigs and West Craigs as well as Turnhouse. The funds raised by scrapping the 60. This makes the route slightly longer but overall would help the layover at both ends to be increased and crucially with very little cost difference (possibly even a saving) to the council. The council could then look to reroute the 68 to run directly from the Gyle to Craigs Road and increase that to hourly. The subsidy for that being untouched.

 

[duffers2324]

Just to throw my tuppence worth into the conversation particularly with the West Lothian Network and considering i have not followed much of the changes over the years since i travelled often to Livi on the 15A/X15, obviously now the 902 helps with this and remember the network more from First days, this is just a few of my ideas:

Service x27/28: renumbered to 27/28-Bathgate-Tesco Distribution Centre-(27) Deans North, (28) Deans South-Knightsridge-Ladywell-St Johns Hosp-Howden-Craigshill-Livingston Centre-Dedridge East-Mid Calder-East Calder-(27) Wilkieston (28) Kirknewton-Hermiston-Gorgie-Haymarket-Edinburgh....Every 30 Mins each Mon-sat 60mins evening and Sundays
NEW SERVICE 21-Eastfield-Harthill-Whitburn-Blackburn-Seafield-Kirkton Campus-Livingston Centre-Dedridge West-Livingston South Station....Every 30 Mins Monday to Saturday 60mins Evening, no Sunday service
NEW SERVICE 22-Blackridge-Armadale-Bathgate-Tesco Distribution Centre-Fastlink-Livingston Centre....Every 30mins
X18-Keep as is, Frequency every hour, coordinated with NEW SERVICE 22 between Bathgate and Broxburn for every 30mins during the day, every hour Evenings and Sundays
72-Revised to operate between Fauldhouse and Livingston Centre only, frequency hourly
73-Revised to operate between Livingston North Station and Kirkliston via St Johns Hospital, Livingston Centre, Craigshill, Pumpherston, Uphall, Broxburn and Winchburgh covering withdrawn 72 in this section....Every 30mins

I get these are rather out there and probably have a lot of holes in the network but its just thoughts, considering how many more options and services there where during First days IE Peak expresses like X1, X2 and then 27/28 X14/X15 12, 16 etc

 

[jb66]

Just to throw my tuppence worth into the conversation particularly with the West Lothian Network and considering i have not followed much of the changes over the years since i travelled often to Livi on the 15A/X15, obviously now the 902 helps with this and remember the network more from First days, this is just a few of my ideas:

Service x27/28: renumbered to 27/28-Bathgate-Tesco Distribution Centre-(27) Deans North, (28) Deans South-Knightsridge-Ladywell-St Johns Hosp-Howden-Craigshill-Livingston Centre-Dedridge East-Mid Calder-East Calder-(27) Wilkieston (28) Kirknewton-Hermiston-Gorgie-Haymarket-Edinburgh....Every 30 Mins each Mon-sat 60mins evening and Sundays
NEW SERVICE 21-Eastfield-Harthill-Whitburn-Blackburn-Seafield-Kirkton Campus-Livingston Centre-Dedridge West-Livingston South Station....Every 30 Mins Monday to Saturday 60mins Evening, no Sunday service
NEW SERVICE 22-Blackridge-Armadale-Bathgate-Tesco Distribution Centre-Fastlink-Livingston Centre....Every 30mins
X18-Keep as is, Frequency every hour, coordinated with NEW SERVICE 22 between Bathgate and Broxburn for every 30mins during the day, every hour Evenings and Sundays
72-Revised to operate between Fauldhouse and Livingston Centre only, frequency hourly
73-Revised to operate between Livingston North Station and Kirkliston via St Johns Hospital, Livingston Centre, Craigshill, Pumpherston, Uphall, Broxburn and Winchburgh covering withdrawn 72 in this section....Every 30mins

I get these are rather out there and probably have a lot of holes in the network but its just thoughts, considering how many more options and services there where during First days IE Peak expresses like X1, X2 and then 27/28 X14/X15 12, 16 etc

Are you reducing the busy x18 to every hour from Broxburn to Edinburgh?

 

[SoloSR334022]

Just to throw my tuppence worth into the conversation particularly with the West Lothian Network and considering i have not followed much of the changes over the years since i travelled often to Livi on the 15A/X15, obviously now the 902 helps with this and remember the network more from First days, this is just a few of my ideas:

Let's have a look then...

Service x27/28: renumbered to 27/28-Bathgate-Tesco Distribution Centre-(27) Deans North, (28) Deans South-Knightsridge-Ladywell-St Johns Hosp-Howden-Craigshill-Livingston Centre-Dedridge East-Mid Calder-East Calder-(27) Wilkieston (28) Kirknewton-Hermiston-Gorgie-Haymarket-Edinburgh....Every 30 Mins each Mon-sat 60mins evening and Sundays

This is reasonable but every 60 mins each for the X28/X27 should probably be increased to at least every 40 mins each even on Sundays and especially in the evenings. The numbering is very unlikely to change.

NEW SERVICE 21-Eastfield-Harthill-Whitburn-Blackburn-Seafield-Kirkton Campus-Livingston Centre-Dedridge West-Livingston South Station....Every 30 Mins Monday to Saturday 60mins Evening, no Sunday service

Lothian and their subsidiaries will most likely not serve outwith the main Lothian I.e West Lothian, Midlothian, East Lothian and Edinburgh area. The numbering doesn't work with the current scheme as Lothian already run a service 22 and would likely come in the 7x series.

NEW SERVICE 22-Blackridge-Armadale-Bathgate-Tesco Distribution Centre-Fastlink-Livingston Centre....Every 30mins

Does this avoid Dechmont Village? I wouldn't reccomend dodging possible passengers for 5 minutes on the timetable. Also doesn't work with the numbering scheme and would likely come in the 7x series.

X18-Keep as is, Frequency every hour, coordinated with NEW SERVICE 22 between Bathgate and Broxburn for every 30mins during the day, every hour Evenings and Sundays

Reducing the X18 to every hour would be a disaster, if anything the X18 needs an increase to at least every 20 minutes and there is no need for a new service to duplicate a already almost perfectly sufficient service.

72-Revised to operate between Fauldhouse and Livingston Centre only, frequency hourly

The 72 is a tender and is required to run Livingston Centre to Kirkliston.

73-Revised to operate between Livingston North Station and Kirkliston via St Johns Hospital, Livingston Centre, Craigshill, Pumpherston, Uphall, Broxburn and Winchburgh covering withdrawn 72 in this section....Every 30mins

The 73 interworks with the 74 at Livingston Centre so running to Livingston North wouldn't work which means removing from the network.

I get these are rather out there and probably have a lot of holes in the network but its just thoughts, considering how many more options and services there where during First days IE Peak expresses like X1, X2 and then 27/28 X14/X15 12, 16 etc

Not the best ideas, but I understand that these aren't really supposed to be taken that seriously.

Still nothing for West Lothian, hope when the last BZL's are delivered we'll get something big, here's my guess for 1949568th time.

West Lothian and West Edinbrurgh Local Services

Service 70 - No changes.

Service 71 - Revised Timetable to interwork with the Service 72, later journeys introduced.

Service 72 - Frequency increase to at least every 40 minutes. Revised Timetable to interwork with the Service 71. Revised morning timetable.

Service 73 - No changes.

Service 74 - No changes.

New Service 75 - Blackridge <> Livingston Sth via Armadale (Honeyman), Armadale (Bathville), Bathgate, Blackburn Rd, Blackburn, Seafield, Livingston Village, St. John's Hospital, Livingston Bus Terminal and Murieston.

Edinburgh Express Services

Service X18 - Frequency increased to every 15 minutes at peak times.

Service X19 - Frequency decreased to every 40 minutes outside peak hours.

Service X27/8 - Frequency increased to every 15 minutes at peak times.

Service X40 - Later Journeys introduced at a later date.

Service 43 - No changes.

 

[VioletEclipse]

Running the X4 along B1361 - Prestongtange Road - High Street - West Loan - B1361 would likely add enough time to require more resources, but I would think might well be worth it for the connections provided.

 

[overthewater]

How to fix the west Lothian Network, with baby steps:

Step one:

* No73: Revised to operate as the current route to Bathgate then extend to Whitburn via - direct Whitburn Road.

* New N075;: Broxburn - Uphall - Fastlink - Livingston - St John Hospital - Livingston Village - Blackburn - western inch - Bathgate - Bathville - Armdale - Blackridge

Bus no75 would only need 3 extra buses, and would give a few place a 30min service to and from St johns H and Livingston centre, provide new direct links.

 

[CSB0241]

Service x27/28: renumbered to 27/28-Bathgate-Tesco Distribution Centre-(27) Deans North, (28) Deans South-Knightsridge-Ladywell-St Johns Hosp-Howden-Craigshill-Livingston Centre-Dedridge East-Mid Calder-East Calder-(27) Wilkieston (28) Kirknewton-Hermiston-Gorgie-Haymarket-Edinburgh....Every 30 Mins each Mon-sat 60mins evening and Sundays

I like the thought of increasing the Edinburgh-A71-Livingston corridor to every 15min Mon-Sat, but I think reducing it on Sundays isn’t a great move.

NEW SERVICE 21-Eastfield-Harthill-Whitburn-Blackburn-Seafield-Kirkton Campus-Livingston Centre-Dedridge West-Livingston South Station....Every 30 Mins Monday to Saturday 60mins Evening, no Sunday service

So just the old McGills 21 to Blackburn then the 23 to Eastfield?

NEW SERVICE 22-Blackridge-Armadale-Bathgate-Tesco Distribution Centre-Fastlink-Livingston Centre....Every 30mins

So just the old McGills X25 but omitting most of Livingston?

X18-Keep as is, Frequency every hour, coordinated with NEW SERVICE 22 between Bathgate and Broxburn for every 30mins during the day, every hour Evenings and Sundays

Reducing the X18 to hourly is not a good idea.

72-Revised to operate between Fauldhouse and Livingston Centre only, frequency hourly

Why keep this if the 21 exists?

73-Revised to operate between Livingston North Station and Kirkliston via St Johns Hospital, Livingston Centre, Craigshill, Pumpherston, Uphall, Broxburn and Winchburgh covering withdrawn 72 in this section....Every 30mins

So the 73 is being changed to… a near completely different route?

Service 70 - No changes.

Service 71 - Revised Timetable to interwork with the Service 72, later journeys introduced.

The 70/71 interwork with one another, if you’re changing the 71 timetable then you’d have to change the 70 by proxy.

Service 72 - Frequency increase to at least every 40 minutes. Revised Timetable to interwork with the Service 71. Revised morning timetable.

I’m in favour of this, although I think it should be every 30min since that’d make interworking with the 71 easier.

Service 73 - No changes.

I think the 73 needs to be half hourly alongside the 72.

New Service 75 - Blackridge <> Livingston Sth via Armadale (Honeyman), Armadale (Bathville), Bathgate, Blackburn Rd, Blackburn, Seafield, Livingston Village, St. John's Hospital, Livingston Bus Terminal and Murieston.

How frequently do you propose this route run, every hour perhaps?

Service X18 - Frequency increased to every 15 minutes at peak times.

Is there seriously that much demand for it at peak times?

Service X19 - Frequency decreased to every 40 minutes outside peak hours.

I think they could even go a step further & decrease it to hourly, maybe even only running it to Kirklands Park.

Service X27/8 - Frequency increased to every 15 minutes at peak times.

I’d take it a step further & make them a combined every 15min Monday-Saturday.

Running the X4 along B1361 - Prestongtange Road - High Street - West Loan - B1361 would likely add enough time to require more resources, but I would think might well be worth it for the connections provided.

Why even do that? They could just run the 124 via B1348 from Levenhall to Prestonpans High Street then cut down to Preston Road & follow the normal route from there! It’d probably take slightly longer, but only by about a mere, what, 3 minutes? The 44/106/113/Prentice 108 still provide 9 buses an hour between Musselburgh & Wallyford anyway, & as for anyone wanting to get from Prestonpans to Wallyford? Why, the X4 of course!

How to fix the west Lothian Network, with baby steps:

Step one:

* No73: Revised to operate as the current route to Bathgate then extend to Whitburn via - direct Whitburn Road.

* New No75: Broxburn - Uphall - Fastlink - Livingston - St John Hospital - Livingston Village - Blackburn - western inch - Bathgate - Bathville - Armdale - Blackridge

Bus no75 would only need 3 extra buses, and would give a few place a 30min service to and from St johns H and Livingston centre, provide new direct links.

The 73 change is actually a good idea, would relieve passenger numbers from Whitburn to Livingston on the 72.

What I’m curious about is how the 75 could run from Broxburn to Blackridge every 30min & still only need 3 buses, as you’re saying it would.

———————————————————
I thought I might as well take my own shot at improving EastCoast/Lothian Country’s networks. I think, personally, if they use the same liveries, both EastCoastBuses & Lothian Country should just be Lothian Country;

Express Routes;
X4; Service decreased to every hour daily. Service will combine with service X6 between Haymarket & Wallyford.
X5; Later journeys introduced to North Berwick Mon-Sat, with new hourly Sunday service between 9am & 6pm.
X6; Daytime service reinstated daily, with buses running via pre-8/9/24 route between Haymarket & Haddington every hour, combining with service X4. The new X6 peak route will now run as service X8.
X7; No changes.
X8; Runs as new 6/4/25 X6 runs.
X18; No changes.
X19; Service curtailed to Kirklands Park. Service reduced to every hour Mon-Sat, with Sunday service withdrawn. Timetable coordinated to combine with services 71 & 72.
X27; Service rerouted from St. Johns Hospital via Eliburn, Seafield, Blackburn, & Whitburn to Whitburn West End. Frequency increased to every 30min Mon-Sat.
X28; Frequency increased to every 30min Mon-Sat.
X40; Frequency increased to every 60min on Saturdays. Buses will no longer serve Dedridge East & will run direct between Calder Park & Livingston Bus Station via B7015 & Howden South Road.

Local Routes;
70; Minor timetable changes to coordinate with 71 timetable changes.
71; Minor timetable changes to improve reliability on journeys into Gyle Centre & coordinate with services 72 & X19.
72; Service curtailed to Livingston Bus Station, with western branch replaced by services X27 & 75. Service retimed to coordinate with service 71 & X19.
73; Service rerouted from Bathgate Town Centre via Bathville to Armadale, terminating at Honeyman Court. Frequency increased to every 30min Mon-Sat, with hourly Sunday service introduced.
74; No changes.
75; New service between Fauldhouse & Bathgate Station via Longridge, Whitburn, Blackburn, & Wester Inch. Buses will run every 60min Monday-Saturday.
106; Service rerouted to Eastfield via Edinburgh Road. From Musselburgh, passengers may swap onto Prentice of Haddington 108/111 or Lothian 46/48 to Fort Kinnaird.
113; No changes.
124; Service rerouted between Levenhall & Preston Road via B1348 & West Loan to provide a service between the upper & lower Pans.
140; Frequency increased to every 30min Mon-Sat off-peak.
141; All weekday off-peak & Saturday journeys withdrawn due to low usage in Easter Bush.

 

[TheEastCoaster]

Express Routes;
X4; Service decreased to every hour daily. Service will combine with service X6 between Haymarket & Wallyford.

This could work actually, it would benefit both services

X5; Later journeys introduced to North Berwick Mon-Sat, with new hourly Sunday service between 9am & 6pm.

I like this

X6; Daytime service reinstated daily, with buses running via pre-8/9/24 route between Haymarket & Haddington every hour, combining with service X4. The new X6 peak route will now run as service X8.

Same comment as X4

X8; Runs as new 6/4/25 X6 runs.

This works

X19; Service curtailed to Kirklands Park. Service reduced to every hour Mon-Sat, with Sunday service withdrawn. Timetable coordinated to combine with services 71 & 72

Not sure if I agree with the decrease, I think I'd maybe make the service hourly outside peak times and keep the Sunday service.

.
X27; Service rerouted from St. Johns Hospital via Eliburn, Seafield, Blackburn, & Whitburn to Whitburn West End. Frequency increased to every 30min Mon-Sat.

Just like back in 2019, perfect.

X40; Frequency increased to every 60min on Saturdays. Buses will no longer serve Dedridge East & will run direct between Calder Park & Livingston Bus Station via B7015 & Howden South Road.

I'm sure the reason it served Dedridge is because it was missing out that area, and folk were not happy about it, but I agree however it should be a faster route to the centre.

Local Routes;
70; Minor timetable changes to coordinate with 71 timetable changes.
71; Minor timetable changes to improve reliability on journeys into Gyle Centre & coordinate with services 72 & X19.

72 Service curtailed to Livingston Bus Station, with western branch replaced by services X27 & 75. Service retimed to coordinate with service 71 & X19.

I do agree that Service 71 and 72 need better co-ordination for connections to Queensferry and West Lothian, because the current timetable is a joke.

73; Service rerouted from Bathgate Town Centre via Bathville to Armadale, terminating at Honeyman Court. Frequency increased to every 30min Mon-Sat, with hourly Sunday service introduced.

This reinstates the Livingston and Armadale service, so win-win

75; New service between Fauldhouse & Bathgate Station via Longridge, Whitburn, Blackburn, & Wester Inch. Buses will run every 60min Monday-Saturday.

I'm guessing this is the western replacement for the 72?

106; Service rerouted to Eastfield via Edinburgh Road. From Musselburgh, passengers may swap onto Prentice of Haddington 108/111 or Lothian 46/48 to Fort Kinnaird.

I would of took the 106 to Royal Infirmary before Eastfield personally, much like when the 40 was extended from Musselburgh to the edge of Eastfield, it was underused, you would be aswell extending it further into Portobello at least.

124; Service rerouted between Levenhall & Preston Road via B1348 & West Loan to provide a service between the upper & lower Pans.

So this will follow the current 26 route essentially, this could work!

140; Frequency increased to every 30min Mon-Sat off-peak.
141; All weekday off-peak & Saturday journeys withdrawn due to low usage in Easter Bush.

I'm sure the three students who use the 141 would be gutted! But I do think the 140 should stay.

 

[roadierway77]

Thought I'd chime in with my recent ideas for service changes at Lothian Country.

72 | Fauldhouse - Whitburn - Blackburn - Eliburn - St John’s Hospital - Livingston
Every 30 minutes, four vehicles required.
Service 72 truncated to operate only between Fauldhouse and Livingston to improve reliability, frequency on this section increased to every 30 minutes.

73 | Livingston - St John’s Hospital - Livingston Village - Blackburn - Wester Inch - Bathgate
Every hour, two vehicles required.
Service 73 now operates direct to Blackburn from St John’s via Livingston Village, terminating at Bathgate town centre.

74 | Fauldhouse - Stoneyburn - West Calder - Livingston - St John's Hospital - Pumpherston - Broxburn - Winchburgh - Kirkliston
Every hour, four vehicles required.
Service 74 is extended to Kirkliston to replace the eastern section of the 72.

75 | Livingston - St John’s Hospital - Deans South - Bathgate - Armadale - Blackridge
Every hour, two vehicles required.
New service to provide improved connections from Armadale and Blackridge and to replace the current 73 between St John’s Hospital and Bathgate.

X19 | Edinburgh - Corstorphine - Newbridge - Kirkliston - Winchburgh
Every 45 minutes, four vehicles required.
Frequency reduced to reflect customer demand.

The Lothian Country changes increase the current peak vehicle requirement of the above routes from 26 to 29.

 

[overthewater]

The 73 change is actually a good idea, would relieve passenger numbers from Whitburn to Livingston on the 72.

What I’m curious about is how the 75 could run from Broxburn to Blackridge every 30min & still only need 3 buses, as you’re saying it would.

Service 75 would operate hourly but in conjunction with service 72 and 73. If it's timed right you will have 30min service between Livingston - Uphall - Broxburn, a 30min service between Livingston and Blackburn, 2ph doing the fast Bathgate - Livingston. That why its so shocking how the current management will not even do such basic things. Fauldhouse and West Calder areas can be left alone since Stuart 34A/B give 2ph. Once that been bedded in they could look to see another change s with 2-3 buses, all baby steps.

X19 | Edinburgh - Corstorphine - Newbridge - Kirkliston - Winchburgh
Every 45 minutes, four vehicles required.
Frequency reduced to reflect customer demand.

The Lothian Country changes increase the current peak vehicle requirement of the above routes from 26 to 29.

If they do that, they might aswell pack up

 

[Siemens Trains]

If they do that, they might aswell pack up

I agree. There's no point in the X19 running less frequently than every half hour during the day, and it has to operate 7 days per week. If it doesn't attract passengers with that level of coverage then no point in running it at all and leave the Winchburgh & Kirkliston market as McGill's problem. I expect part of the X19's justification is to take pressure off the X38, but this isn't much use if passengers think the X38 suits their needs.

 

[overthewater]

I agree. There's no point in the X19 running less frequently than every half hour during the day, and it has to operate 7 days per week. If it doesn't attract passengers with that level of coverage then no point in running it at all and leave the Winchburgh & Kirkliston market as McGill's problem. I expect part of the X19's justification is to take pressure off the X38, but this isn't much use if passengers think the X38 suits their needs.

The trouble is during the week it runs empty, where it comes into it's own is on Saturdays. X38 always had standing load even going into Newbridge... Maybe that's what a Lothian spotted when there were thinking up new money making schemes..

 

[CSB0241]

This could work actually, it would benefit both services

I thought I’d make the best of both worlds, & if the 106 is going up to decker operations then it should be fine.

Not sure if I agree with the decrease, I think I'd maybe make the service hourly outside peak times and keep the Sunday service.

If they do keep it, then even hourly during the peak would probably be fine.

Just like back in 2019, perfect.

Lothian kinda hit gold with the X27/8 in 2019.

I'm sure the reason it served Dedridge is because it was missing out that area, and folk were not happy about it, but I agree however it should be a faster route to the centre.

The X27/8 increases would compensate.

I do agree that Service 71 and 72 need better co-ordination for connections to Queensferry and West Lothian, because the current timetable is a joke.

~5min late to make a 72 to Livingston from the 71…

This reinstates the Livingston and Armadale service, so win-win

Would be cheaper than taking the train to Livingston North then taking the 73.

I'm guessing this is the western replacement for the 72?

Replaces it from Fauldhouse to Blackburn. The X27 also replaces it from Whitburn to Livingston.

I would of took the 106 to Royal Infirmary before Eastfield personally, much like when the 40 was extended from Musselburgh to the edge of Eastfield, it was underused, you would be aswell extending it further into Portobello at least.

Well to each their own.

So this will follow the current 26 route essentially, this could work!

Would be a better replacement than the 110/115 that Prentice are currently using.

I'm sure the three students who use the 141 would be gutted! But I do think the 140 should stay.

I think it’d maybe run hourly from Musselburgh to Penicuik between 7am & 9am, then hourly in the opposite direction from 3pm to 6pm, just so that there’s still links into Bush at peak times. Otherwise, I think the 140 should just be the day route.

72 | Fauldhouse - Whitburn - Blackburn - Eliburn - St John’s Hospital - Livingston
Every 30 minutes, four vehicles required.
Service 72 truncated to operate only between Fauldhouse and Livingston to improve reliability, frequency on this section increased to every 30 minutes.

Fair change, would hope that the frequency increase would aid reliability.

73 | Livingston - St John’s Hospital - Livingston Village - Blackburn - Wester Inch - Bathgate
Every hour, two vehicles required.
Service 73 now operates direct to Blackburn from St John’s via Livingston Village, terminating at Bathgate town centre.

I take it that it’d terminate at the railway station upon arrival in Bathgate town centre?

74 | Fauldhouse - Stoneyburn - West Calder - Livingston - St John's Hospital - Pumpherston - Broxburn - Winchburgh - Kirkliston
Every hour, four vehicles required.
Service 74 is extended to Kirkliston to replace the eastern section of the 72.

Interesting move.

75 | Livingston - St John’s Hospital - Deans South - Bathgate - Armadale - Blackridge
Every hour, two vehicles required.
New service to provide improved connections from Armadale and Blackridge and to replace the current 73 between St John’s Hospital and Bathgate.

I guess having a second quick local bus between Bathgate & Livingston would eliviate a lot of the stress from the 73.

X19 | Edinburgh - Corstorphine - Newbridge - Kirkliston - Winchburgh
Every 45 minutes, four vehicles required.
Frequency reduced to reflect customer demand.

Lothian would likely want to reduce it to every 40min then every 60min, the only route they have that adheres to a 45min frequency is the 200 in the evenings.

Service 75 would operate hourly but in conjunction with service 72 and 73. If it's timed right you will have 30min service between Livingston - Uphall - Broxburn, a 30min service between Livingston and Blackburn, 2ph doing the fast Bathgate - Livingston. That why its so shocking how the current management will not even do such basic things. Fauldhouse and West Calder areas can be left alone since Stuart 34A/B give 2ph. Once that been bedded in they could look to see another change s with 2-3 buses, all baby steps.




If they do that, they might aswell pack up

I agree. There's no point in the X19 running less frequently than every half hour during the day, and it has to operate 7 days per week. If it doesn't attract passengers with that level of coverage then no point in running it at all and leave the Winchburgh & Kirkliston market as McGill's problem. I expect part of the X19's justification is to take pressure off the X38, but this isn't much use if passengers think the X38 suits their needs.

The trouble is during the week it runs empty, where it comes into it's own is on Saturdays. X38 always had standing load even going into Newbridge... Maybe that's what a Lothian spotted when there were thinking up new money making schemes..