West Lothian buses

[overthewater]

I believe they might be replacing older stock ? What east coast route would get them?

 

[TheEastCoaster]

I believe they might be replacing older stock ? What east coast route would get them?

my only guess would be the X7, I think the spacing would benefit the Dunbar and East Linton commuters especially for social distancing standards

 

[Jordan Adam]

Would the coaches not be good for some ECB work instead?

Agree, they'd be great for increasing the capacity on the X7 as they have 9 extra seats (doesn't sound much but when you consider that's 25% of the capacity on the B8RLEs it is) and could also allow some of the existing B8RLEs to move to Lothian Country displacing the older B7RLEs.

 

[Volvodart]

There would obviously be people with buggies, trolleys and luggage not very happy about it.

 

[scotrail158713]

There would obviously be people with buggies, trolleys and luggage not very happy about it.

Having seen many an X7 Dunbar-bound at peak times anyone with buggies, luggage etc would be very lucky to get on. I’d say extra seats would be a priority for these services, so moving the coaches over to ECB seems like a reasonable idea.
And for buggy/trolley/luggage passengers, if it’s easier there’s also the option of Borders Buses 253 service - I don’t think it’s running just now but in “normal” times it’s an option.

 

[overthewater]

I would have use the single deckers on the Ex2 and allowed local fares within Linlithgow.

 

[TheEastCoaster]

I would have use the single deckers on the Ex2 and allowed local fares within Linlithgow.

Yeah local fares within Linlithgow would of been a deal breaker honestly, still hope LCB will come to their senses when or if the Ex2 returns

 

[overthewater]

Yeah local fares within Linlithgow would of been a deal breaker honestly, still hope LCB will come to their senses when or if the Ex2 returns

Unfortunately LCB will come to their senses, has yet to happen... More's the pitty but that's the way of the world.

 

[Jordan Adam]

The biggest mistake with the EX2 was/is that it doesn't go to Falkirk.

 

[OmniCity999]

The biggest mistake with the EX2 was/is that it doesn't go to Falkirk.

Agreed. Use the extra coaches and extend it to Falkirk. Give it a rebrand, some good social media presence and competitive fares and it'd work.

 

[Jordan Adam]

Agreed. Use the extra coaches and extend it to Falkirk. Give it a rebrand, some good social media presence and competitive fares and it'd work.

Exactly! It should've been done when the EX1 was axed. There could also be potential for a service to Bo'Ness and/or Alloa.

 

[scosutsut]

Having seen many an X7 Dunbar-bound at peak times anyone with buggies, luggage etc would be very lucky to get on. I’d say extra seats would be a priority for these services, so moving the coaches over to ECB seems like a reasonable idea.
And for buggy/trolley/luggage passengers, if it’s easier there’s also the option of Borders Buses 253 service - I don’t think it’s running just now but in “normal” times it’s an option.

I'd agree wholeheartedly with the X7. It would suit the coaches perfectly for the blast up the A1. Pre COVID I though the route needed to be split but if patronage recovers I'd put on some Haddington shorts on the peaks and I think you'd be covered.

The B8RLEs could stay put, oust all the B7RLEs as they don't have ECB moquette and cuts the type from ECB. There would also be sufficient number to replace the B7TLs by my maths although I'm not sure what they are normally allocated to in order to say the cut in capacity would be acceptable in that case.

Arguably with B8RLE/Wright's on things like the 104 and 106 anyone on the X7 route not willing or able to travel on the coaches would have alternative journey options.

Lastly the 253 is back on in some form or another, one passed me much closer than was necessary on Saturday when I was cycling, generating much swearing on my part!

 

[GusB]

I've copied a couple of posts relating to East Coast Buses to the appropriate thread, but I will leave them in place here for clarity. Please continue discussion of any ECB matters there. Thanks

 

[VioletEclipse]

Agreed. Use the extra coaches and extend it to Falkirk. Give it a rebrand, some good social media presence and competitive fares and it'd work.

I'm not sure how likely Lothian are to run a service outwith the Lothian boundaries, but if they did the EX2 would probably do a lot better

 

[Siemens Trains]

Exactly! It should've been done when the EX1 was axed. There could also be potential for a service to Bo'Ness and/or Alloa.

I rarely go to Bo'ness (or Falkirk or Alloa) so can't speak from much personal experience, but isn't the Bo'ness to Edinburgh bus service a basket case that no company is willing to touch almost regardless of council subsidy? I noticed a 'Community' service appearing on Edinburgh bus stop flags along the A8, which I believe is a 'once per day' minibus for Bo'ness.
First used to run some Bo'ness routes but weren't they lame ducks? I can't imagine there's much of a market here for Lothian Country, and extends a bit too far beyond territory that can be supported from a West Lothian depot.

 

[Jordan Adam]

I rarely go to Bo'ness (or Falkirk or Alloa) so can't speak from much personal experience, but isn't the Bo'ness to Edinburgh bus service a basket case that no company is willing to touch almost regardless of council subsidy? I noticed a 'Community' service appearing on Edinburgh bus stop flags along the A8, which I believe is a 'once per day' minibus for Bo'ness.
First used to run some Bo'ness routes but weren't they lame ducks? I can't imagine there's much of a market here for Lothian Country, and extends a bit too far beyond territory that can be supported from a West Lothian depot.

The issue in the past imo was that the service wasn't attractive, it used clapped out Ex-London Tridents mostly. I think a hourly service to Green Arrow standards could have the potential to do well.

 

[156478]

Anyone remeber the days when First made some runs to Bo'Ness at peak times via Queensferry. Not really for the benefit of Bo'Ness they were en route to Linlithgow depot after working peak journeys from Edinburgh to Queensferry!

 

[scotrail158713]

Citylink’s 909 from Stirling to Edinburgh also runs via Bo’ness with 9 return journeys per day in normal times (it’s reduced to I think 3 a day just now)

 

[overthewater]

I rarely go to Bo'ness (or Falkirk or Alloa) so can't speak from much personal experience, but isn't the Bo'ness to Edinburgh bus service a basket case that no company is willing to touch almost regardless of council subsidy? I noticed a 'Community' service appearing on Edinburgh bus stop flags along the A8, which I believe is a 'once per day' minibus for Bo'ness.
First used to run some Bo'ness routes but weren't they lame ducks? I can't imagine there's much of a market here for Lothian Country, and extends a bit too far beyond territory that can be supported from a West Lothian depot.

The Community bus is 5 times a day, and can be busy. It just had its second birthday. Citylink noticed this and come back into the town.

Anyone remeber the days when First made some runs to Bo'Ness at peak times via Queensferry. Not really for the benefit of Bo'Ness they were en route to Linlithgow depot after working peak journeys from Edinburgh to Queensferry!

The AM peaks still operate to this day as taxi-bus service 23A

 

[Jordan Adam]

Citylink’s 909 from Stirling to Edinburgh also runs via Bo’ness with 9 return journeys per day in normal times (it’s reduced to I think 3 a day just now)

Fair point... Forgot about those!

 

[Siemens Trains]

The Community bus is 5 times a day, and can be busy. It just had its second birthday. Citylink noticed this and come back into the town.



The AM peaks still operate to this day as taxi-bus service 23A

Looks like I stand corrected, thanks.
But then I suppose the question may be why would First pull out of this market if other operators can do well between Bo'ness and Edinburgh? Too far from Deans following closure of the Linlithgow depot perhaps?
If passengers are happy with the present setup and growth has already taken place maybe it isn't worth Lothian Country competing here - is Green Arrow much different to the Citylink service?

 

[Baileygirl]

Anyone remeber the days when First made some runs to Bo'Ness at peak times via Queensferry. Not really for the benefit of Bo'Ness they were en route to Linlithgow depot after working peak journeys from Edinburgh to Queensferry!

these runs were on contract to the council. First used to run them from Livingston as well before Linlithgow took them over and afterwards when the depot closed. Lucky if they had anyone on them.

 

[overthewater]

The Shopping centres has fully reopened. The car parks are not that busy however the first buses, well none were empty... I never saw any green buses, whats happened to them? It was all lothian stock.

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

The Shopping centres has fully reopened. The car parks are not that busy however the first buses, well none were empty... I never saw any green buses, whats happened to them? It was all lothian stock.

Only 928-936 are back out and they’re mainly being used on the 43 for now

 

[Bus9120UK]

The Shopping centres has fully reopened. The car parks are not that busy however the first buses, well none were empty... I never saw any green buses, whats happened to them? It was all lothian stock.

Not sure about 577 and 578, others probably still needing to complete cleaning and get bandit screens

 

[156478]

It's been mentioned a few times on here that local fares should be charged within Linlithgow.

If the EX2 was to charge local fares then that would then do away with half of the council subsidised L1 which it runs on top of.

Now you could then charge local fares and then merge the EX2 and the L1 into one commerical service, but that is very risky considering you would then lose the low floor service offered by the L1 which would be an absolute media storm as the good people of Linlithgow already are not very happy with the L1 and how long will the EX2 last? Considering the EX2 was carrying a lot of fresh air when I've been on it between the peaks, I just dont see it lasting long.

 

[overthewater]

Hence why coaches shouldnt have been brought instead going for the high class stock used on x7.

 

[computerSaysNo]

Hence why coaches shouldnt have been brought instead going for the high class stock used on x7.

I agree with this. If more high specification Urban 3's were bought, instead of buying coaches and transferring Urban 2's from City, the Urban 3's could have been used on all of the EX1, EX2 and X38; this would have reduced the number of vehicle types in Lothian Country by 1 and made the operation cheaper, it would also have allowed the Lothian X38 to compete on a quality basis with the First X38.
If any of the above routes were then withdrawn, the Urban 3's could then have been sent to ECB to replace their Urban 1 and Urban 2's (reducing vehicle types there).

 

[Jordan Adam]

I agree with this. If more high specification Urban 3's were bought, instead of buying coaches and transferring Urban 2's from City, the Urban 3's could have been used on all of the EX1, EX2 and X38; this would have reduced the number of vehicle types in Lothian Country by 1 and made the operation cheaper, it would also have allowed the Lothian X38 to compete on a quality basis with the First X38.
If any of the above routes were then withdrawn, the Urban 3's could then have been sent to ECB to replace their Urban 1 and Urban 2's (reducing vehicle types there).

There's also the fact that if the services failed the vehicles could easily be redistributed elsewhere, unlike a few of the Leopards post EX1 being axed.

 

[delt1c]

A bit of topic but what happened to Firsts Trident pained in Eastern Scottish livery