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Post by driver6540 on Sept 21, 2018 22:40:56 GMT 1
Lothian have recently done a swap deal with Bullocks coaches, with the four B5LH Hybrids (11 plate) leaving Cheshire in exchange for six of Lothian's withdrawn Scania Integral N94's (06/57 plate). Lothian have introduced the Hybrids on the recently extended Lothian Country services network and fleet-numbered them 571-4.
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Post by gooderson1 on Sept 22, 2018 6:54:02 GMT 1
Appears to be a bit of a strange move to aquire 4 Hybrids when Lothian are in the process of converting 15 such vehicles to standard diesel. The vehicles operated on route 10 and apparently could not cope with the hilly conditions. Having said that the vehicles are according to the October edition of buses destined for Lothian Country Buses therefore the flatter areas outside Edinburgh may well help.
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Post by Arriva Wakefield on Sept 22, 2018 15:22:17 GMT 1
Appears to be a bit of a strange move to aquire 4 Hybrids when Lothian are in the process of converting 15 such vehicles to standard diesel. The vehicles operated on route 10 and apparently could not cope with the hilly conditions. Having said that the vehicles are according to the October edition of buses destined for Lothian Country Buses therefore the flatter areas outside Edinburgh may well help. Difference is that the converted vehicles are E400s, whereas the acquired vehicles are B5s. Lothian converted the E400s for much the same reason as EYMS & Reading - the cost of replacement batteries is prohibitive. One make uses a serial drive system, the other make a parallel drive system.
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77syk7
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Post by 77syk7 on Sept 28, 2018 19:51:57 GMT 1
Lothian Buses continue to expand their operations in all directions. Many bus operators could learn a great deal from this company - quality buses, frequent services, detailed publicity of their routes and good value fares.
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Post by gooderson1 on Sept 29, 2018 9:34:42 GMT 1
Interesting article in the Scottish Column(page 84) of the October edition of Buses magazine. Several established independent coach operators have reported Lothian Motorcoaches to the Competition and Markets Authority(CMA) and to the Scottish Government. It is alleged that Lothian is using it's "effective monopoly" on bus services and city tours to fund and cross-promote pan-Scotland coach tours and coach hire. An example quoted is:-a day trip to Roslin Abbey and the borders area by an independent operator is about £40 where as Lothian Motorcoaches are doing the same tour for £28. Lothian are denying the allegations.
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Post by driver6540 on Oct 21, 2018 21:29:05 GMT 1
Lothian have recently done a swap deal with Bullocks coaches, with the four B5LH Hybrids (11 plate) leaving Cheshire in exchange for six of Lothian's withdrawn Scania Integral N94's (06/57 plate). Lothian have introduced the Hybrids on the recently extended Lothian Country services network and fleet-numbered them 571-4. Apologies all, the 4 ex Bullocks are numbered 591-4 and not as i posted above.
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Post by driver6540 on Nov 12, 2018 23:36:54 GMT 1
Lothians latest order for new decker's marks a bit of a sea change from the usual Wright Gemini, which is virtually the entire decker fleet. 42 ALD E400XLB (Tri-axle) are due, deliveries starting early next year. These will be on Lothians usual Volvo B5TL underpinnings, have 100 seats and be dual-doored. A photo of the first completed one is on Lothians official website, along with more details.
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Post by driver6540 on Nov 13, 2018 0:29:13 GMT 1
Lothians latest order for new decker's marks a bit of a sea change from the usual Wright Gemini, which is virtually the entire decker fleet. 42 ALD E400XLB (Tri-axle) are due, deliveries starting early next year. These will be on Lothians usual Volvo B5TL underpinnings, have 100 seats and be dual-doored. A photo of the first completed one is on Lothians official website, along with more details. Just been corrected, They are B8L's, not B5TL's as i'd been mistakenly told. first one's in service by late January.
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Post by MetrolineGA1511 on Nov 24, 2018 5:49:13 GMT 1
I think these will be the longest and largest buses in mainstream service in Britain.
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Post by Burnside on Nov 24, 2018 16:34:00 GMT 1
You could be right. I think First Glasgow's Enviro 500's and the ex-Glasgow East Lancs Nordics are close but think they are 12m and these are 13-and a bit?
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Post by driver6540 on Jan 10, 2019 0:14:17 GMT 1
I think these will be the longest and largest buses in mainstream service in Britain. They certainly are, they are 13.4m long and are due in service imminently. No official word on what routes they will be for as yet though.
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Steve Macz403
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Waits at the bus stop for his bus, 2 days later bus turns up :D
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Post by Steve Macz403 on Jan 14, 2019 21:33:19 GMT 1
I think these will be the longest and largest buses in mainstream service in Britain. They certainly are, they are 13.4m long and are due in service imminently. No official word on what routes they will be for as yet though. Whatever route Lothian put em on it’ll have to be a straight route or one with a decent turning circle at both ends,
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Post by driver6540 on Jan 15, 2019 23:59:36 GMT 1
They certainly are, they are 13.4m long and are due in service imminently. No official word on what routes they will be for as yet though. Whatever route Lothian put em on it’ll have to be a straight route or one with a decent turning circle at both ends, And therein lies the problem!, very few Lothian "city" routes match that criteria. The big Launch takes place the first week of February on George Street. I suppose all will be revealed then.
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Steve Macz403
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Waits at the bus stop for his bus, 2 days later bus turns up :D
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Post by Steve Macz403 on Jan 16, 2019 9:20:32 GMT 1
Whatever route Lothian put em on it’ll have to be a straight route or one with a decent turning circle at both ends, And therein lies the problem!, very few Lothian "city" routes match that criteria. The big Launch takes place the first week of February on George Street. I suppose all will be revealed then. Even looking at a map. Most Lothian routes aren’t exactly straight lines. The only route I can think of is maybe the airport 100 for a bus with that capacity. Unless Lothian have plans to draw a new cross city route, maybe 44 would be a good contender for such a bus.
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Post by steve440 on Jan 16, 2019 9:32:15 GMT 1
These vehicles shouldn't be a problem. At 13.4 metres they are shorter than the 15 metre Megabus coaches that Stott's have at the moment. I have witnessed their manoeuvrability whilst accessing the depot at Milnsbridge which is definitely not straight.
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Post by Burnside on Jan 17, 2019 18:23:17 GMT 1
Suppose if they have a steering rear axle, that will aid their manoeuvrability.
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Post by driver6540 on Jan 29, 2019 22:31:45 GMT 1
Lothian have acquired a further 6 ex-London B9TL's, these will supplement the Lothian Country and East Coast Buses fleets. Once the 42 new XLB's enter service in february, all the remaining Tridents and the majority of the 55 reg B7TL/Gemini's will be withdrawn. Hot on the heels of the new XLB's, a further batch of new B5TL/Gemini 3's are due to enter service. According to Lothian Buses website, no bus in their fleet will be less than Euro 5 compliant by the end of 2020.
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Post by gooderson1 on Jan 31, 2019 17:49:43 GMT 1
A Facebook sight is stating that one of the brand new 3 axle double deckers is being inspected at the Stagecoach depot Cowley Road in Cambridge for "possible use" of a similar type vehicle on the busway. The vehicle, SG68LCA, is returning to Lothian tomorrow(Friday 1/2).
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Post by driver6540 on Feb 12, 2019 22:21:06 GMT 1
Lothian have acquired a further 6 ex-London B9TL's, these will supplement the Lothian Country and East Coast Buses fleets. Once the 42 new XLB's enter service in february, all the remaining Tridents and the majority of the 55 reg B7TL/Gemini's will be withdrawn. Hot on the heels of the new XLB's, a further batch of new B5TL/Gemini 3's are due to enter service. According to Lothian Buses website, no bus in their fleet will be less than Euro 5 compliant by the end of 2020. Further to the above, another 4 B9TL's have been acquired. All are ex-Go Ahead and will be split 6 for ECB and 4 for LC. The ECB one's will replace the 56 reg B7TL Gemini's. The LC one's will replace the 4 ex-Bullocks hybrid's which will transfer to the main City fleet.
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Post by MetrolineGA1511 on Feb 16, 2019 23:57:39 GMT 1
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Post by driver6540 on Feb 19, 2019 22:51:29 GMT 1
That's come as a nice surprise to me, i wasn't expecting them to be deployed on my "local" route (11) when i stay up there. The Ferry Road section of the route between Leith Walk and Ocean Terminal will be the most challenging for the drivers of these much longer buses on this route due to the high number of parked cars on this quite narrow section. Iv'e previously been on the incumbent B7/9TL's and seen drivers struggle to negotiate the turns in this high residential area due to parking issues on the way down to Newhaven. Further news is Lothian Country are to expand operations in West Lothian with the introduction of new service 281 in march.
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Post by driver6540 on Feb 24, 2019 22:41:59 GMT 1
The new E400XLB's are scheduled for introduction on route's 11 and 16 in the first week of March. Apart from the first of the batch 1063, all the others 1064-1104 will be re-registered to "19" reg plates. 1063 will retain it's original "68" plate. The first Lothian B7TL/Gemini 701 is currently being painted into it's original "harlequin" livery and once completed will enter preservation. There are now only two Trident/President's left in service and these will be withdrawn when the XLB's are all in service.
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Post by chas on Mar 9, 2019 19:20:13 GMT 1
Using bustimes.org/vehicles, I cannot see any B8TLs on 11/16 this afternoon. The website introduces the new hobby of spotting without visiting!
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Mar 9, 2019 20:58:24 GMT 1
The new E400XLB's are scheduled for introduction on route's 11 and 16 in the first week of March. Apart from the first of the batch 1063, all the others 1064-1104 will be re-registered to "19" reg plates. 1063 will retain it's original "68" plate. The first Lothian B7TL/Gemini 701 is currently being painted into it's original "harlequin" livery and once completed will enter preservation. There are now only two Trident/President's left in service and these will be withdrawn when the XLB's are all in service. Final day of operation for the Tridents today with 5 in service on the 19
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Post by driver6540 on Mar 14, 2019 0:20:51 GMT 1
The final 5 in operation on saturday, were 684/97/8/9 and 700. However 698/700 have both been in service mon, tues and today. The XLB's are already stretching their legs on other routes. report's noted them on 15's and X44's, although these may interwork with 11/16.
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