News, debate and discussion on Scotland's Bus Operations.
Bus operators include the likes of Stagecoach, First, Arriva, Lothian Buses and many more.


To start the discussion, we'll kick off with Lothian Buses...

Some of the ten new Volvo Hybrids have arrived.
They are destined for service 1, and their rumoured commencement date is for 24th March or 13th April.

A photo of one (HY13 BUS) can be viewed below:
HY13BUS (Jamie056)

Had some information passed to me by Stuart Montgomery, a bus enthusiast from Edinburgh who is well respected to say the very least. He had this information given to him by management, after I asked him if he could find out for me.

'The new Hybrid 7900's are to be given sparkling treatment in an official launch with the Transport Minister Keith Brown cutting the tape and surrounded by celebrities. This will be on Saturday the 13th of April at 11am in Castle Street when a few of them will be paraded in public. They are expected to begin service proper a few days later.'

A further 20 new eco-friendly buses to join our fleet from Spring 2014

Thanks to the Scottish Green Bus Fund.

The Scottish Green Bus Fund was set up to help support and quicken the introduction of low carbon buses across Scotland.

In 2010 with the help of the Fund, we introduced 15 new hybrid double deck buses manufactured locally by Alexander Dennis into our fleet and have 10 hybrid single deck Volvo buses hitting the streets of Edinburgh next month.

We are delighted to announce, we will now be adding another 20 eco-friendly single deck buses to our fleet in Spring 2014 thanks to a further £1.5 million grant from the Government Fund.

Source: www.lothianbuses.com
- Read more here

For anyone wanting to book well in advance, Lothian Buses' Open Doors Day event this year will be hosted on 28th September. Doubt I'll be booking my tickets until mid-August though..!
I'll make a note of this date again nearer to the time.

I would actually really like to go to this event, I highly doubt I will, How much are the tickets Daniel.

(08 May 2013, 9:30 pm)Adam Malarkey wrote I would actually really like to go to this event, I highly doubt I will, How much are the tickets Daniel.

As far as I'm aware, the event itself is free... You've just gotta pay for train/coach tickets up and then a Lothian day ticket to get you to the depot! I shall ask my friend to confirm that though.

Can confirm it's free.

Worth a day out. The Newcastle to Edinburgh trip is cheap enough in advance. I might head up for it myself.

Been planning to get some photos of the Lothian fleet for ages. I quite frequently pass through Edinburgh for Glasgow, but never usually wait around for any period of time.

I had a trip up Glasgow this week, and had a bit of free time, so I had a wander out early to see what was out and about.

Last time I was up that way the whole McGill's/Arriva thing was up in the air with the competition commission, so most of their buses were in Arriva livery, with a McGill's sticker on them in place of the Arriva logo. Everything I seen this time was branded in McGill's livery - which is quite smart in my opinion. One thing I was hoping to get was a couple of photos of the McGill's branded Citaro artics, but I missed the only one I seen up there

Anyway, despite awkward sunlight, there's a few photos on my Flickr if anyone is interested: http://www.flickr.com/photos/aureolindn/...511950644/

Whats the deal with Arriva/McGills?

I havent been up there for a few weeks, but when I saw those McGills buses with Arriva paintwork in the past, just assumed it was old Arriva stock that hadnt been re-painted.

I like the fact there are several independants up there, both for local stuff and serving outlying areas too.
West Coast Motors have some decent stock for a small operator (they also have the City Sightseeing Tour in Glasgow).
Mind, some of the vehicles (one company in particular and I cant remember their name)rattling around heading along Argyle or Jamaica Street look as though they gave up the ghost a long time ago

I don't know the ins and outs of it, as I have no real interest in the network up there, but it was to do with the competition commission investigating the takeover of Arriva services when they pulled out of West Scotland.

I've found a bit of light reading if you're interested: http://www.competition-commission.org.uk...t-takeover

Thanks. It answers my questions etc.

Always like healthy competition when passengers benefit, although it is nice to see a smaller operator win the battle.

(17 May 2013, 7:48 pm)Andreos1 wrote Thanks. It answers my questions etc.

Always like healthy competition when passengers benefit, although it is nice to see a smaller operator win the battle.

As I say I've no real interest in the network up there, but it seems to run like clockwork compared to what we have in the North East. A lot of it is down to the road planning in the City Centre though. The services appear to be nice and frequent too.

I was wondering if any of you could help me. I've received a request to draw the new Volvo 7900H from Lothian on Paint.

I know the chassis is the 7900H, but what's the body on it? I can't find anything anywhere.

(28 May 2013, 8:03 pm)Adam wrote I was wondering if any of you could help me. I've received a request to draw the new Volvo 7900H from Lothian on Paint.

I know the chassis is the 7900H, but what's the body on it? I can't find anything anywhere.

I'm not 100% sure, but if I had to make a call, I'd say that the 7900H was an integral. If you've got a definite answer, I wouldn't mind knowing for myself!

In other news, there are some upcoming changes to Lothian's night buses commencing 1st July 2013 - see here for more details.

Something also noteworthy is that Chris Walton released the Annual Report & Accounts 2012 earlier this month. You can read it here.

Hello again for some mid-summer photos and with the sun so high in the sky the light is great just now for snapping. This week a look on our old Dart 182 still in Lothian's 'Classic' livery, now working at Kingsley's in Tyne and Wear and capturing a bus with one of our city centre statues can be fun. And there's even more fun in this group for Trident fans too - enjoy if you'd like to.

Dart 182 (Y182 CFS) at Kingsley's
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stuart_mont...otostream/

628 or a devil in disguise!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stuart_mont...otostream/

657 within the pastoral greens of Heriot Watt
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stuart_mont...otostream/

He never misses anything does he?
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stuart_mont...otostream/

Shiny 894 and St. Cuthbert.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stuart_mont...otostream/

I'm getting greener gradually in Howe Street....
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stuart_mont...otostream/

Sunshine on Leith and the 'Unfinished' Dart
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stuart_mont...otostream/

A green Eclipse, a green Beetle and a green hill in the city centre
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stuart_mont...otostream/

All the best,
Stuart.

Loving the photos Stuart. I'm hoping to be back up Edinburgh soon

Changes to Night Buses from am 1 July 2013

N3 - Revised route & timetable: Buses will now serve D'Arcy Road & Oak Place in Mayfield and City-bound journeys will serve Gore Avenue.

N11 - SERVICE WITHDRAWN but partly replaced with an extension of N16.

N15 - NEW summer only service (1 July to 15 September inc.); Runs between Queen Margaret University and Hyvots Bank, serving Milton Road & Mountcastle/Northfield in the east and Morningside/Buckstone/Mortonhall in the south.

N16 - Revised route & timetable; NEW north link as route is extended from City Centre to Silverknowes via Leith Street, Leith Walk, Constitution Street, Newhaven, Granton & Muirhouse.
N22 - Minor timetable changes.

N25 - Minor timetable changes.

N26 - Minor timetable changes.

N30 - Minor timetable changes.

N31 - Revised route & timetable; Buses now serve Hopefield on outbound journeys and will now start from Haymarket instead of the West End.

N34 - Minor timetable changes; City-bound journeys will now operate as N34 to Leith Street (No longer changes to N11 at Lothian Road).

N37 - Revised route & timetable; Buses no longer serve Ladywood instead running a one-way loop through Penicuik via John Street, Town Centre, Bog Road, Rullion Road, Deanburn and back to City via Queensway.

N44 - Revised route & timetable; Buses now serve Pinkie, MacBeth Moir Road & Wallyford (Fa'side Avenue). Linkfield Road is no longer served. New weekday journey introduced from City Centre to Balerno at 0030hrs.

Hello again and a few more blue skies for the end of term as the summer holidays begin. Enjoy the show if you'd like to!

883 and so much to see on North Bridge...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stuart_mont...otostream/

The Mill Race B7's still sparkle on London Road
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stuart_mont...otostream/

..and plenty of madder action at Elm Row.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stuart_mont...otostream/

Tram tracks and big buses on the 1
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stuart_mont...otostream/

LB62 BUS on the Dean Bridge
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stuart_mont...otostream/

and my demon 908 (but don't bother looking at this one!)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stuart_mont...otostream/

Pastoral delight with 186 at QMU
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stuart_mont...otostream/

All the best,
Stuart.

More awesome shots. Thanks for sharing. I really fancy a trip up to Edinburgh myself now to get a few of the Lothian fleet. I never seem to have any time free when I'm up that way, as I'm generally passing through to go somewhere else.

I'm off to Edinburgh Zoo with my Business class in a fortnight's time and...surprise surprise... they left me in charge of transport, so it's my responsibility to sort out the trains and the buses.

Anyway, a couple of small questions regarding the buses:

1) Are Gemini's usually operated on the 31?
2) What usually operates on the 12/X12?

Thank you

Yet again, your photographs are inspiring and give me idea's to try new idea's. So glad I'm getting my Lothian fix on Monday.

For anyone wishing to see my Lothian photos check out; http://www.flickr.com/photos/matt56120/s...741103725/

(27 Jun 2013, 9:11 pm)Adam wrote I'm off to Edinburgh Zoo with my Business class in a fortnight's time and...surprise surprise... they left me in charge of transport, so it's my responsibility to sort out the trains and the buses.

Anyway, a couple of small questions regarding the buses:

1) Are Gemini's usually operated on the 31?
2) What usually operates on the 12/X12?

Thank you

From Haymarket we got the 26 which was a Gemini. On the way back from the Zoo, we got a First SPD. Get the airport bus or one of the Glasgow services and you have the luxury of a coach

http://news.stv.tv/east-central/232632-m...edinburgh/

(11 Jul 2013, 9:37 pm)Daniel wrote http://news.stv.tv/east-central/232632-m...edinburgh/

I was in Edinburgh today with my Business Class. Saw the ambulance sail past with its sirens on but never knew it was for this. Horrible incident.

Lothian's 367 and 382 both now wear a very striking allover ad for GoEdinburgh2016. An example (367) is demonstrated on the photograph below:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/cuthbus/9335399639/ (StreetwiseFife)

Need transport to the SVBM? This may appeal to you.

http://lothianbuses.com/our-community/ar...-18-august

Lothian 889, 907 and 913 recently repainted into madder

Here is 889 on Hanover Street working service 27
http://www.flickr.com/photos/matt56120/9436612376/

Also noticed at Seafield works are a set of harlequin liveried tridents 5 or 6 of them being plain white. Not sure if repaints as Longstone depot has recently been doing that.

Photo of 367 on Hanover Street working service 23
http://www.flickr.com/photos/matt56120/9...hotostream

Also as not pointed out vehicles 101 onwards for service 30 are getting "Get there greener" decal applied above the windows.

Photo of 124 with said decal http://www.flickr.com/photos/matt56120/9...hotostream

Lothian 912 now in the lovely madder livery.

Photo from Stuart Montgomery's fantastic flickr account
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stuart_mont...422055104/

Love the colour's.

Looks great together.