TITLE: Lothian Buses

A Dennis Trident 2 / Plaxton President on route 25 Slogan Your locally owned buses
/
...way ahead in Edinburgh /
...way ahead in Midlothian Founded 2000 (from LRT Lothian) Headquarters Annandale
Street, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK Locale Edinburgh and the Lothian region, Scotland
Service type bus, tour bus Routes 50 (daytime) / 10 (night buses) Fleet 650+ Daily
ridership 114 million per annum Operator self Chief executive Neil Renilson Web
site www.lothianbus.com

Lothian Buses Plc is the largest municipal bus company in the United Kingdom and
the largest provider of bus services in Edinburgh, Scotland. It also serves parts
of East Lothian and Midlothian. On 7 November 2007 Lothian was voted Bus Operator
of the Year in the 2007 UK Bus Awards, and has subsequently been voted Public
Transport Operator of the Year (Bus) at the 2008 National Transport Awards. The
company was cited for its substantial route development, 32 percent growth in
passenger numbers since 1998 and £100 million investment in low-floor buses since
2000.

Lothian Buses plc operates the majority of daytime bus services in Edinburgh,
extending to outlying suburbs, towns and villages. The company also operates
several limited stop express routes, an Airport service, Park and Ride services
and a comprehensive night bus network. The company also operates several tourist
services. The company has 4 travel shops (three in the city centre and one in
Dalkeith), and operates buses from three depot locations. The company also
maintains a driver training school and an engineering depot. The central depot is
located on Annandale Street.

Lothian Buses is the only municipally owned bus company in Scotland, being 91%
owned by the City of Edinburgh council and the remainder by the councils in East
Lothian, Midlothian and West Lothian, giving rise to the slogan your locally owned
buses , although there are currently [update] no services to West Lothian. It is
registered in Annandale Street, Edinburgh as company number SC096849

Many aspects of the Lothian operation are different to the standard practice
employed elsewhere in the UK bus industry. This can mainly be attributed to a
local history, strong council support, and long standing independent identity.
Contents

1 Company history 2 Fares 3 Daytime network 4 Night buses 5 Infrastructure 6 Tram

network 7 Main service fleet 7.1 Fleet history 7.2 Current vehicles 7.3
Demonstrators 7.4 Guided buses 8 Main fleet liveries "> A Lothian (Mac Tours) open
top bus on a victory parade for Heart of Midlothian F.C.

The company can trace its history back to the Edinburgh Street Tramways Company of
1871, also involving at various times the tramway companies of Leith, Musselburgh
and Edinburgh North. The City Council ( Edinburgh Corporation Tramways Department)
took over operation of the tramways in 1919, at which time most of the system was
cable operated. Electrification of the tram network was completed in 1923, but the
first motor buses had arrived in 1919. Tramway abandonment took place between 1950
and 1956, after which the operation became the Edinburgh Corporation Transport
Department.

In 1975, under the local government reorganisation which followed the Local
Government (Scotland) Act 1973, ownership of Edinburgh Corporation Transport
passed to the Lothian Regional Council Department of Public Transport. The
operation was duly renamed Lothian Regional Transport .
The Transport Act 1985 deregulated
municipal bus operations be run as
service departments. Therefore, on
Region Transport plc, better known
by Lothian Regional Council.
bus services in Great Britain and required that
commercial companies rather than as public
26 October 1986 the operation became Lothian
by its initials 'LRT', a company wholly owned

On 1 April 1996 Lothian Regional Council was abolished. Although the then
Conservative government had sought to have the company privatised, this was
resisted by local politicians and ownership the company passed to the new City of
Edinburgh Council and the three neighbouring councils. The LRT identity remained
until January 2000, when the company was renamed Lothian Buses plc, the LRT logo
changing to 'Lothian'.

Post deregulation Lothian experienced alternating periods of competition and

stability with the other major bus operator in Edinburgh, First in Edinburgh
(First), and its previous incarnations SMT/Eastern Scottish. During this time
Lothian acquired a number of smaller Edinburgh operators. In 2001, Lothian alleged
anti-competitive practises by First. This claim was later rejected. One lasting
effect of competition was the extension of Lothian services beyond the City of
Edinburgh boundaries, in response to incursion by Eastern into Edinburgh city
services. However, Lothian subsequently withdrew from West Lothian, leaving this
area to First. Retrenchment from this area and not the others that Lothian
extended into has caused concern amongst residents who had experienced low fares
and greater choice of services during the period when Lothian and Eastern Scottish
were competing. Although its area is no longer served by Lothian Buses, West
Lothian Council remains a shareholder of the company.

Operators other than Lothian and First do currently operate stage services into
Edinburgh, including Stagecoach, Munro's of Jedburgh, E"> Sticker advertising the
new single fare, raised from £1 to £1.10 in April 2008

Lothian operates a flat-fare system, with a daytime adult singles for any journey
costing £1.20, £3 on Night Buses. Child fares, all-day tickets, pre-paid multiple
singles and 'Ridacards' are also available, with senior citizens travelling free
in line with the rest of Scotland. .

Cash payment is placed in a hopper, which automatically dumps into a vault that
the driver has no access to. Change is not given, increasing security and allowing
passengers to board more quickly. As a consequence some Firstbus services display
'this bus gives change' as a competitive device.

The Lothian 'Ridacard' bus pass is a pre-paid plastic smart card giving unlimited
travel on regular daytime services, and discounted night bus travel. It is
purchased initially from a Lothian Travel Shop, where the owner's picture is
incorporated on the card to prevent mis-use. Once purchased, the card can simply
be placed on an on-board reader, which reads the RFID chip contained in the card.
Cards can be credited for a weekly, 4 weekly or annual period. A warning is
displayed on the last day of validity. The card can then be topped up at Lothian
Travel Shops or Pay Point equipped retailers.

Daytime network

A Volvo B7TL/Wright Gemini on route 3A in Princes Street.

In conjunction with management changes and route branding, the route network has
undergone considerable rationalisation, with the removal of several apparently
confusing aspects such as letter prefixed routes and clockwise/anticlockwise
circular services. Some services have been transferred to and re-routed in Princes
Street from the parallel George Street in New Town, after the banning of cars from
most of Princes Street and the closing of certain access points.

The majority of the current network comprises through routes that pass through the
city centre from opposing termini. Most services pass in part or in full along
Princes Street, with Bristo Place and Leith Walk being the crossing points for the
remaining cross town services. There also exists a northern and a southern semi-
circle orbital routes, and a local loop in the Sighthill area. Lothian bus
services do not call at the St. Andrew Square Bus Station, however a number of
Lothian services stop close to the entrance.

Many routes are contained within the Edinburgh conurbation, whereas others, most
notably the 'playing card' branded routes, extend into surrounding areas, such as
Penicuik, Tranent, Mayfield, Balerno and the Airport.

As in London, double deck buses show an intermediate points display, as well as a

final destination, which is useful for the longer through services and many
tourist passengers. In early mornings and late evenings, some services are
curtailed to the centre or to early termini, in the transition to the night bus
service. In such cases, 'Part Route' is displayed in the intermediate display.
Certain routes have all day short working termini, and minor diversions. These are
often indicated through the use of internal or external 'tram boards'.

The most recent double-deck deliveries, from 2006 onwards, feature a "Route
Diverted" intermediate display, used when road closures cause a service to be
diverted from its normal route.

It is thought that it is possible to travel from any point of the network to any
other point, through just one change of bus, although this obviously may not
always be the quickest option.

Night buses

Lothian also operates a night bus network sponsored by the Edinburgh Dungeon, who
also run discount offers on the back of Lothian bus tickets. All of the night
services are detailed in a timetable and map pocket leaflet.

While an earlier night bus network did exist, ridership increased when the routes
were re-numbered and re-routed to match daytime routes and increased in frequency.
The operation of night buses provides a continuous 24 hour bus service to most
areas of the city.

Infrastructure

Lothian operates buses from three garage locations, Longstone in the south west,
Central in Annandale Street, and Marine in Seafield Road, Portobello. Located near
Marine garage is Seafield engineering works, where major work on buses is carried
out.

The previous company headquarters and engineering works at Shrub Hill, Shrub Place
Lane off Leith Walk, were sold in 1999 subject to planning permission, after
Lothian occupancy dating back to tram operation in 1871. After repeated delays,
controversies and a public inquiry , the site was sold for £12m in 2004 to Bl
Developments to develop the site into flats and houses.

Lothian also maintains four Travel Shops. Three of these are in the city, at
Waverley Bridge, Hanover Street (off Princes Street) and Shandwick Place (in the
West End). A fourth Travel Shop opened at the Jarnac Court shopping mall in
Dalkeith town centre on 4 February, 2008. The Dalkeith travel shop, which carries
the slogan "Lothian Buses - way ahead in Midlothian" above the entrance, is the
company's first one to be located outwith Edinburgh.

A Lost property office is located at the Central garage.

All bus stops are detailed with the route number/s of calling services. Certain
strategic bus stops are designated interchanges, with associated signage, such as
Cameron Toll and Haymarket. Many bus stops are accompanied by real time tracking
display, giving the time in minutes until the arrival of the next services, or an
indication that a delay has occurred.

A short section of guided busway as part of the Fastlink project exists to the
west of the city. It was used by routes 2 (double deck) and 22 (single deck),
although due to the tram works, route 2 stopped using it in 2008, and as of Sunday
18 January 2009, route 22 also stopped using it, coinciding with a change of route
22 to double deck operation. Scotland's first guided busway, it initially caused
concerns over ride quality .

Unlike elsewhere in the country, Lothian operates a strict 'stacking' policy at

bus stops. Due to the large number of services calling at some stops, when
multiple buses arrive for the same stop, they will queue one behind the other,
only opening their doors when at the stop.

Lothian employs a fleet of vans fitted with amber roof lights on 'Traffic Patrol',
to assist buses with problems, and to monitor the current service. More vans are
used as a method of getting drivers to their change-over points, no longer do the
drivers use the services themselves.

Tram network

Lothian 628G, a Plaxton President bodied Dennis Trident traversing the Fastlink
guided busway, soon to be replaced by Tram Line 2

Lothian Buses will be fully integrated with the forthcoming Edinburgh tram
network, with both enterprises being owned by the council. Lothian services will
interchange with the trams at various strategic locations. The now closed guided
busway element of Fastlink will form part of phase 1a of the tram permanent way,
replacing the busway. Early artists impressions of the trams show them in the same
"harlequin" livery used on new Lothian buses. As a consequence of the trams, the
fleet will be reduced in size by 19 buses.

Ticketing and fares will be matched with Lothian. The fare for a single journey on
the tram network will be the same as on Lothian Buses, expected to be around £1.25
when the network opens in 2011. Day tickets and Ridacards will be valid on both
the trams and buses.

In preparation for the arrival of the trams, which will not provide on-board
ticketing, installation of off bus ticket machines at key bus stops has begun.
These allow passengers to purchase tickets before boarding a bus. Similar in
appearance to parking ticket machines, although these machines are red not grey.

Main service fleet

Fleet history

Lothian 857 ( J857 TSC ), An Alexander bodied Leyland Olympian in the last version
of the traditional madder and white livery

Edinburgh Corporation and Lothian have historically employed a high degree of

standardisation of their service bus fleet, to facilitate maintenance savings.
Lothian have never employed minibuses on their services, although some midibuses
were used for a time. Buses have generally been purchased new - very few
secondhand vehicles have been operated.

Double-deckers have long made up the majority of the fleet. In the period
immediately following the Second World War, the Guy Arab and Daimler CV-series
were favoured, with a smaller number of AEC Regent III. Between 1952 and 1966 some
452 Leyland Titan PD2 and PD3 were delivered (notably including 300 PD2s with MCCW
Orion bodies in 1954-56 for tram replacement). With the move to rear-engined
double-deckers, 588 Leyland Atlantean with Alexander bodies joined the fleet
between 1965 and 1981.

With the demise of the Atlantean, the standard bus was the Leyland Olympian double
decker with Eastern Coach Works or Alexander RH-type bodies (296 between 1982 and
1993). After the purchase of Leyland Bus by Volvo, Lothian remained loyal to the
Volvo Olympian chassis, taking 134 with Alexander RH and Royale type bodies
between 1994 and 1997. These were the last step-entrance buses purchased. 95 years
of continuous Leyland operation with Lothian and its predecessors ended on the
14th March 2009 with the withdrawal of the last Leyland Olympians.

Subsequently, low floor double-deckers have been purchased. These have comprised
Dennis Trident 2 with Plaxton President and Alexander ALX400 bodies, Volvo B7TL
and B9TL with Plaxton President and Wright Eclipse Gemini bodies, and a small
number of Scania OmniCity.

Post-war single-deckers comprised small batches of Guy Arab, Daimler CV-series,

Crossley SD42, Bristol L-type, Leyland Royal Tiger and Olympic, and Albion
Aberdonian. In 1959-60, some 100 Leyland Tiger Cubs with Weymann bodies were
purchased to replace the assorted front engined single-deckers. In 1961 a solitary
Leyland Leopard was delivered. This was number 101 (registered YSG101), which was
notable as a very early example (in the UK) of a 36' long bus, for carrying the
second ever example of Alexander's long-running Y-type body, and for being
completed to an experimental standee layout with three sets of doors.

In 1966 the removal of disused railway bridges on Easter Road enabled the busy
Leith circular services to be converted to double-deck operation. Many of the
Tiger Cubs were sold to Ulsterbus, and the single-deck fleet declined markedly.
Twelve more Y-type Leopards (to a more conventional specification) were purchased
in 1975, and ten 1974 Bedford YRTs with similar coach specification bodies were
downgraded from the coach fleet after only 1 season. Twenty dual-door Leyland
Nationals arrived in 1982-85, followed by 12 dual-door Leyland Lynx in 1991.
Later, some reconditioned secondhand Nationals were purchased for use on tendered
services. Since the move to low-floor buses, the Dennis/Plaxton Super Pointer Dart
and the Volvo B7RLE/Wright Eclipse Urban have been favoured, and the number of
single deckers in the fleet has increased.

Minibuses and short wheelbase midibuses have not been used in large numbers by
Lothian, although some midibuses had previously been used on less busy routes. Ten
Seddon Pennine IV were acquired in 1973. These were replaced by 18 Leyland Cubs in
1981, which in turn gave way to 12 9m Dennis Darts with Alexander Dash bodies in
1992. When the Darts were delivered they were the only non-Leyland vehicles in the
fleet. In 2001 five of these Darts were sold to Yorkshire Traction. The ones that
remained were gradually cascaded to the Mac Tours subsidiary until their
replacement by Optare Solo SRs in 2008.
From 1969 until 2001 Lothian favoured dual-door vehicles, which minimised loading
times by allowing simultaneous boarding (at the front door) and alighting (from
the rear door). However, in 2002 a decision was made to purchase single-door
vehicles only, apparently to stop fraudulent lawsuits claiming that the driver
closed the rear doors while they were exiting . There is an ongoing programme of
converting earlier low-floor dual-door vehicles to single door.

Another policy change introduced by the current management team was the fleet
replacement policy. The previous policy was to never sell a fleet bus second-hand,
preferring to break it up for spares or cascade it to the Tours or driver training
fleets. This was ostensibly to prevent competitors buying them and using them
against the company. The new management team recognised the high resale value of
Lothian's retired fleet buses, due to the firm's exceptionally high maintenance
standards. As a result, many operators throughout the UK now employ former Lothian
vehicles.

Until recently, Lothian and its predecessors operated a small coach fleet. Until
1976 most coaches were lightweight types (mainly Bedfords), but subsequently
Leyland Leopard, Tiger and Dennis Javelin were purchased. An oddity (in that it
was an import in the hitherto 100% British Lothian fleet) was a Toyota minicoach,
new in 1993. The coach operation was closed down in order to concentrate on stage
services and the open top sightseeing tours.

Current vehicles

Lothian Buses has a modern fleet by national standards, with an average vehicle
age of 5.6 years . Conversion to an all low floor fleet is well under way, with
the last remaining high floor vehicles being replaced with new deliveries. A
target has been set for all vehicles to be low floor by 2010.

The majority of the current main service fleet comprises: Single-deck Dennis Dart
SLF with Plaxton Pointer 2 bodies[175] Volvo B7RLE with Wright Eclipse Urban
bodies[176] Volvo B7RLE with Wright Eclipse Urban 2 bodies [177] Optare Solo SR -
in use on service 13 and MacTours services 61 and 69 [178] Double-deck Volvo
Olympian with Alexander R type RH or R type Royale bodies Dennis Trident 2 with
Plaxton President bodies Volvo B7TL with Plaxton President [179][180]and Wright
Eclipse Gemini [181][182]bodies Volvo B9TL with Wright Eclipse Gemini bodies
[183][184] Volvo B9TL with Wright Eclipse Gemini 2 bodies[185] Scania OmniCity

Five Alexander ALX400-bodied Tridents were also operated in the main fleet (501-
505), but all of these have now been converted to open top buses for The City
Sightseeing Tour. Plaxton President-bodied 506-508 have also been converted.

A Scania OmniCity N94UA articulated bus is also owned by the company, as number 50
( YN54 ALO ). This was a demonstrator built for Scania in November 2004, who
demonstrated it to Cardiff Bus (600) , Stagecoach London , First London (OM1) and
Manchester Airport , and which appeared at the 2005 Cobham bus rally . It was then
bought by Lothian in April 2008, who painted it in the Park and Ride green livery
for use on a special roster on the X48 .

Current deliveries are drawn from the Volvo / Wright combination.

All new vehicles are fitted with internal and external CCTV cameras and cab
radios, for passenger and driver safety , bus lane enforcement and assisting the
police , although they have also been used in action against the company's own
drivers.
Demonstrators

Lothian has from time to time had demonstration vehicles in service with the main
fleet. Notable examples have included the following: In the 1990s Lothian trialed
a Volvo B10L / Saffle single-decker (156, L456 JCK) to evaluate low-floor buses.
It was owned by Volvo but painted in LRT Lothian madder/white livery, with
additional lettering advertising the low floor nature of the bus. During 2005
Lothian trialed the bendy-bus concept using an articulated Hispano bodied Volvo
B7LA (888, FJ53 LZZ) in London red and grey colours with Harlequin diamond vinyls
applied. No orders followed this trial, and the bus went elsewhere, but in 2008 a
Scania ex-demonstrator artic was purchased for use on the X48 Park "> A Volvo
B7TL/Wright Gemini on Playing Card branded route 44 in Princes Street.

Single-deck buses for service 29 are branded with extra red in the livery and the
slogan " The Best Deal ", while similar buses for service 49 carry a navy/blue
version of this scheme and are branded with the slogan " The Leader of the Pack ".

Four double decker routes using the low-floor scheme are based on a playing card
theme, with the symbol of the suit incorporating the route number; Route 3/3A is "
Club Class - across the City and Midlothian " with extra yellow on the uppers and
roofline and a black "club" symbol. Route 26 is " East to west through the heart
of the city " with golden and red uppers and roofline, and a red "heart" symbol
pierced by an arrow. (starting to change to '26 Connect' following Delivery of
Volvo B9TL/Wright Gemini 2 vehicles.) Route 31 is " Ace of Spades - cutting across
the city and Midlothian " with orange uppers and roofline, and a black spade
symbol. Route 44 is " Service with a Sparkle " with black uppers and roofline and
a yellow diamond symbol.

Tourism

History of tour operations

Lothian had operated city tours using white liveried coaches. Later, Atlanteans
were employed in this same livery, with blinds for City Tour. These wore an
updated version of the white livery with blue detailing after a short period. An
Edinburgh Classic Tour was set up in 1989 using open top Atlanteans, and later
Olympians, which competed with Guide Friday. This was as a result of Guide Friday
introducing competition on the city centre to Airport route. The buses wore a blue
and white livery, each carrying a name e.g. Scottish Star , Lothian Star and
Highland Star . Lothian also operated open top tours in Oxford (in conjunction
with local operator Tappins) and Cambridge under the Classic Tour identity.

In July 2000 Lothian became one of the first operators to join the City
Sightseeing franchise model, re-branding and upgrading the Classic Tour. Lothian
purchased the first purpose built low-floor open top buses , in a tartan scheme
with City Sightseeing fleetnames . The Classic tour was completely transformed
into the City Sightseeing red scheme by May 2001 . In May 2002 City Sightseeing
acquired its biggest rival Guide Friday. This led to the Guide Friday Edinburgh
fleet being absorbed into Lothian, leaving Lothian as the only tour operator in
the city.

A special bus service has previously been run from George Street into Edinburgh
Castle via The Mound. This service used at least two of the Dash bodied Darts, in
a dedicated overall livery.

Edinburgh Bus Tours

Lothian tour buses (L-R): Mac Tours, Majestic Tour, City Sightseeing and Edinburgh
Tour, on Waverley Bridge. Also, an Airlinks bus far right, and Waverley station
below

Lothian operates several open top double deck tour bus services, through its
Edinburgh Bus Tours subsidiary under four distinct brands: City Sightseeing,
Edinburgh Tours, Mac Tours and The Majestic Tour. The City Sightseeing tour is
operated by Lothian as a franchise of the City Sightseeing brand.

All tour buses operate from the east side of Waverley Bridge, opposite Waverley
station (Edinburgh's main railway station). Tours can be boarded and alighted
throughout the day from there and other selected locations on a hop on hop off
basis.

City Sightseeing, Edinburgh Tours and Mac Tours visit the Old Town, New Town,
Calton Hill, Holyrood Palace and The Castle, albeit on slightly differing routes.
The Majestic Tour operates a long loop from Holyrood and New Town, via the Botanic
Gardens, to the coast at Ocean Terminal, the site of the former Royal Yacht
Britannia.

The Mac Tours operation uses AEC Routemaster buses in a dark red and cream livery,
with See Edinburgh By Vintage Bus branding. Edinburgh Tours and The Majestic Tour
operate converted former main Lothian fleet Leyland Olympians. The Edinburgh Tour
buses wear a light green and cream version of Guide Friday livery with some Guide
Friday fleetnames, while The Majestic Tour wears a blue and yellow livery with
some red stripes. City Sightseeing operates a mixture of converted former main
fleet Olympians, 4 purpose built Plaxton President bodied Dennis Tridents and,
more recently, converted former main fleet Dennis Tridents. These wear the allover
City Sightseeing red graffiti scheme, with localised branding.

Attractions accessible by bus

As well as the central area attractions, several other popular tourist attractions
in the suburbs of Edinburgh and beyond are accessible by Lothian bus: Edinburgh
Zoo: 12, 26, 31, X48 The Royal Yacht: 1, 11, 22, 34, 35, 36 Botanic Gardens: 8,
23, 27 Rosslyn Chapel: 15 Lauriston Castle: 24 Butterfly and Insect World: 3/3A,
29 Midlothian Snowsports Centre: 4, 15/15A Newhailes House: 30

Mac Tours bus services

Mac Tours Routemaster bus, with Ingliston Park And Ride bus behind

The Mac Tours business unit, in addition to open top tours, also operates two bus
routes in Edinburgh. Until 2008, these were operated using a fleet of Dennis Dart
Alexander Dash midibuses, a type once found in the main Lothian fleet, but they
have now been replaced with Optare Solo SR buses.

Route 69 is a normal bus service, and wears the same harlequin livery as the
Lothian low-floor fleet, although the 'Mac Tours' fleetname is used.

Route 61 is an express service operated for the Standard Life insurance company,
who have offices in the city. These wear an allover yellow livery, with Standard
Life branding.

The Mac Tours bus livery was also applied to three 1990 Mercedes Benz 709D
minibuses (27-29) acquired from Western and which were also re-trimmed with
original-pattern London Routemaster moquette. These buses have now been sold.
Airport services

Lothian operates standard, express and shuttle services to Edinburgh Airport

located to the west of the city.

Standard buses

Lothian double deck service 35 and night bus service N22 terminate at the airport.

Although Route 35 does not call at Princes Street, it intersects with many other
services of the standard bus network at these places: Gyle Centre (2, 12, 18, 21,
22, 24) Calder Road (3/3A, 25, 20, 25, 30, 32, 33, 34) Slateford Road (4, 44/44A)
Lauriston Place (2, 41, 42) South Bridge (8, 29, 37, 47) Easter Road south (5,
15/15A, 19, 26) Leith crossroads (7, 10, 13, 14, 16, 49) Ocean Terminal (1, 11,
22, 34, 35, 36)

Airlink 100

Route 100 "Airlink" branded bus

The company operates a dedicated limited stop service, route 100, to the Airport
from Waverly Bridge along Corstorphine Road. This service uses a dedicated fleet,
special fares and its own web-site. An orange winged 'A' logo adorns the web site
and the interior/exterior of the vehicles. Airlink 100 tickets can be bought from
the driver, from an airport kiosk, or online (must be printed).

The Airlink 100 service calls at these stops only: Waverly Bridge West End
(Shandwick Place) Haymarket Wester Coates Murrayfield Edinburgh Zoo Drum Brae
Maybury Hilton Hotel Airport

The Airlink fleet comprises Polish built Scania OmniCity double deckers fitted
with coach seating, luggage space, and some train carriage like seat and table
arrangements. The buses wear a special livery of white and light/dark blue, with
orange detailing, introduces with the conversion to low floor buses. The service
was previously operated by Olympians in an earlier Airline blue livery .

Company practice (likely as a result of contract terms and conditions) has been to
replace Airlink vehicles every four years. This allows replaced vehicles to be
cascaded to the main fleet after suitable modifications to standard specification.
This maintains a young Airlink fleet on the premium route. It is likely that this
cascading practice will continue even though the service uses a vehicle type that
is not a current feature in the main fleet.

Edinburgh Shuttle

The Edinburgh Shuttle is a shared airport shuttle service, using a fleet of

fifteen orange liveried 7 seat minibuses with luggage space.

The service is timetabled up to every 15 minutes but follows no set route - rather
it can be requested to pick up or set down within a defined map area as a demand
responsive transport service. Originally covering the central area, in October
2007 it was extended to Leith, Ocean Terminal and Cameron Toll. It can also be
boarded at the Airport arrivals coach park or Waverly Bridge. Like a taxi, the
service can be pre-booked by phone or online, but as a bus service it can also be
hailed in the street. It can also use bus lanes. Passengers pay a flat fare of £10
per person, discounted for 2 or more people. The service takes approximately 30
minutes, with the route decided on an ad-hoc basis based on bookings/set downs and
traffic conditions.

A subsidiary company of Lothian Buses, it was launched in December 2006 to exploit

the gap in the airport transport market between conventional bus services and
private hire taxis . Since its creation the service had caused concern with the
city's taxi drivers, and recent observations of £5 fares for non-airport running
due to the hail and ride nature have caused the council to look into the service's
operating licence.

The service is planned to end on April the 18th if not sold to another operator
[ citation needed ] . Some of the Ford Transits used have already been taken out
of service and repainted white ready for disposal.

Park color:white">1 Clermiston - Stenhouse - Fountainbridge - Princes Street -

Easter Road - Ocean Terminal. On Sundays, service runs between Clermiston and
Easter Road. 2 Gyle Centre - Edinburgh Park - Broomhouse - Gorgie - Haymarket -
Candlemaker Row - Prestonfield - Niddrie - The Jewel (Asda). Runs between
Broomhouse Roundabout and ASDA in the evenings and on Sundays.
3/3A

Club Class
across the
City color:white">4 Hillend - Oxgangs - Slateford Station - Haymarket - Princes
Street - Meadowbank - Northfield - Bingham - Asda 5 Oxgangs - Morningside -
Salisbury - North Bridge - Meadowbank - Mountcastle - Brunstane - The Jewel (Asda)
7 Newhaven - Leith - North Bridge - Cameron Toll - Liberton Brae - Captain's Road
- Hyvots Bank - Ferniehill 8 Muirhouse - Pilton - Canonmills - Waverley - North
Bridge - Cameron Toll - The Inch - Moredun - Royal Infirmary 10 Western Harbour -
Leith - Princes Street - Tollcross - Firrhill - Torphin/Bonaly 11 Ocean Terminal -
Newhaven - Princes Street - Morningside - Fairmilehead - Hyvots Bank 12 Gyle -
Murrayfield - Haymarket - St Andrew Square - Pirniefield 13 Blackhall - Ravelston
Dykes - George Street - New Town - Bellevue 14 Muirhouse or West Granton - Pilton
- Goldenacre - Leith - Bridges - Prestonfield - Greendykes 15/15A Penicuik -
Roslin (15) / Easter Bush (15A) - Morningside - Princes Street - Portobello -
Eastfield 16 Silverknowes - Granton - Leith - Princes Street - Tollcross -
Morningside - Oxgangs - Hunter's Tryst / Colinton 18 Gyle Centre - Edinburgh Park
- Sighthill Ind. Estate - Westside Plaza - Colinton - Oxgangs - Fairmilehead -
Gilmerton - Royal Infirmary 19 Granton - Crewe Toll - Charlotte Square - Waverley
- Lochend - Craigentinny - King's Road 21 Gyle Centre/Clovenstone - Broomhouse -
Clermiston - Davidson's Mains - Leith - Lochend - Niddrie - Royal Infirmary 22
Gyle Centre - Edinburgh Park - Broomhouse - Stenhouse - Westfield - West Approach
Road - Princes Street - Leith - Ocean Terminal 23 Trinity - Canonmills - The Mound
- Tollcross - Morningside - Craighouse Campus - Greenbank/Craiglockhart Campus-
Glenlockhart 24 Edinburgh Park - Gyle - Barnton - Davidson's Mains - Princes
Street - Tollcross - Marchmont - Royal Infirmary 24A Gogarburn - Clermiston -
Davidson's Mains - Blackhall - St Andrew Square - Marchmont - Royal Infirmary.
Peak service only. 25 Heriot Watt Uni/Riccarton - Sighthill - Gorgie - Haymarket -
Princes Street - Leith Street - Lochend - Restalrig

26
East to West
through the
Heart of the City color:white">27 Silverknowes - Muirhouse - Crewe Toll -
Canonmills - The Mound - Tollcross - Craiglockhart - Oxgangs - Hunter's Tryst 29

The Best
Deal Silverknowes - Crewe Toll - Stockbridge - Waverley - Cameron Toll - Gilmerton
- Hardengreen Tesco - Newtongrange then either Mayfield Roundabout - Mayfield Kier
Hardie Drive or Gorebridge - Birkenside (evening and Sunday buses run between
Silverknowes and Gilmerton). 30 Clovenstone - Westside Plaza - Westfield - Princes
Street - Prestonfield - Niddrie - Newcraighall - Queen Margaret Uni - Musselburgh
31

The Ace
of Spades
cutting
across the
City color:white">32 Clovenstone - Westside Plaza - Broomhouse - Drylaw - West
Granton - Granton Square (peak times only) 33 Baberton - Wester Hailes - Longstone
- Haymarket - Princes Street - North Bridge - Cameron Toll - Royal Infirmary -
Ferniehill 34 Riccarton - Sighthill - Longstone - Slateford - Fountainbridge -
Princes Street - Lochend - Leith - Ocean Terminal 35

Airport
Holyrood
Government
Link Edinburgh Airport - Ingliston Park color:white">36 Ocean Terminal - Leith -
Powderhall - Canonmills - Stockbridge - West End - Holyrood 37

Penicuik
City Link Silverknowes - Crewe Toll - West End - Waverley - Cameron Toll -
Liberton - Loanhead - Penicuik - Deanburn or Ladywood 38 Muirhouse - Crewe Toll -
Western General Hospital - Craigleith - Murrayfield - Balgreen - Blackford -
Cameron Toll - Royal Infirmary 41 Cramond - Barnton - Blackhall - The Mound -
Marchmont - Grange - Craighouse Campus / Kings Buildings 42 West Granton -
Muirhouse - Drylaw - Crewe Toll - Stockbridge - The Mound - George IV Bridge -
Bristo - Cameron Toll - Duddingston - King's Road (Portobello). Late evening and
all Sunday buses run West Granton to Bristo only.

44/44A Service
with a
Sparkle Balerno - Slateford Station - Haymarket - Princes Street - Meadowbank -
Brunstane - Musselburgh - Wallyford Park color:white">45 (Gogarburn) - Riccarton -
Currie - Colinton - Craiglockhart Campus - Tollcross - Hanover Street - (St.
Andrew Square) - (Willowbrae) - (Brunstane) - (Fisherrow) - (Queen Margaret
University). Place names in brackets indicate that these are only served at peak
times. 47

Penicuik
City Link Granton - Crewe Toll - Princes Street - Cameron Toll - Liberton -
Straiton Park color:white">48 Ratho - Ratho Station - Ingliston - Drum Brae -
Haymarket - Princes Street - Bridges - Surgeons' Hall - Royal Infirmary -
Danderhall - Sheriffhall Park color:red">49

The Leader
of the Pack The Jewel (Asda) - Portobello - Lochend - North Bridge - Cameron Toll
- Royal Infirmary - Danderhall - Sheriffhall Park color:white">67 Hanover Street -
The Mound - George IV Bridge - Potterrow - Causewayside - Mayfield Road - Liberton
- Kaimes Crossroads - Burdiehouse - Straiton Park color:white">69
MacTours Lady Nairne - Northfield - Portobello - Duddingston Park - Fort Kinnaird

Express/Limited stop services

No. Route X25 Waterloo Place - Princes Street - The Exchange - Sighthill -
Hermiston - Riccarton X26 Port Seton - Musselburgh - Willowbrae - City Centre -
Edinburgh Park - RBS Gogarburn X29

The Best
Deal Silverknowes - Crewe Toll - Stockbridge - Waverley - Gilmerton - Newtongrange
- Gorebridge - Birkenside. X31 Bonnyrigg - Lasswade - The Murrays - City Centre -
West End - Haymarket X47

Penicuik
City Link Granton - Crewe Toll - Princes Street - Straiton - Penicuik - Deanburn
X48

Ingliston
City Centre
Sheriffhall Park
color:blue">61
MacTours Canning Street-Henderson Row at Perth St - Hanover St at Thistle St -
Canning Street. Standard Life shuttle bus; stops only at these offices. 100

Airlink Waverley Bridge - West End - Haymarket - Roseburn - Murrayfield -

Edinburgh Zoo - Drum Brae - Maybury - Hilton Hotel - Airport

Night buses

In the city centre, all services call at Princes Street (Waverley Steps) or OMNI
(Leith Street), most call at both. Places marked with an asterisk (*) indicate
services which run on Friday and Saturday nights only. No. Route N3

Nightly Haymarket - City Centre - North Bridge - Cameron Toll - Gilmerton -

Eskbank - Dalkeith - Mayfield Roundabout - Newtongrange - Gorebridge - Birkenside
N8

Friday and
Saturday nights City Centre - Bellevue - Pilton - Silverknowes N16

Nightly City Centre - Morningside - Oxgangs - Colinton - Torphin N22

Nightly Ocean Terminal - Leith - City Centre - Stenhouse - Broomhouse - South Gyle
- Airport N25

Nightly Restalrig - Lochend - City Centre - Gorgie - Sighthill - Riccarton N26

Nightly Clerwood - Murrayfield - City Centre - Portobello - Eastfield -

Musselburgh* - Prestonpans* - Cockenzie*

(one early morning journey on Mondays to Fridays runs as Clerwood - Seton Sands)
N30

Friday and
Saturday nights Clovenstone - Wester Hailes - City Centre - Bridges - Niddrie -
Newcraighall - Queen Margaret University - Musselburgh N31

Nightly Haymarket - City Centre - Liberton - Lasswade - Bonnyrigg - Hopefield N37

Nightly Silverknowes loop - Crewe Toll - City Centre - Liberton - Loanhead -

Penicuik N44

Nightly Balerno - Currie - Juniper Green - Slateford - City Centre - Brunstane -

Eastfield - Musselburgh* - Wallyford* - Tranent*

Preserved Vehicles

Many vehicles previously used by Lothian Buses and its predecessors have been
preserved (or are awaiting preservation) by various groups and societies. Several
of the vehicles regularly appear at events, rallies and running days around the
country. Some of the many vehicles include: Ref. Date Reg Fleetno Type Chassis
Body 1948 ESG 652 739 Single Decker Guy Arab MkIII 5LW Metro-Cammell 1948 GFS 329
unknown Parcel Van Albion AZ9 Van 1948 FWS 853 6 Recovery Vehicle ERF 6LW n/a 1949
FSC 182 135 Double Decker Daimler CVG6 Metro-Cammell 1953 JWS 594 314 Double
Decker Guy Arab 5LW Duple/Nudd 1954 LFS 480 480 Double Decker Leyland Titan PD2/20
Metro-Cammell Weymann Orion 1956 NSF 757 757 Double Decker Leyland Titan PD2/20
Metro-Cammell Weymann Orion 1957 OFS 777 777 Double Decker Leyland Titan PD2/20
Metro-Cammell Weymann Orion 1956 OFS 798 798 Double Decker Leyland Titan PD2/20
Metro-Cammell Weymann Orion 1960 VSC 86 86 Single Decker Leyland Tiger Cub PSUC1/3
Metro-Cammell Weymann 1961 YSG 101 101 Single Decker Leyland Leopard PSU3/2R
Alexander (body developed into Y type) 1962 YWS 611 611 Double Decker Leyland
Titan PD2A/30 Alexander 1964 ASC 665B 665 Double Decker Leyland Titan PD3/6
Alexander E 1964 ASC 690B 690 Double Decker Leyland Titan PD3/6 Alexander E 1965
ESF 801C 801 Double Decker Leyland Atlantean PDR1/1 Alexander A 1966 EWS 812D 812
Double Decker Leyland Atlantean PDR1/1 Alexander A 1966 EWS 833D 833 Double Decker
Leyland Titan PD3A/2 Alexander E 1967 JSC 869E 869 Double Decker Leyland Atlantean
PDR1/1 Alexander A 1967 JSC 900E 900 Open Top Double Decker Leyland Atlantean
PDR2/1 Alexander J 1970 SSF 237H 237 Coach Bedford VAL70 Duple Viceroy 1972 BFS 1L
1 Double Decker Leyland Atlantean AN68/1R Alexander AL 1973 BWS 105L 105 Midibus
Seddon Pennine Mk IV/236 Seddon 1973 USX 604L unknown Recovery Vehicle Bedford TK
Tower Wagon n/a 1974 GSX 121N 121 Single Decker Bedford YRT Alexander AY 1975 MSF
122P 122 Single Decker Leyland Leopard PSU3C/4R Alexander AY 1976 MSF 465P 465
(TB1 from 1992) Double Decker Leyland Atlantean AN68A/1R Alexander AL 1976 MSF
468P 468 (TB4 from 1992) Double Decker Leyland Atlantean AN68A/1R Alexander AL
1977 WSU 454S BD3 Towing Vehicle Leyland Leopard PSU3C/3R Alexander AYS 1978 EFS
228S 228 Coach Leyland Leopard PSU3E/4R Alexander AT 1978 EFS 229S 229 coach
Leyland Leopard PSU3E/4R Alexander AT 1978 EFS 230S 230 Coach Leyland Leopard
PSU3E/4R Alexander AT 1979 JSX 595T 595 Double Decker Leyland Atlantean AN68A/1R
Alexander AL 1982 GSC 667X 667 Double Decker Leyland Olympian ONTL11/1R Alexander
RH 1981 HSC 173X 173 Midibus Leyland Cub CU435 Duple Dominant Bus 1982 KSX 102X
102 Single Decker Leyland National 2 NL116L11 Integral 1983 A108 CFS 108 Single
Decker Leyland National 2 NL116TL11/2R Integral 1985 C777 SFS 777 Double Decker
Leyland Olympian ONTL11/2R Eastern Coach Works (ECW)

See also

List of bus operators of the United Kingdom

References

^ Lothian Buses - The Company ^ TheScotsman.com - Passengers clock up record

number of bus trips - from Edinburgh Evening News 2 January 2008 ^ UK Bus Awards
2007 results ^ National Transport Awards 2008 results ^ Companies House ^ Bus wars
to be investigated ^ Bus firm hits back over 'fares war' ^ OFT judgement ^ Bus
travellers' fury over fares increase ^ Stuck on Scotland Lothian Buses article ^
Bus drivers accept pay offer ^ New talks bid after drivers' wildcat strike ^
Lothian web site ticket page ^ Planners back high-rise' urban village ^ Masons hit
roof over lead theft ^ Edinburgh architecture web site shrub place history ^
Campaign website for Pilrig Residents Association ^ Lothian Buses drives in the
fast lane with £16.3m profit ^ BL developments Shrub Hill web site ^ Tie Fastlink
web page ^ Article describing Fastlink ^ Guided buses bump to a halt ^ a b Trams
for Edinburgh web site ^ Edinburgh Tram website Image Gallery ^ Bus chief vows
trams will not affect expansion from Edinburgh Evening News, Monday 19 November
2007 ^ Transport chief prices single tram ticket at £1.25 Edinburgh Evening News,
17 January 2007 ^ BBC NEWS | Edinburgh and East | On-street bus ticket machine
plan - updated Monday, 9 October 2006 , 16:19 GMT 17:19 UK ^ Scotsman.com Business
- Lothian Buses - City buses set to get first on-street ticket machines from
Edinburgh Evening News, Monday 9 October 2006 ^ Scotsman.com News - Bus chiefs
slam the door on fraudsters and fare dodgers from Edinburgh Evening News 22 June
2005 ^ Bus and Coach News - Lothian orders Euro 3 and Euro 4 published 7 February
2006 ^ Image of Scania articulated demonstrator with Cardiff Bus ^ Image gallery
of Scania articulated demonstrator with Stagecoach London ^ Image of Scania
articulated demonstrator with First London ^ Image of Scania articulated
demonstrator with Manchester Airport ^ Image of Scania articulated demonstrator at
2005 Cobham bus rally ^ Image of Lothian 50 articulated bus in Park "> v d
e Current Bus Operators of Scotland National

Magic Bus · Megabus · National Express Coaches · Scottish Citylink Regional

Arriva Scotland West · Blue Bus of North Lanarkshire · First Aberdeen · First
East Scotland · First Glasgow · First Stop Travel · Glasgow Citybus · Lothian
Buses · McKindless · National Express Dundee · Stagecoach Bluebird ·
Stagecoach in Fife · Stagecoach in the Highlands · Stagecoach in Perth ·
Stagecoach Strathtay · Stagecoach West Scotland · West Coast Motors See also:
Transport Scotland