Lothian Buses has today (Friday 19 February) announced its intention to introduce new daily transport links to the NHS Lothian Vaccination Centre located at the west of the city at the Royal Highland Centre, Ingliston.
From Sunday (21 February), Skylink services 200, 300 and 400 will be rerouted to provide vital links direct to the Royal Highland Centre from across Edinburgh and will assist thousands of individuals as they make the essential and important journey to the Vaccination Centre located within the grounds.
Services will stop at the Ingliston Road stop every day between approximately 07:45 hours and 21:00 hours.
The company has launched a dedicated Vaccination Centre journey planning webpage where locals can find information on how to travel to NHS Lothian Vaccination Centres across Edinburgh and the Lothians.
Nigel Serafini, Interim Managing Director at Lothian Buses, said: “We are delighted to be able to support NHS Lothian with the rollout of the Covid-19 Vaccination programme by making it easier for residents across Edinburgh and the Lothians to travel to their appointments, as well as offering vital public transport links for those keyworkers and volunteers helping within the centre.
“Our teams have worked hard over the last 12 months to ensure our buses are clean, safe and accessible for those that require to make essential journeys.”
Lothian also recently announced that Lothian Country’s Service 275 will be rerouted to serve the Vaccination Centre at Pyramid’s Business Park, West Lothian, providing vital links across the region for locals attending vaccination appointments.
Information on services operating to Edinburgh Airport via Royal Highland Centre is outlined below:
Skylink 200 – Ocean Terminal <> Airport via Newhaven, Granton, Muirhouse, Drylaw, Blackhall and Clermiston.
Skylink 300 – Surgeons’ Hall <> Airport via Tollcross, Shandon, Slateford, Sighthill and Gyle Centre.
Skylink 400 – Fort Kinnaird <> Airport via Niddrie, Royal Infirmary, Gilmerton, Fairmilehead, Oxgangs, Clovenstone, Sighthill and Gyle Centre.
Travel conditions remain tricky today and weather forecasters advise only essential travel.
There will be occasional snow showers in the east. Edinburgh, Lothians and Borders seeing sunshine and a few snow showers, these becoming less widespread this afternoon. It will be very cold, maximum temperature 1 °C.
Tonight: Many places will have a dry, clear and very cold night. Still a chance of an isolated snow shower across the east. Widespread severe or very severe frost. Minimum temperature -10 °C.
Edinburgh Tram services are currently suspended due to weather conditions.
Good morning from Edinburgh Trams. Due to weather conditions, all services are currently suspended. Ticket acceptance in place with @on_lothianbuses. Apologies for any inconvenience. #edintravelpic.twitter.com/b1hObntt7b
LOTHIAN BUSES report that due to adverse weather buses are unable to serve Picardy Place and Leith Street and are instead diverted via London Road, Regent Road and Waterloo Place southbound only until further notice.
Car Won’t Start?
The RAC estimate that 28% of breakdown issues are battery-related, so it is best to keep it regularly maintained, charged and in good health.
This is one of the handiest pieces of advice at your disposal when the cold weather begins to creep in.
After all it is illegal to drive if your visibility is impeded and steamed up windows are the biggest culprit of this. Did you know that more often than not you will actually clear your windscreen faster using cold air than hot air?
After going to tender earlier this year, the City of Edinburgh Council awarded the contract for services 20 and 63 to a new operator, First Bus, who was expected to take over the running of these services in April 2020.
However, due to the Covid-19 crisis, Lothian agreed to continue the contract on a temporary basis until such time as a handover could be made possible.
As of August 31, the new operator will take over provision of these services.
Timetable information for both services can be found here or at the links below:
Changes to the way we travel around the Capital could be introduced through the reform of Edinburgh’s transport companies, according to a report to be discussed by councillors this week.
The proposals could see Lothian Buses merged with Edinburgh Trams to form a single entity. The report claims the merger would eliminate competition between the two organisations and cut management costs.
A shift from car to sustainable public transport alternatives will help Edinburgh achieve its ambitious carbon neutral goals by 2030, managing the impact of rapid population growth and aligning with local and national sustainable travel policies.
Three options for the future operation of Lothian Buses, Edinburgh Trams and Transport for Edinburgh are explored in the report, ranging from a ‘do nothing’ scenario to the creation of a single company to deliver all functions.
Once a preferred option has been agreed upon by councillors, the plan will be consulted on through discussion with the existing companies, the other councils in the Lothians and trade unions, alongside robust legal analysis.
The report notes that Edinburgh, like other cities, will experience significant change to employment, leisure, and wider activity in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, and new approaches to public transport will be central to the overall adaptation and renewal process.
The recommendations aim to improve governance structures, collaboration and, importantly for the travelling public, integration across the transport network.
The report acknowledges the ongoing success of the companies in providing high quality, award-winning transport services which are greatly valued by the public and predicts a growth in transport provision across the city. It is intended to retain and capitalise on the valued Lothian Buses and Edinburgh Trams brands while eliminating unnecessary competition between the two, particularly as the Trams to Newhaven project progresses.
Council Leader Adam McVey said: This is about creating a sustainable, accessible and joined-up public transport system that is fit for the future. As we’ve experienced over recent months, and will continue to do so, our city, like others, is undergoing a significant period of change as a result of COVID-19, and we must adapt in response.
“We simply must change the way we move around the city if we are to meet our ambitious goals to become carbon neutral by 2030 and to create a fairer, more inclusive environment.
“We wholeheartedly appreciate the roles of both Lothian Buses and Edinburgh Trams in providing high quality, award-winning public transport and excellent customer service, and will always do everything we can to help our companies achieve that.”
Depute Leader Cammy Day said: “For the many employees across these companies who play such an important role in delivering essential services, particularly during the current COVID outbreak, I want to reassure them that these changes will not negatively impact on their jobs.
“Rather, as we lead the charge toward a zero-carbon future, we want to increase reliance on sustainable public transport, and as bus and tram use continues to grow, we’ll need more drivers and staff to run the companies.
“However, we can’t move forward with these aspirations as it stands – we know that the current structure has led to inefficiencies. Of course this will take time and a great deal of engagement and planning, but by driving better integration, ensuring improved governance and putting the needs of the public at the centre of public transport delivery, I know we can provide a system that future generations will thank us for.”
Transport for Edinburgh Limited was formed by the Council in 2014 as parent company, with a wholly owned subsidiary Edinburgh Trams Limited and a 91% ownership of Lothian Buses Limited, where East Lothian, West Lothian and Midlothian are minority shareholders. This model was intended to achieve maximum integration between transport companies.
As Edinburgh continues to grow, so too does the need for seamless, reliable and environmentally friendly public transport as an attractive alternative to private car journeys, helping to reduce congestion, drive down air pollution and limit carbon emissions.
The report says that the current structure of ownership – shareholding, parent company and group of companies, all responsible for delivery of different aspects of the transport network – has led to inefficiencies and a lack of collaboration, hindering aspirations to provide joined-up travel options.
In order to improve upon the current model, officers have undertaken an analysis of the outcomes required from a public transport company structure and in light of these have considered three options.
These are:
Do nothing: Leaving the existing corporate structure and agreements in place but looking to strengthen existing relationships between companies and the Council to deliver change
Do minimum: Retaining existing corporate structure or parts of it but reviewing Shareholder Agreements and Memorandum and Articles of Association to promote transport priorities of the Council and improve integration
Single company model: Creating a single company to deliver an integrated transport system. Owners of the company would provide strategic direction as well as exercising shareholder power to ensure accountability
The third option, to create a single company, is being put forward as the preferred option.
The council says this will allow ‘the ongoing delivery of high-quality public transport with no negative impact on the travelling public or frontline staff’.
It is proposed that existing bus and tram services, as well as the city’s cycle hire scheme, would be maintained as separately branded divisions, while integrated back office functions would be delivered, along with potential senior management savings.
A single company would require a new shareholder agreement between the owners and the company, with the new structure to be developed in consultation with the minority shareholders. The needs of partner councils, both from a transport policy and financial perspective, must be fully addressed.
Before a final preferred option is confirmed, a further report will be brought back to Committee for decision. This will follow discussions with the public transport companies, minority shareholders and trade unions to gather views on proposals and will set out any changes required on the shareholder side.
Read the full report, Reform of Transport Arm’s Length External Organisations, on the Council website. This will be discussed by Policy and Sustainability Committee on Thursday (9 July) – you can watch the webcast of the meeting online.
Lothian Buses will introduce an update to its critical services network from Sunday (17 May) to help keep key workers across Edinburgh and the Lothians moving during this time.
Since the introduction of the Critical Services Network on Sunday 29 March, teams across Lothian have continued to analyse customer travel patterns and customer feedback to ensure the business is meeting the needs of as many key workers and essential travellers as possible.
Nigel Serafini, Interim Managing Director at Lothian Buses, said: “Over the past six weeks, our services have provided vital links for those who require to travel for work or to obtain essentials such as food and medicine.
“Our teams have continued to monitor customer travel patterns and have listened to both customer and colleague feedback. Today we are announcing additional revisions to our Critical Services Network which will better meet the needs of key workers and those for whom travel remains essential.
“Every team across our business has continued to go above and beyond to provide these vital services and my thanks go to each and every one of them both on the frontline and behind the scenes. I would also like to thank our customers who have shown an enormous amount of support and understanding throughout what continues to be an incredibly challenging operational time.”
Customers can view updated timetables here and from Wednesday customers can plan journeys on Lothian’s website or through the Lothian app which offers journey planning tools and real-time service updates, all integrated with Google Maps. It can be downloaded from tfeapp.com.
Revised timetable with additional journeys from Mayfield in the early morning, Monday to Friday.
Service 4
Route extended to operate between Asda The Jewel to Oxgangs every hour. Buses will turn at Oxgangs Bank (just before the library).
Service 16
Frequency increased to every 15 minutes between Silverknowes and Morningside Monday to Saturday daytime with improved morning running times. Torphin, Colinton and Oxgangs will continue to be served every 30 minutes.
Buses terminating at Morningside will operate a loop via Morningside Drive, Craighouse Road, Craighouse Gardens, and Balcarres Street.
Service 19
Revised timetable with all journeys operating to and from Leith Street
Service 21
Revised timetable with additional journeys. Route extended from Westside Plaza to Clovenstone Roundabout.
Service 30
Frequency improved from every 30mins to every 20mins on Monday to Saturday daytime.
Service 37/47
Revised timetable with most Monday to Friday service 37 buses now serving Deanburn (except a few early morning and late evening journeys which will continue to serve Ladywood).
Introduction of hourly service 47 from Penicuik Ladywood to Granton Harbour, Monday to Friday to provide additional links to Straiton, to the NHS sites at Lauriston Place, the Western General Hospital and a service for residents of Granton Harbour/Waterfront Avenue.
Service 41
On Mondays to Saturdays the last evening return journey to Cramond is withdrawn. The Sunday service is also withdrawn.
Service 44
Minor timetable changes on Monday to Saturday. Sunday frequency improved from every hour to every 45 minutes
Service X18
Minor timetable changes on all days of the week, including a new Journey introduced from Whitburn to Edinburgh on Mondays to Saturdays at 07:52
Service X27
Revised timetable on all days of the week
Service X28
Revised timetable on all days of the week, including a new earlier morning journey from Livingston Bus Terminal to Bathgate and a later Sunday evening journey from Edinburgh to Bathgate. On all days of the week, the last evening journey from Edinburgh which currently terminates at Deans North will extend to Bathgate.
To allow utility works to take place, Deanhaugh Street will be closed in both directions from 0900 hrs today for approximately EIGHT weeks.
Lothian has the following bus diversions in place:
Services 24 29 X29 – between Comely Bank Road and Frederick Street, buses will be diverted via Comely Bank Avenue, Dean Bridge, Randolph Crescent, Albyn Place, Queen Street, North Castle Street and George Street in both directions.
Service 36 – between Hamilton Place and Lothian Road, buses will be diverted via Kerr Street, Howe Street, Frederick Street, George Street and South Charlotte Street in both directions.
Service 42 – between Comely Bank Road and George Street, buses will be diverted via Comely Bank Avenue, Dean Bridge, Randolph Crescent, Albyn Place, Queen Street, North Castle Street and George Street in both directions.
Apart from that, everything’s just fine and dandy …
Police have released images of a man they wish to speak to as they believe he may be able to assist with their investigation in relation to a serious assault.
