Lothian Buses & First Scotland East

[gilesbus1]

RE: Lothian Buses & First Scotland East

(29/05/2019 22:42)Winston Wrote:  First have acquired an elderly fleet of open toppers for the new sightseeing tours, they're not converting them:

Dennis Trident / Plaxton President (Ex-Lothian)
32726 / V526 ESC
32727 / V527 ESC
32728 / V528 ESC
32729 / V529 ESC

Dennis Trident / ALX400 (Ex-Stagecoach)
32789 / T679 KPU
32790 / V473KJN
32792 / X274 NNO
32793 / X377 NNO
32794 / X276 NNO

ADL Enviro 400 (Ex-Metroline)
33500 / LK55 KKT

DAF DB250 / Plaxton President (Ex-RATP)
35010 / T210 XBV
35011 / T211 XBV
35012 / T212 XBV
35013 / T213 XBV

Thanks for that list its odd that 32726-32729 are coming from Lothian, so I assume by that Lothian aren't at all worried or they could have blocked the sale to them, unless of course they are being sold through dealers, such as Ensign etc as intermediaries.

Seems odd that First would pick to compete on the tour, as every other operator on it as ended up either closing or passing to Lothian in anycase. Plus not sure they will be in a good condition in a morning having been driven from Livingston in Rain/Snow/Wind etc, down the M8, Also would say from the age of all but the Enviro400, that they don't thing they will be there long term as every other one has an old series registration and are all round about 19/20 years old. Guess after one season they will be in PVS's yard awaiting crushing and Livingston depot will be closed and Lothian will operate all the services there. Lets not forget they are already at a disadvantage with the amount of dead mileage they will have to do to get there. Anyway interesting times.