Lothian Country's 848 (MXZ 1758), a Voith Volvo D9B B9TL Wright Eclipse Gemini, on the service 72 to Kirkliston.
The service 72, operated by Lothian Country, operates between Fauldhouse (Co-operative) and Kirkliston (Kirklands Park). The service 72 commenced operations in West Lothian on 15/10/2023. At which time the service only operated between Livingston the Centre and Kirkliston Kirklands Park and didn't serve Houstoun Industrial Estate, Pumpherston or Uphall Station. From December 3rd, the 72 was extended as part of Lothian Country's service enhancements throughout the county.
The 72 operates the following route:
Between Fauldhouse (Co-operative) and Kirkliston (Kirklands Park) via Longridge, Whitburn, East Whitburn, Blackburn, Seafield, Shinetsu, Eliburn, Alderstone Road, Livingston the Centre, Howden, St John's Hospital, Houstoun Industrial Estate, Pumpherston, Uphall Station, Uphall, Broxburn and Winchburgh.
849 was new to Lothian Buses in September 2007, registered as SN57 DDX, alongside 840 - 847 and 849 - 875 in September 2007.
Early 2018 saw the withdrawal of 841 - 850 from service. This was due to them being destined for work at Lothian Motorcoaches. In turn, they were heavily internally, and externally, refurbished. At Lothian Motorcoaches, they operated various private hire work which seen them in locations such as Parkhead, Ibrox, Falkirk and England.
Late November 2019 841 - 850 were reintroduced to public service. 841 - 843 operated the shuttle service for University of Edinburgh, whereas 844 - 850 seen themselves transfer to Lothian Country. 844 aquired Lothian Country advertisement around the front destination display and rear top window. They were transferred over to increase the capacity of the services 275 and 280 which were predominantly operated by, now withdrawn, single deck buses 103 - 107.
For reference, 103 - 107 were Volvo D7C B7RLE Wright Eclipse Urbans that were initially new to Arriva Kent for their Fasttrack services. Lothian purchased these vehicles, 10101 - 10107, in 2016 for their new East Coast Buses operation that they were aquiring form First East Lothian. As such, they were repainted into the East Coast Buses livery.
10103 - 10107 were repainted into the Lothian Country livery and were transferred over to them in September 2018 and lost their 10××× prefix.
The 10××× prefix that East Coast Buses used for their vehicles signified that the bus was a single deck, double decks had a 20××× prefix. 10101, 10102 and 103 - 107 were all sold by late 2020, they were sold to:
10101 + 10102 - E&M Horsburgh of Pumpherston
103 - Richmond Coaches of Royston
104 - Fowlers Travel of Spalding
105 - Sharpes of Nottingham
106 - Langston and Tasker of Steeple Claydon
107 - Langston and Tasker of Steeple Claydon.
Anyway, enough about the B7RLEs, back to the B9TLs;
March 2020 844 - 850 were taken out of service again due to the Coronavirus lockdown as they did not have driver protection shields, so they needed to be fitted.
July 2020 they re-entered service with Lothian Country, with their driver protection shields fitted, and were predominantly used on services 275 and X17.
Early August 2020 saw the transferring of 841 - 843 to Lothian Country. They received the Lothian Country livery repaint. They were repainted prior to the Coronavirus lockdown and were intended to enter service in April 2020. 844 - 850 were planned to be repainted also, but due to the pandemic it made the idea of them being repainted obsolete, as 844 - 850 had their sights on East Coast Buses operations.
Late August 2020 844 - 850 seen themselves transfer East Coast Buses. Initially used on school run services, they soon found themselves operating normal service runs, such as the 104, 113, 124, 139, and 140.
September 2020 942, SN10 DKO, returned from its extensive repair, as a result of a low bridge collision at the Western General Hospital, resulting in a deroofing. This happened on Monday, July 17th, 2017.
The reintroduction of 942 saw one of the ex Motorcoach B9s become surplus. 850 was the one that was temporarily with Lothian Buses and operated the service 48 between Fort Kinnaird and Gorebridge.
October 2020 saw 850 return to East Coast Buses from its very temporary transfer.
May 2021 seen the last of the ex Lothian Motorcoaches B9TLs transfer from Lothian Country to East Coast Buses. 841 - 843 were transferred to East Coast Buses. They, like 844 - 850, were used on their school services, but soon saw themselves on normal day to day services. In their place, 171 - 175, which are Eclipse 2s, were transferred to Lothian Country.
May 2022 saw the commencing of repaints for the ex Lothian Motorcoaches B9TL's into the new East Coast Buses livery, which was introduced in November 2021. The repaints were done in the following order:
May 2022 - 844 and 845
June 2022 - 847 and 850
July 2022 - 846, 848 and 843
August 2022 - 841, 842 and 849
In July 2023, we saw the transfer of 841 - 846 to Livingston. August is when the first of them reentered service with Lothian Country, commencing with 841 latterly followed by 843, 845, 842, 846 and 844.
September 2023 it was announced that Lothian Country would be starting 2 new services from October 15th in partnership with West Lothian Council and Winchburgh housing association.
This saw Lothian Country introduce the brand new 72 service which operates between Kirkliston and Livingston, the Centre, via Winchburgh, Broxburn, Uphall, Uphall Golf Course, Knightsridge Fastlink, Ladywell Fastlink, St John's Hospital and Howden.
Additional, this saw Lothian Country take over the X40 service from Horsburgh and has been rerouted to serve Mid Calder, East Calder, Calderwood and Westside Plaza. The new X40 operates between Edinburgh Royal Infirmary and St John's Hospital via Ferniehill, Gilmerton, Edinburgh City Bypass, Clovenstone, Westside Plaza, A71, Hermiston Park & Ride, Hermiston, Dalmahoy, Wilkieston, Calderwood, East Calder (Main Street), Mid Calder (Ochiltree Crescent), Livingston Road (A899) and Livingston the Centre.
October 2023 saw the remaining ex Motorcoaches B9TLs transfer to Lothian Country. 847 was the first to return later being followed by 848, 850, 846 then finally 849.
Late October 2023 Lothian Country announced that they would be introducing 2 new services on Sunday, December 3rd 2023, and extend the service 72. This is due to McGill's Eastern Scottish's announcement that they would be ceasing all West Lothian services by December 4th. This started with the withdrawal of the services X22 and X24 from October 16th and services 21, 23, 25 and 26 from December 4th. Since McGill's did not operate any Sunday services, bar the 31 which the sunday service was withdrawn October 15th, the last day for services operating was October 13th (X22 and X24) then December 2nd (21, 23, 25 and 26).
The new 73 operates between Livingston and Blackburn, with some journeys operating to J4M8, via Alderstone Road, St John's Hospital, Deans South, Tesco Distribution Centre (A89) and Bathgate.
The new 74 operates between Livingston and Fauldhouse via Dedridge West, Bellsquary, Polbeth, West Calder, Addiewell, Stoneyburn, Bents and Longridge.
The extended 72 operates between Fauldhouse and Kirkliston via Longridge, Whitburn, East Whitburn, Blackburn, Seafield, Eliburn, Alderstone Road, Livingston the Centre, Howden, St John's Hospital, Houstoun Industrial Estate, Pumpherston, Uphall Station, Uphall, Broxburn and Winchburgh.
This photo was taken Monday 6th of September 2024 in Pumpherston at Harrysmuir Road (Turning Circle)
Registration (Current): MXZ 1758
Registration (Previous): SN57 DDZ
Fleet No.: 848
Company (Current): Lothian Country
Companies (Previous): Lothian Buses, Lothian Motorcoaches, Lothian Country, East Coast Buses
Chassis: Volvo B9TL
Engine: D9B
Transmission: Voith
Body: Eclipse Gemini
Manufacturer: Wright Bus
New: September 2007
Route Operating: 72
Direction: Kirkliston.
Date Taken: 02/09/2024
Location: Pumpherston, Harrysmuir Road (Turning Circle)
