Bluebird Bothered By Battle (2 - mini blog)

On first inspection, this change seems a reasonable development. This is what Lothian wrote.

On Sunday 1 December, a service change will take effect to help support growth in the region, providing better access and greater journey opportunities for customers in West Lothian and west Edinburgh.

With new developments in Winchburgh and increasing customer demand in Kirkliston due to significant growth in recent years, a new express service X19 will be introduced to provide direct links to the city 7 days a week.

Adult customers will benefit from £3.00 single fares between Winchburgh and the city centre. For regular travellers, DAYticket bundles of 5 and 20 tickets will provide best-value, and are available for the countryWEST and lothianWEST zones.

For those travelling on Service X19 from Kirkliston to the city centre, a £2.00 adult single fare will apply. Daily and weekly contactless capping and Ridacard provide full access to the city’s bus network.

A new night bus service will also be introduced between Edinburgh, Kirkliston and Winchburgh, operating 7 days a week.

Surprisingly (!) there is no detail given of existing sevices along that route.

But we know better!

McGill (Midland Bluebird) X38 runs half hourly and, between Winchburgh Main Street and Edinburgh, follows exactly the same route as the newcomer. Here, by way of reminder,  is the X38 map ...

... and the Lothian map, although a diagram rather than geographically recogniseable, would appear to be exactly the same. The DARK BLUE line is the X19.

Lothian's X19 does penetrate a bit more of the Wonders of Winchburgh. There is a more detailed map of the Winchburgh and Kirkliston area.

The M9 roundabout provides a useful turning point as well as serving a bit more of the village; but a bit where massive development is taking place.

Streetview is non-commital at the moment.

But Lothian are not opting for a half-hearted nominal service. From day 1 the route will offer a 30 minute headway 7 days a week until 2000 then hourly afterwards.

McGills is similar Monday to Saturday, but on Sunday offers a potty and eminently forgettable bus every 40 minutes.

Make it hourly and you might carry a few more passengers! 

McGills are coy about anything as usable as single fares, but offer a range of zonal rickets. Winchburgh is in the West Lothian zone, but fbb could not fathom what happens when you travel from the West Lothian Zone into the Edinburgh Zone.

It is not clear, so a direct comparison is beyond your author. An unintelligent guess is that Lothian will be cheaper.

But hang on a sec! Way back in 2019 didn't Lothian Country have a go at the X38?

The competitive effort ran between Linlithgow ...

... and Edinburgh.

The X38 failed.

So the X19 is attempt No 2 to push McGills even further away; only in 2019 it was still First Bus!

Ah, the money-wasting ploys and the competitive joys of the commercial and privatised bus industry are so (in)appropriate.

  Next Variety blog : Sunday 10th Nov