Edinburgh - 5 to 8 May 2017

Monday 8 May 2017 (0850) – Two First Scotland East Alexander Dennis (ADL) Enviro400 MMCs seen in Princes Street, Edinburgh. Both were new in September 2016. Heading away from the camera is 33437 (SN66 WGJ) and across the street is 33431 (SN66 WGA). The buses carry branding for the 27/28 group of services between Edinburgh and Livingston/Bathgate. (the X27/X28 are peak hour variants of the 27/28)

Monday 8 May 2017 (0901) – First Scotland 37272 (SN57 JBV), a Wrightbus Eclipse Gemini bodied Volvo B7TL December 2006 and Lothian Buses 698 (SN04 AEP), Transbus built Plaxton President style bodied Dennis Trident new in March 2004, seen queueing by St. John’s Episcopal Church at the western end of Princes Street, Edinburgh.

Saturday 6 May 2017 (0926) – Stagecoach Fife 27605 (SP59 CTO), an Alexander Dennis (ADL) Enviro300 new in November 2009, seen on Princes Street in Edinburgh. It was arriving back on service 40A from Queensferry, the community close to the Forth Railway Bridge which is depicted on the branding above the windows. On 4 June 2017 this services was transferred to Transport for Edinburgh marketed as a Lothian Country service.

Monday 8 May 2017 (0843) – Side by side in Princes Street, Edinburgh at the junction with Frederick Street. Heart of Scotland Tours Limited operates tours for smaller groups marketed as The Wee Red Bus. Mercedes-Benz mini-coach SN15 CCD. Lothian Buses 446 (SJ66 LPC), a Wrightbus Eclipse Gemini 3 bodied Volvo B5TL new in January 2017, heads a convoy of westbound buses.

Monday 8 May 2017 (0842) – Lothian Buses driver training bus TB101 (SN04 NFZ) seen in Princes Street, Edinburgh close to the junction with Frederick Street during the rush hour. It is a Wrightbus Eclipse Urban bodied Volvo B7RLE new in July 2004 with fleet number 101.

Monday 8 May 2017 (0842) – Lothian Buses driver training bus TB101 (SN04 NFZ) seen in Princes Street, Edinburgh close to the junction with Frederick Street during the rush hour. It is a Wrightbus Eclipse Urban bodied Volvo B7RLE new in July 2004 with fleet number 101.

Monday 8 May 2017 (0842) – Stagecoach Fife 53801 (YY65 SXH), a Plaxton Elite bodied Volvo B11R new in November 2015, turning from Princes Street into Frederick Street, Edinburgh.

Monday 8 May 2017 (0845) – Stagecoach West Scotland 27136 (SN64 OFZ), an Alexander Dennis (ADL) Enviro300 new in September 2014, seen in Princes Street, Edinburgh working service X54 (possibly the 0720 from Glenrothes).

Monday 8 May 2017 (0845) – Stagecoach Fife 53286 (ESK 986) is a Plaxton Profile bodied Volvo B7R new in September 2007 as SP07 HHO seen in Princes Street, Edinburgh when working a service X55 trip from Dunfermline. The Plaxton Profile features a wide entrance door which was one of Plaxton’s earliest models to provide disability access.

Monday 8 May 2017 (0852) – Stagecoach Fife 53802 (YY65 SXJ), a Plaxton Elite bodied Volvo B11R new in November 2015, seen in Princes Street, Edinburgh.

Monday 8 May 2017 (0851) – Stagecoach Fife 53811 (YY65 SXT), a Plaxton Elite bodied Volvo B11R new in December 2015, seen on Princes Street, Edinburgh. It was working the 0840 service X60 to Kirkcaldy and St. Andrews.

Monday 8 May 2017 (0858) – Lothian Buses operates just six Optare Solo buses in its fleet. 281 (SN08 BZA) carries a livery for Standard Life Insurance and was seen on Princes Street under the shadow of Edinburgh Castle. It was operating service 61 which is financially supported by Standard Life linking two parts of the city where the insurance company has offices via Hanover Street in the city centre. The service, with just three stopping places, runs every 30 minutes from 0830 to 1755 Mondays to Fridays with the round trip taking 25 minutes therefore requiring just one bus.

Monday 8 May 2017 (0857) – Lothian Buses 281 (SN08 BZA) passing Stagecoach Fife 54105 (SP61 CXA) in Princes Street, Edinburgh. Lothian operates just six Optare Solo buses in its fleet. 281, new in June 2008, carries a livery for Standard Life Insurance. It was operating service 61 which is financially supported by Standard Life linking two parts of the city where the insurance company has offices via Hanover Street in the city centre. The service, with just three stopping places, runs every 30 minutes from 0830 to 1755 Mondays to Fridays with the round trip taking 25 minutes therefore requiring just one bus. The Stagecoach Plaxton Elite bodied Volvo B13RT was new in October 2011 and was working the 0845 service X54 to Dundee.

Monday 8 May 2017 (0836) – Lothian Buses operates just six Optare Solo buses in its fleet. 281 (SN08 BZA) carries a livery for Standard Life Insurance and was seen on Princes Street. It was operating service 61 which is financially supported by Standard Life linking two parts of the city where the insurance company has offices via Hanover Street in the city centre. The service, with just three stopping places, runs every 30 minutes from 0830 to 1755 Mondays to Fridays with the round trip taking 25 minutes therefore requiring just one bus. (The destination blind reads ‘West End’ but the bus way heading away from the West End). On the right is Lothian Buses 458 (SJ66 LPZ), a Wrightbus Eclipse Gemini 3 bodied Volvo B5TL new in December 2016.

Monday 8 May 2017 (0840) – Princes Street, Edinburgh seemed to provide a constant stream of buses pretty much all the time. Passing the Royal Scots Greys Memorial, erected to commemorate the fallen during the Boer War, is First Scotland East 32676 (SN55 HFD), a Wright Eclipse Gemini bodied Volvo B7TL new September 2005. Following is Lothian Buses 201 (SN11 EES), an Alexander Dennis (ADL) Enviro400H new in August 2011. Other landmarks in the photograph are, on the left, the clock tower of the Balmoral Hotel and the Scott Monument. The domed building high above on the right was built as the head office of the Bank of Scotland in 1806 and is now the Scottish headquarters of the Lloyds Banking Group.

Monday 8 May 2017 (0848) – Lothian Buses 307 (SN09 CTZ) seen in Princes Street, Edinburgh. It is a Wrightbus Eclipse Gemini bodied Volvo B9TL new in April 2009 that wears a branded livery for service 26 plus an advert for Edinburgh Zoo which is served by the route. We had travelled on this particular bus the previous evening.

Monday 8 May 2017 (0832) – Lothian Buses 437 (SA15 VTT) seen on Princes Street in Edinburgh when arriving from the Airport on service 100. It is a Wrightbus Eclipse Gemini 3 bodied Volvo B7TL new in June 2015.

Monday 8 May 2017 (0840) – Princes Street, Edinburgh. Passing the Royal Scots Greys Memorial, erected to commemorate the fallen during the Boer War, are East Coast Buses 10199 (LB62 BUS), a Wright Eclipse 2 bodied Volvo B7RLE new in October 2012 as Lothian 199. Lothian and ECB are both owned by Transport for Edinburgh. Following is First Scotland East 63267 (SN65 OJS), a Wrightbus Streetlite DF new in September 2015. The landmarks in the photograph on the left are the Scott Monument and the clock tower of the Balmoral Hotel.