East Lothian has a chequered history when it comes to public transport policy. In an effort to foster joined up thinking the new transport Convenor Michael Veitch initiated the East Lothian Bus Forum.
The new 113 single deckers being operated by East Lothian Buses connects Pencaitland and Ormiston to Edinburgh.The first meeting took place on the 27th of November. The intention is that meetings will be held regularly, bringing together bus users, operators and other interested parties.
The first meeting was very well attended with representatives from across the county, all the key operators and a number of ELC Councillors. A synopsis of the topics covered and who attended can be seen here.
Intrinsic to the launch of this new group was RELBUS, short for Rural East Lothian Bus Users. This is a campaigning body intent on helping to promote better bus services across the county. We would encourage bus users to join. Membership is free.
The No. 113 bus, run by a wholly owned subsidiary of Lothian Buses, is set to introduce a new timetable from the end of October.
Come the end of October a new bus timetable is being introduced on the 113 route to/from PencaitlandComing into operation on Sunday 28 October, the effect will be immediate. The entire Sunday timetable is to be changed.
It will still be an hourly service but leaving Pencaitland at 52 minutes past the hour rather than the current 40 minutes past. On the 113’s return route from the Western General Hospital it will depart at 27 minutes past the hour instead of 9 minutes past. All Sunday bus users will need to check because there are other detailed changes too.
The most significant change will be an extra early morning departure at 6am from Pencaitland from Monday to Friday.
The existing first service will be re-timed from 6.35am to 6.30am, with the 7am and 7.25am departures staying as they are, thus making a 30 min interval business service. The evening services back from Edinburgh are more or less unchanged but with the irregular gaps around 8.20pm evened out. However, there are important differences in the detail. In the early evening buses will continue to and from the Western General Hospital for an extra hour, after which buses will use the West End; most likely Charlotte Square rather than Hanover Street as the city Centre terminus.
For the bus enthusiasts out there, the Double Deckers are to be replaced by new Singles (photo)with additional seats on the Musselburgh to Edinburgh section provided by extra No. 44s to relieve the pressure on the Singles.
Our thanks to Barry Hutton for providing the information in this update.
The 113 Bus is being rerouted from this weekendThe 113 East Lothian Bus, a wholly owned subsidiary of Lothian Bus, is to be re-routed from this weekend.
It will go direct from Meadowbank to Princes St via Regent Road which means it will go past the old St. Andrews House and into Waterloo Place. In practice this will mean hat it will no longer serve the stops along London Road between Easter Road and the Elm Row roundabout.
Coming back to Pencaitland, it will stop outside Jenners and then at a new stop on Waterloo Place. After that it will go directly towards Meadowbank.
Remember to keep updated by checking the East Lothian Buses website. You can view a PDF of the timetable for the 113 route here.
Our thanks to local man and self professed ‘bus nerd’ Barry Hutton for the information.
