Lothian Buses - Infrastructure

Infrastructure

Lothian operates buses from three garage locations, Longstone (55°55′28″N 3°15′58″W / 55.92440°N 3.26606°W / 55.92440; -3.26606), in the south west, Central in Annandale Street (55°57′40″N 3°11′17″W / 55.96123°N 3.18798°W / 55.96123; -3.18798Coordinates: 55°57′40″N 3°11′17″W / 55.96123°N 3.18798°W / 55.96123; -3.18798), and Marine in Seafield Road, Portobello (55°57′32″N 3°07′18″W / 55.95898°N 3.12162°W / 55.95898; -3.12162). Located near Marine garage is Seafield engineering works (55°57′43″N 3°07′35″W / 55.96188°N 3.12630°W / 55.96188; -3.12630), where major work on buses is carried out.

The previous company headquarters and engineering works at Shrub Hill, Shrub Place Lane off Leith Walk, were sold in 1999 subject to planning permission, after Lothian occupancy dating back to tram operation in 1871. After repeated delays, controversies and a public inquiry, the site was sold for £12m in 2004 to BL Developments to develop the site into flats and houses.

Lothian also maintains four Travel Shops. Three of these are in the city, at Waverley Bridge, Hanover Street and Shandwick Place (in the West End). A fourth Travel Shop opened at the Jarnac Court shopping mall in Dalkeith town centre on 4 February 2008.

A lost property office is located at the Central garage. This facility is to be moved in the near future to the travel shop in Hanover Street, the reasons given by the company are its more central location and general convenience to the public. All bus stops are detailed with the route number/s of calling services. Certain strategic bus stops are designated interchanges, with associated signage, such as Cameron Toll and Haymarket. Many bus stops are accompanied by real time tracking display, giving the time in minutes until the arrival of the next services, or an indication that a delay has occurred.

Unlike elsewhere in the country, Lothian operates a strict 'stacking' policy at bus stops, this is due to the large number of services calling at some stops. When multiple buses arrive for the same stop, they will queue one behind the other. The driver will usually only open the door to allow passengers to disembark but will normally close the doors immediately and will not open them again until the bus has pulled up to the front of the queue, only then, will waiting passengers be permitted to board, this is to ensure fairness and particularly to allow those passengers who are at the front of the queue to board first.

Lothian employs a fleet of vans fitted with amber roof lights on 'Traffic Patrol', to assist buses with problems, and to monitor the current service.