New in Edinburgh part 2: Bright Bus to the Airport

 As well as the tram extension, 2023 also saw further competition between Edinburgh city centre and Edinburgh airport.  Previously Transport for Edinburgh competed with itself operating a premium prices bus service (route 100) and the [very] premium priced tram. Along comes McGill's Group, having found themselves with soe spare mid-life buses from their expansion in to east Scotland, and added an express airport service to their Bright Bus open top sightseeing operation.  The new express, abbreviated to 'AIRX' on real time mapping functions, is a cheaper service than the competing route 100.  

So, one rainy Sunday in August 2024 I needed to get to Edinburgh airport, so what better time to try the AIRX.

It is nice to see that Waverley Bridge is back open, at least in one direction, allowing direct interchange from the main railway station to airport buses. It is also a central location for the city centre to the north and Royal Mile to the south.

The Lothian Buses route 100 terminates at Waverley Bridge so has at least one bus waiting most of the time.  These Enviro 400XLB buses are very comfortable for the circa half hour trip.

The Bright Bus Airport Express does more of a loop of the city centre: on this occasion it took a 4 minute wait on Waverley Bridge.  Friendly driver sold me a £4.50 single (none of that English £2 maximum fare here!)  Unfortunately I was the only passenger.

The interior of the mid-life Enviro 200 shows it in First Bus corporate colours: McGill's bought their eastern Scotland business from First and this bus was inherited with that purchase.

The coving however is branded with information on both the Airport Express and open top sightseeing operations.  

The bus features a luggage rack which was unusually solidly built.  It is always nice to see a stocked leaflet rack on a bus, and in this case again marketing was carried for both Bright Bus routes as well as another route in to Edinburgh operated by McGill's 'Midland Bluebird' subsidiary.

Upon arrival at the airport a large group were waiting to board this coach on an adjacent stop (or 'stance' as they are known in Scotland).

Fly Dundee is another McGill's brand, operated by another of their eastern Scotland operations, Explore Dundee. Great to see this successful expansion and use of public transport to access the airport.  Other services between the airport and Dundee are operated by Ember (using electric coaches) and Megabus.  Clearly a busy and successful corridor.

Final photo of the Bright Bus Airport Express.

New in Edinburgh part 1: trams finally reach Leith!

 Trams finally reach Leith!

A decade after the first stretch of Edinburgh's new tram opened between the airport and the city centre, using the entire budget that was also supposed to take the tramway to the cost at Leith/Newhaven, the northern extension is finally built and open!

Route of the Edinburgh tram.  

One of the CAF Urbos trams at the Leith terminus

The extension is mainly running in a central reservation with some on-street running in parts.  However some sections have, like Manchester Metrolink, been squeezed in to existing street topography with very slow speed 90 degree corners.

  

Plentiful warnings along the route about the presence of trams.

Comprehensive ticketing options including ticket machines (which sell combined bus/tram tickets as well as just tram tickets) and smart card readers for both the local smart card and bank cards.

I always find it slightly weird that Edinburgh Trams specified these high back bus seats' for their trams but when lightly loaded, as my wet Sunday afternoon trip to Newhaven was, they are comfortable.

Simple fare table for the trams: penalises short journeys but isn't particularly expensive for return or day tickets.

A benefit of the Edinburgh Festival is that trams run all night at weekends.  It's the future, ah tell thee!

Gratuitous picture of a tram in the rain at St Andrew Square stop

And finally - mock up tram at the Edinburgh Airport stop.  The previous fare table shows quite a premium for travelling by tram to the airport: airport public transport with a heavy premium fare is quite a thing at Scotland's airports.