Lowland Scottish

Defunct bus company in the UK

For other uses, see Scottish Lowlands.

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Lowland Scottish Omnibuses Ltd was a bus operator in south eastern Scotland and parts of Northern England. The company was formed in 1985 and operated under the identities Lowland Scottish, Lowland and First Lowland / First SMT, until 1999 when the company's operations were combined with the operations of Midland Bluebird in a new company, First Edinburgh Ltd. As of 26 March 2017 these operations were transferred to West Coast Motors (trading as Borders Buses).

## Operation

[edit]

The depot at Kelso, pictured in September 1985.

From its head office in Galashiels, Lowland Scottish operated throughout the Scottish Borders and parts of Lothian in south east Scotland and across the border into Northumberland in north east England, bounded by Edinburgh to the north, Peebles to the west and Berwick-upon-Tweed in the east.

Lowland Scottish operated from depots in the towns of Galashiels, Haddington, Berwick-upon-Tweed, Dunbar, Hawick, Jedburgh, Kelso, North Berwick and Peebles. Principal services linked these towns with Edinburgh and with each other, along with a limited number of urban services in the larger towns and other rural or schools services. The most important route in the Borders was Service 95, linking Edinburgh and Carlisle, branded as the Borders Rail Link bus service.

## History

[edit]

Ex-Eastern Scottish Seddon Pennine 7 609 (SSX 609V), pictured at St Andrew's Bus Station, Edinburgh. This bus operated on the company's East Lothian routes.

Lowland Scottish Omnibuses Limited was created in 1985[1] as part of the reorganisation of the state owned Scottish Bus Group (SBG) in preparation for deregulation of the bus industry in 1986, and eventual privatisation. It inherited the south-eastern depots and operations of Scottish Omnibuses Limited (Eastern Scottish), in the Scottish Borders, eastern East Lothian and Berwick-upon-Tweed. The new company introduced a new livery similar to the green and cream Eastern Scottish colours, but using a brighter green and a more striking yellow.

Upon formation, Lowland initially faced no significant competition, thanks largely to its sparsely populated operating area. Town services within Berwick-upon-Tweed continued to be shared with recently privatised Northumbria Motor Services, with Lowland and Northumbria having adjacent depot buildings fronting a shared bus station. This working relationship had been built up between the companies' predecessors, Scottish Omnibuses (SMT/Eastern Scottish) and United Automobile Services.

Ex-Southern Vectis Bristol VRT 856 (NDL 656R) was purchased by Lowland in 1991. It is now preserved in the original post-privatisation "Lowland Omnibuses" livery at the Scottish Vintage Bus Museum.

On deregulation, the relationship between Lowland and Northumbria in Berwick-upon-Tweed broke down, and fierce competition ensued between the two operators for several years. The 'bus war' eventually ended in the mid-1990s with Lowland pulling out of Berwick as part of an agreement between First and Cowie Group, by that time owners of Lowland and Northumbria respectively. Arriva, Cowie Group's successor, withdrew from Berwick ten years later, leaving the town routes to a local independent operator, Perryman's Buses.

Lowland Scottish became the first of the SBG subsidiaries to be privatised when in August 1990 the company's management and employees bought the business for £3.1m through their holding company Reiver Ventures Ltd., the word "Scottish" then dropped from the company's legal and trading names at that time. Lowland had been a profitable unit within the SBG thanks largely to the limited competition in its rural territory, though this operating area did not give much scope for expansion. The company therefore sought to develop its coach business and to expand its presence in the more populated Lothians area. In 1991 the bus and coach business of Ian Glass Coaches was acquired, with a depot in Haddington. The depot in Dunbar closed shortly afterwards, as the East Lothian area operations were concentrated on Haddington. Smaller takeovers were of Shanks ('Border Travel') of Galashiels in 1992 and Grieve's Taxis of Hawick in 1993. Diversification included the acquisition of a van hire firm, and development of the PSV/HGV driving school business inherited from Shanks. The company also acquired an interest in Lothian Transit of Newtongrange, a low-cost operator running tendered bus services in the Edinburgh area.

## Demise

[edit]

Leyland Olympian (D901 CSH) was purchased new by Lowland Scottish in 1987, where it was allocated to North Berwick sub-depot and given the fleetnumber 901. It is pictured here in First Edinburgh 'Barbie' livery in 2005.

In November 1994, GRT Group (which later became FirstGroup) bought Reiver Ventures for £2.4m. GRT had purchased neighbouring Eastern Scottish (now trading as SMT once more) the previous month, and with its ownership of Midland Bluebird (the old Midland Scottish), GRT operated across a substantial part of central Scotland, from Oban in the west coast to the border with England. Reorganisation of the three companies quickly followed, breaking SMT in two and merging the parts with Midland and Lowland. As a result, Lowland inherited SMT's Dalkeith and Musselburgh depots in 1996. This changed the focus of the company from a rural operator serving the Borders to one dominated by suburban services around Edinburgh, and coincided with the start of a gradual retrenchment in the south which eventually resulted in the closure of all of the Borders depots except Galashiels.

When the 'First' corporate style was introduced, the trading names First Lowland and First SMT were used, the latter being restricted to the former SMT operations around Edinburgh. A final round of reorganisation in 1999 saw Lowland Omnibuses absorbed into Midland Bluebird Ltd and a new company, First Edinburgh Ltd.

Subsequently FirstGroup has divested itself of all its operations in the Borders. Borders Buses now cover virtually all the major routes once run by Lowland, with the exception of those in East Lothian.

## See also

[edit]

* List of bus operators of the United Kingdom

## References

[edit]

1. ^ McLean, David (29 June 2021). "Scotland in the 1980s: A nation on the move". The Scotsman. Retrieved 7 November 2024.

* v
* t
* e

Current bus operators of Scotland

Regional|

* Aaron's of Wick
* Blue Bus of North Lanarkshire
* Borders Buses
* Ember
* First Aberdeen
* First Glasgow
* Lothian Buses
* McGill's Bus Services
* McGill's Scotland East
* Stagecoach East Scotland
* Stagecoach North Scotland
* Stagecoach Bluebird
* Stagecoach Highlands
* Stagecoach West Scotland
* West Coast Motors
* Xplore Dundee

National|

* FlixBus
* Megabus
* National Express
* Scottish Citylink

See also|

Transport Scotland

* v
* t
* e

Former bus companies of the United Kingdom

National|

* Associated Motorways
* Blazefield Holdings
* British Bus
* British Coachways
* British Electric Traction
* Fraser Eagle
* GRT Group
* HCT Group
* National Bus Company
* Tilling Group

England|

* v
* t
* e

Former bus companies operating in England

North West England|

* Avon Buses
* Birkenhead Transport
* Blackburn Transport
* Blue Bus & Coach Services
* Bluebird Bus & Coach
* Bu-Val Buses
* ChesterBus
* Citibus Tours
* Crosville Motor Services
* Cumberland Motor Services
* Finglands Coachways
* First Chester & The Wirral
* GHA Coaches
* Glenvale Transport
* GM Buses
* Halton Transport
* Jim Stones Coaches
* John Fishwick & Sons
* JPT
* Lancashire United Transport
* Manchester Community Transport
* Maynes Bus
* Maytree Travel
* Merseybus
* MTL
* North Western Road Car Company (1923)
* North Western Road Car Company (1986)
* Pennine Blue
* Red & White Services
* Ribble Motor Services
* Shearings
* Speedwellbus
* Transdev Northern Blue
* UK North
* Yelloway Motor Services

North East England|

* Black Prince Buses
* BrightBus
* Busways Travel Services
* Cleveland Transit
* Durham Travel Services
* Jolly Bus
* Kingston upon Hull City Transport
* Mexborough and Swinton Traction Company
* Northern General Transport Company
* OK Motor Services
* Samuel Ledgard
* Scarlet Band
* South Yorkshire Transport
* Tates Travel
* United Automobile Services
* Venture Transport
* West Riding Automobile Company
* West Yorkshire Road Car Company
* Yorkshire Rider
* Yorkshire Terrier
* Yorkshire Traction

Midlands|

* Barton Transport
* Birmingham City Transport
* Birmingham Motor Traction
* Central Buses
* Chase Coaches
* First Northampton
* Glossopdale Bus Company
* Go West Midlands
* Hulleys of Baslow
* Ludlows
* North Birmingham Busways
* People's Express
* Premiere Travel
* Probus Management
* South Notts Bus Company
* Stevensons of Uttoxeter
* Travel de Courcey
* Travel Merry Hill
* Travel Your Bus
* Yourbus
* Zak's Buses

East of England|

* Eastern National Omnibus Company
* MK Metro

South West England|

* Abus
* Alexcars
* Badgerline
* Bristol Omnibus Company
* Crosville Motor Services
* Devon General
* Greyhound Motors
* Great Western Railway
* Hants & Dorset
* Nippy Bus
* Shamrock Buses
* Silver Star Motor Services
* South Gloucestershire Bus & Coach
* Southern National
* Sureline
* Trathens Travel Services
* WebberBus
* Wessex Bus
* Western Greyhound
* Western National
* Yellow Buses

South East England|

* Alder Valley
* Aldershot & District Traction
* Badger Vectis
* Boro'line Maidstone
* Cavendish Motor Services
* Countryliner
* Eastbourne Buses
* East Kent Road Car Company
* Epsom Coaches
* Fleet Buzz
* Invictaway
* Kent Top Travel
* King Alfred Motor Services
* Maidstone & District Motor Services
* Maidstone Corporation Transport
* Marchwood Motorways
* Moss Motor Tours
* New Enterprise Coaches
* Portsmouth Corporation Transport
* Shamrock Buses
* Southampton Citybus
* Southdown Motor Services
* Southdown Buses
* Thames Transit
* Thames Valley Traction
* Tillingbourne Bus Company
* Velvet
* Yellow Bus Services

Greater London|

* Abellio Surrey
* Bexleybus
* Birch Brothers
* Boro'line London
* Capital Citybus
* Capital Logistics
* Connex
* East Thames Buses
* First London
* Grey-Green
* Harris Bus
* Kentish Bus
* Limebourne
* London Buslines
* London Country Bus Services
* London Country North East
* London Country North West
* London Country South West
* London Easylink
* London Electrobus Company
* London Forest
* London Pride Sightseeing
* London Traveller
* MTL
* NSL Buses
* Quality Line
* Thorpes
* Tower Transit
* Travel London
* Travel Surrey
* Westlink

Scotland|

* v
* t
* e

Former bus companies operating in Scotland

Scottish Bus Group|

* Central Scottish
* Clydeside Scottish
* Eastern Scottish
* Fife Scottish
* Highland Scottish
* Kelvin Central Buses
* Kelvin Scottish
* Lowland Scottish
* Midland Scottish
* Northern Scottish
* Strathtay Scottish
* Western Scottish

Other operators|

* Arriva Scotland West
* A1 Service
* Dart Buses
* First Scotland East
* First Stop Travel
* Gibson's of Moffat
* McKindless
* Munro's of Jedburgh
* Oban and District
* Rapsons
* Scottish Motor Traction
* Strathclyde Buses
* Western SMT

Wales|

* v
* t
* e

Former bus companies operating in Wales

Companies|

* Crosville Motor Services
* Express Motors
* GHA Coaches
* Islwyn Borough Transport
* National Welsh Omnibus Services
* Padarn Bus
* Red & White Services
* Rhondda Transport Company
* South Wales Transport
* Western Welsh

* v
* t
* e

Transport in Edinburgh

Bus

Present|

* Lothian Buses
* McGill's Scotland East

Past|

* Edinburgh Corporation Transport
* Lothian Regional Transport
* Eastern Scottish
* First Scotland East
* Scottish Motor Traction
* Scottish Omnibuses

Rail

Present|

| Stations|

* Brunstane
* Curriehill
* Dalmeny
* Edinburgh Gateway
* Edinburgh Park
* Edinburgh Waverley
* Haymarket
* Kingsknowe
* Newcraighall
* Slateford
* South Gyle
* Wester Hailes

|

Lines|

* Borders Railway
* Edinburgh–Aberdeen
* Edinburgh–Dunblane
* Fife Circle
* Forth Bridge
* North Berwick
* North Clyde
* Shotts

Operations|

* Caledonian Sleeper
* Craigentinny TMD
* Haymarket TMD
* ScotRail

Past|

| Stations|

* Abbeyhill
* Balerno
* Balgreen Halt
* Blackford Hill
* Corstorphine
* Craiglockhart
* Duddingston & Craigmillar
* Easter Road
* Easter Road Park Halt
* Edinburgh Princes Street
* Gorgie East
* Hailes Halt
* Joppa
* Leith Central
* Leith Citadel
* Leith Walk
* Meadowbank Stadium
* Merchiston
* Morningside Road
* Newington
* Piershill
* Pinkhill
* Portobello railway station (E&DR)
* Portobello railway station (NBR)
* Ravelrig Junction Platform
* Scotland Street
* South Leith
* St Leonards

|

Lines|

* Edinburgh, Leith and Newhaven Railway
* Edinburgh Suburban and Southside Junction Railway
* Edinburgh and Dalkeith Railway

Operations|

* Caledonian Railway
* Edinburgh & Glasgow Railway
* North British Railway
* LNER
* Scottish Region of British Railways
* ScotRail

Tram

Present|

* Edinburgh Trams

Past|

* Edinburgh Corporation Tramways

Roads

Motorways|

* M8
* M9

A roads|

* A1
* European route E15
* A68
* A7
* A772
* A71
* A700
* A701
* A702
* A8
* A89
* B800/A8000
* A90
* Edinburgh City Bypass

Streets|

* Chambers Street
* Constitution Street
* Cowgate
* Drummond Street
* Easter Road
* Ferry Road
* George IV Bridge
* George Street
* Great Junction Street
* Leith Walk
* The Mound
* The Pleasance
* Princes Street
* Regent Terrace
* Rose Street
* Royal Mile
* South Bridge
* West Port

Bridges|

* Dean Bridge
* Forth Road Bridge
* Leamington Lift Bridge
* North Bridge
* Queensferry Crossing
* Regent Bridge
* Victoria Swing Bridge
* Waverley Bridge

Other

Air|

* Edinburgh Airport

Water|

* Firth of Forth hovercraft (proposed)
* Almond Aqueduct
* Bonnington Aqueduct
* Scott Russell Aqueduct
* Slateford Aqueduct
* Union Canal

Cycling|

* National Cycle Route 1
* National Cycle Route 75
* National Cycle Route 76

* Transport for Edinburgh
* Transport in Scotland

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