Lothian Airlink 100 Airport Bus from Edinburgh Airport to South St David Street (City Centre)
The Lothian Airlink 100 is the airport express bus linking Edinburgh Airport with St Andrew Square on South St David Street in the city centre of Edinburgh New Town. Having tried the Edinburgh Trams already, I decided to use the Airlink 100 this time to see how the bus compares with the tram.
Airport (Stop A)
The bus stop for the Airlink 100 is in front of the tram stop.
Bus Stop A at Edinburgh Airport is for the Airlink 100.
The route map and fare of the Airlink 100 as displayed at the bus stop.
There was an Airlink 100 bus boarding passengers already, but just days before my visit, the next stop ahead at Airport Hotel offered a cheaper boarding fare.
As such, I decided to walk to the Airport Hotel bus stop in the hopes of getting the cheaper fare.
There is a sheltered walkway continuing on from the Edinburgh Trams tram stop to the Edinburgh Airport Car Rental Centre.
Continuing along the unsheltered path after Edinburgh Airport Car Rental Centre to the airport hotels.
The control tower of Edinburgh Airport.
Following the road to the airport hotels.
DoubleTree by Hilton Edinburgh Airport is just outside Edinburgh Airport. The bus stop is along the main road, crossing the entrance of the DoubleTree by Hilton Edinburgh Airport.
Continuing straight past DoubleTree by Hilton Edinburgh Airport to the bus stop.
Airport Hotel
The Airport Hotels bus stop, located after DoubleTree by Hilton Edinburgh Airport.
But alas, the special fare zone for the Airport Hotels bus stop had been eliminated when I returned to Edinburgh, and the normal airport fare of £4.50 is charged instead. Perhaps too many people have been doing this walk before me.
The single fare has since been increased to £5.50. Check the official website for more information.
Airlink 100 Airport Bus
I didn’t have to wait long for the Airlink 100 as it was the same bus I saw waiting at Edinburgh Airport.
My single ticket for the Airlink 100 from Airport Hotels to South St David Street, indicated on the ticket as Waverley. Payment can be made by contactless Visa or Mastercard credit or debit card.
The single fare has since been increased to £5.50. Check the official website for more information.
The interior of the Airlink 100 bus. The interior is bright with the sky roof on the upper deck letting in sunlight in the middle of the bus.
Seats are similar to other Lothian Buses buses, but with an additional side headrest to lean on.
The legroom available on board the Airlink 100.
There is a small advertising panel behind each seat.
USB power sockets are available at each seat.
The Airlink 100 uses Glasgow Road, St John’s Road, Corstorphine Road, Western Terrace, and Haymarket Terrace for a straight route into the city centre. However, on my trip, this route was prone to road works, resulting in delays.
Do note that the Airlink 100 is not a non-stop express bus, and still stops at major bus stops along the route, though it has lesser stops than a regular local bus, and not all stops will be stopped at, since only drop-offs are made out of the airport, and only pick-ups are done to the airport.
Haymarket Station (Stop HB)
Passing by Haymarket tram stop.
Passing by Haymarket Railway Station.
Getting overtaken by an Edinburgh Trams tram.
Passing by the Heart of Midlothian Memorial Clock in Haymarket.
Shandwick Place (Stop SC)
Passing by West End tram stop on Shandwick Place.
There was a bit of a public transport jam when entering Princes Street.
Getting overtaken by another Edinburgh Trams tram. I wonder how many trams have gone by when the road and tracks weren’t parallel.
Passing by St. John’s Scottish Episcopal Church.
Aside from airport buses and local buses, Lothian Buses also operate Edinburgh Bus Tours hop on-hop off buses around Edinburgh.
Princes Street (Stop PF)
Heading along Princes Street.
McGill’s Scotland East on the other hand operate the competing Bright Bus Tours offering similar hop-on hop-off tours with slight route differentiations.
The last stop is South St David Street, indicated as St Andrew Square.
Turning off Princes Street on to Frederick Street and George Street.
Looking back at the interior of the Airlink 100 bus on the upper deck.
There are some single seats near the front by the stairs to allow for more aisle space.
The stairs on board the Airlink 100 bus bears the Lothian branding.
Luggage racks are available at the lower deck of the Airlink 100 bus.
South St David Street (Stop YY)
My Airlink 100 bus journey from Edinburgh Airport Hotels to South St David Street St Andrew Square took 33 minutes. If departing from Edinburgh Airport, the trip may have taken 35 minutes. This is the same time taken as the Edinburgh Trams.
My Airlink 100 bus at St Andrew Square.
Airlink 100 buses from St Andrew Square to Edinburgh Airport depart from this same stop.
The Airlink 100 St Andrew Square bus stop is in front of the Scott Monument.
Edinburgh Waverley Railway Station is just ahead on the left of the Scott Monument.
The next parallel road, South St Andrew Street, is for the Edinburgh Trams tracks to St Andrew Square tram stop.
Conclusion
The Lothian Airlink 100 bus took the same travel time of 35 minutes* (*view caveat above again) as my previous airport-to-city trip on board Edinburgh Trams.
The fare of Airlink 100 is slightly cheaper than Edinburgh Trams, so it’s down to comfort on board and risk of getting stuck in a jam. The Airlink 100 bus offers more seats than the tram, and also has USB charging sockets. However, it is susceptible to be stuck in traffic jams. The Edinburgh Trams on the other hand offers no USB charging sockets but has a dedicated track for most of the route from Edinburgh Airport to Haymarket.
As such, both services are about equal.
With the demise of the Airport Hotel bus stop low fare zone, the only cheap way to leave Edinburgh Airport by public transport is by continuing to walk to Ingliston Park & Ride tram stop to avoid the airport zone, though this won’t be ideal if travelling with luggage.