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Post by nick on Jan 25, 2009 11:43:45 GMT 1
Leaving town yesterday, on the 33, i saw a 760 heading towards Leeds on Kirkstall Road.
It was a wright low floor bus, and was packed, with standing passengers. This made me think, will K&D be getting any new buses or cascades (from other Transdev Company's) anytime soon.
I think a Volvo B9TL would do well on the route, considering it is a well used route(not for end to end passengers).
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Post by northerner on Jan 25, 2009 13:18:48 GMT 1
I would like to see some different buses on the route, and I remember reading a few years ago now (before Transdev interfered) that Blazefield liked to have one type of bus allocated to a route. However, the 760 is always a mish-mash of whatever is available, some low floor and others which aren't. This makes it the only route K&D operate that isn't 100% low floor so I would have thought it would be a fairly high priority to convert the service to low floor, probably using cascaded buses.
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Post by jackh on Jan 25, 2009 13:25:42 GMT 1
I would of thought that more Plaxton Presidents should have been used on the service as they only got the two when Burnley & Pendle got the Geminis. I know the Presidents are not that reliable mainly due to the small fuel tanks they have fitted.
However, as most passengers on the 760 from my experiences are concessionary pass holders, double deckers are really not that ideal for the service. Also I don't think overcrowding is a particular issue on the service with only a few journeys like on Saturday afternoons having standing passengers so are double deckers necessary?
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Post by SCH117X on Jan 25, 2009 15:59:41 GMT 1
I(before Transdev interfered) that Blazefield On what basis has Transdev interfered? The general view of seems to be that only change has been Transdev putting their name on the buses etc. Blazefield still exist as is quite obvious at www.blazefieldholdings.co.uk/ |
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Post by jackh on Jan 25, 2009 16:05:01 GMT 1
With the application of Spot On, Starship, Mainline (soon) and Yorkshirexpress liveries to certain buses, the local old fleetnames have been dropped though.
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Post by northerner on Jan 25, 2009 16:33:14 GMT 1
The local fleetnames are indeed on their way out, what I can't understand is why not drop them completely rather than gradually fade them out? It doesn't matter what the operator is called as long as they provide a decent service. What I meant about Transdev interfering was since the takeover very little has improved, if anything, in Keighley.
Back to the topic, Jack I do agree with you, double deckers aren't necessary on the 760, except for maybe the peak journeys the double deckers cover now
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Post by jackh on Jan 25, 2009 16:50:32 GMT 1
Has there been much that has needed improving in Keighley though? The fleet is quite modest and is relatively young. The whole network is low floor almost except the odd Olympian working.
The Keighley & District operation has done well to recieve the City Operator of the year award at last years UK Bus Awards.
Well what improvements would you like Transdev to make then in the Keighley area Northerner?
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Post by westyorkshirebus on Jan 25, 2009 17:15:06 GMT 1
With the application of Spot On, Starship, Mainline (soon) and Yorkshirexpress liveries to certain buses, the local old fleetnames have been dropped though. That may be still Blazefield's policy of focusing on the 'brand' The local fleetnames were very low key on the 36 and Witch Way liveries |
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Post by jackh on Jan 25, 2009 17:23:08 GMT 1
Also out of interest talking about brands and liveries etc weren't the generic liveries used on none branded buses to be refreshed with a design from Best Impressions being considered?
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Post by northerner on Jan 25, 2009 17:25:58 GMT 1
I think the biggest problem is theZone network is in biggest need for simplification. It will be 5 years in March since it was introduced and many services have been cutback or altered since. An example is the 706 to Fell Lane, it was every 20 minutes now every 30, however on Saturdays Volvo B10's tend to operate half of the daytime services with no wheelchair ramp, and many B10's can't show 'Fell Lane' on the destination blind! Also, the 66 to Skipton should go round the hospital grounds at Airedale, there is enough slack in the timetable to allow it. I could go on but I don't want to get into a rant!
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Post by bullsarethebest on Jan 25, 2009 17:38:40 GMT 1
I always wondered why the b10s on the 703 and 706 show no destination on a saturday!!.
and also why is there never the full "shuttle " fleet out anymore.
There often run the spare bus and either YJ05 FNM/N/O surely these buses dont need repairing all the time??
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Post by northerner on Jan 25, 2009 17:43:07 GMT 1
I'm not sure about the Shuttle's, but you are right, only 10 of the 13 were in service yesterday, with a requirement of 12. However, in the afternoon peak they is often one parked up at Keighley bus station, ready to be used if necessary.
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Post by bullsarethebest on Jan 25, 2009 18:07:24 GMT 1
I wonder why. YJ05 FNP had a accident I think a few months ago because i didnt see that bus for about 2months.
Do you know anythin else as to what could have happened to it?
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Post by northerner on Jan 25, 2009 18:11:40 GMT 1
FNP is 1801 isn't it? A few weeks before Christmas (the week when we had the snow) I know a car skidded on ice and collided with a Shuttle so it is possible it was this one. When it returned to service, it had its front panel where the headlights are painted red where it used to be silver
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Post by bullsarethebest on Jan 25, 2009 18:15:04 GMT 1
yes thats 1801 so that must have been why, thats the bus with the hissing engine !!
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Post by northerner on Jan 25, 2009 18:18:28 GMT 1
Ha, its also one which sounds like it has something loose under the bus, there is another one but I can't remember. I always try to avoid 1810 if possible as that one has a dodgy gearbox that clunks and jerks a lot, especially when in slow moving traffic
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Post by bullsarethebest on Jan 25, 2009 18:25:58 GMT 1
i think that too!! but its always nice and hot that bus (1810)
and YJ05 KHD (1806) is "my bus" as i was stuck on it for three hours when we had that bad snow!!
and 1802 (YJ05 FNR) has the loudest engine out of all of them , and i never know why!
Can you tell i go on these buses everyday to work??!! haha
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Post by northerner on Jan 25, 2009 18:33:01 GMT 1
1802 has a strange whine when still it's almost deafening compared to the others. My favourite is probably 1805
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Post by bullsarethebest on Jan 25, 2009 18:34:47 GMT 1
why 1805?
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Post by northerner on Jan 25, 2009 18:38:40 GMT 1
It probably the one I go on the least it never seems to be around when I am! I also like the new batch 1843 - 1850, sometimes these creep onto the 662 and IMO these are a better bus - you don't slide on the seats!
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Post by bullsarethebest on Jan 25, 2009 18:53:12 GMT 1
Tes they creep onto the 696/697 too! Haha yes probably the same for me. I least go on 1805 and probably YJ05 KHL as well.
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