MT
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Excuse me while I kiss the sky
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Post by MT on Sept 12, 2007 20:44:50 GMT 1
I don't know about anyone else, but I received an email from First mail saying:
"We are in the early stages of planning our new vehicle purchases over the next three years.
We would like your help. We want to know your opinion on what type of vehicle we should buy."
Unfortunately the link to the survey didn't work, but I would like to see the type of questions asked. Knowing what non-bus enthusiasts view of buses is like, the questions must be quite simple. Eg. "Double Decker or Bendi-bus?" From past experience, I found some of the general public think buses are the same/different based on what the seating is like.
I have to wonder if First put out this survey after the FTR struck a sour chord with many commuters. To be honest it doesn't seem a bad idea, giving people what they want, but most people probably wouldn't notice if they where on a tram!
What does anyone else make of this?
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Post by leedstom on Sept 12, 2007 22:25:41 GMT 1
Yes I got that email too, but again the link don't work either. Apparently it is because the whole of the First Group website is down so hopefully it will work soon.
I think it is a good idea that First have sent this survey out to their customers so that they can see what the general public think of the public transport situation in Leeds.
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Post by jackh on Sept 13, 2007 10:23:45 GMT 1
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kendall17
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Justice for the 96!
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Post by kendall17 on Sept 13, 2007 18:31:52 GMT 1
i voted a) yes b) yes c) no d) yes e) double
on the thought of it what if first got tri-axles like those in scotland, good idea or not?
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Post by jackh on Sept 13, 2007 19:01:03 GMT 1
The Road space though, they require a larger turning circle. Plus I don't think the Nordics went down well in Scotland.
However along A660 corridor they could be useful for Students etc.
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kendall17
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Justice for the 96!
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Post by kendall17 on Sept 13, 2007 19:18:29 GMT 1
suppose, but what about arctics do they require a bigger turning circle?, the ftr requird new bus stops and bus stop extentions, would that happen if we got more arctics?
what didn't people like about the nordics?
i think they were a good idea and would make a change and could be good on such routes that use guided bus ways
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Post by jackh on Sept 13, 2007 19:24:04 GMT 1
Well I think we are in some need of new single deckers to put on to Superbus and Elite guideways and use those mid life scanias on routes that are operated by the Striders.
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MT
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Excuse me while I kiss the sky
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Post by MT on Sept 13, 2007 19:36:07 GMT 1
About tri-axles, I cant see them working in Leeds. There was a program good few months ago about bus issues in Manchester, and it showed footage of Magic Bus tri-axles getting stuck on corners going into bus station, and having to reverse. They would have problems getting round some parts of one-way system in Leeds. They would be good say on X84 route though. I hope that we dont get any more FTR's though, I think some wright eclipse artics would be good. I agree with Jack, some superbus singles like Yorkshire Rider used to operate would be good, especially if they put a different superbus livery on them. If unilink can have a new livery, why not any other routes. Bring some colour to First Leeds, other than Barbie!
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Post by jackh on Sept 13, 2007 19:48:27 GMT 1
X84 route, Don't think they could not make it through Otley, Burley and Ilkley.
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markr
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Post by markr on Sept 13, 2007 21:03:53 GMT 1
Most of Kirkstall depot's fleet is mid to late life, and new double deckers on, say, the 96 would lower the average age of the fleet on the A660, although the 33/33A could also do with newer buses. Single deckers are not good in Leeds on the busy corridors, and the K-HUG batch of Striders were worn out (or at least their seats were) 4 years ago, and these heaps need to go soon, I reckon. Before anyone says anything, I missed the Scania double-decks when they were transferred away. So, its double decks for the busiest corridors, I'd say.
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Post by Craig on Sept 13, 2007 21:23:34 GMT 1
I think double deckers are the most sensible option for the busiest corridors, of which there are many in Leeds, and that is what I've answered in First's survey! I think all of the overground routes should be converted to low floor double deck (with the exception of the 37 - single deckers are fine for the demand on this service).
The ftr did impress me more than I thought it would, though I've only been on it once. However I still don't think these huge vehicles are the best option, not to mention they seem quite slow when negotiating all the tight corners.
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Post by westyorkshirebus on Sept 13, 2007 21:37:32 GMT 1
Most of Kirkstall depot's fleet is mid to late life, and new double deckers on, say, the 96 would lower the average age of the fleet on the A660, although the 33/33A could also do with newer buses. Single deckers are not good in Leeds on the busy corridors, and the K-HUG batch of Striders were worn out (or at least their seats were) 4 years ago, and these heaps need to go soon, I reckon. Before anyone says anything, I missed the Scania double-decks when they were transferred away. So, its double decks for the busiest corridors, I'd say. I wouldn't say the Kirkstall fleet is 'late life'. The Royales and the R reg London Olympians have years ahead of them (the Royales particularly) Looking at the Striders. Those in Halifax look much younger than the actually are (they've all had repaints and refurbishments) and are still perfectly good vehicles. Why are those in Leeds not the same
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kendall17
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Justice for the 96!
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Post by kendall17 on Sept 13, 2007 21:48:20 GMT 1
I think all of the overground routes should be converted to low floor double deck (with the exception of the 37 - single deckers are fine for the demand on this service). you mention the 37, that usually has a decent demand, but routes like the 91 and 88,[all 3 routes terminate at halton moor, coinsidence] have a fair demand, but should they be kept single decks with step entrance? or low floor deckers. the 68 and 68a have an average demand, mainly used by the elderly and are low floor, should this remain?
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Post by Craig on Sept 13, 2007 21:57:10 GMT 1
All routes will in a few years be low floor (legally by 2015 i think but not sure?), I just meant low floor single deckers would be more appropriate for the 37 which at the moment gets by just fine with tatty 40-seater Darts! The other routes you mention I would guess can be adequately operated by single-deckers, just that maybe a few peak time journeys would have standees.
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kendall17
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Justice for the 96!
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Post by kendall17 on Sept 13, 2007 22:09:59 GMT 1
yeah well the 91 has striders or dashs on it and is never full from the shaftsbury to chapel allerton on the 8.25 run, but gets quite close so its adequate at the moment.dont know about the 88 anymore . i notice there have been some wrights/dashs on the 37 lately, and the sheddy wrights on the 18 i.e n---enw and p---ysh. which in my mind is abit silly. as is the low floor buses on the 68 and 68a routes, couldn't they be used on a more demanding route?
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Post by Craig on Sept 13, 2007 22:17:01 GMT 1
The 68/68A is I believe contractually bound to be low-floor operated as part of the ELITE guided bus partnertship. Service 37 is mostly Pointer-bodied Darts and occasionally as you say low floor single-deck Scanias too, although never Dash Darts as Cherry Row as far as I know don't operate these.
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kendall17
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Justice for the 96!
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Post by kendall17 on Sept 13, 2007 22:21:04 GMT 1
but the 68 and 68a never use the guided part????only uses the red bus lane heading towards leeds down towards torre road. im sure i seen a couple on there recently, ill have a gander when waiting for my 91 and 56s lol
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Post by Craig on Sept 13, 2007 22:29:55 GMT 1
The 68A diverts via Torre Road only on journeys TO Leeds (another wonderful Metro tendering inconsistency!). But otherwise the 68 and 68A FROM Leeds runs the full length of York Road up to Gipton Approach (same as the 5 does evenings and Sundays).
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Post by jackh on Sept 14, 2007 13:25:00 GMT 1
The 68/68A is I believe contractually bound to be low-floor operated as part of the ELITE guided bus partnertship. Service 37 is mostly Pointer-bodied Darts and occasionally as you say low floor single-deck Scanias too, although never Dash Darts as Cherry Row as far as I know don't operate these. They have 40608 I think at Cherry Row now.
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Post by jackh on Sept 14, 2007 13:27:52 GMT 1
Also the 64, 68 and 68A interwork as each service would have a stupid layover time on Wellington Street outside Metro.
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kendall17
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Justice for the 96!
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Post by kendall17 on Sept 14, 2007 23:05:38 GMT 1
The 68A diverts via Torre Road only on journeys TO Leeds which is what i said?? but the 68, 68A shouldn't be part of the elite network as it doesnt use the guided part, as it goes into gipton approach i think near the fire station so it cant go into the guided network? but back to the question, should it be low floor or not? the 5 is a joke, whats the point in it connecting up to crossgates? no one gets on it
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Post by Craig on Sept 15, 2007 14:28:17 GMT 1
My apologies, I thought they would use the guided section after Lupton Avenue up to Shaftesbury, but when I think about it is there nowhere for them to come back off before Gipton?
Really all routes would be best as low floor, and in several years they will be. As someone mentioned it interworks with 64 so therefore will be low floor as the 64 IS part of the guided busway.
Its probably just as easy to extend the 5 to Cross Gates than to terminate at Coronation Tree and then have a long layover. Also Sunday daytime at least does this section get used for shoppers visiting the Arndale? (Thats if the Arndale opens on a Sunday?!)
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kendall17
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Justice for the 96!
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Post by kendall17 on Sept 15, 2007 17:34:58 GMT 1
well not really, the bus isnt used that much by shoppers as there is the 68A. and i dont think the 5 will be that profitable by connecting it with scholes and crossgates
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markr
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Post by markr on Sept 16, 2007 8:16:05 GMT 1
To go back to my point on Kirkstall's fleet, most of the vehicles there are at least 8 years old, and are, IMO, in the second half of their lives. Only the newer Solos and the B7TLs are really much newer than that - even the B10LAs are 8 years old. The newest buses on the Otley Road are, therefore, 8 years old, and all of Kirkstall's heavily trafficked routes are run with step-entrance buses (with the exception of the 42). Cherry Row has done rather better for new vehicles, as has Bramley, although their oldest vehicles are older than Kirkstall's oldest. Leeds' Striders in the K-HUG batch are showing their age, and single-deckers from Scott Hall Road should be cascaded and used to replace them. The seats in the L_PWR batch are better, and the better ones of these might outlast the Darts. Perhaps some Royales from Kirkstall should also be cascaded to get rid of the nasty J-YRM Olympians from Bramley. All major corridors should go low-floor, including the short 37 route. I don't see any further use of artics in Leeds being possible, most routes go into housing estates at some point and the roads are too tight.
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kendall17
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Justice for the 96!
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Post by kendall17 on Sept 16, 2007 14:09:45 GMT 1
What He Said ^^^^
so are you saying next set of buses should be single deckers? if you are im in agreement but some of the older deckers need phasing out i.e the j---yrms and black princes old motors which are 3years short of their 20th birthdays!
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