First Leeds new vehicles poll

[markr]

Need some of both double and singles, I mean, to allow conversion of all major corridors to low floor, as some Scania/Striders and Darts need to go, as do the aforementioned double deckers - 20-odd double deckers for Kirkstall would do, the rest singles for other depots would probably be OK, unless demand was to rapidly increase on a single-decked route in a short time.
Can't see many votes for bendies though.
My plan would be - new DDs for Kirkstall, cascade Royales to Bramley and a few to Cherry Row, withdraw remaining Scania DDs and J-YRM Olympians. New SDs for Cherry Row, cascade buses off Scott Hall Road onto 8,9 from Bramley, 37 at Cherry Row, 63 at Kirkstall and other non-core but well-used routes. The K-HUG Striders would be reduced significantly, and some darts would go as well.
Thereafter, deliveries would be predominantly single-decked, as the oldest double deckers would date from 1997, the oldest single deckers from 1993.

PS - not route 6 at all - it's long gone, but 85, 86, 87 perhaps.

[kendall17]

mark has it all planned out, seems good idea though

what deckers and singles do you suggest? please dont say eclipses and gems, cause they're boring me now

[markr]

Don't know what types, but you probably know what you'll end up with...

[westyorkshirebus]

It's usually the case that double deckers are operated longer than single decks, and therefore the average age of double decks is higher than singles (see Bradford, Halifax, Huddersfield etc) so the situation in Leeds where there are only the J reg Olympians which are really old is quite a good one

Looking at the 37. I'm not familar with the route. Would standard sized single decks fit round the route? I'm thinking, the 37 is probably not worthy of brand new buses so cascading the old R/S reg Scania's onto the 37 if they fit would probably be the best situation?

The J reg Olympians only tend to see schools use don't they? so they aren't a big problem at the moment. At the same time, if they went, the Royales are too good for just schools use?

[markr]

If the J reg Olympians are only used for schools, I think they could last another 3 years or so, by which time the Royales might be ready to see out the rest of their lives (until step-entrances are outlawed) on these routes.
So maybe a batch of double-decks to allow conversion of 33/33A to low-floor is all we need for double deckers at present. Single deckers could cascade buses off 64, 68 and Scott Hall Road onto routes like the 37 (provided they fit, and I'm not certain either - may be a job for some Dart SLFs or something) and Strider-operated routes like 8, 9 and 73 at Bramley, and maybe the 85, 86, 87.

[kendall17]

the ex manc S plate royales find theirselves on schools which is quite annoying when you have ex bp motors on the 2/3/12/13 but thats down to depot alloction
the mini darts would look pretty good on 8/9 route and would suit it well imo.

[Craig]

Something First should be looking at is their Wetherby service - surely this would benefit from better investment, I'm thinking along the lines of H&D's 36 route with high quality, stand out vehicles, leather seating etc. This coupled with an increase of the direct X98 route to half-hourly daytimes and hourly evenings/Sundays, complemented by the exisiting hourly 99 should increase their ability to tap into this large commuter market - remember there is no rail service to compete with and the only other bus link (770) takes a much longer route.

[jackh]

Well possibly an hourly extension to Boston Spa and Clifford via the A58 offering faster journey times.

[Craig]

Wouldn't that journey be a lot longer though, going to Wetherby and Deighton Road then doubling back to Boston Spa? Unless you mean another extra express service running Leeds to Collingham then direct to Boston Spa.

[jackh]

Well possibly turn right onto A659 off A58 after Collingham.

[westyorkshirebus]

I'm not sure First would want to get involved in competing with Harrogate & District for Boston Spa customers