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Post by timelesstable on Feb 25, 2011 18:33:54 GMT 1
The Arriva Facebooker don't appear to like these and I am beginning wonder if their days might be numbered.
Initially I only see four options.
Retain them in Yorkshire and delay 100% low floor converstion
Cascade them within the wider Arriva UK operators, possibly to those area with a higher incidence of School Work.
Sell them to Centrebus, not too sure that would fly...
Sell them while there is still a market and the prices would make it a worthwhile option.
I'm sure there are more
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Matty
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Post by Matty on Feb 25, 2011 18:38:26 GMT 1
I reckon they will be sold to Stafford Bus & Coach centre as a lot of other Arriva buses go there.
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Post by timelesstable on Feb 25, 2011 18:44:03 GMT 1
I reckon they will be sold to Stafford Bus & Coach centre as a lot of other Arriva buses go there. Yes and maybe sooner rather than later
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Post by mollman on Feb 25, 2011 20:42:30 GMT 1
Reading Transport struggled to sell their step entrance Spectras whilst their low floor ones were snapped up by the likes of Norfolk Green
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Post by driver6540 on Feb 25, 2011 20:48:29 GMT 1
Ive often wondered why AY purchased these step-entrance Spectras at the time they did. In 98/9 when they arrived there was low-floor deckers available from other manufacturers. Maybe they got them cheap, as most other operators were going for low-floors. Maybe ive answered my own question!.
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Post by timelesstable on Feb 25, 2011 20:53:06 GMT 1
Ive often wondered why AY purchased these step-entrance Spectras at the time they did. In 98/9 when they arrived there was low-floor deckers available from other manufacturers. Maybe they got them cheap, as most other operators were going for low-floors. Maybe ive answered my own question!. I believe they were desperate for new deckers for the 110, low floor options had a long lead time, I think was a case of needs must. They are good buses but would now be a good time for them to cut their losses and try and move them on
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puggy
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Post by puggy on Feb 25, 2011 20:53:09 GMT 1
Why not give 'em to M Travel? They seem to bought a good amount of '92 models from Wilts and Dorset
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Post by holland1987 on Feb 25, 2011 21:19:47 GMT 1
York Pullman would be a good place for them or Stephensons of Easingwold.
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Matty
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Post by Matty on Feb 25, 2011 21:23:24 GMT 1
M-Travel won't have them now, they are starting to buy Low Floor.
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Post by Penfold on Feb 25, 2011 23:22:16 GMT 1
I have heard today they are staying at AY for the forseeable future and the next vehicles due for replacement within the next Arriva vehicle replacement programme are the ALX300's !
Penfold
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Post by westyorkshirebus on Feb 25, 2011 23:30:57 GMT 1
York Pullman would be a good place for them or Stephensons of Easingwold. why would York Pullman be a good place for 20 double deckers? Maybe TJ Walsh will buy them ;D
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kendall17
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Post by kendall17 on Feb 26, 2011 0:15:31 GMT 1
Lets not forget, First bought Royales up to 1999.
They'll probably be kept until the end of their working life.
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Post by timelesstable on Feb 26, 2011 7:47:57 GMT 1
Lets not forget, First bought Royales up to 1999. They'll probably be kept until the end of their working life. It doesn't appear to be Arriva's policy to run deckers to the death and they are prepared to sell them on unlike First. I see them going early like the M reg Olymipians and those Dennis Arrows
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Post by olympian on Feb 26, 2011 21:13:41 GMT 1
I said somewhere before that these are staying as they one of the cheapest buses to run and Arriva are sick of the alx 300's as they cost Hecky depot about 10k a month to run even tho they do 7.1 miles to the gallon, one of the best performers in the fleet for feul saving even tho they dont go anywhere.
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Post by timelesstable on Feb 27, 2011 9:21:55 GMT 1
I said somewhere before that these are staying as they one of the cheapest buses to run and Arriva are sick of the alx 300's as they cost Hecky depot about 10k a month to run even tho they do 7.1 miles to the gallon, one of the best performers in the fleet for feul saving even tho they dont go anywhere. I agree with everything you say, there is nothing wrong with the Step Spectras in terms of performance and relaibility. No doubt the drivers like them too much more than the other types within the fleet. Unfortunately the bus industry is all about moving people and a lot of the people being moved don't like them and complain about them and very shortly they will be the only step entarance buses in the Arriva Yorkshire fleet. It will be interest to see what happens to them, it's pity there aren't some local school services for them.
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Post by holland1987 on Feb 27, 2011 11:05:32 GMT 1
Maybe Geldard's could take some on to replace MCW's ?
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kendall17
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Post by kendall17 on Feb 27, 2011 14:25:06 GMT 1
Maybe Geldard's could take some on to replace MCW's ? So could any operator with ageing deckers.
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Post by timelesstable on Feb 27, 2011 18:17:33 GMT 1
Maybe Geldard's could take some on to replace MCW's ? So could any operator with ageing deckers. Especially those with School Contracts
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Post by driver6540 on Feb 28, 2011 21:52:14 GMT 1
I said somewhere before that these are staying as they one of the cheapest buses to run and Arriva are sick of the alx 300's as they cost Hecky depot about 10k a month to run even tho they do 7.1 miles to the gallon, one of the best performers in the fleet for feul saving even tho they dont go anywhere. As, ive previously stated i know very little about buses compared to most of you on this forum, but how come the Spectra with its DAF DB250 engine can be so economical compared to the ALX300 which AY run which with the DAF SB220 is intrinsically the same engine, albeit with slightly less horse-power. On a power to weight ratio, im sure theyre would be very little between them, or have i missed something here?.
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Post by holland1987 on Feb 28, 2011 22:53:55 GMT 1
So could any operator with ageing deckers. Especially those with School Contracts The MCW's Geldard's have surely must be getting towards retirement now.
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Matty
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Post by Matty on Feb 28, 2011 23:11:20 GMT 1
HJC's Deckers are not aging, they run fine and have no problems. Remember the DDA deadline is 2017 so there is plenty of time to get replacements, everyone seems to think operators need to buy Low Floor buses ASAP because a DDA deadline has been mentioned, but there is a good 5 years left to replace deckers yet! They wil get cheaper over the years too, so might as well wait.
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Post by westyorkshirebus on Feb 28, 2011 23:18:59 GMT 1
Especially those with School Contracts The MCW's Geldard's have surely must be getting towards retirement now. However hard you push this idea, it is relatively rare for buses to be sold to a neighbour, especially as many go via Ensign etc thesedays. If Arriva sold the Spectras outside the group, it's quite likely they would end up with a dozen different operators allover the country.
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Post by Burnside on Feb 28, 2011 23:47:22 GMT 1
HJC's Deckers are not aging, they run fine and have no problems. Remember the DDA deadline is 2017 so there is plenty of time to get replacements, everyone seems to think operators need to buy Low Floor buses ASAP because a DDA deadline has been mentioned, but there is a good 5 years left to replace deckers yet! They wil get cheaper over the years too, so might as well wait. A good point cos it's not like they have any routes to operate them on other than schools, and you wouldn't wanna put a decent bus on a school run!
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Post by billycarne on Mar 1, 2011 0:18:30 GMT 1
I said somewhere before that these are staying as they one of the cheapest buses to run and Arriva are sick of the alx 300's as they cost Hecky depot about 10k a month to run even tho they do 7.1 miles to the gallon, one of the best performers in the fleet for feul saving even tho they dont go anywhere. As, ive previously stated i know very little about buses compared to most of you on this forum, but how come the Spectra with its DAF DB250 engine can be so economical compared to the ALX300 which AY run which with the DAF SB220 is intrinsically the same engine, albeit with slightly less horse-power. On a power to weight ratio, im sure theyre would be very little between them, or have i missed something here?. probably the gearbox. the spectra (step entrance) has a 4 speed where as the alx300s have a 3 speed. voith that is. also more powerful engines can often be more econmical due to the engine being able to handle stronger loads without flooring it.
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kendall17
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Post by kendall17 on Mar 1, 2011 1:53:26 GMT 1
Especially those with School Contracts The MCW's Geldard's have surely must be getting towards retirement now. Tell that to HJC.
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