WYBS
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Post by WYBS on Apr 26, 2022 9:13:32 GMT 1
The general idea: Which fleet changes would you have done differently?
I always thought FWY should have kept the B9TL Gemini 2s within West Yorkshire and upgraded several routes using them: 508, 503, 56, 40, 576, X63, Holme Valleys.
I also think that Leeds should have received 13 plate Eclipses to be used on: 19/A, 5, 91.
I think that 6 or 7 of the ex-Witchway B9TLs should have gone to Keighley for Aireline instead of Dalesway and Hotline. I know I'm biased, but a Leeds commuting route deserves a better interior.
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Post by dlspotter on Apr 26, 2022 14:03:50 GMT 1
The general idea: Which fleet changes would you have done differently? I always thought FWY should have kept the B9TL Gemini 2s within West Yorkshire and upgraded several routes using them: 508, 503, 56, 40, 576, X63, Holme Valleys. I also think that Leeds should have received 13 plate Eclipses to be used on: 19/A, 5, 91. I think that 6 or 7 of the ex-Witchway B9TLs should have gone to Keighley for Aireline instead of Dalesway and Hotline. I know I'm biased, but a Leeds commuting route deserves a better interior. As a regular commuter on the Hotline it definitely needed an upgrade. The only difference between the Hotline and Aireline is the leather seats, however that is it.
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Post by stantheman on Apr 26, 2022 17:29:45 GMT 1
Wouldnât have minded seeing MCW Metrobuses and the ex Leeds Jumbo Atlanteans having a stint in the Bradford district back in the 80s or 90s. Also 7xxx Fleetlines in Bradford would have been nice to see.
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mattb7tl
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Streetlites đ
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Post by mattb7tl on Apr 26, 2022 21:02:32 GMT 1
The general idea: Which fleet changes would you have done differently? I always thought FWY should have kept the B9TL Gemini 2s within West Yorkshire and upgraded several routes using them: 508, 503, 56, 40, 576, X63, Holme Valleys. I also think that Leeds should have received 13 plate Eclipses to be used on: 19/A, 5, 91. I think that 6 or 7 of the ex-Witchway B9TLs should have gone to Keighley for Aireline instead of Dalesway and Hotline. I know I'm biased, but a Leeds commuting route deserves a better interior. I wish the streetlites were never bought. Without sounding too dramatic, I completely avoid any route they are on because of how terrible they are to be on as a passenger. Constant rattling, even while still, whiny + irritating engine and painfully slow. On the other hand... Eclipse 2's are really solid! They are without a doubt not perfect but they have decent build quality, nice engine sounds and don't seem to be totally unreliable which is shocking for a modern bus. Wish these were bought over the streetlite. And finally... I think team pennine should've bought standard E200s over E200 MMCs. The MMCs are super nice visually but they seem to lack a bit more in build quality compared to the standard E200. MMC's are without a doubt still so much better than a streetlite at least
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Post by mk2mcw on Apr 26, 2022 21:03:18 GMT 1
Wouldnât have minded seeing MCW Metrobuses and the ex Leeds Jumbo Atlanteans having a stint in the Bradford district back in the 80s or 90s. Also 7xxx Fleetlines in Bradford would have been nice to see. A couple of jumbos did go to Halifax around Dereg time on loan
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Post by nic on Apr 26, 2022 22:34:05 GMT 1
Wouldnât have minded seeing MCW Metrobuses and the ex Leeds Jumbo Atlanteans having a stint in the Bradford district back in the 80s or 90s. Also 7xxx Fleetlines in Bradford would have been nice to see. MCW Metrobuses on the Manningham corridor would have been fantastic to see. Did the 72 ever receive Volvo Olympian Alexander Royale? If not that is something I would of loved to see. A investment and realisation the X84 is/was a valuable link Otley-Leeds particularly and a fleet dedicated to that route earlier then when it happened. Alexander Royale in a livery first? Or Spectras?
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Post by stantheman on Apr 26, 2022 23:14:14 GMT 1
Wouldnât have minded seeing MCW Metrobuses and the ex Leeds Jumbo Atlanteans having a stint in the Bradford district back in the 80s or 90s. Also 7xxx Fleetlines in Bradford would have been nice to see. A couple of jumbos did go to Halifax around Dereg time on loan They did indeed, and even a couple in the very early 80s went to Kirklees for a while.
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Post by 576 Gemini 2 on Apr 27, 2022 17:55:09 GMT 1
Wouldnât have minded seeing MCW Metrobuses and the ex Leeds Jumbo Atlanteans having a stint in the Bradford district back in the 80s or 90s. Also 7xxx Fleetlines in Bradford would have been nice to see. MCW Metrobuses on the Manningham corridor would have been fantastic to see. Did the 72 ever receive Volvo Olympian Alexander Royale? If not that is something I would of loved to see. A investment and realisation the X84 is/was a valuable link Otley-Leeds particularly and a fleet dedicated to that route earlier then when it happened. Alexander Royale in a livery first? Or Spectras? Yes the Royales when new to Bramley did work that depot share of that route,while Bradford used Wright bodied Volvo B10BLEs & Scania L113CRBs from 1998 until 2000 when both depots started using ALX400s as standard for the 72
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Post by 576 Gemini 2 on Apr 27, 2022 18:06:44 GMT 1
New deckers for the main FWY routes 33,34,72,363,398,X63,503,508,576,589-592,X6,X84,X98,X99 & Holme Valley Connection, but trial different types of vehicles to see now they performed on each route & listen to feedback from passengers & drivers before standardizing on one or two types, Maybe more Streetdecks or Enviro 400s, or maybe something different like the BYD deckers used on the PR3 in Leeds or Optare Metrodeckers
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Username
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I need to get my eyes checked, I've just seen a Streetlite and my eyes are burning
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Post by Username on Apr 27, 2022 18:09:02 GMT 1
The general idea: Which fleet changes would you have done differently? I always thought FWY should have kept the B9TL Gemini 2s within West Yorkshire and upgraded several routes using them: 508, 503, 56, 40, 576, X63, Holme Valleys. I also think that Leeds should have received 13 plate Eclipses to be used on: 19/A, 5, 91. I think that 6 or 7 of the ex-Witchway B9TLs should have gone to Keighley for Aireline instead of Dalesway and Hotline. I know I'm biased, but a Leeds commuting route deserves a better interior. As a regular commuter on the Hotline it definitely needed an upgrade. The only difference between the Hotline and Aireline is the leather seats, however that is it. When the 36 recieves new electric buses the Gemini 3s could go to Pendle Wizz and Airline.
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Username
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I need to get my eyes checked, I've just seen a Streetlite and my eyes are burning
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Post by Username on Apr 27, 2022 18:21:40 GMT 1
Depends what type of Streetdeck you use, I would like to see some new 22 reg Streetdecks for Calderdale and Huddersfield. Streetdecks for 306, Holmfirth Connections, 323/324/28/370/371/372 in Huddersfield. For Halifax 501/503/510/512/521/522/523/571/576/590/592. Service 571 gets busy alot now. Also wish TFGM will replace that stupid low bridge to allow double deckers on to the 587.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Apr 27, 2022 19:30:16 GMT 1
Also wish TFGM will replace that stupid low bridge to allow double deckers on to the 587. That would be National Rails job rather than TFGM Back In 2009 I think it would of been wiser for Arriva to order more Eclipses rather than the Tempos & E200s,as it would of allowed them to use the York Rd Guideway plus the Thornhill & Fieldhead routes got moved to full size SDs anyway (alongside offering more capacity when filling in on 202/3 compared to the E200s),although i think the 163/6 should of remained DD operated so possibly Arriva should of ordered more E400s or Olympuses for that. If they had gone for Eclipses,to make the SD fleet more standard they could of then opted for Eclipse 2s in 2012 rather than the Pulsars. Going back further i would of also gone for either Wright Renowns or Volvo B10LE/ALX300s rather than the DAF/ALX300s. I Also think Arriva should of replaced the MPD fleet a few years earlier than they did,opting for Slimline Solos rather the E200s we got. For First in the early 00s,it's a shame they didn't opt for Wright Solars rather than the B7Ls across the country,as despite having the plastic seats First had on their new orders at the time they still had a better interior layout plus the ones they did have from that time aged alot better than the B7Ls did,speaking of Solars it's a shame Huddersfield didn't keep its batch of white ones they had in the early 00s rather than them going to Scotland & being replaced with a mix of Darts.In 2014 rather than going for the E400s for route 49,i think Gemini 2s might have been the better choice,plus it would of saved the issues Halifax have had with them more recently. In Current day for First i would order ADL Enviro 400MMCs,as like First Glasgow have a mix of shorter 10.2 & the longer 10.8m versions. 10.2m for the Holme Valley routes,328,508 & Calder Valley routes & 10.8m for the 503,576 & X63 (as they are planning on removing the guideway it won't be much of an issue). As they already have Streetlites to keep the SD fleet standard i would order a batch of shorter length ones for the likes of 323/387,Mixenden Circs,542 & MAX ones for 301/2,522/3,571 & also at Bradford for 681. It is also a shame that more SDs have been ordered for 662,I Know its probably down to Transdev trying not to overstretch their funding bid but i think the route has the potential to become a full time DD route using something like the Volvo BZL or Metrodecker.
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Post by 576 Gemini 2 on Apr 27, 2022 20:11:56 GMT 1
Also wish TFGM will replace that stupid low bridge to allow double deckers on to the 587. That would be National Rails job rather than TFGM Back In 2009 I think it would of been wiser for Arriva to order more Eclipses rather than the Tempos & E200s,as it would of allowed them to use the York Rd Guideway plus the Thornhill & Fieldhead routes got moved to full size SDs anyway (alongside offering more capacity when filling in on 202/3 compared to the E200s),although i think the 163/6 should of remained DD operated so possibly Arriva should of ordered more E400s or Olympuses for that. If they had gone for Eclipses,to make the SD fleet more standard they could of then opted for Eclipse 2s in 2012 rather than the Pulsars. Going back further i would of also gone for either Wright Renowns or Volvo B10LE/ALX300s rather than the DAF/ALX300s. I Also think Arriva should of replaced the MPD fleet a few years earlier than they did,opting for Slimline Solos rather the E200s we got. For First in the early 00s,it's a shame they didn't opt for Wright Solars rather than the B7Ls across the country,as despite having the plastic seats First had on their new orders at the time they still had a better interior layout plus the ones they did have from that time aged alot better than the B7Ls did,speaking of Solars it's a shame Huddersfield didn't keep its batch of white ones they had in the early 00s rather than them going to Scotland & being replaced with a mix of Darts.In 2014 rather than going for the E400s for route 49,i think Gemini 2s might have been the better choice,plus it would of saved the issues Halifax have had with them more recently. In Current day for First i would order ADL Enviro 400MMCs,as like First Glasgow have a mix of shorter 10.2 & the longer 10.8m versions. 10.2m for the Holme Valley routes,328,508 & Calder Valley routes & 10.8m for the 503,576 & X63 (as they are planning on removing the guideway it won't be much of an issue). As they already have Streetlites to keep the SD fleet standard i would order a batch of shorter length ones for the likes of 323/387,Mixenden Circs,542 & MAX ones for 301/2,522/3,571 & also at Bradford for 681. It is also a shame that more SDs have been ordered for 662,I Know its probably down to Transdev trying not to overstretch their funding bid but i think the route has the potential to become a full time DD route using something like the Volvo BZL or Metrodecker. Double Deckers have been used in the past on 662 when Bradford City been playing on evenings & Sundays, when there has been concerts at Myrtle Park Bingley & when there been strikes at First Bradford
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Steve Macz403
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Post by Steve Macz403 on Apr 28, 2022 19:14:09 GMT 1
Wouldnât have minded seeing MCW Metrobuses and the ex Leeds Jumbo Atlanteans having a stint in the Bradford district back in the 80s or 90s. Also 7xxx Fleetlines in Bradford would have been nice to see. MCW Metrobuses on the Manningham corridor would have been fantastic to see. Did the 72 ever receive Volvo Olympian Alexander Royale? If not that is something I would of loved to see. A investment and realisation the X84 is/was a valuable link Otley-Leeds particularly and a fleet dedicated to that route earlier then when it happened. Alexander Royale in a livery first? Or Spectras? When Bramley partially operated the 72 with Bradford Depot in the late 90s. The Volvo Olympian Royales was a very common sight to see mixed in the usual Bramley routes. ( E.g 16, 50, 40, 49 ( was the 41)
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Post by nic on May 1, 2022 17:29:25 GMT 1
Instead of the 1 receiving the articulated buses, which later on in shared boards with ALX400's, they should have launched the service with brand new double deckers. The "bendi-buses" were a nightmare looking back.
Also First should not of tried to save on costs with the ALX400's. Their seating choice was terrible.
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Post by Arriva Wakefield on May 1, 2022 18:03:37 GMT 1
Instead of the 1 receiving the articulated buses, which later on in shared boards with ALX400's, they should have launched the service with brand new double deckers. The "bendi-buses" were a nightmare looking back. Also First should not of tried to save on costs with the ALX400's. Their seating choice was terrible. When the B10LAs arrived, they were great at clearing the queues.
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Post by nic on May 1, 2022 18:21:27 GMT 1
Instead of the 1 receiving the articulated buses, which later on in shared boards with ALX400's, they should have launched the service with brand new double deckers. The "bendi-buses" were a nightmare looking back. Also First should not of tried to save on costs with the ALX400's. Their seating choice was terrible. When the B10LAs arrived, they were great at clearing the queues. Their ability to hoover a crowd up and provide capacity was very much welcomed in that sense. Just not the right buses in terms of other things. Leeds ended up struggling with these buses and reliability become an issue I believe. Maybe instead of the B10LA's could they invested in Citaro? Still stand by my comment that double deckers would have been better, if they increased frequency and perhaps even made them dual doored.
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Steve Macz403
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Post by Steve Macz403 on May 8, 2022 21:24:57 GMT 1
Funnily the Volvo B10LAs very rarely ended up on the 42. Which was a great sight to see compared to the standard bus at the time. Either one of Kirkstall Roads many various step entrance deckers.
I think the plan was the 1 was due newer buses and the Volvo B10LA fusions would have gone onto the 42. To displace step entrance deckers.
Either New Articulate buses I can imagine the Citaro would have been that choice. That or the Wright Solar / Eclipse Fusion.
The earlier ALX400s had horrendous seating. That problem seem to be resolved with Much later batches that were 52 reg plus. 31143 - 31147 probably were the few examples ( allocated as extra 56 buses ) that had better seats.
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Post by Father Dougal McGuire on May 9, 2022 16:09:02 GMT 1
For Todmorden, I would like to see some high specification double decks, Volvo B5TL - Gemini 3's or long Enviro 400 MMC's. Any other operator the Calder Valley corridor would have high spec deckers on it. I don't think it is often realised how much money & passengers those services take in. Would be nice to see it given the quality service and buses it deserves. Bring back the "QUALITY Service" launched in 2000, operators could learn a lot of they look at how things were done 20 years ago.
For alternatives to the deckers, a high quality refurbishment of the Eclipse 2's would suit it well, after all these were brought over by the old business manager for use at Todmorden to re-launch the Calder Valley.
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Post by Jagga on May 16, 2022 19:09:18 GMT 1
Waterloo with Pulsars or SR's
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Post by nic on May 18, 2022 13:47:58 GMT 1
Funnily the Volvo B10LAs very rarely ended up on the 42. Which was a great sight to see compared to the standard bus at the time. Either one of Kirkstall Roads many various step entrance deckers. I think the plan was the 1 was due newer buses and the Volvo B10LA fusions would have gone onto the 42. To displace step entrance deckers. Either New Articulate buses I can imagine the Citaro would have been that choice. That or the Wright Solar / Eclipse Fusion. The earlier ALX400s had horrendous seating. That problem seem to be resolved with Much later batches that were 52 reg plus. 31143 - 31147 probably were the few examples ( allocated as extra 56 buses ) that had better seats. That I didn't know. Would the B10LA survived on the 42 route? It's quite an intense suburban route. Been very interesting to see them on the route. Would they of still had the route go down Lincoln green Road or changed over to let one of the other "overground" (as it was) routes serve that? Out of curiosity I wonder what the 1 was planned to get? I wonder if there is fleet changes/route changes that were planned/discussed by management of first etc but never actually came to fruition etc.
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Username
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I need to get my eyes checked, I've just seen a Streetlite and my eyes are burning
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Post by Username on Apr 8, 2023 14:20:10 GMT 1
This is less of a Fleet change, but personally I would add an Arriva depot for Brighouse for services: 261, 378, 377 and 571 and possibly 254/5 can use this as an outstation.
For this I could send all the Optare Solo SRs for this depot and also two eclipses.
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Post by Father Dougal McGuire on Apr 14, 2023 14:57:51 GMT 1
I would change the First Todmorden allocation back to single deck with 69578 - 69587 based permanently there (as they were when they were new) and the remainder being any of the 69477/69480 - 85 ex Calder Connect batch. I say this because there is an increasing amount of single decks on the 503 and 576 which never used to be as big of a problem with the 576 being every 10 minutes and the 503 being every 8 minutes but now with the 576 being reduced to pretty much 3 buses an hour in peak times and the 503 being quater hourly most of the day it can make a big impact.
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Post by Father Dougal McGuire on Apr 14, 2023 15:10:19 GMT 1
In addition to my above reply, this is what I would allocate to services at First Halifax. Although I am no longer familiar with how buses are parked in the depot now, the parking at Skircoat was generally grouped by type & branded buses e.g. all Zest Geminis were usually parked together.
501/3 Halifax - Huddersfield - Volvo B9 Gemini 508 Halifax - Leeds - ADL E400 510/512 Halifax - Mixenden - ADL E400 521/2/3 Halifax - Illingworth - Anything 541/2 Siddal/Norton Tower - Halifax - 474xx Streetlite 548/549 Halifax - Brighouse/Huddersfield - 632xx Streetlite/Volvo B7 Eclipse 579 Halifax - Sowerby - Any DD (for Sowerby schools) 586 Halifax - Commons - Anything 590/2 Halifax - Todmorden - Rochdale/Burnley - Volvo B7 Eclipse
*Todmorden Millwood Depot* 589 Rochdale - Todmorden - Burnley - 1x Volvo B9 Gemini for 0740 Burnley and 2 Volvo B7 Eclipse (standard practice when we had the 589) 590/2 Halifax - Todmorden - Rochdale/Burnley - Volvo B7 Eclipse
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Username
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I need to get my eyes checked, I've just seen a Streetlite and my eyes are burning
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Post by Username on Apr 20, 2023 19:44:08 GMT 1
In addition to my above reply, this is what I would allocate to services at First Halifax. Although I am no longer familiar with how buses are parked in the depot now, the parking at Skircoat was generally grouped by type & branded buses e.g. all Zest Geminis were usually parked together. 501/3 Halifax - Huddersfield - Volvo B9 Gemini 508 Halifax - Leeds - ADL E400 510/512 Halifax - Mixenden - ADL E400 521/2/3 Halifax - Illingworth - Anything 541/2 Siddal/Norton Tower - Halifax - 474xx Streetlite 548/549 Halifax - Brighouse/Huddersfield - 632xx Streetlite/Volvo B7 Eclipse 579 Halifax - Sowerby - Any DD (for Sowerby schools) 586 Halifax - Commons - Anything 590/2 Halifax - Todmorden - Rochdale/Burnley - Volvo B7 Eclipse *Todmorden Millwood Depot* 589 Rochdale - Todmorden - Burnley - 1x Volvo B9 Gemini for 0740 Burnley and 2 Volvo B7 Eclipse (standard practice when we had the 589) 590/2 Halifax - Todmorden - Rochdale/Burnley - Volvo B7 Eclipse Wouldn't it make sense to have Mixendens as anything as well? Plus I know Millwood routes can be more dead at some point but it's more than just the 0740 journey that gets busy. I think Millwood routes should be half deckers and single deckers on each 590 and 591/2 joint.
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