Davidc
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Post by Davidc on Nov 6, 2014 15:48:48 GMT 1
Oakwood Travel introduced a new route 6 at the start of the week (3rd Nov 14), running every 15 minutes between Blackpool Town Centre and Grange Park Estate via Layton. The route requires 3 buses which have been released from the 12 which finished its operating season the day before.
A little bit of fleet news is that Alexander ALX400 bodied Volvo B7TL W139EON will enter service soon following the passing of its MOT.
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Davidc
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Post by Davidc on Jun 27, 2014 22:28:04 GMT 1
Two of them have so far been confirmed as refurbished. On my last visit to Bus & Coach in Blackburn, where the refub is taking place, a further three were in attendance.
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Davidc
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Post by Davidc on Jun 27, 2014 22:02:12 GMT 1
There have been a high number of bus fires in the last month or so.
Golden Tours double decker Express Motors ALX200 Dart Redline Mini Pointer Dart Anglian Bus Optare Solo Stagecoach London ALX400 Stagecoach Midlands Volvo Olympian First Manchester Citaro Arriva Wright Single decker.
Add to that the arson victims of the Stagecoach E400s and NatEx AlX400.
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Davidc
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Post by Davidc on Jun 1, 2014 17:03:12 GMT 1
So it's odd that the Tempo SR has apparently only sold about a dozen to TrentBarton since it was launched over two years ago. Let's hope they have more success with the MetroDecker than they have done with the Tempo! The Tempo has let itself down since it was launched in 2005, that's why no one wants a new model, because of it's bad reputation The problem with the Tempo is the popularity of the Versa. Many operators are turning towards low cost, light weight & fuel efficient buses, something the Versa fills more then Tempo is ever likely to do. The same is now being seen with Wright Bus and the increasing popularity of the Streetlite over the heavy weight Eclipse Urban. Add to that the reliability issues that have plagued the Tempo and the its clear why its failed to sell in large numbers. As for this new MetroDecker, its not really a great looker. The front flows up at to greater an angle and the first of the upper deck side windows are just to small and provide a poor line of sight for anyone sat on the front seats. I'm not a fan of lower front end design anyway and this fails to make it look any better. Not the greatest design ever and Optare are going to have to work hard to make this work.
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Davidc
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Post by Davidc on Jun 1, 2014 16:35:07 GMT 1
Visited Bradford and Leeds yesterday for the first time in a number of years. Traveling from Bamber Bridge to Bradford and return by train.
150137 Bamber Bridge - Blackburn 158843 Blackburn - Bradford Interchange 158758 Bradford Interchange - Blackburn 150270 Blackburn - Bamber Bridge
Travelled between Bradford and Leeds on the Hyperlink with the refreshed Wright Streetcars. Only my second trip on the type having made a return trip from Leeds to Seacroft back in the days of 'Ftr'.
19001 YK06AOU to Leeds 19017 YJ56EAF to Bradford
Have mixed views on the Streetcars, the seats are ok with generous legroom on the standard 2x2 seating style. The ride was ok though a few of the larger dumps and dips did unsettle the bus on occasions. The biggest down point though was the noise. The engines are working overtime to keep the bus moving, especially when moving off from a standing start. There seems to be a lack of sound proofing so the interior noise is just overwhelming at times, not helped with having some the engine bay protruding into the passenger saloon. Don't think I'll be rushing back to ride them again soon.
During my time in Leeds it was interesting to see the fall from grace some of the buses have had since I last saw many of them. Arriva's East Lancs bodied DAF's (new in 2006 for the 202/203) and Wright Eclipse Urban Volvos (new in 2008) were all looking tiered and worn, not helped by the livery some of them carry. Still plenty of older buses knocking around with First still running Renowns and ALX400s despite their continued investment in new buses.
A return visit to my university home of Huddersfield is on the cards.
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Davidc
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Post by Davidc on May 7, 2014 16:58:04 GMT 1
A shame to read of Binkys (RM 1568) departure. It was the first bus I worked as a conductor on the pervious version of the 12 (St Anne's - Lytham), had a soft spot or it since.
Looking forward to the return of the Red Rocket, another chance to get a Citaro on the route having had an Olympian on my previous trip on the route.
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Davidc
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Post by Davidc on Feb 7, 2014 15:30:13 GMT 1
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Davidc
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Post by Davidc on Oct 1, 2013 19:54:08 GMT 1
Burnley's new deckers for the X43 are ready for delivery, so will their existing Geminis be cascaded over to Yorkshire for routes like the 760 & 770/771? Its believed that the current Gemini's on the X43 are to be cascaded to Lancashire United for the X41 Lancashire Way. Though I don't know what the PVR is for the X43 & X41, not all of them may be needed.
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Davidc
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Post by Davidc on Oct 1, 2013 19:37:45 GMT 1
They are starting rather late in the year with the winter ahead. sconehead85 You seem to be thinking of the service taking people to Blackpool and that's it. Don't forget its a two way service allowing people to travel to Manchester and the Trafford Centre for shopping etc. With Christmas on the horizon its ideal for people to undertake shopping trips. Passenger levels heading to Blackpool may be slim to start with. Although the service will catch the end of the illuminations period, its doubtful that enough people will be aware of the service to allow them to make use of it before the illuminations end. I do hope that CBNW have plenty of fire extinguishers on each of the buses, you never know :-)
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Davidc
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Post by Davidc on Sept 26, 2013 21:02:14 GMT 1
Blimy, didn't think the idea of running the Manchester service was going to take off (get it :-)) How many Citaros are likely to be needed?
Aren't the 80/82 LCC services? I was just working out today how long the current Fylde Villager contracts have left before coming up for re-tendering, I was thinking next year as most contracts last 5 years and the current contracts started around 2008/9.
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Davidc
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Post by Davidc on Jul 22, 2013 17:25:57 GMT 1
Not really. The mechanical refurbishment was done by Cummins who are an engineering firm, the interiors are being done at Bus & Coach Blackburn who specialise in external & internal refurbs. Blackpool Transport have probably done it this way as it may have been the most cost effective way available to them.
I have to say, you don't seem to have much of a grasp on how bus operators and the bus industry actually work in the real world.
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Davidc
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Post by Davidc on Jul 20, 2013 21:41:47 GMT 1
It is a great series, the most recent episode about Victoria Coach station was of interest. Having visited it last year for the first time I was surprised how small it is. So little space for people to wait and for coaches to move round safely. Its clearly showing its age and is struggling to cope with the continued increase in passenger numbers.
The series has also proved a great insight into the London bus network, the night buses proving very eye opening. I think I'll stick with daytime buses in London :-)
PS, shouldn't this thread be in the canteen section of the forum?
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Davidc
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Post by Davidc on Jul 20, 2013 21:33:40 GMT 1
I thought 2013 was going to be a bit of a non-year for Blackpool Transport (once the last Bus Vannin buses were on the road). Not quite- they've got a Volvo B7 single deck demonstrator (what for- BT have got 15 already). Then I read, courtesy of PAUL TURNER'S blog that the Optare Excels needed to be brought up to DDA standrard (hold on, didn't they only recently have major overhauls?). Im surprised this work is being done for post-2015 because the Excels will be 16 years old by then. The Optare Excel 's reputation belies it name, Im surprised Blackpool want to keep them., but then its getting late in the day . The demonstrator is surprising as I thought Blackpool were out of the new bus market until 2016. As for non new buses in Blackpool in 2013 I forgot about STAGECOACH didn't I? sconehead85 Far as I know, the Optare Excels received mechanical overhauls only over the last year or so, i.e. new engines, wiring, etc etc... No work to the interiors until now. As for the demonstrator (MCV bodied Volvo B7RLE reg BF12KWT, for anyone whose interested), I agree with Kendall17. Just because an operator takes on a demonstrator bus for a short while doesn't mean they are looking to purchase anything. Bus manufactures often offer demo buses to operators for them to trial regardless of whether their in the market to purchase or not. Blackpool Transport have trailed a number of demo buses in the past, nearly all of them have led to nothing. And yes Stagecoach have 9 new Scania based Enviro400s in service on the 59 Blackburn & 61 Blackpool routes.
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Davidc
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Post by Davidc on Jul 20, 2013 20:56:24 GMT 1
ratty- As for the bus company you refer to, the boss has only himself to blame for purchasing unsuitable vehicles knowing the DDA was looming over the horizon. Its like opening a smoking café at Christmas 2006 knowing a ban was to come in the following July. CBNW could use the section above however for heritage running days in the summer. sconehead85 CBNW (most likely in line with many other small independent operators across the country) buy vehicles that are available to them and which they can afford to buy. DDA is still a number of years off yet which means none DDA compliant vehicles still have plenty of use available yet. Your persistent posting about the topic is beyond a joke. Back on topic. I've heard that the new Gemini's for the X43 will realise the existing ones for use with in other areas of Transdev, most notably Lancashire United.
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Davidc
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Post by Davidc on Mar 6, 2013 13:01:47 GMT 1
CBNW have taken ex Go-Ahead London Central Mercedes Citaro bendy bus BD52LNF for a 1 month loan. The bus will not be used in public service. Its intended use is not mentioned on the CBNW blog.
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Davidc
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Post by Davidc on Feb 21, 2013 16:29:02 GMT 1
I've just finished uploading around 340 pictures of First West Yorkshire buses to my Flickr site. Nearly all the pictures were taken between 2006-2010 and they help to show how things use to be before the mass invasion of Wright bodied vehicles (although some of these are included here). There are a number of older buses that have long since been withdrawn along with a few odd ball buses that have operated in the area. This link is to the full set containing all the picture I have uploaded. www.flickr.com/photos/davidsnwtransport/sets/72157627544760539/Please do take a look. David.c
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Davidc
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Post by Davidc on Feb 6, 2013 16:45:24 GMT 1
I dont think their going to have much trouble filling it. The VR and the open top Routemaster both proved very popular last year and often ran full, so the demand is there.
Finalised plans for the 12 are still not known. The fleet of Routemasters has reduced in recent months as some of the privately owned ones have moved on or been sold off. I would think the remaining examples will see use on the 12 as their part of the route. There's no point in running the 12 with a full fleet of standard buses all the time, that would just be a standard service in direct competition with Blackpool Transport and the Trams.
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Davidc
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Post by Davidc on Feb 5, 2013 17:01:20 GMT 1
Well I dont think anyone would have been expecting this. I certainly wasn't. cbnw.blogspot.co.uk/#!/2013/02/meet-our-oriental-big-mama.html Tri-axle MCW Metrobus, F326UJNAlso, a second ALX200 bodied Dart has joined the fleet. Former Metroline Dart DA143, T143AUA, has joined its sister DA145 which has just entered service.
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Davidc
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Post by Davidc on Nov 26, 2012 13:22:19 GMT 1
In my continued quest to upload my back catalogue of pictures onto Flickr I've recently uploaded my small collection of pictures for Centrebus. I thought you may be interested to take a look. I dont have that many as they only really got going in West Yorkshire after I had left university and moved back home to Lancashire. As a result these pictures were taken in the early days of the Halifax operation and their services to Leeds Bradford Airport. Here is the set. www.flickr.com/photos/davidsnwtransport/sets/72157629933028035/Thanks, David.c
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Davidc
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Post by Davidc on May 22, 2012 11:36:53 GMT 1
I find this topic pointless and boring too lba. London buses are RED and known thus the world over. Yet this topic, which is of no relevance to West Yorkshire, isnt locked. (ref Modifying Stagecoach fleet numbers). sconehead85 I'm sorry you feel that way, but I can say the same about your fleet number threads. We are all bus enthusiasts yet we have different areas of interest within it. People may be able to discuss some topics more then others. The Canteen section of the Forum is to allow people to talk about things that are not necessarily related to West Yorkshire (or even buses). But as is mentioned elsewhere on the forum recently, it you don't like it, don't read it. Back on topic, My original list only gave a short list of liveries (any more and I think it would have looked silly). People have mentioned liveries that I had forgotten about, or chose not to list in the poll, and its nice to have them brought to the table so to speck. I understand the howl point of having a uniformed fleet appearance across London (a bus is a bus to many people regardless of who operates it or the livery it is in). Its just a shame that operators are no longer able to apply their own livery styling to the standard London Red colour. This thread came about because I've just spent the last two weeks sorting through nearly 100 bus pictures taken in London recently. It was nice to have variations to the main London Red livery.
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Davidc
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Post by Davidc on May 15, 2012 20:57:16 GMT 1
I have read that a few operators would have continued purchasing the Olympus if Optare was still building it.
I think Optare should have continued with the Olympus until their new double decker is ready. I know they have had numerous delays with the new build but I think they might have had a few more sales for the Olympus.
The Rapta was horrid, to boxy with little design styling. Very happy that Optare didn't continue with it. The Olympus was a much better design.
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Davidc
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Post by Davidc on May 15, 2012 17:31:11 GMT 1
I've been to London a couple of times recently and its a shame to see so many buses now following TFLs requirement for buses to be 100% Red.
So I've been thinking back to the days when buses in London were a little more colorful (I period of time I missed out on, but there's plenty of pictures to look through).
I ask the question what is your favorite London livery? I have given a selection for you to choose from.
For me its London General/Central with the Dark Grey base and Yellow stripe.
David.c
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Davidc
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Post by Davidc on May 15, 2012 17:04:56 GMT 1
I can't see any major bus operator taking on such a large scale overhaul of their fleet numbering system. Not only would it be very time consuming but it would also be very expensive.
When Rotala took on Preston Bus, following the forced sale by Stagecoach, they continued to use the 5 digit fleet numbers Stagecoach had allocated because of the time and money involved in changing them all over. The fleet has now been integrated into the Rotala national fleet numbering system, but that took place nearly a year ofter their takeover.
There's more to it then just changing a few numbers. The numbers carried on the buses would have to be changed, ether re-painted or re-vinyled. All paper work would have to be amended (fuel logs, maintenance rotors/logs, accident reports etc...). Computers play a major role in modern bus operations (GPS tracking for example) and these would have to be re-programed to allow the systems to recognise the new fleet numbers.
Its all time and money that would be better spent elsewhere.
David.c
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Davidc
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Post by Davidc on Apr 10, 2012 21:38:05 GMT 1
What about the genuine people actually inside waiting for a bus? Of its late or they missed a bus then have to listen for ages and ages......! Although I don't mind a bit of music while waiting. As far as I know the classical music is only being played outside the entrances, you can't hear it inside (unless your there late night when its quite). Inside Huddersfield bus station they play music over the PA system but it isn't intrusive, its usually general pop music.
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Davidc
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Post by Davidc on Mar 16, 2012 18:01:36 GMT 1
I think it should be allowed in all depots as long as you're sensible, wear a hi vis & have someone to take you around. So all bus companies and operators should now employ a person at every depot just to show bus enthusiasts around. I would think people at bus depots would have better things to do with their time, say running a bus company for example?
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