Davidc
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Post by Davidc on Jan 2, 2009 18:33:46 GMT 1
Interesting news. My brother works for Stagecoach. Will see if he has heard anything when he gets home from work tonight.
He has always said that it would be difficult for any other company to take over as it would put them into direct competition with Stagecoach. The only way for this not to happen would for Stagecoach to take over. Will have to see what happens but it would be a shame to loose Preston Bus.
David.c
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Davidc
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Post by Davidc on Dec 23, 2008 22:01:28 GMT 1
So has any President come to Lancashire United? I sore an unbranded Coastliner liveried President in Preston the other night working the 152 to Burnley. I'am just getting a little confused with this and the other that has gone to Harrogate. I don't really know where to post this.
David.c
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Davidc
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Post by Davidc on Dec 21, 2008 17:51:23 GMT 1
Looking at the routemaster the top link. The pole seems to be in the way if a wheel chair is to get on. Thought this was supposed to be low floor easy access bus! I take you mean the pole on the rear platform. If so then this is the entrance for non wheelchair passengers. Looking at the pictures I think the door for wheelchair passengers is about half way down the side of the bus. You can see the white line along the bottom of the bus in the 3rd of the 4 pictures on that page (one on the black background). I assume this is the second entrance. But for me I would definitely go for the second design. It looks really good would look the part on the streets of London. David.c
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Davidc
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Post by Davidc on Nov 13, 2008 13:59:59 GMT 1
I take it the character names are carried above the doors like on most other Arrive deckers?
I do like the idea of having a picture of the character on the front upper deck window.
David.
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Davidc
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Post by Davidc on Nov 8, 2008 20:59:24 GMT 1
I was lucky enough to be able to attend the EuroBus Expo and see these vehicles in the flesh. I have to say the Solo+ isn't great. Its slab sided and boxy, its lost all the curves and lines of the previous Solos. The Rapta looks good, the back is a little boxy like the Solo+ but the front really looks good.
Wasn't the Solo SR deigned as a top of the range Solo? Something a little more then the standard Solo. I think the Solo+ is down as a replacement for the current Solo but this will take a while which means Optare will sell all three styles of Solo for a while.
I understand the styling of the Solo+ and the Rapta will be rolled out for the rest of the Optare range. The Tempo and the Versa getting a similar look. Its Optare trying to get a range of vehicles that they can have as there's instead of having the mix of Optare and Darwin designs they have at present.
David.c
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Davidc
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Post by Davidc on Oct 3, 2008 10:14:04 GMT 1
I hope people don’t mind me posting this here but I want to share with you the situation I have recently gone through while going about my hobby.
It is often reported about the continual harassment bus enthusiasts have to endure when undertaking our simple and harmless hobby. Police and Security personnel stop and search us under various parts of the terrorism act for doing something that courses no harm to any body. My problem here, however, lies with the employees of the buses that we are photographing. All though many do not seem to mind us going about our hobby some take it in them to deal with us as if we are nothing.
I recently had the misfortune to come across a driver who took it into his own hands to deal with me and my harmless bus photography. During a break from work I headed over to Preston railway station to see the rail replacement coaches that had been laid on due to problems on the railway. On arrival I began to take pictures of these and all was going well till I got to a line of 5 coaches from the same fleet. They where moving slowly into the car park so I took a picture of each one as they passed me. The driver of the last coach took some disliking to my actions and took it upon him self to tell me how he felt, leaving his coach blocking the car park in the process.
His attitude towards me was unpleasant and aggressive from the start and he immediately demanded that I delete the picture from my camera. To this I refused as the camera and picture where property to my self and that he had no right to tell me what to do, more so in the manner that he did. This did little to re-leave the situation so he began to try and take the camera from my hand so that he could delete it himself. My reaction was to hold on and demand him to stop but he became more forceful so I relented and let him have it. To no surprise he had no clue what to do so I got it back and I deleted the picture, the driver releasing me from this ordeal on seeing this happen.
Although the picture may have gone I was still able to get the registration of the coach, fleet name and even the telephone number on the rear. I immediately returned to work from where I contacted the British Transport Police giving them full details of what had happened. They are now dealing with the situation.
I want to name and shame the company who employ this driver as I feel other people should be aware of what could happen. Atlantic Travel is the operator in question; no doubt some people on here will have heard of them or their previous operating names. They are based in Bolton and seem to have a bit of a reputation regarding bus work as they had their licence revoked when operating under a different name a few years back.
I have posted this not for people to take sides or feel sorry for me but to show what can happen if things go wrong. Although this ordeal has left me shaken, I am undeterred to let this spoil my enthusiasm for the bus industry. And all I say to others is to watch out, not every one is happy with our hobby.
David.c
P.S: I have posted this on other forums as I want people to be aware of the hidden dangers that lurk with in our hobby and for them to take care next time they are out and about photographing buses.
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Davidc
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Post by Davidc on Oct 3, 2008 10:01:47 GMT 1
Thought I would quote this post that was posted at the start of the thread as the link shows you the bridge where the Wakefield line crosses the Huddersfield line. I am starting to get a little peed off with this bridge thing as it’s a bit obvious now especially as its been explained so many times. As for the Bradford line, there are of course two lines to Bradford. So I guess some people have been thinking of the wrong one. There’s the line to Bradford Interchange and the line towards Skipton that also links to Bradford Forster Square. I think the only way of us resolving the issue would be for all of us to be on the train with you to see what you’re seeing and then explaining it as we pass through the area. David.c
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Davidc
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Post by Davidc on Oct 2, 2008 16:31:10 GMT 1
Any chance of seeing the picture or is that coming later?
David.c
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Davidc
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Post by Davidc on Oct 2, 2008 16:24:32 GMT 1
Isn’t there one in the New Pudsey area of Leeds? It’s often advertised in BUSES magazine. There's a model shop in Leeds "The Model Zone", details: www.modelzone.co.uk/store-leeds.htmThis is expensive though as they sell things at the manufactures recommended retail price. That’s all I know. Not much help but it’s a start and I am sure some people can build on/add to what I've said. David.c
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Davidc
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Post by Davidc on Oct 2, 2008 16:04:37 GMT 1
The bridge this is very simple really. As you depart Leeds heading for Manchester you will (eventually) have the line to London on the right (facing direction of travel). This line rises up and then crosses over the Huddersfield line by means of an over bridge. The lines do not come into contact with each other in doing this. A train for London and a train for Manchester can leave from platforms 6 and 16 respectively and not get in the way of each other. I don’t know how else it can be explained. As for the train I have no idea, there’s no National Express trains timetabled to head to Bradford till later in the evening. The 17.36 arrival from London Kings Cross would not from the 17.40 back to London as that’s to tight a turn round. After the 17.40 departure for London there isn’t a National Express departure till 18.04 if not more (live departure board doesn’t go any further at time of posting). You really are giving us a work out with this one David.c
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Davidc
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Post by Davidc on Oct 1, 2008 16:40:11 GMT 1
Right so let me get this straight. You are on a TPX service heading in the Manchester direction at 17.40 and its running parallel with a National Express service which is leaving at the same time.
If this is so then according to the National Rail web site there are two departures at 17.40. One is a TPX service for Manchester Piccadilly, the other is a National Express service heading for London Kings Cross. Details off the web site:
London Kings Cross 17:40 Starts here National Express East Coast Manchester Piccadilly 17:40 No report First TransPennine Express
Is this what you are seeing each time? They can depart at the same time and not get each others way, as (as already stated many times here) the line to Wakefield passes over the line to Huddersfield via a bridge. I carnt see the National Express service shunting between platforms and if it was ECS where would it be going? The depot is East of Leeds station.
Any closer yet to solving this?
David.c
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Davidc
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Post by Davidc on Sept 26, 2008 14:19:52 GMT 1
The only North bound Leeds - Bradford Forster Sq National Express service arrives at Leeds at 19.53 getting to Bradford at 2022. All other trains will be Northern operated. So the train you sore could possably have been a Kings Cross service or an ECS working.
I think there are 6 different lines on departure from Leeds in a West bound direction leading to. Castleford, Huddersfield, Wakefield Westgate, Bradford Interchange, Skipton and Harrogate.
David.c
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Davidc
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Post by Davidc on Sept 26, 2008 13:59:25 GMT 1
How did you guess? :-) Easy I know. Yep am on the Transport and Logistics Management course at Huddersfield Uni and currently working for The TAS Partnership for my work placement year.
We have just sent out 3,200 questionnaires to Northern Ireland for the new 60+smart pass concessionary fares bus pass that’s being introduced. Que lots of Irish people calling me asking what they have to do even though it tells them on the form.
David.c
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Davidc
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Post by Davidc on Sept 24, 2008 22:03:57 GMT 1
Oh the joys of surveys.
I am currently working for a specialist public transport consultancy based in Preston for my work placement year as part of the course I am on at uni. We are often contracted to undertake surveys and questionnaires about all sorts of transport related subjects. A similar company could have been behind this particular one working with the council and Metro.
David.c
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Davidc
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Post by Davidc on Aug 30, 2008 15:33:18 GMT 1
First do have Wright Bus as their main supplier for buses so they are bound to have lots working in the bigger fleets.
Stagecoach have Alexander Dennis and Optare as their main supplier. Is only Arriva that don't seem to have a main supplier (that I know of). They have bought different types of buses over the years.
This doesn't stop any of the companies purchasing other types of bus, it just depends on what requirements they are after.
As for step entrance buses then I think its the end of the line for a lot of areas and fleets. They will be still around with the independents and smaller fleets though.
David.c
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Davidc
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Post by Davidc on Aug 26, 2008 13:55:43 GMT 1
Suites me ok. I am from the North West (Bamber Bridge just out side Preston) I joined this forum as I am a student at Huddersfield University but I am not going to be there for ever so its going to be nice to be able to chat about things in the North West.
David.c
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Davidc
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Post by Davidc on Aug 15, 2008 13:29:33 GMT 1
Royales are used quite a bit on the Storthes Hall service in Huddersfield. I often wondered what the ball bearings were as they seemed to run all round the roof. And as for water getting in it was often like having two mini rivers on the top deck on really wet days, one down ether side of the floor which then sloshed all over the place when ever a corner was taken. Could never put bags on the floor which was a bit hard for Art Students who often had multiple bags and boxes with them.
Its the only down side to such a decent bus.
David.c
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Davidc
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Post by Davidc on Jul 31, 2008 14:01:51 GMT 1
Very nice indeed Adam. That is one of the best looking Lynxs I have seen for a while.
Wouldn’t mind owning one of my own one day, I have my eye on two possible candidates. I know it would take a lot to get it into a decent condition (having followed the progress of yours) but the dream is still there.
David.c
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Davidc
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Post by Davidc on Jul 31, 2008 13:35:00 GMT 1
That is one advantage of having two operations run by the same company. Being able to swap and change buses around at short or long term notice.
Don’t think the passengers would be happy in getting a Sprite in place of the normal Centro.
David.c
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Davidc
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Post by Davidc on Jun 28, 2008 0:04:26 GMT 1
I don't know which is the other break down that's being talked about now. I know a First bus single decker failed in the center of Huddersfield last year. Plaxton Verde 60951 was the bus: davidsnonrailwaypics.fotopic.net/p46140115.htmlBoth cases are similar. The First bus had stopped at traffic lights and the Stagecoach bus had stopped to allow buses to pull out from the bus stops it was next to. Then when they tried to set off they both lost drive leaving them stranded in the middle of the road. Nether bus blocked the road completely and traffic was able to pass by, though buses had to take to the pavement. No one knows when a bus is going to break down. Its obvious that if the buses are maintained to a decent standard then the chances of a break down are reduced. It was the second break down for the Stagecoach bus in less then a week and with a price tag of £800 to get the bus back to Barnsley you would think they would keep the buses properly maintained. David.c
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Davidc
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Post by Davidc on Jun 26, 2008 23:11:49 GMT 1
If that's the case then how are we suppose to report break downs then?
I don't want to get into an argument here, that's not what forums are for, but I feel I should reply as you are relating to my post.
People post in different ways, that's the way things are. I just thought it would be of interest for other people to see what goes into the recovery of a broken down bus. Sorry if put it down in a way in which you don't approve.
And on the spelling yes there is a spell check, in fact I have two to use. But saying little errors are obvious isn't so for every one. Not every one is good at spelling and know the correct spelling for the correct use of certain words like howl and whole.
I am saying no more on this matter.
David.c
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Davidc
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Post by Davidc on Jun 26, 2008 20:12:13 GMT 1
There's an article in the new issue of Bus&Coach Buyer about this company ceasing trading. Its all happened due to the rise in fuel and after two acts of vandalism and theft at the company's premises.
The first incident sore every window in the 14 vehicle fleet broken and fire extinguishers set off. While the second incident, a week after the first, sore the company's supply of diesel stolen. The company's insurance did not cover the vandalism.
Its a shame that such incidents should force a company to stop trading. They are having to do so through no fault of their own.
David.c
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Davidc
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Post by Davidc on Jun 26, 2008 19:49:09 GMT 1
Stagecoach 39623 broke down in the center of Huddersfield today while working the 20 to Barnsley. It was partly blocking the road meaning all passing buses had to use the pavement to pass. Had the bus been any further back it would have blocked the road completely and any further forward and it would have been a lot better for the traffic to pass. I found the bus just after it had broken down so I was able to see the howl operation to recover it. I have put all my shots of the recovery on to my fotopic site: davidsnonrailwaypics.fotopic.net/c1535018.htmlThe howl ordeal from the bus breaking down to the recovery truck towing it away took 3 hours 35 mins. David.c
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Davidc
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Post by Davidc on Jun 25, 2008 15:15:37 GMT 1
ALX300 461 was at Huddersfield early this afternoon working the 229 to Leeds. davidsnonrailwaypics.fotopic.net/p51498229.htmlI didn't like the livery/bus combination when I first sore the pics in the youtube video linked above. But having seen it for my self it doesnt look to bad. The only niggle for me is that the cream swoop should be a little further back along the bus. David.c
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Davidc
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Post by Davidc on Jun 18, 2008 16:49:43 GMT 1
Sorry yeh I ment 719-724. Been working with to many numbers recently.
I do wounder how long its going to be till the Centros gain any form of route branding. They are for the 80-84 set of routes but I have seen them working on the 262 and 231/232 routes. Are we likely to see these buses carrying route branding yet working on the wrong routes?
David.c
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