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Post by biroguy on Nov 18, 2017 9:08:12 GMT 1
It appears delivery of the new Streetdecks will begin soon as photo`s are now appearing of them on flickr. Will they be stored somewhere and then launched en masse in February?
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Post by biroguy on Nov 7, 2017 8:25:41 GMT 1
I would imagine delivery of the new Streetdecks for Hunslet should begin shortly as all 34 need to be in traffic next month. Is it December 3rd for the revamped routes 1 and 6?
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Post by biroguy on Nov 7, 2017 8:22:51 GMT 1
As a lifelong supporter of getting people back onto trains I`m dismayed about this dispute and the approach Arriva are taking not only against their staff but also their passengers. I was at the launch of the new "Arriva Trains North" and it was impressive, putting aside the new trains on order, the journey so far has been painful. Never a week goes by that there isn`t negative comments about "Arriva Northern" in the press. The aggressive approach used on people queuing to buy tickets at Leeds Station! Our new ticket machine at Headingley had crashed within 3 days!
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Post by biroguy on Oct 30, 2017 10:14:26 GMT 1
Many thanks for that.
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Post by biroguy on Oct 30, 2017 9:34:30 GMT 1
My friend wants to know where First Bradford 31790 came from, with its 53 reg, it predates native B7`s that only appeared from the 04 reg. Can anyone shed light on this?
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Post by biroguy on Oct 5, 2017 23:20:59 GMT 1
Any truth in the rumour Leeds Park and ride livery is to change to allover red with green leaves, it appears the London Green Leaves livery has made a big impression.
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Post by biroguy on Sept 29, 2017 22:39:45 GMT 1
I see First Leeds is to adopt a new local livery of two tone green with a red stripe, looks very striking. The first 34 Streetdecks will introduce the livery in December on routes 1 and 6. I gather First is to abandon its corporate colours across the country and go back to local identities based on traditional colour schemes.
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Post by biroguy on Aug 6, 2017 20:12:23 GMT 1
This is a stop gap until the first of the 284 new double-deckers arrive, beginning with routes 1 and 6, first 34 should arrive Sept/Oct. The Streetlites aren't a stopgap, they are to replace some of the flowline Scanias and the B6s. As a temporary measure Bramley and Bradford will provide DDs to Hunslet to backfill for the DDs released. These will return when new buses arrive, but delivery is not as soon as Sept/Oct. Yes that`s what I was meaning by "stopgap" at Hunslet Park, my mistake. The first Streetdecks will appear in the autumn according to First Leeds sources and should go onto the A660 first.
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Post by biroguy on Aug 6, 2017 20:07:52 GMT 1
Arriva have a very good record of running trains given their owner is DB. There is an ongoing shortage of units caused by the refurb programme and combined with the age of the fleet it does put a lot of pressure on their limited resources. To be honest I use Northern a lot and can't really notice the difference between Serco/Abellio and Arriva My views are based on going to the station and waiting for the train to arrive, the same age profile trains and associated issues were there prior to April 2016. I sat through Alex Hynes glowing and impressive lecture on where Northern was heading under Arriva at the Rail Conference in Manchester last November, so my expectations are high. He has since left the company sadly and will be missed, I then attended a "Northern rail- the Future" meeting in April.My concerns over the refurbs are justified as 70% of northern services will use current or cascaded rolling stock for the next decade at least. 150`s will be running for years on most of our routes along with 158`s. I expected better quality refurbs to be honest.
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Post by biroguy on Aug 6, 2017 8:07:09 GMT 1
This is a stop gap until the first of the 284 new double-deckers arrive, beginning with routes 1 and 6, first 34 should arrive Sept/Oct.
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Post by biroguy on Aug 6, 2017 8:00:34 GMT 1
What trains have got shorter? Northern's fleet has increased with the introduction of further 319s which in turn has allowed other services to receive an increase in capacity. The strikes would have happened irrespective of the operator as the issue lies with the DfT and the spec of the franchise. And has reliability really decreased? Looking at the PPM figures it is roughly the same as old Northern, with the biggest incident affecting services so far this year being the Manchester attack - again something which would have occurred whoever had control of the franchise. I agree the refurbs could be better, but the latest Passenger Focus survey shows Northern's satisfaction has increased, so I don't think the passenger experience has gone downhill My judgement is based on personal experience! I use Northern trains all the time and the service has got worse, punctuality has gone down hill and the trains are more often than not shorter. Passenger focus Surveys don`t reflect my personal experience! Hopefully things will pick up soon, I actually had high hopes that Arriva might get it right this time, after all their track record on running trains isn`t that great is it?
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Post by biroguy on Jul 31, 2017 8:47:54 GMT 1
I think many of us are disappointed at just how banal the Arriva Northern refurbs are, I sincerely hope the spec is higher on the new rolling stock. After all the promises made last year when they took over, the actual passenger experience has gone down hill with a collapse in staff morale, strikes, unreliability, shorter trains. Other than put the fares up, Arriva have delivered nothing.
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Post by biroguy on Jul 23, 2017 7:58:26 GMT 1
Ooh exciting! I imagine more MMCs. Can't imagine them buying more streetdecks. It would be cool if they went with the Enviro 400 City as the new standard decker in a unique Leeds livery rather than olympia. Just my thoughts but it would be better than just having skylines. Yes the E400 city with a livery unique to Leeds would be my option as well, or at least full coloured fronts. Should be looking at Nottingham for inspiration rather than the ridiculously bland 'Pulse' branding that means less than nothing to most bus users. My sentiments exactly but alas unlikely, there could be a missed oppourtunity here. Leeds should have its own identity on buses.
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Post by biroguy on Jul 23, 2017 7:55:18 GMT 1
The first of the new fleet of 284 buses due for Leeds should be on routes 1 and 6 in the autumn, I`m unable to announce the vehicle type as yet due to First not publicly announcing it. Do you know how many are coming this year? Is it just enough to cover the PVR of the 1 and 6? I gather these new buses will appear in small batches rather than a huge influx. There`s an all electric British double-decker coming on trial shortly, it will run on park and ride services for a limited period. The Euro6 re-engine programme for Leeds doesn`t mention any single-deckers , and I believe the 284 new buses are double-deck.
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Post by biroguy on Jul 22, 2017 15:22:28 GMT 1
The first of the new fleet of 284 buses due for Leeds should be on routes 1 and 6 in the autumn, I`m unable to announce the vehicle type as yet due to First not publicly announcing it.
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Post by biroguy on Jul 12, 2017 14:20:39 GMT 1
Just seen one of the new "Flying Tiger" enviro`s in service, very impressive!
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Post by biroguy on Jul 4, 2017 9:55:28 GMT 1
Scania 61035 clipped the scaffolding in Kirkgate yesterday, damaged rear side panels. thankfully scaffolding didn`t collapse, could have been a serious incident.
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Post by biroguy on Jul 2, 2017 8:52:34 GMT 1
Moving the 97 off Otley Road is a bad idea, it denies people in Yeadon/Guiseley direct links to Hyde Park/University also Cardigan Road is snarled up with traffic and has convoys of 56`s already. Extra bus lanes on the A660 would speed up the 97 and these are being looked at. Only time Cardigan Road is a problem is when the Rugby is on. For which I always follow the 56 route in the car as it's quicker. Not quite, I use Cardigan road to get to and from work and the queues of traffic can be horrendous, when the students return in September it is gridlocked in the peaks, this results in the 56 often bunching with three turning up at once. The rugby and cricket adds to the problem, if I lived in Guiseley I`d ditch the 97 /17 if it used this new route. Queenswood Drive is full of traffic in the peaks with no bus priority whatsoever, the 97 currently uses bus lanes from West Park to Headingley to speed its journey. I tried catching the 19 home from work to Headingley and it took ages to get up Cardigan road.
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Post by biroguy on Jun 30, 2017 10:06:31 GMT 1
Moving the 97 off Otley Road is a bad idea, it denies people in Yeadon/Guiseley direct links to Hyde Park/University also Cardigan Road is snarled up with traffic and has convoys of 56`s already. Extra bus lanes on the A660 would speed up the 97 and these are being looked at.
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Post by biroguy on Jun 8, 2017 8:03:56 GMT 1
As someone over six foot, the extra legroom on a pacer was a huge bonus, the cushions could be softer I agree.
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Post by biroguy on Jun 7, 2017 19:59:46 GMT 1
I had the pleasure of travelling on the "Porterbrook 144E Evolution" pacer this morning and I have to say I was impressed, the seating allows more legroom, the relationship to the windows, general ambience made for a rather nice journey. So much nicer than the "Deafening Sprinters", it may have less wheels but who cares, it was quiet and comfortable.
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Post by biroguy on Mar 24, 2017 23:31:16 GMT 1
Lot`s of singledeckers appearing on routes 1 and 6 of late, the 2009 B9`s seem to be breaking down a lot.
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FTR Use
Mar 24, 2017 23:29:13 GMT 1
Post by biroguy on Mar 24, 2017 23:29:13 GMT 1
For some reason First West Yorkshire FTR's 19014/19020 are now back at Leeds (Bramley Garage) leaving just both 19012 & 19022 at Cherry Row. Should be on their way to Barnsley soon sadly.
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Post by biroguy on Mar 24, 2017 23:27:40 GMT 1
Well I was informed that the bar code scanners are now working at the Leeds Station Ticket Barriers, lot`s of stressed people with paper tickets and apps on their phones, neither seemed to work! Staff on the barriers say it`s a disaster. Arriva are not delivering a better service.
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Post by biroguy on Mar 13, 2017 23:50:12 GMT 1
There`s a talk tomorrow night, 6pm at Oxford Place Chapel, next to Leeds Town Hall, "Pacergeddon" The future of Arriva Rail north. It`s free to attend, there will be a representative from Arriva Rail North talking about their future plans.
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