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Post by Burnside on Jun 15, 2019 13:43:14 GMT 1
Tuesday (10th June):
07:07 LNER Keighley - Leeds
07:40 TPE Leeds to Huddersfield (Train should have continued to Manchester Piccadilly, but was terminating at Stalybridge due to emergency engineering works
308(FWY) Huddersfield - Holmfirth (Lovely rural run from Honley onwards!)
335(Stotts) Holmfirth - Slaithwaite (Driver put this short, slim Solo through it's paces. Surprisingly nippy and manoeuvrable little bus!)
394(Stotts) Slaithwaite - Huddersfield
X63(FWY) Huddersfield - Bradford - Might have been 15 years old, but the B7tl could still shift. Nicer engine noise than a B9TL too)
656(Tiger) Bradford - Shipley
676(TLC) Shipley - Saltaire
662(KBC) Saltaire - Bingley
K19(KBC) Bingley - Keighley
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Post by driver6540 on Jul 20, 2019 23:17:11 GMT 1
Departing for Edinburgh monday am for a 4 day break. Will get the chance to "bash" the new XLB's for the first time, I'm looking forward to it and if anyone's interested, will be delighted to report my findings.
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Post by driver6540 on Aug 6, 2019 22:08:35 GMT 1
Further to my above post, had a delightful time in one of my favorite cities and very much mission accomplished with regards to sampling the buses i wanted to. In total i rode 8 different XLB's, all on route 11 (2 of these being the complete 1hr 15min diagram from Ocean Terminal at Leith to Hyvots Bank at Gilmerton) although brand new these proved to be every bit as good to ride on as they look. The build quality on these buses is excellent with no evidence of any rattles, bangs or creaks despite a less than perfect road surface for most of the route, the legroom on the upper saloon is noticeably less than the Wright Gemini 3's Lothian have, but its still adequate. Im going back up there late November so i'll see how they are faring with a few more miles on their back. I also rode an East Coast B8RLE/Eclipse (long thing) from the west end to the old town, not on it long but the seats seemed a trifle hard and uncomfortable and it rattled a fair bit, a bit disappointing given it's less than 2yr's old. Other buses ridden were a 55reg B7TL/Gemini from Haymarket to Princes St. Only 3 stops but the condition and smooth ride belies their age. Seems sad to think all Lothian's B7TL/Gemini's "55/56" reg will be withdrawn from public service by the end of Jan 2020. I rode 2 B5TL/Gemini 3's on route 26 to the zoo and back, both 67 plate's and both giving a hard crashy ride, further evidence that Wright's build quality has deterioated since the original Gemini's. also had a ride on a recently refurbished Ex-Hybrid E400 on route 10 from Western Harbour to Princess St, despite being a 10 plate this bus felt (and smelt) like brand new. I rode one of the recently introduced ex-TFL B9TL/Gemini's (dual-doored) on route 4 to Hillend, alighting at Fairmilehead. If it wasn't for the fact this bus carried 11 plate's, most people would think they were riding on a brand new bus, such is the quality of Lothian's refurbishment's, this bus had a far superior ride to Gemini 3's i mentioned earlier. Another ride was on the 16 plate B5TL/Gemini open-top Edinburgh Bus Tour (green/yellow), but due to lots of slow moving heavily congested traffic and the searing heat beating down on the top deck (lower saloon was full), i cant say i enjoyed this ride at all. Anyway, already looking forward to returning in late November, when there should be even more additions to the fleet to try!
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Post by MetrolineGA1511 on Oct 12, 2019 22:28:10 GMT 1
Sheffield & Rotherham on Saturday September 28th, aside from trains to/from Sheffield, as follows:
X6 Wickersley - Stagecoach refurb Scania 28678 X10 Meadowhall - First Steel Link Streetdeck 35131 X78 Rotherham - First Volvo B9TL 37230 139 Rotherham via Kimberworth Park - First ex-Bolton Eclipse 69525 PSS Rotherham Parkgate - HCT Powells Trident 81 Supertram Castle Street - 399 203 Supertram Herdings Park - 108 11 Sheffield - Hybrid Streetdecks 35309/18 (following enforced disembarkation) 82 Hillsborough - First Volvo B7TL - President 32309 135 High Green - First Volvo B7TL - ALX400 31129 1 Sheffield - Stagecoach Steetlite 39113
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Post by MetrolineGA1511 on Dec 29, 2019 12:18:25 GMT 1
Leeds yesterday, Saturday December 28th. National Express (Selwyns) 19-reg Levante coach to Leeds but Northern class 195/1 back to Manchester Victoria, with local itin as follows:
60 Kirkstall - Transdev Versa 275 49 Leeds - First StreetDeck 35613 14 Pudsey - First Volvo B9TL 37680 81 Leeds - CT Plus Leeds E200-MMC SN16OVP 200 White Rose Centre - Arriva (refurb) Eclipse 1110 9 Leadwell Lane - Squarepeg E200-MMC YX68UKY 110 Leeds - Arriva Sapphire StreetDeck 1573 64 Cross Gates - Connexions Scania Omnicity saloon YN56NVF 163 Leeds - Arriva Sapphire E400-MMC 1965
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Post by MetrolineGA1511 on Sept 20, 2020 8:36:06 GMT 1
The Yorkshire coast on Thursday September 17th, York on Friday 18th and Leeds & Wakefield yesterday, Saturday 19th.
York on Friday was
7 Designer Outlet - First Electric Metrodecker 39507 415 York - Arriva Sapphire Gemini 1505 24 Acomb - Transdev York & Country mini Enviro 200-MMC 753 16 York - Connexions Solo SR KJ67GGO 9 Monks Cross - First Electric Versa 49909 12 York - First Streetlite 47480 2a Rawcliffe Bar - First refurbished Mercedes Citaro bendi 11101 19 York - Reliance Volvo B10BLE-Wright 10 (formerly Transdev Keighley) 13 New Earswick - Connexions Scania-Solar YK05WKJ (formerly First/Stagecoach Chester & Wirral) 1 York Blossom Street - First Volvo B9TL - Wright Gemini 37679
Northern to Leeds - refurbished 158 869
Leeds & Wakefield yesterday was
Northern Horsforth - refurbished 170 476
6 Headingley Arndale Centre - First Streetdeck 35292 X84 Otley - First Enviro 400-MMC 33483 965 Otley via Wharfedale Hospital - Transdev Keighley mini Dart 720 62 Leeds Bradford Airport - Transdev Keighley Eclipse 1843 A1 Leeds - Transdev Flyer refurbished Versa 277
Northern Wakefield Westgate - 331 103 (I rode this in Manchester in February!)
187 Castleford - Arriva Commander 1414 159 Castleford via Ferry Fryston - Arriva refurbished Optare Tempo 1312 125 Wakefield - Ross Travel Solo SR YJ15AXS 427 Bradford - Arriva Volvo B9TL - Olympus 1800
Northern Manchester Victoria - Northern 195 010 (and home from there)
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Post by Deleted on Apr 17, 2021 23:37:07 GMT 1
Today 17th April 2021 my trip with DLSSpotter
Arriva Yorkshire Volvo B5LH Wright Eclipse Gemini 2 1708 on the 425 to Wakefield from Drighlington Arriva Yorkshire Pulsar 1453 on 187 to Altofts from Wakefield Arriva Yorkshire Pulsar 1452 on 187 to Cas from Altofts Arriva Yorkshire Optare Versa 794 on 168 to Leeds from Cas Arriva Yorkshire Lowlander 1609 on 118 to Wakefield from Leeds Arriva Yorkshire Streetdeck 1577 on 110 from Wakefield to Asda Arriva Yorkshire B5LH Gemini 2 1708 on 108 from Asda to Wakefield Arriva Yorkshire VDL DB300 Gemini 2 1509 on 127 from Wakefield to Dewsbury Arriva Yorkshire Enviro 400 1904 on 268 from Dewsbury to Bradford Arriva Yorkshire B5LH Gemini 2 1706 on 425 from Bradford to Drighlington
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Post by MetrolineGA1511 on Apr 25, 2021 14:31:28 GMT 1
Today 17th April 2021 my trip with DLSSpotter Arriva Yorkshire Volvo B5LH Wright Eclipse Gemini 2 1708 on the 425 to Wakefield from Drighlington Arriva Yorkshire Pulsar 1453 on 187 to Altofts from Wakefield Arriva Yorkshire Pulsar 1452 on 187 to Cas from Altofts Arriva Yorkshire Optare Versa 794 on 168 to Leeds from Cas Arriva Yorkshire Lowlander 1609 on 118 to Wakefield from Leeds Arriva Yorkshire Streetdeck 1577 on 110 from Wakefield to Asda Arriva Yorkshire B5LH Gemini 2 1708 on 108 from Asda to Wakefield Arriva Yorkshire VDL DB300 Gemini 2 1509 on 127 from Wakefield to Dewsbury Arriva Yorkshire Enviro 400 1904 on 268 from Dewsbury to Bradford Arriva Yorkshire B5LH Gemini 2 1706 on 425 from Bradford to Drighlington In 2012 I had a day on just Arriva buses in the area. I am encouraged avout the Versa on route 168. I understand they should be the regular allocation for routes 167 & 168.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 25, 2021 14:45:01 GMT 1
Today 17th April 2021 my trip with DLSSpotter Arriva Yorkshire Volvo B5LH Wright Eclipse Gemini 2 1708 on the 425 to Wakefield from Drighlington Arriva Yorkshire Pulsar 1453 on 187 to Altofts from Wakefield Arriva Yorkshire Pulsar 1452 on 187 to Cas from Altofts Arriva Yorkshire Optare Versa 794 on 168 to Leeds from Cas Arriva Yorkshire Lowlander 1609 on 118 to Wakefield from Leeds Arriva Yorkshire Streetdeck 1577 on 110 from Wakefield to Asda Arriva Yorkshire B5LH Gemini 2 1708 on 108 from Asda to Wakefield Arriva Yorkshire VDL DB300 Gemini 2 1509 on 127 from Wakefield to Dewsbury Arriva Yorkshire Enviro 400 1904 on 268 from Dewsbury to Bradford Arriva Yorkshire B5LH Gemini 2 1706 on 425 from Bradford to Drighlington In 2012 I had a day on just Arriva buses in the area. I am encouraged avout the Versa on route 168. I understand they should be the regular allocation for routes 167 & 168. Yes. 167/168 are Versas allocations with the 5th one allocated to the 184 or /156/159
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Post by Deleted on Apr 25, 2021 14:49:21 GMT 1
Today 17th April 2021 my trip with DLSSpotter Arriva Yorkshire Volvo B5LH Wright Eclipse Gemini 2 1708 on the 425 to Wakefield from Drighlington Arriva Yorkshire Pulsar 1453 on 187 to Altofts from Wakefield Arriva Yorkshire Pulsar 1452 on 187 to Cas from Altofts Arriva Yorkshire Optare Versa 794 on 168 to Leeds from Cas Arriva Yorkshire Lowlander 1609 on 118 to Wakefield from Leeds Arriva Yorkshire Streetdeck 1577 on 110 from Wakefield to Asda Arriva Yorkshire B5LH Gemini 2 1708 on 108 from Asda to Wakefield Arriva Yorkshire VDL DB300 Gemini 2 1509 on 127 from Wakefield to Dewsbury Arriva Yorkshire Enviro 400 1904 on 268 from Dewsbury to Bradford Arriva Yorkshire B5LH Gemini 2 1706 on 425 from Bradford to Drighlington In 2012 I had a day on just Arriva buses in the area. I am encouraged avout the Versa on route 168. I understand they should be the regular allocation for routes 167 & 168. I found the versas underwhelming. I found them uncomfortable and the ride was okay. The Pulsars are much better than the Versas.
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Post by MetrolineGA1511 on Apr 25, 2021 15:05:45 GMT 1
In 2012 I had a day on just Arriva buses in the area. I am encouraged avout the Versa on route 168. I understand they should be the regular allocation for routes 167 & 168. I found the versas underwhelming. I found them uncomfortable and the ride was okay. The Pulsars are much better than the Versas. Although Pulsars are more mainstream within Arriva and of course a very similar bodywork to the widespread Eclipse, they are more spacious and thus can be more comfortable than Versas.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 29, 2021 19:08:47 GMT 1
I found the versas underwhelming. I found them uncomfortable and the ride was okay. The Pulsars are much better than the Versas. Although Pulsars are more mainstream within Arriva and of course a very similar bodywork to the widespread Eclipse, they are more spacious and thus can be more comfortable than Versas. I've been on some of Stagecoach Barnsley's singles and oh boy they are very very uncomfortable. Physically painful on these buses hardly any leg room.
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Post by stevieinselby on Jun 9, 2021 21:39:52 GMT 1
A couple of good days out recently:
Sunday Dalesbus
822/875 from Poppleton to Hawes 856 from Hawes to Leyburn 825 from Leyburn to Poppleton
The forecast was dire until the day before, when it cheered up a bit, which may be why loadings were low. A reasonable number of people on the 822/875, and clearly several regulars who knew each other. Some churn at Pateley Bridge and Grassington with passengers connecting to/from other services, but the number on board dropped steadily as we went along and there were only a handful of us beyond Grassington. It's an absolutely cracking ride on the top deck all the way from York to Hawes, lots of heart-stopping moments where I was convinced we were going to hit another car or a wall (because of the different field of view from upstairs, not any reflection on the driver!). In some ways, I'm not surprised that there weren't more people going all the way to Hawes, as you only have just over an hour there before the bus back – I know that the times are tied in with connections on other routes, but it does limit the appeal of the bus when you haven't even got time to look round the Dales Museum or the Creamery when you get there after a journey of more than 3½ hours each way.
About half a dozen other people on the 856, with a few getting on and off at various villages along the way. The driver spent a long time examining my Dales Rover ticket, they obviously haven't had a lot of them used yet!
And then last but not least, I was the first, last and only passenger on the 825 all day long. It is a lovely route, but like the 822/875, I can't help feeling that even with better weather and a bit more time to promote the service, it's going to struggle to attract passengers staying on til the end when you only get 2½ hours in Richmond and it doesn't give any connection allowing a circular journey using the Northern Dalesbus. My usual reason to head into the Dales is to go for a nice long walk, but I don't think I would go any further than Brimham Rocks on the 825 if that was my plan for the day because there just isn't enough time to fit a decent walk in before the bus home again.
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Post by stevieinselby on Jun 9, 2021 22:34:50 GMT 1
Transdev Daytripper
With the offer of a free Daytripper ticket for downloading their app, I wasn't going to look a gift horse in the mouth! My plan for the day was to ride as many different types of bus as possible, including some that were new to me:
843 Tadcaster (0743) to York Blossom Street (0818) Zap York Blossom Street (0823) to Leeds (0920) A1 Leeds (0942) to Leeds–Bradford Airport (1025) A3 Leeds–Bradford Airport (1049) to Otley (1102) 962 Otley (1111) to Ilkley (1147) 62 Ilkley (1207) to Steeton (1239) 66 Steeton (1243) to Skipton (1310) Wizz Skipton (1320) to Colne (1400) M4 Colne (1418) to Keighley (1503) K17 Keighley (1545) to Bingley (1613) 60 Bingley (1619) to Leeds (1739) 843 Leeds (1800) to Tadcaster (1841)
The day didn't get off to a great start when I mis-timed my arrival at Tadcaster and got there just as the 843 was leaving 🙄. But hey, there was one going to Leeds a few minutes later, so I could catch that to get back on track, and do the Zap at the end of the day instead. Except ... that bus didn't run. No sign of it at the bus station, no sign of it on the app, no apology about it on Twitter to let any passengers know that they would have nearly an hour to wait, not even an apology when I raised it on Twitter.
Fortunately the next bus towards York was bang on time, and with a swift change at York College I was able to get the Zap that I had originally been aiming for and then I really was back on track. Briefly. The A1 arrived at the departure gate on time, but was being driven by a very nervous novice, accompanied by an equally nervous instructor. Now, I don't know whether the driver's confidence and concentration was being sapped by the continuous barrage of instructions, or if without that we would have hit two parked cars, a lamppost, a wall and a police car and run a red light before even getting out of the city centre, but it was not a relaxing journey as we crawled along at a snail's pace but constantly seemed to be on the verge of catastrophe, eventually getting to the airport 15 minutes later after a driver change near Yeadon. As I had plenty of time to wait at the airport, I wasn't disappointed as it is a pretty bleak place to wait for a bus ... and as it turned out, the A3 was running late and getting later by the minute (I think due to congestion on the way out of Bradford, I'm not blaming anyone for that), finally pulling in 12 minutes late, and with heavy traffic on the way into Otley we arrived 15 down and with the 962 long gone, so I treated myself to a visit to Weegmans and a wander round the park while I waited for the next one.
The 962 left Otley more-or-less on time, but with roadworks or badly parked or manoeuvring works vehicles blocking our way on seemingly every narrow estate road that the bus goes down and then heavy traffic on the way in to Ilkley, we were 15 down arriving at the interchange. With heavy traffic and consequent late-running becoming something of a theme, I was getting nervous about the 4-minute connection at Steeton – already an hour behind schedule, I couldn't afford to miss that and drop another hour or I would be very late (and very hungry!) by the time I got home – and with no sign of the 62, it was not looking promising, so I decided to cut the corner and get the 784 straight to Skipton. While there was no sign of that either, at least it gave me more leeway. The 62 came and went 5 minutes late, and the 784 turned up 10 minutes late, having been late all morning, but didn't lose any more time. Thankfully the afternoon was less eventful, with all the buses from Skipton onwards running on time.
Over the course of the day, I rode 2×B5TL, 1×E400, 4×Versa, 1×Solo, 1×Strata, 1×B7TL and 1×B9TL(Gemini 1). It would have been nice to sample a B10BLE on the 62 and a B9TL(Gemini 2) on the 66 instead of yet another Versa, but it wasn't worth the risk. I was surprised at how many ~20 year old buses Keighley still had running but there were quite a few around while I was waiting for the K19. One thing that I noticed, on both the B5TL and the E400, was that despite all their creature comforts and nice seats, the ride and build quality felt really poor, bouncing and rattling over every bump and blemish in the road surface – the B7TL and B9TL, despite being much older, were nicer to ride in. The other thing about them that I liked – and which really annoyed me on the B5TL – was that the Gemini 1 had much deeper windows, whereas the Gemini 3 had a high sill that dug right into my arm and was very uncomfortable. The fleet was all well presented and the drivers professional (except the trainee), although the hand sanitiser was empty on every bus where I tried to use it, but I can't help feeling that bus manufacturers would do better to put a little bit more effort into the general build quality and ergonomics rather than gadgets and gizmos if they want passengers to really enjoy their journeys.
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Post by MetrolineGA1511 on Aug 1, 2021 12:23:29 GMT 1
I had a little holiday based in Bradford from Wednesday July 28th to Saturday 31st to cover several places in the Leeds & Blackburn area. My destinations and itins were as follows:
Wednesday - Pudsey & Bingley
X11 Pudsey - First 35223 91 Kirkstall - First 69338 60 Bingley - Transdev 2793 K19 Collingworth - Transdev 152 67 Bradford - Transdev 1849
Thursday - Blackburn & Ilkley - All buses Transdev
Train to Blackburn - Northern 195 117
7 Clayton - 236 152 Blackburn - 2767 22 Clitheroe - 1064 66 Nelson - 70 2 Burnley - 1046 Pendle Wizz Skipton - 2750 64 Ilkley - 1843 962 Otley - 166 A3 Bradford - 240
Friday - Batley & Pontefract - All buses Arriva
283 Dewsbury - 1483 213 Batley - 1066 271 Cleckheaton - 1101 268 Bradford - 1547
Train to Pontefract Monkhill - Grand Central 180 107
410 Castleford - 1959 168 Leeds - 791 229 Gildersome - 1547 425a Bradford - 1564
Saturday - Leeds & Otley
Train to Leeds - LNER 801 101
5 Leeds Bus Station via University - First 68802 62 Leeds Bus Station via circular route - First 66997 X84 Otley - First 35588 781 Meanwood - Connexions YN56NVE 51 Leeds - First 37687 11 Seacroft - CT Plus 1903 7 Leeds - Transdev 3613
Train to Bradford Forster Square - Northern 333 009
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Post by MetrolineGA1511 on Aug 1, 2021 16:00:51 GMT 1
I had a little holiday based in Bradford from Wednesday July 28th to Saturday 31st to cover several places in the Leeds & Blackburn area. My destinations and itins were as follows: Wednesday - Pudsey & Bingley X11 Pudsey - First 35223 91 Kirkstall - First 69338 60 Bingley - Transdev 2793 K19 Collingworth - Transdev 152 67 Bradford - Transdev 1849 Thursday - Blackburn & Ilkley - All buses Transdev Train to Blackburn - Northern 195 117 7 Clayton - 236 152 Blackburn - 2767 22 Clitheroe - 1064 66 Nelson - 70 2 Burnley - 1046 Pendle Wizz Skipton - 2750 64 Ilkley - 1843 962 Otley - 166 A3 Bradford - 240 Friday - Batley & Pontefract - All buses Arriva 283 Dewsbury - 1483 213 Batley - 1066 271 Cleckheaton - 1101 268 Bradford - 1547 Train to Pontefract Monkhill - Grand Central 180 107 410 Castleford - 1959 168 Leeds - 791 229 Gildersome - 1547 425a Bradford - 1564 Saturday - Leeds & Otley Train to Leeds - LNER 801 101 5 Leeds Bus Station via University - First 68802 62 Leeds Bus Station via circular route - First 66997 X84 Otley - First 35588 781 Meanwood - Connexions YN56NVE 51 Leeds - First 37687 11 Seacroft - CT Plus 1903 7 Leeds - Transdev 3613 Train to Bradford Forster Square - Northern 333 009 How did you find 791? I quite like the versas, they look nice. Regarding 1066, I find leg room pretty cramped in those e200s. The ride is pretty good though. Much better than the minis. I am surprised you didn't do the 231/232 on the e200mmcs. 791 was reasonably comfortable thanks. I was encouraged that it had genuine Sapphire seats, but forget exactly what the seating was like in Flying Tiger days. I think the seating is more cramped in the mini Enviro 200s. As routes 231/32 were south of my catchment area I prefer to ride either once route 435 has been upgraded with Team Pennine. I would combine it with route 261 and/or the competing service plus the South Pennine Community Transport route to Halifax. For my next Keighley visit I plan a train to Hebden Bridge, route B3 to Keighley, a Mellor Strata, Dalesway to Skipton, route 59 to Harrogate and 36 to Leeds, if time by daylight next summer permits!
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Post by dlspotter on Aug 13, 2021 0:43:33 GMT 1
Last Saturday I took quite a long trip: 5:20 189 to Wakefield (Arriva 1970) 5:55 425 to Bradford (Arriva 1719) 6:55 576 to Halifax (First 37050) 7:55 590 to Todmorden (First 37130) 8:45 591 to Burnley (First 33880) 9:42 M1 to Accrington (Burnley Bus Co 266) 10:38 X41 to Edenfield (Blackburn Bus Co 1868) 11:20 483 to Bury (rosso 1735) 12:25 468 to Rochdale (rosso 2746) 14:00 587 to Halifax (First 69585) 15:05 503 to Huddersfield (First 37702) 15:45 202 to Dewsbury (Arriva 1887) 16:45 126 to Wakefield (Arriva 1886) 17:55 147 to Pontefract (Arriva 1461)
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Post by stantheman on Aug 14, 2021 8:28:39 GMT 1
Last Saturday I took quite a long trip: 5:20 189 to Wakefield (Arriva 1970) 5:55 425 to Bradford (Arriva 1719) 6:55 576 to Halifax (First 37050) 7:55 590 to Todmorden (First 37130) 8:45 591 to Burnley (First 33880) 9:42 M1 to Accrington (Burnley Bus Co 266) 10:38 X41 to Edenfield (Blackburn Bus Co 1868) 11:20 483 to Bury (rosso 1735) 12:25 468 to Rochdale (rosso 2746) 14:00 587 to Halifax (First 69585) 15:05 503 to Huddersfield (First 37702) 15:45 202 to Dewsbury (Arriva 1887) 16:45 126 to Wakefield (Arriva 1886) 17:55 147 to Pontefract (Arriva 1461) 5.20am is an early start!
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Post by dlspotter on Aug 15, 2021 20:30:49 GMT 1
Today I thought I would take advantage of the soon-to-go through single fare from Huddersfield to Manchester, as such: 09:00 189 to Wakefield (Arriva 1480) 09:35 435 to Clayton West (Team Pennine 1720) 10:00 D1 to Huddersfield (Team Pennine 743) 10:45 84 to Manchester (First 33683) 14:00 X43 to Burnley (Burnley Bus Co 2014) 15:25 WIZZ to Skipton (Burnley Bus Co 2751) 16:30 66 to Keighley (Keighley Bus Co 2776) 17:15 60 to Leeds (Keighley Bus Co 2792) 18:34 140 to Castleford (Arriva 1481)
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Post by driver6540 on Sept 2, 2021 22:44:58 GMT 1
Not really a "bash" as such, but today i experienced a couple of "firsts". A long overdue visit to York was undertaken by car (for convenience), and parked up at the Askham Bar P&R. The bus into and out of York was an Electric Metrodecker, (I believe) standard on this route. It was the first time I'd ever been on a fully electric decker, and the first time I'd been on an Optare Metrodecker. Although the time spent on both the inward and return journey's was less than 15 mins each way i have to say i was quite impressed by these buses. What i do think though is, I don't really think the build quality of these buses is quite as good as the ALD400EMC's, but it certainly isn't terrible by any means. Definitely better than the Wright Gemini 3 B5TL/B5LH deckers Lothian Buses run. I'm in Edinburgh late october, so should get the chance to sample one of their latest ALD400 City/BYD electric decker's. It'll be an interesting comparison.
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Post by stephen01 on Sept 2, 2021 22:50:18 GMT 1
Not really a "bash" as such, but today i experienced a couple of "firsts". A long overdue visit to York was undertaken by car (for convenience), and parked up at the Askham Bar P&R. The bus into and out of York was an Electric Metrodecker, (I believe) standard on this route. It was the first time I'd ever been on a fully electric decker, and the first time I'd been on an Optare Metrodecker. Although the time spent on both the inward and return journey's was less than 15 mins each way i have to say i was quite impressed by these buses. What i do think though is, I don't really think the build quality of these buses is quite as good as the ALD400EMC's, but it certainly isn't terrible by any means. Definitely better than the Wright Gemini 3 B5TL/B5LH deckers Lothian Buses run. I'm in Edinburgh late october, so should get the chance to sample one of their latest ALD400 City/BYD electric decker's. It'll be an interesting comparison. First Leeds e400MMC City/BYD electric deckers enter services this Sunday (5th September) on PR3
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Post by driver6540 on Sept 2, 2021 23:01:09 GMT 1
Not really a "bash" as such, but today i experienced a couple of "firsts". A long overdue visit to York was undertaken by car (for convenience), and parked up at the Askham Bar P&R. The bus into and out of York was an Electric Metrodecker, (I believe) standard on this route. It was the first time I'd ever been on a fully electric decker, and the first time I'd been on an Optare Metrodecker. Although the time spent on both the inward and return journey's was less than 15 mins each way i have to say i was quite impressed by these buses. What i do think though is, I don't really think the build quality of these buses is quite as good as the ALD400EMC's, but it certainly isn't terrible by any means. Definitely better than the Wright Gemini 3 B5TL/B5LH deckers Lothian Buses run. I'm in Edinburgh late october, so should get the chance to sample one of their latest ALD400 City/BYD electric decker's. It'll be an interesting comparison. First Leeds e400MMC City/BYD electric deckers enter services this Sunday (5th September) on PR3 That's great, I'd love to hear the thought's of someone who's sampled them both, and see what they think.(obviously after sunday).
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Post by driver6540 on Nov 1, 2021 0:03:59 GMT 1
A little update to the above, Spent mon to fri in Edinburgh last week (25th-29th), but due to time constraints never got the chance to ride on one of the BYD/E400 City's which currently only run on route 10. During my time there i went on several XLB400's which now at nearly 2.5 years old still feel like brand new buses, a testament to the excellent build quality of these buses. Also had a short ride on a B8RLE/MCV Evora which was very good. In contrast i endured three B5TL/Gemini's, two 17 and one 18 plate examples. Very poor build quality, they rattled and banged with creaking panels all over the bus, I'm not surprised Lothian ditched Wright for ADL as their preferred body supplier. Unfortunately didn't get the chance to sample the new 21/71 reg batch of B5TL/ADL 400MMC's, However did get a ride on one of the soon to be withdrawn 09 plate B9TL/Gemini's which felt so much better than the aforementioned B5TL's, clearly Wright have gone backwards in terms of build quality. Just hope the new owners can improve things otherwise major customers like Lothian will continue to buy their rivals products. Whilst up there i rode a couple of Scotrail 158's(2 car) and a 170 Turbostar (3 car), and next time i go up there, hopefully easter next year i hope to grab a return trip on the Inter7city HST's.
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Post by driver6540 on Nov 1, 2021 0:04:33 GMT 1
A little update to the above, Spent mon to fri in Edinburgh last week (25th-29th), but due to time constraints never got the chance to ride on one of the BYD/E400 City's which currently only run on route 10. During my time there i went on several XLB400's which now at nearly 2.5 years old still feel like brand new buses, a testament to the excellent build quality of these buses. Also had a short ride on a B8RLE/MCV Evora which was very good. In contrast i endured three B5TL/Gemini's, two 17 and one 18 plate examples. Very poor build quality, they rattled and banged with creaking panels all over the bus, I'm not surprised Lothian ditched Wright for ADL as their preferred body supplier. Unfortunately didn't get the chance to sample the new 21/71 reg batch of B5TL/ADL 400MMC's, However did get a ride on one of the soon to be withdrawn 09 plate B9TL/Gemini's which felt so much better than the aforementioned B5TL's, clearly Wright have gone backwards in terms of build quality. Just hope the new owners can improve things otherwise major customers like Lothian will continue to buy their rivals products. Whilst up there i rode a couple of Scotrail 158's(2 car) and a 170 Turbostar (3 car), and next time i go up there, hopefully easter next year i hope to grab a return trip on the Inter7city HST's.
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Post by MetrolineGA1511 on Nov 6, 2021 16:08:28 GMT 1
A little update to the above, Spent mon to fri in Edinburgh last week (25th-29th), but due to time constraints never got the chance to ride on one of the BYD/E400 City's which currently only run on route 10. During my time there i went on several XLB400's which now at nearly 2.5 years old still feel like brand new buses, a testament to the excellent build quality of these buses. Also had a short ride on a B8RLE/MCV Evora which was very good. In contrast i endured three B5TL/Gemini's, two 17 and one 18 plate examples. Very poor build quality, they rattled and banged with creaking panels all over the bus, I'm not surprised Lothian ditched Wright for ADL as their preferred body supplier. Unfortunately didn't get the chance to sample the new 21/71 reg batch of B5TL/ADL 400MMC's, However did get a ride on one of the soon to be withdrawn 09 plate B9TL/Gemini's which felt so much better than the aforementioned B5TL's, clearly Wright have gone backwards in terms of build quality. Just hope the new owners can improve things otherwise major customers like Lothian will continue to buy their rivals products. Whilst up there i rode a couple of Scotrail 158's(2 car) and a 170 Turbostar (3 car), and next time i go up there, hopefully easter next year i hope to grab a return trip on the Inter7city HST's. I rode a Volvo B5TL-E400MMC and Volvo B8RLE-Evora in June. I preferred the B5TL to the B8L I rode in 2019. The seat in the latter vehicle sagged a bit. I hope to ride an HST to Dundee in conjunction with an XPlore Dundee Hydrogen bus next year.
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