(03 Aug 2014, 8:46 am)Roland Pratt wrote Is there a secret to opening the window on a Citaro?

Was on the X7 yesterdsy and it was like an oven. Pulled the window like mad but it wouldn't open.

Plenty of yellow Olympians about in Newcastle.

The air conditioning only works when the windows are closed, which is why they were locked for quite some time.

Most examples in the fleet have now had their windows unlocked, due to passengers complaining when either;
a) the driver forgets to turn the air-con on, or,
b) the air-con isn't working.

The air-con on the "Wear Tees Xpress" branded Mercs was all working a few months back though, as they've been at Deptford plenty of times for other reasons, whilst having extra bits here and there (such as the air-con) fixed too!

(03 Aug 2014, 8:48 am)Dan wrote The air conditioning only works when the windows are closed, which is why they were locked for quite some time.

Most examples in the fleet have now had their windows unlocked, due to passengers complaining when either;
a) the driver forgets to turn the air-con on, or,
b) the air-con isn't working.

The air-con on the "Wear Tees Xpress" branded Mercs was all working a few months back though, as they've been at Deptford plenty of times for other reasons, whilst having extra bits here and there (such as the air-con) fixed too!

Ah right that explains it. Didn't realise you had opening windows with aircon!

(03 Aug 2014, 8:52 am)Roland Pratt wrote Ah right that explains it. Didn't realise you had opening windows with aircon!

Just as a side, in these days of saving money and reducing fuel consumption - it may be that the drivers deliberately don't put the aircon on.

Not sure who does/doesn't these days - but a lot of operators have incentives for drivers who drive in an economical manner.
It doesn't take a genius to realise that the chances of having a decent record is reduced drastically when the aircon is being used.

Or, it could have been broken ;p

(03 Aug 2014, 10:09 am)Andreos Constantopolous wrote Not sure who does/doesn't these days - but a lot of operators have incentives for drivers who drive in an economical manner.
It doesn't take a genius to realise that the chances of having a decent record is reduced drastically when the aircon is being used.

Drivers are not penalised due to air con been on. Drivers are scored based on 5 set parameters and that is not one of them

(03 Aug 2014, 10:54 am)citaro5284 wrote Drivers are not penalised due to air con been on. Drivers are scored based on 5 set parameters and that is not one of them

Good to hear!

My son has a diesel Ford S-Max (people carrier).
He refuses to use the air-con 'because it uses more fuel', yet will travel with the windows open (which causes more drag and uses more fuel . . . ).

(03 Aug 2014, 11:15 am)G-CPTN wrote My son has a diesel Ford S-Max (people carrier).
He refuses to use the air-con 'because it uses more fuel', yet will travel with the windows open (which causes more drag and uses more fuel . . . ).

I have worked out air con reduces my fuel economy by approx 10/20 mpg whilst using the car.

Obviously if I can stretch out the fuel I have and reduce costs, I will use the air con as sparingly as possible.

I was using that logic when posting the previous message on theories why drivers don't use air con.

Anyone know when the 17 on Sundays is next up for contract? GNE could operate it with the three Solos they have at Percy Main.

(03 Aug 2014, 11:32 am)Andreos Constantopolous wrote I have worked out air con reduces my fuel economy by approx 10/20 mpg whilst using the car.

Wow, that much, mine is about 5-8 mpg

(03 Aug 2014, 11:50 am)Tom wrote Anyone know when the 17 on Sundays is next up for contract? GNE could operate it with the three Solos they have at Percy Main.

If you had a look at the tender document, you'd find out.....

But here they are anyway - 2 boards (One including the 335 and the other including the 3/6/32/32A) are up for renewal in March 2016, while the 3rd board (which also includes the 59/W2) is up for renewal in July 2016, at the same time the rest of the Whitley Bay Town work (Arriva's other 59/359/W2 working, which includes 32/32A, and Go North East's W3, W1A and W1/32/32A) is up for renewal.

Air-con uses more fuel than opening the windows up to about 40mph. Beyond that, the extra drag caused by opening the windows uses more fuel than the air-con.

If a car has air-con, it's best run for 10 minutes every week through the winter in order to lubricate the system's seals and keep them gas-tight.

(03 Aug 2014, 12:01 pm)Kuyoyo wrote If you had a look at the tender document, you'd find out.....

But here they are anyway - 2 boards (One including the 335 and the other including the 3/6/32/32A) are up for renewal in March 2016, while the 3rd board (which also includes the 59/W2) is up for renewal in July 2016, at the same time the rest of the Whitley Bay Town work (Arriva's other 59/359/W2 working, which includes 32/32A, and Go North East's W3, W1A and W1/32/32A) is up for renewal.

We don't all have enough time on our hands to examine tender documents.

For Tom, if you check this, it might help

http://northeastbuses.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?tid=848&pid=55505#pid55505

(03 Aug 2014, 12:00 pm)citaro5284 wrote Wow, that much, mine is about 5-8 mpg

Yeah, was testing it out on the way home the other day.

Was getting around 60mpg without air con and it dropped to 40/50 when it was on.

Even if a bus loses 5-8mpg like your car does, then the mpg on some vehicles is going to be shocking!
Imagine a Citaro artic's mpg with the air con on?!

Reports say that either 7092 or 7093 broke down in Leeds today whilst operating National Express service 380.

(03 Aug 2014, 1:14 pm)Kuyoyo wrote For Tom, if you check this, it might help

http://northeastbuses.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?tid=848&pid=55505#pid55505

Cheers, only just realised this. I was on my phone at the time.

(03 Aug 2014, 9:29 pm)Dan wrote Apart from that one time just last week when one appeared on the X21?
I have no doubt it would have been taken off at Chester though.

I believe two have been on the X21 (on an unscheduled journey), but other than scholars, I don't think any have been off-route.

Oh yeah forgot about that
Is there a reason why newer buses don't appear on the 14/X22 on Sundays?

Continued this in the GNE thread as it was going a bit off topic.

(03 Aug 2014, 9:34 pm)Tom wrote Oh yeah forgot about that
Is there a reason why newer buses don't appear on the 14/X22 on Sundays?

Continued this in the GNE thread as it was going a bit off topic.

Just realised this now, I've done a count (it's quite hard to forget the kids going wild about a bus with Wi-Fi ). We've had 6067 and 6064 on the 886 in the 2012-2013 academic year, and 6061, 6058, 6068 and 6070 in the 2013-2014 year. Hope this helps.

3965/62 have appeared countless times on all services.

(03 Aug 2014, 9:34 pm)Tom wrote Oh yeah forgot about that
Is there a reason why newer buses don't appear on the 14/X22 on Sundays?

What is used on the 14/X22 on a Sunday.

(03 Aug 2014, 10:02 pm)Jimmi wrote What is used on the 14/X22 on a Sunday.

Whatever they've got - I've seen B10BLEs, B7s, Tridents, 3983, the lot!

There's normally one or two Angels knocking about the depot on a Sunday (not sure what the 21s PVR is on a Sunday), so no doubt one day one will wind up on a Sunday X22.

I'm pretty sure (not 100% ) but I think the allocation for the 14/X22 is Presidents. It seems to be random on a Sunday. On a Sunday, the 14/X22 is a bit like the 9 every day

(03 Aug 2014, 10:05 pm)Marcus wrote Whatever they've got - I've seen B10BLEs, B7s, Tridents, 3983, the lot!

There's normally one or two Angels knocking about the depot on a Sunday (not sure what the 21s PVR is on a Sunday), so no doubt one day one will wind up on a Sunday X22.

I'm pretty sure (not 100% ) but I think the allocation for the 14/X22 is Presidents. It seems to be random on a Sunday. On a Sunday, the 14/X22 is a bit like the 9 every day

It's always been Solars when I've seen it - was 4926/4930 when I was last at the Metrocentre.

(03 Aug 2014, 10:06 pm)Tom wrote It's always been Solars when I've seen it - was 4926/4930 when I was last at the Metrocentre.

Like I say it seems to get everything.

(03 Aug 2014, 10:07 pm)Marcus wrote Like I say it seems to get everything.

And I'm sure when the bus rally was on it was 4930/4837! I remember the first departure coming in full and leaving with one passenger.

(03 Aug 2014, 10:14 pm)Tom wrote And I'm sure when the bus rally was on it was 4930/4837! I remember the first departure coming in full and leaving with one passenger.

I can remember, it was 4907. I got it back to Chester afterwards.

(03 Aug 2014, 10:06 pm)Tom wrote It's always been Solars when I've seen it - was 4926/4930 when I was last at the Metrocentre.

Yeah same, i do believe the 14/X22 are allocated Solars on Sundays as opposed to deckers or whatever gets allocated on weekdays + Saturdays.

I've found a photo and it shows a Solar working the X22 on another occasion - and once again it's 4930!

(03 Aug 2014, 10:14 pm)Tom wrote And I'm sure when the bus rally was on it was 4930/4837! I remember the first departure coming in full and leaving with one passenger.

I saw two former WTX Renowns that day on the 14/X22.

Haven't seen the 14/X22 since.

(03 Aug 2014, 10:31 pm)Jimmi wrote I saw two former WTX Renowns that day on the 14/X22.

Haven't seen the 14/X22 since.

It must be allocated a mix of the two then - do you know if the 14 gets busy on Sundays like Saturdays?
I used it yesterday and it was a Work, Eat Play (or Work, Eat and Smell of Foist as Andreos would say) Lolyne, and it was heaving. There was only a few seats left on the upper deck, and about half of the lower deck, must have made about £25!

(03 Aug 2014, 10:37 pm)Tom wrote It must be allocated a mix of the two then - do you know if the 14 gets busy on Sundays like Saturdays?
I used it yesterday and it was a Work, Eat Play (or Work, Eat and Smell of Foist as Andreos would say) Lolyne, and it was heaving. There was only a few seats left on the upper deck, and about half of the lower deck, must have made about £25!

The only time I've seen the 14 was on the day of the Metrocentre rally and I rode it between Durham and Arnison Centre and I was the only passenger, although I saw the 14 to Durham go past while I was on my way to the Metrocentre on the X24 and it was very busy.

Can anyone tell me what board 9120 is on?