21 Aug 2015, 4:02 pm
#888
(21 Aug 2015, 2:12 pm)Michael Will any more MPD's go for ramp conversion?
(21 Aug 2015, 3:45 pm)S813 FVK Didn't Dan say that all vehicles that didn't have a manual ramp would have one fitted because of reliability? I remember him bringing up the Stanley campaign anyway.
Yes; that's correct, Robert.
Go North East has been in the process of converting all vehicles to manual ramps for over a year now, but I believe the process has been significantly sped up recently due to increased faults with the automatic ramps and online petitions against these ramps. It takes about four days to remove the old ramp, fit the new one, and test it. Most of these ramp conversions are done at Saltmeadows Road, but I think Chester-le-Street have done quite a few of their own now.
I was recently on a "Blaydon Racers" branded Mercedes Citaro which had issues with its ramp and therefore could not pull away - the problem had been caused by the driver not powering the bus down correctly. Buying these ramps was a great idea on paper as it saved the driver having to get out of the cab, but these ramps are so fragile, I think it's ultimately caused more problems! Interestingly, I think Lothian Buses still specify that their vehicles are fitted with automatic ramps?
