North East Buses

(19 Dec 2014, 8:02 am)Michael wrote [ -> ]http://www.arrivabus.co.uk/north-east/La...nges-2015/

Shame the heading says the wrong year 

(19 Dec 2014, 8:14 am)citaro5284 wrote [ -> ]Shame the heading says the wrong year 

Haha, someone who works for Arriva doesn't want to go a year older

Are the Teesside Day Saver and the Teesside Tripper diffeent tickets? Same price, so if one is Arriva only who would buy that?!

4 of the X93 B9TL's in MAX livery heading North on A19 past Thirsk at 1415 today. One was 7406 another I think 7404 not sure about the other's as I was passing on opposite carriageway.

To be honest, them X93 Volvo B9TLs are not the nicest looking buses in the world...

I think them seats are going to be a bit off putting to tourists etc. They could at least have put the Esteban Civic V3 seats in them buses...

7618 and 7620 have returned to service at Durham depot.  I was suprised to see that they haven't been refurbished or repainted.  Speaking to an engineer yesterday who said they have been away to have engine modifications, yet 7618 still has the same lights on the dash as when I last drove it.

The seats on the X93 B9TL's remind me of GNE 3859. Besides, I'd rather ride on a B9TL anyday rather than the cheap turbocharged crap floating around Blyth and Ashington.

Just out of interest, approximately how much does it cost to fit a bus with Wi-Fi? (And pay for whatever other costs are needed, I'm assuming there's some kind of monthly payment just like a phone contract?)

(19 Dec 2014, 1:19 pm)Cock Robin wrote [ -> ]Are the Teesside Day Saver and the Teesside Tripper diffeent tickets? Same price, so if one is Arriva only who would buy that?!

Sure are, Daysaver is Arriva only, Tripper is valid on both us and Stagecoach. Of course from January they'll both be the same price. We do sell an amazing amount of £4.20 tickets at the moment.

4 Volvo B9TLs arrived at Redcar this afternoon as mentioned above.
Photo attached thanks to a member of staff at Redcar

(19 Dec 2014, 9:26 pm)tyresmoke wrote [ -> ]Sure are, Daysaver is Arriva only, Tripper is valid on both us and Stagecoach. Of course from January they'll both be the same price. We do sell an amazing amount of £4.20 tickets at the moment.

Is the revenue generated from the Tripper tickets therefore split between Stagecoach and Arriva, if it can be used on both?

Can understand some will just save the 10p and opt for the Arriva-only ticket at £4.20 if they don't need to use Stagecoach, but if there's no difference in price...

(19 Dec 2014, 9:36 pm)Dan wrote [ -> ]Is the revenue generated from the Tripper tickets therefore split between Stagecoach and Arriva, if it can be used on both?

Can understand some will just save the 10p and opt for the Arriva-only ticket at £4.20 if they don't need to use Stagecoach, but if there's no difference in price...

No each operator keeps the revenue from their own Tripper tickets, as they're legally two separate products. Arriva sell them at £4.30 and Stagecoach £4.35, and we each accept the others' tickets.

(19 Dec 2014, 8:17 pm)palatine3833 wrote [ -> ]7618 and 7620 have returned to service at Durham depot.  I was suprised to see that they haven't been refurbished or repainted.  Speaking to an engineer yesterday who said they have been away to have engine modifications, yet 7618 still has the same lights on the dash as when I last drove it.

That's good to hear, might explain why I haven't seen any Lowlanders or ALX400 on Service X1/X2 as of late.

Lowlander 7453 and ALX400 7478 were both on the X1/X2 on Tuesday.

I imagine we'll be seeing them on there a lot again soon when the Gemini's are off for MAX refurb.

I saw a Lowlander yesterday afternoon Newcastle bound too.

As the Wright Streetdeck was shown in "Sapphire" livery at European Bus Expo, does this mean that Arriva could be thinking about moving away from E400's as their seemingly standard double deck vehicle in the fleet? Maybe to the Streetdeck or the B5TL?

(20 Dec 2014, 6:34 pm)mb134 wrote [ -> ]As the Wright Streetdeck was shown in "Sapphire" livery at European Bus Expo, does this mean that Arriva could be thinking about moving away from E400's as their seemingly standard double deck vehicle in the fleet? Maybe to the Streetdeck or the B5TL?

I think it is due to be a long term demonstrator, though will be stuck to Derby depot on their service 38.
The other demonstrator in the provincial fleet, the Volvo B8RLE, will demonstrate in all regions.

(20 Dec 2014, 6:47 pm)tyresmoke wrote [ -> ]I think it is due to be a long term demonstrator, though will be stuck to Derby depot on their service 38.
The other demonstrator in the provincial fleet, the Volvo B8RLE, will demonstrate in all regions.

Why are Volvo creating a powerful single deck but not a powerful double deck? Mind you though, if Arriva increased the frequency to every 30 minutes between Ashington and Newcastle, they would be ideal for the 20 / X20.

(20 Dec 2014, 9:13 pm)DaveyBowyer wrote [ -> ]Why are Volvo creating a powerful single deck but not a powerful double deck? Mind you though, if Arriva increased the frequency to every 30 minutes between Ashington and Newcastle, they would be ideal for the 20 / X20.

Market demand? You don't manufacture a product with no demand, so I'd assume there is one.

(20 Dec 2014, 11:24 pm)aureolin wrote [ -> ]Market demand? You don't manufacture a product with no demand, so I'd assume there is one.

Would you not say that the demand is growing towards lightweight single decker vehicles though?
A lot of Enviros and Streetlites have entered service in the UK over the past year or so, but very few Citaros...

The same probably applies with the double decked alternatives - so I too am slightly puzzled at Volvo releasing the B8RLE and not retaining the B9TL...

(20 Dec 2014, 11:29 pm)Dan wrote [ -> ]Would you not say that the demand is growing towards lightweight single decker vehicles though?
A lot of Enviros and Streetlites have entered service in the UK over the past year or so, but very few Citaros...

The same probably applies with the double decked alternatives - so I too am slightly puzzled at Volvo releasing the B8RLE and not retaining the B9TL...

I dont disagree, and I'd like to see B9TLs back in production myself, but it would be insane business sense to manufacture such an expensive product with no demand. I can only assume that the demand exists from somewhere.

Single deckers are universal throughout Europe (and even wider), whereas double-deckers are not universally popular.

The B9TL evolved from the Olympian (Leyland and then the Volvo version).
Whilst (to us) it makes sense to perpetuate the B9TL, Volvo might be taking a completely different view.
We might not like it, but it's their train-set.

Reasons might be financial (profitability) or rationalisation (what percentage of their market does the double-decker represent?).

http://www.route-one.net/vehicles/test-d...evolution/

The B8RLE is obviously a completely new chassis (though based on earlier models) which has had to go through testing at Millbrook. The results of this testing would be adequate for endorsing this model for 'Europe'.

A new double decker chassis would need testing for durability - and, as stated above, the market for double deckers is largely restricted to the UK (and, perhaps, London in particular - I don't know relative volumes).

What makes and models are being introduced in Hong Kong (another market for double deckers)?

There are, of course, more markets for double deckers (Berlin, Singapore, India and Australia - and, now, Canada and North America) though these might not be enduring Volvo markets.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Double-deck...#Hong_Kong

However, as I said to one of my managers, "I cannot guarantee you the market (share), but if you don't compete then I can guarantee that you won't get it!".
We didn't (compete), so, of course, we didn't get any business . . .

I agree with a lot of your points there G-cptn.

It isn't just in the bus manufacturing sector that we see rationalisation.
Cars, trucks, crisps, biscuits, beauty products, bathroom cleaners etc.
Europe and the UK were two markets.

Quite often, manufacturers see them as one - not because profit or demand doesn't exist, but because margins can be greater when producing the same product for a number of markets.

Just going back to the UK/EU markets and vehicles being used across the continent - I knew there was some legislation, which made producing one vehicle type for the EU market viable.

http://www.nichevehiclenetwork.co.uk/rou...mologation

EC WVTA is to ensure that new vehicles are safe to use on the road and have a lower impact on the environment, without having to inspect and test every single one. Businesses that manufacture, build, convert or sell passenger vehicles, commercial vehicles or trailers may also require type approval under legislation being phased in between 2009 and 2014 that will bring them into line with the car sector, which has been subject to similar legislation for more than ten years.

EC WVTA has created a single European market in trucks, buses and trailers. Self-certification of trailers is being phased out and replaced by two new statutory recording schemes - one for light trailers, the other for large trailers.
You must submit any new vehicle made, adapted or imported for sale in the UK or the European Union (EU) to the approval authority for whole vehicle approval in a member state before you can sell it anywhere in the EU. However, once a vehicle has approval in any one member state, it will apply to all vehicles of that type throughout the EU.

1650 has left Faverdale for scrap on an Alpha Low Loader this morning.

(21 Dec 2014, 10:05 pm)Andreos1 wrote [ -> ]Just going back to the UK/EU markets and vehicles being used across the continent - I knew there was some legislation, which made producing one vehicle type for the EU market viable.

http://www.nichevehiclenetwork.co.uk/rou...mologation

Bloody EU.

Don't know if it's been reported yet but 7488 has now entered service at Jesmond working 45's late afternoon Monday.

1327 was the E200 used for familiarisation in Durham yesterday.  All 9 Enviros are planned to enter service as soon as all drivers are familiarised.

An ex-P&R solo
https://www.flickr.com/photos/nebp2/16095280495/

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An ex-P&R solo:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/nebp2/16095280495/