(18 Jan 2014, 3:36 pm)andreos1 wrote [ -> ]Quite concerning that there is another North West independent going under.
apparently the 37/38 been running today but considering the recent buses running out of fuel whilst in service i think people will start to catch other options but soon find out!
As reported elsewhere #71 is believed to have been out and about at some point this week.
due to massive Bus Shortages Ex Blue Bus (Bolton) Trident 4001 Reg Plate Y47 ABA is on loan to speke and can normally be found on route 82
Also on its was to Speke right now is Marshall Capital Dart 7652 that is apparently also going to see service
Marshall Capital Dart 7660 is Withdrawn at the rear of the Depot, its just being stored here until it meets its fate.
Daf Ikarus 2563 is now repainted into the New Interurban Livery and wil be returning to Bolton within the next few Days.
Y196 KBU will be repainted next week out of HTL Livery and into Hattons Livery.
(18 Jan 2014, 1:32 am)Y961 XBU wrote [ -> ]Possibly the end has happened for Warrington Coachways as all the Merseytravel Tendered work they have is currently showing up on Merseytravel website as being suspended!
It's only the 156/256 which are suspended as far as I'm aware. No mention of the 157 being suspended and indeed it was noted running yesterday albeit with step-entranced M89 DEW once again making up the allocation. The ex-Howard's Travel Dart has also been making up the allocation recently on there.
Terence, from mention in one of your earlier posts I assume you know, is the entire fleet of Primos VOR at the moment?
(19 Jan 2014, 3:03 pm)CX58 EWK wrote [ -> ]It's only the 156/256 which are suspended as far as I'm aware. No mention of the 157 being suspended and indeed it was noted running yesterday albeit with step-entranced M89 DEW once again making up the allocation. The ex-Howard's Travel Dart has also been making up the allocation recently on there.
Terence, from mention in one of your earlier posts I assume you know, is the entire fleet of Primos VOR at the moment?
Welcome to the Forum, am lead to understand that theres only 1 serviceable at the moment, 2 are at the rear of Hattons Depot that are going to be fixed by Hattons
(16 Jan 2014, 10:16 pm)Y961 XBU wrote [ -> ]i agree however, there is a service or 2 at st helens that is being ran under capacity, deckers would be very much welcomed!
I'd disagree that services are being run under capacity, overall. With the likes of the 32s and 33s the allocation of Solo SRs are perfectly adequate as, other than on a few peak journeys, they're seeing well under full loads across most of the route. Besides which, Pulsars are often used on split shift duties anyway to alleviate any potential overcrowding on peak journeys which, in turn, is no wasted capacity as these vehicles can then have 30 day inspections, regular maintenance etc. performed whilst back at Jackson Street during the day reducing the necessity for them to be off the road at other times.
I do agree that an allocation of deckers would be beneficial to St Helens however. What I don't agree with is that the allocation need be for the entirety of, say, the 10/A and instead, my proposal has always been that, at least, the 10A should be half decker operated. Having the 10 allocated as such (50% deckers, 50% single decks) too would be an ideal. There's no other route out of St Helens which would allow for a financially viable operation of deckers full time though, in my opinion.
Ideally though, these newer school deckers should be utilised as best as possible between weekday school duties and all day of a Saturday and school holidays. I can understand why this wasn't the case with notoriously unreliable and poorly performing DLAs but if these ex-VLWs show better potential, there's no excuse for their capacity not to be better utilised on busy boards.
(18 Jan 2014, 6:33 pm)HaltonMiniMarshall wrote [ -> ]Yes would love to see deckers on long and short 33s, never really liked St helens "style" of allocations always found it very poor. To be honest I really think that St helens would be better suited to cadets than the likes of Runcorn, were as Runcorn would be alot better suited to pulsars. Still don't understand why Runcorns pulsars were transfered here last year.
Deckers would be a complete waste allocated full time to the likes of 33s; a Pulsar provides more than adequate capacity at the busiest of times.
Although I agree Runcorns Cadets would be better transferred to St Helens and replaced by full size vehicles at Runcorn, they're provide no real additional capacity on the St Helens network. Instead, the movement would largely centralise Cadet operations and replace a significant number of ageing Darts on routes where their capacity is sufficient at the moment. It'd be a good move in my opinion.
As an aside, although it was rumoured, St Helens have received no Pulsars from Runcorn - they transferred back to Wythenshawe via Birkenhead.
(19 Jan 2014, 3:08 pm)Y961 XBU wrote [ -> ]Welcome to the Forum, am lead to understand that theres only 1 serviceable at the moment, 2 are at the rear of Hattons Depot that are going to be fixed by Hattons
Hence the loan of M89 DEW I guess.. Thanks.
(19 Jan 2014, 3:17 pm)CX58 EWK wrote [ -> ]I'd disagree that services are being run under capacity, overall. With the likes of the 32s and 33s the allocation of Solo SRs are perfectly adequate as, other than on a few peak journeys, they're seeing well under full loads across most of the route. Besides which, Pulsars are often used on split shift duties anyway to alleviate any potential overcrowding on peak journeys which, in turn, is no wasted capacity as these vehicles can then have 30 day inspections, regular maintenance etc. performed whilst back at Jackson Street during the day reducing the necessity for them to be off the road at other times.
I do agree that an allocation of deckers would be beneficial to St Helens however. What I don't agree with is that the allocation need be for the entirety of, say, the 10/A and instead, my proposal has always been that, at least, the 10A should be half decker operated. Having the 10 allocated as such (50% deckers, 50% single decks) too would be an ideal. There's no other route out of St Helens which would allow for a financially viable operation of deckers full time though, in my opinion.
Ideally though, these newer school deckers should be utilised as best as possible between weekday school duties and all day of a Saturday and school holidays. I can understand why this wasn't the case with notoriously unreliable and poorly performing DLAs but if these ex-VLWs show better potential, there's no excuse for their capacity not to be better utilised on busy boards.
I personally dont agree that Solo SR's are suitable for the 33, as i live in Thatto Heath i see (and have to put up with) Standing loads that would not be happening if something the size of a Dart was on the service, as for the 10A i do think theres demand on a number of boards for Deckers, maybe not all Boards but i would say about 60 percent are really crying out for higher Capacity, i normally say a duty or 2 on the 320 requires Deckers but with a big change for that service coming up that could change
Again thats my personal Opinion mate.
(19 Jan 2014, 3:22 pm)CX58 EWK wrote [ -> ]Hence the loan of M89 DEW I guess.. Thanks.
Yes i think thats part of the agreement, No problem!
From the Merseytravel Website:
Route 10/10A Diversion - Due to a police incident at Prescot, services 10/10A are currently being diverted. We are unable to give further details at this time.
Looks like Peoplesbus will be going onto the daytime 68 service from 24/2/14!
(19 Jan 2014, 5:08 pm)Y961 XBU wrote [ -> ]Looks like Peoplesbus will be going onto the daytime 68 service from 24/2/14!
Peoplesbus have just confirmed this!
Yes prehaps a few deckers operating a few busy morning and afternoon services on the 33 would be better as opposed to being a permanent allocation. The transfer of cadets to St helens would be good for the reason that they would not only replace some ageing darts but would be a good vechile for a few of St Helens services were there is to much capacity, another bonus would be larger buses at Runcorn were early morning 79c and 82a services can get very busy, I know from personal experience that some early Runcorn bound 79c and 82a services can run dangerously over capacity, and this is were pulsars are needed more than ever, furthermore deckers would be fantastic but it is impractical because of the low bridges on Runcorns busway.
(20 Jan 2014, 1:14 am)HaltonMiniMarshall wrote [ -> ]Yes prehaps a few deckers operating a few busy morning and afternoon services on the 33 would be better as opposed to being a permanent allocation. The transfer of cadets to St helens would be good for the reason that they would not only replace some ageing darts but would be a good vechile for a few of St Helens services were there is to much capacity, another bonus would be larger buses at Runcorn were early morning 79c and 82a services can get very busy, I know from personal experience that some early Runcorn bound 79c and 82a services can run dangerously over capacity, and this is were pulsars are needed more than ever, furthermore deckers would be fantastic but it is impractical because of the low bridges on Runcorns busway.
if truthful the 33 does not require deckers it requires full sized single deckers like it used to get not that long ago, as for cadets coming here no thank you, again they are to small and our current lot (both wright and daf) are unreliable so they are not welcomed here.
Also there is an ex london president there too for service.
Stagecoach Gillmoss Trainer B10BLE 21118 in around St Helens.
(20 Jan 2014, 7:12 am)Y961 XBU wrote [ -> ]if truthful the 33 does not require deckers it requires full sized single deckers like it used to get not that long ago, as for cadets coming here no thank you, again they are to small and our current lot (both wright and daf) are unreliable so they are not welcomed here.
Lol, agreed cadets are awful buses simple as!
Wright Gemini 1 4207 showed up on the 33 shorts today!
Marshall Capital Dart 7634 was noted on the 620 today aswell, still dodging the axe!
Told you it wouldnt take long for them geminis to get on to the 33 shorts.
(21 Jan 2014, 8:31 am)arrivaman wrote [ -> ]Told you it wouldnt take long for them geminis to get on to the 33 shorts.
Yea, was a good ride quality to be fair.
Marshall Capital 7634 still fighting on and is noted on the 31's today!
Warrington Coachways are still running the 156 and 256, wonder what the change of heart has been....
7612 T612 PNC - withdrawn for scrap at green lane
7613 T613 PNC - withdrawn for scrap at Wrexham l
7614 T614 PNC - SCRAPPED!!! First to be scrapped
7615 T615 PNC - Withdrawn at St Helens
7616 T616 PNC - withdrawn for scrap at Wrexham
7617 T617 PNC - Withdrawn at st Helens
7618 T618 PNC - Withdrawn at Southport for spares
7619 T619 PNC – Withdrawn at St Birkenhead
7620 T620 PNC - For Scrap at St Helens
7621 T621 PNC – Withdrawn at St Helens
7622 T622 PNC - withdrawn for scrap
7623 T623 PNC - For scrap at st helens
7624 V624 DBN - withdrawn at Green Lane
7625 V625 DVU – Chester
7626 V626 DVU – Withdrawn at Chester
7627 V627 DVU - Withdrawn at St Helens
7628 V628 DVU - withdrawn at Winsford
7629 V629 DVU - withdrawn for scrap at Green Lane
7630 V630 DVU - Withdrawn Green Lane
7631 V631 DVU - withdrawn at Green Lane
7632 V632 DVU - withdrawn at chester for spares
7633 V633 DVU - Withdrawn for Scrap at Wrexham
7634 V634 DVU - St Helens
7635 V635 DVU - Withdrawn for Scrap at Birkenhead
7636 V636 DVU - Withdrawn at Southport
7637 V637 DVU - Withdrawn at Southport
7638 V638 DVU – Withdrawn at Green Lane
7639 V639 DVU - Withdrawn Southport
7640 V640 DVU - Withdrawn at St Helens
7641 V641 DVU - Withdrawn St Helens
7642 V642 DVU - Withdrawn for Scrap at Wrexham
7643 V643 DVU - Withdrawn at Southport
7644 V644 DVU - Withdrawn St Helens
7645 V645 DVU - Withdrawn at Chester
7646 V646 DVU - withdrawn at Southport
7647 V647 DVU - Withdrawn at St Helens St Helens
7648 V648 DVU - Withdrawn at Southport
7649 V649 DVU - Withdrawn at Bootle
7650 V650 DVU - Withdrawn at Birkenhead
7651 V651 DVU - Southport
7652 V652 DVU - Southport
7653 V653 DVU - Southport
7654 V654 DVU - Southport
7655 V655 DVU - Southport
7656 V656 DVU - Southport
7657 V657 DVU - Withdrawn Green Lane
7658 V658 DVU – Withdrawn at Green Lane
7659 V659 DVU - Bootle
7660 V660 DVU - Withdrawn at Bootle
7661 V661 DVU - Withdrawn at Bootle
7662 V662 DVU - Withdrawn at Bootle
7663 V663 DVU - Withdrawn at Bootle
7664 V664 DVU - Southport
7665 V665 DVU - Withdrawn at St Helens
7667 V667 DVU - Withdrawn at Bootle
7668 V668 DVU - Withdrawn Green Lane
7669 V669 DVU - Bootle
7670 V670 DVU - Withdrawn at Runcorn
7671 V671 DVU - Withdrawn at Green Lane
7672 V672 DVU - Withdrawn at Runcorn
7673 V673 DVU - Withdrawn Southport
7674 V674 DVU - Bootle, repaired after fire damage :O
7675 V675 DVU - Withdrawn at Chester
7676 V676 DVM - unallocated at Wythinshawe
So we are down to our final 12, The last of the ex MTL Buses in Service with Arriva, the firm who bought them out.
Sounds about fair as we are coming up to the 14th anniiversary of the takeover in February and given Arriva generally let things run for 15 years - sounds about right.
PC0003680/735 - FIRST MANCHESTER LTD T/A FIRST, WALLSHAW STREET, OLDHAM, OL1 3TR
Variation Accepted by SN: Operating between Oldham Bus Station and Oldham Bus Station given service number 410/411 effective from 26-Jan-2014. To amend Route.
PC0003680/817 - FIRST MANCHESTER LTD T/A FIRST, WALLSHAW STREET, OLDHAM, OL1 3TR
Variation Accepted by SN: Operating between Oldham Bus Station and Oldham Bus Station given service number 402 effective from 26-Jan-2014. To amend Timetable.
PC0005236/60 - GO GOODWINS (COACHES) LTD, GOODWIN COACHES, LYNTOWN TRADING ESTATE, ECCLES, MANCHESTER, M30 9QG
Variation Accepted by SN: Operating between Wythenshawe and Urmaston given service number 268 effective from 13-Jan-2014. To amend Timetable.
some very appalling allocations today from Arriva St Helens
Optare Solo 680 was out on the 34/34A
Optare Solo 676 was out on the 31 and is staying out on lates!!
other sightings that are rare but acceptable
Wright Renown 2705 was on the 10A
Wright Cadet 2494 was out on the 89
Wright Gemini 1 4207 made it out on the 33 shorts again!
Last of the Ex Nottingham Solo's W603 PTO is currently out on 36/141 lates!