(05 Jan 2017, 3:54 pm)Dan wrote [ -> ]Thames Travel- Used ADL Enviro 400s 251 (HW63 FHC), 252 (HW63 FHD), 253 (HW63 FHE) and 254 (HW63 FHF) received from Oxford Bus Company - still in green livery at present.
251.
The Little & Often network launched yesterday, with the first proper operational day today.
The 17 seat Mercedes Sprinters operate along two corridors in Ashford operating at frequencies upto every 5 minutes. There seemed to be some issues judging by pictures on Twitter, bunching of services around the estates etc... they've got a fleet of 30 of them to operate town routes B & C
I'm sure it'll prove to be an interesting experiment over the next few months by Stagecoach and I'm planning to go down and have a look for myself.
I really like the concept of 'little & often' but wonder how many full buses will pass commuters stood in the rain at peak times.
I hope the use of Sprinters in some way leads to sustainability of rural or marginal services. It could even be a window into 'taxibus' type services for depots that usually operate only larger vehicles. The Sprinters could then be utilised during the evening to reduce fuel consumption when passenger numbers are low.
(13 Feb 2017, 9:14 pm)tyresmoke wrote [ -> ]The Little & Often network launched yesterday, with the first proper operational day today.
The 17 seat Mercedes Sprinters operate along two corridors in Ashford operating at frequencies upto every 5 minutes. There seemed to be some issues judging by pictures on Twitter, bunching of services around the estates etc... they've got a fleet of 30 of them to operate town routes B & C
I'm sure it'll prove to be an interesting experiment over the next few months by Stagecoach and I'm planning to go down and have a look for myself.
Some more information from the Stagecoach site:
https://www.stagecoachbus.com/news/south...-and-often
Something I have noted on my travels, but failed to mention, is the re-allocation of some Newbury and District E200's.
I noted at least one operating the ex-Thames Travel T2 route in a South Midland livery.
Thames do still have some Solo's (not sure how many), with what looks like LT06 xxx dual-door Gemini's replacing them on the routes that still exist, following the withdrawal of tendered services. Not sure if this is a permanent allocation or not.
I can't help thinking the possibly more efficient Solo's were a more suitable allocation.
(15 Feb 2017, 9:10 pm)Andreos1 wrote [ -> ]Something I have noted on my travels, but failed to mention, is the re-allocation of some Newbury and District E200's.
I noted at least one operating the ex-Thames Travel T2 route in a South Midland livery.
Thames do still have some Solo's (not sure how many), with what looks like LT06 xxx dual-door Gemini's replacing them on the routes that still exist, following the withdrawal of tendered services. Not sure if this is a permanent allocation or not.
I can't help thinking the possibly more efficient Solo's were a more suitable allocation.
The 06 plate ex-London Volvo B7TLs replaced T-reg ex-Oxford non-DDA Tridents. I mentioned fleet numbers and registrations a few posts back.
Two Solos left in the Thames Travel fleet - 709 and 722. The latter (a 59 plate) is due to migrate north to Go North East imminently.
(15 Feb 2017, 9:31 pm)Dan wrote [ -> ]The 06 plate ex-London Volvo B7TLs replaced T-reg ex-Oxford non-DDA Tridents. I mentioned fleet numbers and registrations a few posts back.
Two Solos left in the Thames Travel fleet - 709 and 722. The latter (a 59 plate) is due to migrate north to Go North East imminently.
722 is still out in service, being used on the 17's.
If it hasn't been already ordered, it needs a new rear bumper.
I saw one of the Solo's operating an Abingdon Road service. Possibly covering for a Merc.
The Gemini's are seeing use on services formerly operated by the Solo's. Granted the Tridents appeared on them now and again, but the likes of the 139 don't need deckers.
Brighton & Hove
OmniDekkas 653 (YN05 GZP) and 654 (YN05 GZR) have both been withdrawn from service, and are soon to be sold.
Brighton & Hove will be adding 20 new 'electric buses' to their fleet this year. What they are (and which route they're for), I do not know, but I do suspect that they'll displace further Scania OmniDekkas from Brighton & Hove's fleet. The company has committed to having a Euro 5 or higher fleet by 1st January 2020.
Apparently just 35 Euro 4 buses remain at present - suspect these are the remaining 04/54/05/55-reg OmniDekkas, with the rest of the OmniDekkas and double-deck OmniCitys being SCRT-fitted to bring them up to Euro 5.
(20 Apr 2017, 2:34 pm)Dan wrote [ -> ]Brighton & Hove
OmniDekkas 653 (YN05 GZP) and 654 (YN05 GZR) have both been withdrawn from service, and are soon to be sold.
Brighton & Hove will be adding 20 new 'electric buses' to their fleet this year. What they are (and which route they're for), I do not know, but I do suspect that they'll displace further Scania OmniDekkas from Brighton & Hove's fleet. The company has committed to having a Euro 5 or higher fleet by 1st January 2020.
Apparently just 35 Euro 4 buses remain at present - suspect these are the remaining 04/54/05/55-reg OmniDekkas, with the rest of the OmniDekkas and double-deck OmniCitys being SCRT-fitted to bring them up to Euro 5.
Hopefully for "Go North East" to get rid of those ex London B7 Presidents.......
(20 Apr 2017, 3:03 pm)Michael wrote [ -> ]Hopefully for "Go North East" to get rid of those ex London B7 Presidents.......
I believe those 2 were meant to come up with the last lot but were retained to allow older buses to be cascaded to the driver training fleet if I remember correctly
(20 Apr 2017, 2:34 pm)Dan wrote [ -> ]Brighton & Hove
OmniDekkas 653 (YN05 GZP) and 654 (YN05 GZR) have both been withdrawn from service, and are soon to be sold.
Brighton & Hove will be adding 20 new 'electric buses' to their fleet this year. What they are (and which route they're for), I do not know, but I do suspect that they'll displace further Scania OmniDekkas from Brighton & Hove's fleet. The company has committed to having a Euro 5 or higher fleet by 1st January 2020.
Apparently just 35 Euro 4 buses remain at present - suspect these are the remaining 04/54/05/55-reg OmniDekkas, with the rest of the OmniDekkas and double-deck OmniCitys being SCRT-fitted to bring them up to Euro 5.
Looks like they could be BYD Single Deckers as they have former Go-Ahead London Demonstrator (LJ16 EZS) on loan -
https://www.flickr.com/photos/128088688@...04/in/feed
The fleet list on the Brighton and Hove site, seems to of confirmed the Mercedes Benz Wright Streetdecks arriving are for routes 7 and 49, they'll start to Arrive from June.
Are these the Hybrids versions because the fleet numbers go from 825 to 855, i thought only 20 were arriving?
825 - 840 are for route 7
841- 855 are for route 49
http://history.buses.co.uk/history/curre...elcome.htm
(28 Apr 2017, 3:29 pm)Michael wrote [ -> ]The fleet list on the Brighton and Hove site, seems to of confirmed the Mercedes Benz Wright Streetdecks arriving are for routes 7 and 49, they'll start to Arrive from June.
Are these the Hybrids versions because the fleet numbers go from 825 to 855, i thought only 20 were arriving?
825 - 840 are for route 7
841- 855 are for route 49
http://history.buses.co.uk/history/curre...elcome.htm
I think there has been an extension on the initial order - see image below, extract from a staff newsletter. Also three extra StreetDecks for the Coaster 12 (945 - 947). Not sure where the electric buses come into play - the 8xx series fleet numbers means that they'll be dual-door, like the previous batch for service 1.
[
attachment=8648]
I believe Oxford Bus Company are also due some new StreetDecks - in a special orange livery for city8 and city9:
[
attachment=8647]
The first few StreetDecks have now entered service on the 7 at Brighton.
Quite a mixed bag on there today, with a large number of older and younger Scanias.
Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk
Anymore Wright Streetdeck's arrived at Brighton?
(20 Jul 2017, 6:41 pm)James101 wrote [ -> ]From my experience driving there, Oxford generally hates anything with more than 2 wheels.
I've spent quite a bit of time there over years and must admit that I haven't found it too bad. Certainly no worse than other cities of a similar size/age.
I found the road layout a little strange in the city boundaries. Travelling East - West, it seemed to be like a dogs hind leg.
Coming in to the city (Botley Road area), from either of the other directions, seemed pretty straight forward.
(19 Oct 2017, 9:22 am)Dan wrote [ -> ]No further examples yet delivered for the 7 or 49 services, but two out of the new Coaster trio have now been delivered. 945 has since entered service:
![[Image: 37499549022_05b33fc7c1.jpg]](https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4514/37499549022_05b33fc7c1.jpg)
Brighton & Hove 945 SK67FJD Eastbourne 6.10.2017 024 by tigercub66, on Flickr
![[Image: 37515946071_daba50ef60.jpg]](https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4445/37515946071_daba50ef60.jpg)
946 SK67FJE Go Ahead Brighton and Hove by Benji Transport12, on Flickr
In other news, Thames Travel have launched "River Rapids" branding for the X39/X40 services.
![[Image: 37777476201_b2f73d2ecb.jpg]](https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4504/37777476201_b2f73d2ecb.jpg)
Thames Travel - River Rapids E400 by Brandon .C, on Flickr
Worth noting the X38 is also included in this brand.
843 was spotted at Heysham docks yesterday in branding for the 49 -
https://www.flickr.com/photos/nsf323alis...datetaken/ - photo by Alistair
So far:
For route 7:
825 SK17 HJA
826 SK17 HJC
827 SK17 HJD
828 SK17 HJE
829 SK67 FJJ
830 SK67 FJN
831 SK67 FJO
832 SK67 FJP
833 SK67 FJU
834 SK67 FJV
For route 49:
843
According to the Brighton and Hove fleet list only 841, 854 and 855 are too arrive.