(01 Jan 2014, 12:51 pm)Dan wrote [ -> ]No. It has been suggested for a few weeks now that it won't. The unknown details should have been where the vehicles were going instead of the "Pronto".
I would think the replacements for the B7s on there will have to be sourced from another of Go Ahead's operations.
(01 Jan 2014, 1:17 pm)Kuyoyo wrote [ -> ]I would think the replacements for the B7s on there will have to be sourced from another of Go Ahead's operations.
I would be very surprised.
In 2015, I think the service will receive cascades from the "Red Arrows". This would allow the "Red Arrows" to receive direct investment once more, no doubt with the usual benefits of travelling (power sockets, Wi-Fi, Next Stop Announcements etc).
By this time, the B9s on the "Red Arrows" would have pulled quite a bit of the cost back to purchase them, allowing for the rational decision to cascade them.
The only immediacy for an upgrade to the "Pronto" was to allow Olympian withdrawal, which should be achieved next year without the aid of "Pronto" cascades.
Will deptford loose their Vykings and 6020 with the new B9's and Sunderland changes?
Don't think they will be needed as it looks like the 29 might not go to Jarrow.
(01 Jan 2014, 1:33 pm)Michael wrote [ -> ]Will deptford loose their Vykings and 6020 with the new B9's and Sunderland changes?
Don't think they will be needed
I'd imagine (at least some of) the Vykings will go to other depots to allow for Olympian withdrawal, as service 29 will be operated by corporate liveried Solars.
Not sure about 6020, but could be worth keeping that one at Deptford for the likes of the 20 if a branded Solar is VOR.
(01 Jan 2014, 1:38 pm)Dan wrote [ -> ]I'd imagine (at least some of) the Vykings will go to other depots to allow for Olympian withdrawal, as service 29 will be operated by corporate liveried Solars.
Not sure about 6020, but could be worth keeping that one at Deptford for the likes of the 20 if a branded Solar is VOR.
Would make my year if Deptford lost all their Vykings, their terrible
However they might keep a couple and 6020 just for back up, like you said
Or
We could loose all our Vykings and just keep 6020.
(01 Jan 2014, 1:23 pm)Dan wrote [ -> ]I would be very surprised.
In 2015, I think the service will receive cascades from the "Red Arrows". This would allow the "Red Arrows" to receive direct investment once more, no doubt with the usual benefits of travelling (power sockets, Wi-Fi, Next Stop Announcements etc).
By this time, the B9s on the "Red Arrows" would have pulled quite a bit of the cost back to purchase them, allowing for the rational decision to cascade them.
The only immediacy for an upgrade to the "Pronto" was to allow Olympian withdrawal, which should be achieved next year without the aid of "Pronto" cascades.
Angel would get an upgrade before Red Arrows?
The Hybrids seem to be constantly off road at some points these days. Only one that seems to cope is the non hybrid ex 724 and TTX vehicles and the many red Northern deckers covering
(01 Jan 2014, 2:45 pm)gtomlinson wrote [ -> ]Angel would get an upgrade before Red Arrows?
The Hybrids seem to be constantly off road at some points these days. Only one that seems to cope is the non hybrid ex 724 and TTX vehicles and the many red Northern deckers covering
Lets not forget the lack of foresight in ordering 13 hybrids and then upping the PVR to 15 a matters of weeks after them entering service! No surprise then that red buses feature daily.
(01 Jan 2014, 2:45 pm)gtomlinson wrote [ -> ]Angel would get an upgrade before Red Arrows?
The Hybrids seem to be constantly off road at some points these days. Only one that seems to cope is the non hybrid ex 724 and TTX vehicles and the many red Northern deckers covering
While I cannot deny that the Angel makes a lot more revenue than the Red Arrows and would therefore justify any investment you throw at it, the Red Arrows vehicles are older and have had longer on a star service to be paid for.
I wouldn't have thought the B5LH vehicles would be suitable elsewhere just yet, so if the X21 did not receive its upgrade in the way I suggested above, I'd suggest that a ten minute frequency would be instated on Angel service 21 to Durham (5m to CLS), with half hourly journeys extending to Bishop Auckland. If this was to happen, I'd imagine that enough B5LH vehicles would be ordered to cover the PVR so the two B7TL spares would actually be..spare.
What would the customer prefer? What would GNE prefer?
I think we'll need to start a '2015 orders' thread in a minute. Of course this is all very early days, so there is ample chance for things to change...
(01 Jan 2014, 2:55 pm)Dan wrote [ -> ]While I cannot deny that the Angel makes a lot more revenue than the Red Arrows and would therefore justify any investment you throw at it, the Red Arrows vehicles are older and have had longer on a star service to be paid for.
I wouldn't have thought the B5LH vehicles would be suitable elsewhere just yet, so if the X21 did not receive its upgrade in the way I suggested above, I'd suggest that a ten minute frequency would be instated on Angel service 21 to Durham (5m to CLS), with half hourly journeys extending to Bishop Auckland. If this was to happen, I'd imagine that enough B5LH vehicles would be ordered to cover the PVR so the two B7TL spares would actually be..spare.
What would the customer prefer? What would GNE prefer?
Personally I wouldn't really care what bus I got, all I want out of a bus is where it gets me from A to B without any problems. I always thought the Hybrids were a bad idea. They should of settled with ordinary B9s I think. Its very rare I see the Branded Spares out actually on the route covering for a B9, not like im at the places they operate very often like but still...B9s cope a lot better than B5s.
Must say, these changes are the most interesting yet
The fleet lists page is down, if you click on the link it comes up with page not found.
(01 Jan 2014, 3:03 pm)northtynelinks2 wrote [ -> ]Personally I wouldn't really care what bus I got, all I want out of a bus is where it gets me from A to B without any problems. I always thought the Hybrids were a bad idea. They should of settled with ordinary B9s I think. Its very rare I see the Branded Spares out actually on the route covering for a B9, not like im at the places they operate very often like but still...B9s cope a lot better than B5s.
Thinking logically, the technology on the b5 hybrids is brand new, compared to the engine within a b9, that has been tweaked, adapted and improved since Volvo entered the market way back when.
There were bound to be problems of one type or another.
Hopefully, the reliability can be improved, particularly with the b5 engine becoming standard on the Volvo powered citybuses.
(01 Jan 2014, 3:06 pm)peter wrote [ -> ]The fleet lists page is down, if you click on the link it comes up with page not found.
Liam is making a few "behind the scenes" fixes which require the page to be down - news was the same earlier, but is now back up again.
When they're back up, I will edit the ANE fleet lists with the things you e-mailed me with.
(01 Jan 2014, 3:04 pm)Tom wrote [ -> ]Must say, these changes are the most interesting yet
Oh ye, they might finally get North Sunderland right haha
(01 Jan 2014, 3:12 pm)Michael wrote [ -> ]Oh ye, they might finally get North Sunderland right haha
Doesn't take a genius to work out that if you keep changing routes, your passengers get confused and won't use them!
(01 Jan 2014, 3:16 pm)tyresmoke wrote [ -> ]Doesn't take a genius to work out that if you keep changing routes, your passengers get confused and won't use them!
Think the services were changed twice last year and they didn't work.. hopefully these ones do..
(01 Jan 2014, 3:08 pm)Dan wrote [ -> ]Liam is making a few "behind the scenes" fixes which require the page to be down - news was the same earlier, but is now back up again.
When they're back up, I will edit the ANE fleet lists with the things you e-mailed me with.
Ok, just making sure you knew in case you didn't.
(01 Jan 2014, 3:16 pm)tyresmoke wrote [ -> ]Doesn't take a genius to work out that if you keep changing routes, your passengers get confused and won't use them!
So what would you suggest if a service is not performing.....you cannot just keep running and running it. Just look at quite a few service in Arriva Northumbria area (eh Scott
). Look how they had to revert back when the X4 and X5 were a disaster and how many times they have mucked around with the 57/57A.....that many complaints from Councillors regarding the X4/X5, I am lead to believe Mr De Santis had to ensure the services were corrected.
(01 Jan 2014, 3:16 pm)tyresmoke wrote [ -> ]Doesn't take a genius to work out that if you keep changing routes, your passengers get confused and won't use them!
Bit like Whitby town services eh?
(01 Jan 2014, 2:54 pm)tyresmoke wrote [ -> ]Lets not forget the lack of foresight in ordering 13 hybrids and then upping the PVR to 15 a matters of weeks after them entering service! No surprise then that red buses feature daily.
At least the GNE Hybrids are kept on the route they were bought for...unlike another operator......How many Hybrids are on routes other than the 308
(31 Dec 2013, 8:44 pm)tyresmoke wrote [ -> ]Another thing that sticks out to me, is the way they link all of their brands together. You see one of Trent Barton's brands, you know who operates it. Go North East don't have the same link, and I reckon its something that they could do with implementing... TB don't emblazon their name all over the buses, but they all still shout "Trent Barton" at you.
How do they link the brands? If you look at their competitor, to a normal man in the street, how would you know it was either Trent Barton or Yourbus?
(01 Jan 2014, 3:31 pm)citaro5284 wrote [ -> ]So what would you suggest if a service is not performing.....you cannot just keep running and running it. Just look at quite a few service in Arriva Northumbria area (eh Scott ). Look how they had to revert back when the X4 and X5 were a disaster and how many times they have mucked around with the 57/57A.....that many complaints from Councillors regarding the X4/X5, I am lead to believe Mr De Santis had to ensure the services were corrected.
Bit like Whitby town services eh?
At least the GNE Hybrids are kept on the route they were bought for...unlike another operator......How many Hybrids are on routes other than the 308
How do they link the brands? If you look at their competitor, to a normal man in the street, how would you know it was either Trent Barton or Yourbus?
Because Yourbus and NCT have their names displayed in vinyls on the front perhaps?