Too small. You have people standing on Cadet's on the 82 between 8-10:30

(16 Mar 2015, 6:45 pm)citaro5284 wrote I think there PVR for single decks is 31 and they have 35 so that is around 11.4%.  Most depots work around 12%, so you could say that they have close to the % spare they should have, having an extra single deck would make it close to 14.3%.

It should be noted that Go North East's spare vehicle percentage is increased by the amount of spare double deckers, and this is to be expected as Go North East operates a large amount of scholars services. By comparison, Stagecoach Busways' spare vehicle percentage for single decks is 13.7% and likewise Transit at 11.4%. Busways has an 11.8% spare vehicle percentage for double deckers, but Transit has 25%. Like Go North East, Transit (Stockton) operates quite a few scholars services, accounting for the higher double decker spare percentage.

As an entire company, Go North East's spare vehicle percentage is higher than Stagecoach North East's.

(16 Mar 2015, 6:45 pm)citaro5284 wrote I think there PVR for single decks is 31 and they have 35 so that is around 11.4%.  Most depots work around 12%, so you could say that they have close to the % spare they should have, having an extra single deck would make it close to 14.3%.

I think it's safe to say that the 2x Solars are ring fenced for the 4 though, as the depot would be snookered should any of the Citaros need to come off the road. MPD or Cadet are arguably unsuitable for the route, and the deckers simply can't be used. 

I might be a mile off here, but that leaves a spare ratio of about 9%? 2x single deck vehicles to cover 82/82A/85/86/88/88A. Usual PVRs are 7x Cadets, 4x MPD and 8x Versa?

(16 Mar 2015, 5:50 pm)citaro5284 wrote Aye and on Twitter looks like one of Andreos favourite vehicles

#purplescania

Which one?

(16 Mar 2015, 6:13 pm)leestransportphotos wrote We could have a Solar on the 82

They appeared a few times on it prior to the changes.

They did indeed

(16 Mar 2015, 6:32 pm)Davie wrote When I was with Bazza at the galleries a couple of weeks ago, a driver said it was difficult to get a Solar around the car park near the in shops

my mate anth said almost the exact thing its hard getting a single decker round the in-shops and also some narrow parts of Washington as it is Tiny even a bendy bus would struggle on all Washington based routes even Concord and one of my relatives was born in Washington believe it or not and one of them lives next to Concord Bus Station one of them gave my Gran a cat once

(16 Mar 2015, 6:59 pm)aureolin wrote I think it's safe to say that the 2x Solars are ring fenced for the 4 though, as the depot would be snookered should any of the Citaros need to come off the road. MPD or Cadet are arguably unsuitable for the route, and the deckers simply can't be used. 

I might be a mile off here, but that leaves a spare ratio of about 9%? 2x single deck vehicles to cover 82/82A/85/86/88/88A. Usual PVRs are 7x Cadets, 4x MPD and 8x Versa?

Washington's spare vehicles on a Monday - Friday are made up as follows:

• 3x Volvo B7TL/Plaxton President
  
• 1x DAF SB120/Wright Cadet
  
• 2x Scania L94UB/Wright Solar
  
• 1x MPD
  

The PVRs at Washington on a Monday - Friday are made up as follows:

• 19x double deck
  
• 27x single deck / midibus
  
• 4x minibus
  

As such, the spare vehicle percentage by vehicle size on a Monday - Friday is as follows:

• 15.8% double deck
  
• 11.1% single deck / midibus
  
• 20% minibus
  

A PVR of 50 is covered by 57 vehicles in total, yielding a 14% spare vehicle percentage at Washington. More or less the average spare vehicle percentage for Go North East - and slightly higher than Stagecoach North East. Whether Washington would benefit from a lower double deck spare vehicle percentage in favour of a higher single deck spare vehicle percentage could be debated based on the fact only 8 of Washington's PVR of 27 for single deck routes can be allocated double deckers, but the extra double decks do come in handy for scholars.

(16 Mar 2015, 6:06 pm)Robert wrote But they do have 4 dedicated vehicles to be allocated to the service until the new vehicles enter service. Solars 4944, 4964, 4966 and Citaro 5332 (plus 5389 or 5390 on Saturdays)...

Or todays allocation of 4964 and 3 Renowns, one of which was Dual Door, God Knows where 4944/66 and 5332 were.

(16 Mar 2015, 7:37 pm)Malarkey wrote Or todays allocation of 4964 and 3 Renowns, one of which was Dual Door, God Knows where 4944/66 and 5332 were.

4944 was allocated to various services today - including one trip to Middlesbrough and back. I believe 4966 was allocated to the X66 this morning, but I'm not sure when it was replaced. 5332 was VOR.

(16 Mar 2015, 7:37 pm)Malarkey wrote Or todays allocation of 4964 and 3 Renowns, one of which was Dual Door, God Knows where 4944/66 and 5332 were.

X10

This might sound like a stupid question but why don't they use the 2nd door on the duals

(16 Mar 2015, 8:23 pm)leestransportphotos wrote This might sound like a stupid question but why don't they use the 2nd door on the duals

Most of the paths aren't the correct height for them to be used i think, also stupid health and safety laws!

(16 Mar 2015, 8:23 pm)leestransportphotos wrote This might sound like a stupid question but why don't they use the 2nd door on the duals

Never understood it with regards to the Fab 57. I've queried it before, and been told by customer services that they should be, and that I need to report any individual instances. 

Angel was pretty regular, but also confusing. A lot of stops in Durham weren't suitable for two door operation.

Yeah that's the one that is making me wonder, but the 9 for example there aren't that many places they can use the dual

(16 Mar 2015, 8:30 pm)leestransportphotos wrote Yeah that's the one that is making me wonder, but the 9 for example there aren't that many places they can use the dual

I think the other thing to consider, is whether the 9 carries enough passengers to require a dual door operation? It's great somewhere like London, where you've got a constant flow on and off, but it's just one or two from experience on the 9.

The other thing to consider with the Vykings, is that the motorised ramp is (or at least used to be!) on the rear doors. So they'd need to be used once in a while...

(16 Mar 2015, 8:30 pm)leestransportphotos wrote Yeah that's the one that is making me wonder, but the 9 for example there aren't that many places they can use the dual

Remember that the only route at Percy Main that should be using the dual-door Volvo B10BLEs is the 17...

When Vykings were allocated to the 99, I was also told by Customer Services to report specific instances of the rear doors not being used, after complaining about very few drivers using the rear doors despite all interior branding. Not sure if there are plans in place for where the rear doors should be used or whether they are actually just there (in the case of the Volvo B7TLs) to make them DDA-compliant.

(16 Mar 2015, 8:33 pm)aureolin wrote The other thing to consider with the Vykings, is that the motorised ramp is (or at least used to be!) on the rear doors. So they'd need to be used once in a while...

Yup - still is. Saw one in action the other week at the Metrocentre. Was quite odd seeing a wheelchair user boarding at the rear of the bus...

(16 Mar 2015, 8:33 pm)Dan wrote Remember that the only route at Percy Main that should be using the dual-door Volvo B10BLEs is the 17...

When Vykings were allocated to the 99, I was also told by Customer Services to report specific instances of the rear doors not being used, after complaining about very few drivers using the rear doors despite all interior branding. Not sure if there are plans in place for where the rear doors should be used or whether they are actually just there (in the case of the Volvo B7TLs) to make them DDA-compliant.

HA, when was the last time the 17/17A was fully Duel-door B10BLE's?

Also talking about Vykings, i haven't being on one for ages, also haven't seen any for a while, only seen 3 out in Sunderland in the last month when iv'e being to the town, they seem to getting less and less regular now... 

(16 Mar 2015, 8:36 pm)Michael wrote HA, when was the last time the 17/17A was fully Duel-door B10BLE's?

Also talking about Vykings, i haven't being on one for ages, also haven't seen any for a while, only seen 3 out in Sunderland in the last month when iv'e being to the town, they seem to getting less and less regular now... 

They are usually on service 33/33A/39/20/20A/X20 and 9 (Deptford based Vykings)

(16 Mar 2015, 8:36 pm)Michael wrote HA, when was the last time the 17/17A was fully Duel-door B10BLE's?

Also talking about Vykings, i haven't being on one for ages, also haven't seen any for a while, only seen 3 out in Sunderland in the last month when iv'e being to the town, they seem to getting less and less regular now... 

There are only 4 Vykings based at Deptford and i'm sure Dan or somebody else that lives over your way will be able to provide more but from what i can see, they are only allocated to the short 9s, scholars and the odd X20 plus spares for any service they can be used on. I'm surprised that they're DDA compliant too - never realised that only 1 door had to be low floor to comply with that part of the requirements.

(16 Mar 2015, 9:25 pm)Robert wrote There are only 4 Vykings based at Deptford and i'm sure Dan or somebody else that lives over your way will be able to provide more but from what i can see, they are only allocated to the short 9s, scholars and the odd X20 plus spares for any service they can be used on. I'm surprised that they're DDA compliant too - never realised that only 1 door had to be low floor to comply with that part of the requirements.

3979, 3980 and 3980 are, I'm not sure about the other one

(16 Mar 2015, 9:26 pm)Davie wrote 3979, 3980 and 3980 are, I'm not sure about the other one

The Volvo B7TLs based at Deptford are shown here. Three of the four Plaxton Presidents are allocated to Deptford's short 9 services (Sunderland - Jarrow), while the other one remains as a spare. The Vykings are used on scholars services and any peak time services that the scholars interwork with (ie 265 Durham - Seaham, X35 shorts).

(16 Mar 2015, 8:33 pm)Dan wrote Remember that the only route at Percy Main that should be using the dual-door Volvo B10BLEs is the 17...

When Vykings were allocated to the 99, I was also told by Customer Services to report specific instances of the rear doors not being used, after complaining about very few drivers using the rear doors despite all interior branding. Not sure if there are plans in place for where the rear doors should be used or whether they are actually just there (in the case of the Volvo B7TLs) to make them DDA-compliant.


Yup - still is. Saw one in action the other week at the Metrocentre. Was quite odd seeing a wheelchair user boarding at the rear of the bus...

i've seen the dual doored vehicles on the 9 a few times down Jarrow and although am not a fan of these there not suited for 9 i really dislike 5165

(16 Mar 2015, 9:28 pm)Dan wrote The Volvo B7TLs based at Deptford are shown here. Three of the four Plaxton Presidents are allocated to Deptford's short 9 services (Sunderland - Jarrow), while the other one remains as a spare. The Vykings are used on scholars services and any peak time services that the scholars interwork with (ie 265 Durham - Seaham, X35 shorts).

Thanks Dan

(16 Mar 2015, 8:23 pm)leestransportphotos wrote This might sound like a stupid question but why don't they use the 2nd door on the duals

I can answer this for you from a drivers point of view having regularly driven them when they were on the Blaydon Racers. But first you must remember that a driver is legally responsible for the safety of  passengers, including when boarding and alighting. With this in mind, the driver can only allow passengers to alight via the centre door, when the bus can be stopped parallel with the kerb. The main reason why this normally cannot be done is the usual nightmare - badly parked vehicles at or near bus stops. Also railings, and even bus shelter glazing prevents passengers from alighting safely. It is fair to say that the majority of bus stops, for various reasons, are unsuitable fir centre door usage, and it is generally only the main bus stations which are appropriate.

If a drivers fails to ensure safety of passengers, i.e. by opening the doors at an unsafe location, and a passenger falls, at the very least the driver could face disciplinary action. Worst case scenario driver could be prosecuted by the police.

(16 Mar 2015, 10:27 pm)a718abb wrote I can answer this for you from a drivers point of view having regularly driven them when they were on the Blaydon Racers. But first you must remember that a driver is legally responsible for the safety of  passengers, including when boarding and alighting. With this in mind, the driver can only allow passengers to alight via the centre door, when the bus can be stopped parallel with the kerb. The main reason why this normally cannot be done is the usual nightmare - badly parked vehicles at or near bus stops. Also railings, and even bus shelter glazing prevents passengers from alighting safely. It is fair to say that the majority of bus stops, for various reasons, are unsuitable fir centre door usage, and it is generally only the main bus stations which are appropriate.

If a drivers fails to ensure safety of passengers, i.e. by opening the doors at an unsafe location, and a passenger falls, at the very least the driver could face disciplinary action. Worst case scenario driver could be prosecuted by the police.

Wow! Thanks

Peak-time X66:-

It will be like a 'Pacer' at 8am from Sunderland to Newcastle

Currently on the 2 and it still has Simplicity branding for the 36 inside the bus.....

TTX B9TL 6047 is presently leaving Stockton on the X10 with no number showing on front screen.

(17 Mar 2015, 7:14 am)leestransportphotos wrote It will be like a 'Pacer' at 8am from Sunderland to Newcastle

Or when they decide to go home at 4pm lol!