(18 Mar 2019, 8:11 pm)Dan wrote StreetDecks all the rage in Leeds! First have quite a substantial number of them now.
I've been down to Leeds today and actually sampled a 2016 StreetDeck on the First X6 service and also a 2017 E400MMC on the Arriva 189 service, and the StreetDeck was far superior from a passenger perspective.
The StreetDeck had no rattles and enough power to arrive to the destination on time, whereas the E400MMC was badly rattling and one of the windows on the nearside upper deck was wobbling and almost felt like it was going to pop out! My experience on the E400MMC was shocking to say the least: not what I'd expect from a relatively new bus.
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I know First have quite a lot of them in Leeds, just wasn't expecting Arriva to purchase them as they haven't done so since the bought some in 2016 for their services in Kent & Surrey, since then they've been purchasing ADL Products.
The Streetdecks on the X6 do have some oomph about them as I have also used the service back in August 2017 from Leeds to Bradford and I have to agree from a passenger perspective they were quite nice.
I do however prefer the ADL Products, I have been quite impressed with the demonstrators Go North East have had in the last few months from them compared to those offered by Wrightbus, I would even argue Optare provide a better product than Wrightbus, the Versa XFE was excellent and I quite like the Metrodecker also, but overall I would still say if we talking about single deck vehicles that Mercedes offer the best product in the form of the Citaro.
(18 Mar 2019, 7:59 pm)Jimmi wrote Only one VDL Gemini was refurbished to Sapphire for the 110 (1546 / TWY 7) which I think was due to a PVR increase. E400's 1946 & 1947 were repainted into the new Sapphire livery having previously being unbranded Sapphire spares.
Arriva Yorkshire 1946 SN15 LPF / 1546 TWY7 YJ61 OBW by Jordan & Zoe Photographs, on Flickr
Was a rumor that the Sapphire E400's will go on 268/268A but I can't confirm that as fact.
So that VDL Gemini will probably go into corporate livery then.
Well if they do they'll be replacing older E400's/VDL Gemini's already on the 268's