(04 Feb 2014, 9:45 pm)Arcticrossy92 wrote Dont forget the Lime, a service which needs some new buses, I was very shocked, when new buses are popping up all other the place on Saltwell park, connections 4 (metrolink), and drifter, when the Lime should have got new buses long before the first two I mentioned.
Same with Venture, what was the point in getting rid of mini darts which have a few year service left him, to spend money on more small buses, cascaded down etc, when more 'prime' services need money spend on them, ie Lime, West durham swift, Pronto, WTX, there spending money on Venture.
Even cascading the Omnicities to services like Why Aye 5O, when theres nothing wrong with the buses on there, These buses are need in other places, not on services that havent had there current buses for that long! I remember when they took the solars off the Fab57, and now everyday Im reading stuff about those dual door renowns not turning up or going missing or blowing up.
Doesnt make any sense to me, I might be wrong and im sure there are reasons for these decisions that I dont know nothing about.
Just seems crazy that there are Northern branded Omnicities flying around when Pronto keeps blowing up, The lime got its buses from Beamish, the Venture buses look like something off Back to the future, and the WTX still hasnt managed a full journey without a problem.
The "Lime" is in-line to receive brand new Citaro vehicles this year, assuming the information provided by our Go North East representatives is correct.
MPDs have a shell life of 12 years. The MPDs manufactured in 2000 should have been withdrawn in 2012, and the MPDs manufactured in 2001 should have been withdrawn last year. To allow said MPDs to be withdrawn last year, Go North East had to invest in their most profitable network which would allow a sufficient number of MPD vehicles to cascade to other networks.
I'd debate that the services you've mentioned are all secondary routes, and it'll be unlikely that they will receive direct investment in the near future - cascades are certainly a lot more likely, but this procedure is not always followed.
Scania L94UB/Wright Solar vehicles are to take a 'spare role' in the fleet, replacing Dennis SPD vehicles which are slightly older. It is often quite difficult to comprehend the decision-making behind some of the decisions we enthusiasts see today, but I can't stress enough that a lot of time, work and effort does go into making sure that the decisions made are the right ones.
"Whey Aye Five 0" is currently allocated Solar vehicles. If Solar vehicles are to take a 'spare role' in the fleet (the Y-reg Solars were manufactured in 2001, so are due to be withdrawn in two years - it is about time they did take a 'back role seat'), it is only right that these vehicles are replaced; whether it is by direct investment or cascades, services which can justify an upgrade because they are performing well receive it.
I can assure you that all services regularly have their "lost mileage" evaluated. If there is a great deal of lost mileage for a specific service (or network), discussions will be made in regards to how this problem can be resolved. As we all know, the "Wear Tees Xpress" is said to be in-line to receive the former "Cobalt Clipper" Citaro allocation. I have no doubt that a lot of factors would have been considered, but reliability (and how much it would improve with Citaros) would have been considered greatly.