(15 Feb 2024, 11:49 am)mb134 wrote So the new buses were ordered because of higher mileage, which in some cases is higher now than when they were ordered given the extra X14s and extra Belford X18s as two examples, and are now being replaced with near end of life 2009 registered Pulsars?
So it's a capacity decrease, significant decrease in vehicle age and quality, and likely a decrease in reliability too.
There's no benefit to anyone here (Stockton and Darlington are losing out too) bar the problem depot, who will somehow still manage to break these year old buses and the X93 passengers will still be rammed onto a Temsa.
I do genuinely believe if there were spare experienced engineers / mechanics, Redcar would sack some of theirs and get new ones. The problem is, a shortage in the engineering trade at the moment. If the buses ain't being drove the way there supposed to be then we can put fault on the drivers. Last summer, I don't think the drivers got trained on the MMC's. They were just given it to drive which shouldn't be happening. Redcars depot should be trained on driving new vehicles with all the new technologies so when newer buses inevitably arrive, they will be at least some sort of ready to use them. Also, you would need to train Redcars engineers on how to deal with newer buses too as there only familiar with Pulsars, Temsas, Streetlites, B9's and Solos.
Also for this summer, if the MMC's do arrive. They should be training the X93/94 Drivers on them first. Last year they didn't have a clue some of them. They were shocked when the engine shut off when the doors opened and came on when they closed.