(20 Aug 2014, 12:09 pm)Tom wrote The M2 and M3 seem to have some serious problems. Yesterday, the M3 didn't turn up, and the M2 was six minutes late at Heworth. This isn't the first time it's happened either.
I wouldn't suggest a bus being six minutes late is a 'serious problem'. Whilst it should be avoided (anything outside of the 6 minute 'on time' window is an issue), anything could have happened before it arrived at Heworth, causing the delay.
They're certainly usually fine whenever I see them in Concord, but our sightings may be at different times of the day. I have used the DAF SB120s on those services and I don't think they're too problematic. The work isn't particularly strenuous.
(20 Aug 2014, 12:42 pm)NEBCD Malarkey wrote Blame the Unreliability those Cadets, pretty sure Diagtest LTD are over Washington Depot most days to fix them, no wonder you have 3 to 4 Presidents appearing on the M2/M3/W5 and W6 on a Daily Basis. I'm certainly hoping Go North East invests in New Vehicles for these Services this year.
Perhaps slightly exaggerated, there, Adam! The only DAF SB120 which regularly receives attention from DiagTest is 8250, which is undergoing repairs after its minor engine bay fire in June of this year.
The main reason why double deckers are to be found on the former "Washington Street Shuttle" services is down to the fact Washington cannot allocate double decked vehicles to services 88/88A due to a low bridge. This means that Washington tends to dip into their allocated single deckers (mini/midi, though more commonly the latter) for use on services 88/88A, and the spare double deckers left in the depot end up substituting for single deckers on services M2/M3 and W5/W6.
Services M2/M3 and W5/W6 aren't some of Go North East's most profitable routes; as such, investment is
highly unlikely. Services which aren't as profitable tend to receive the older corporate liveried vehicles (providing you exclude any secured services with contract specifications). It goes without saying that the "Venture" network of services aren't Go North East's most profitable, but Optare Solo vehicles were purchased for these as they're probably GNE's most profitable 'mini' routes, and the oldest Dennis MPD stock were coming up 13 years old and as such, had to be disposed of. If this happens again (which I believe it will), Go North East will have to invest into their second most profitable mini routes again, allowing more MPDs to come off and cascade down.
(20 Aug 2014, 1:02 pm)Racer_Experience wrote I've heard a possibly. 50/50 roumor that they may get solos or versas I heard it from a fellow enthusiast named anth he heard it from a few drivers this was months back but my theory is if Quaylink were to get new buses then these would probs come to Washington does anyone know the PVR of M2/M3/W5/W6 and the PVR of Q1/Q2
The PVR of services M2/M3 is 8. Due to the disposal of 8249 and temporary withdrawal of 8250, these services currently have no allocated spare vehicles.
The PVR of services W5/W6 is 4. Dennis MPDs 603-606 should be allocated to these services with Transbus MPD 570 acting as an allocated spare vehicle.
I'd suggest that you don't believe all you hear. As I said above, the loadings (and thus the profit levels) do not justify brand new vehicles on these services. I have previously suggested that, when the "QuayLink" contract comes up for renewal (2015) and newer stock is either brought in or GNE loses the contract, the Optare Versa vehicles would cascade to services M2/M3 following the trial of midi-sized vehicles (the DAF SB120s) last year. However, we have recently discussed the future of the "QuayLink", and this may mean that things could work out slightly differently...
