(10 Dec 2016, 8:58 pm)Michael wrote I changed my order predication so here are my predictions for orders: (think the numbers are right, don't quote post as i'll edit it if wrong)
Blaydon Racers (10) – Loop – only reason is because Dan mentioned the other day that they were “Environmentally friendly with better fuel consumption... Got absolutely no power at all compared to younger examples” – this is just speculation though.
The Loop route also takes around the same time as the Blaydon Racers – this also means nothing too, just thought I would mention that.
(10 Dec 2016, 9:17 pm)South Tyne Lad wrote Surely reducing the flow of fuel to the engine to save fuel by limiting its power output isn't what's been done here, Limiting the power the Mercs can produce on a hilly route like the 49 is just going to backfire on the investment into all this Eco Rubbish, As it puts more strain on the engine, In turn making the engine having to work harder, In turn using more fuel which pollutes the environment.
(10 Dec 2016, 9:17 pm)South Tyne Lad wrote Surely reducing the flow of fuel to the engine to save fuel by limiting its power output isn't what's been done here, Limiting the power the Mercs can produce on a hilly route like the 49 is just going to backfire on the investment into all this Eco Rubbish, As it puts more strain on the engine, In turn making the engine having to work harder, In turn using more fuel which pollutes the environment.
(10 Dec 2016, 9:27 pm)Michael wrote No idea, i thought the same, maybe Dan could explain it a bit better?
(11 Dec 2016, 4:53 am)Dan wrote AVID e-fan mods.
I've posted a link to their website's page in the past - Arriva installed the same to their Temsa Avenues. The Mercs, like the Temsas, have an abundance of power which just isn't required at all. The Blaydon Racers timetable is still realistic and achievable, and also more comfortable from a passenger perspective, with the fans. Just means in my opinion that they'll always be held on more local services now.
STL is well into his 'under the hood' stuff, so he'll probably know all about AVID e-fans.
(11 Dec 2016, 4:37 pm)South Tyne Lad wrote Ah right I see, Bigger fans like that take more energy from the engine to run, Which explains the loss of power.But aren't the eFans driven by electricity (when required) rather than a constantly-running hydraulic motor?
Will no doubt explain people's complaints on here that the Red Arrows B9s lack power, As they are indeed equipped with them too.
(11 Dec 2016, 4:53 pm)G-CPTN wrote But aren't the eFans driven by electricity (when required) rather than a constantly-running hydraulic motor?
This would result in lower parasitic drag - allowing 'more' power to drive the bus.
(05 Jan 2017, 4:26 pm)Jamie M wrote Something on the 21 to allow hybrids to go to Stanley to cascade omnidekkas around the fleet, outright replacing the elder B7s within the fleet.
Two birds in one stone.
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(05 Jan 2017, 5:13 pm)JP6004 wrote Agreed especially since they not full size deckers
(05 Jan 2017, 5:22 pm)South Tyne Lad wrote You cannot get a full size Double Decker, Either a Short Wheelbase model ( 8.8m - around 10m ) is offered or a long wheelbase model ( around 10m - 11.5m ) where it then gets to the length where it is logical to go for a 3 axle decker, As the turning circle will get to big for a two axle decker.
The B5LH's are around the same length as the B9TL's GNE have, Its just the modified lower deck seating layout due to the extra packs to be accommodated due to the Hyrbid system and of course the Engine Bay encroaching into the lower deck, Which takes away around 2-4 seats depending on seat config's
(15 Jan 2017, 9:30 am)S813 FVK wrote Something that bypassed me until a couple of days ago was the withdrawl of 6022 from Chester-le-Street:
http://northeastbuses.co.uk/fleet/item.php?operatorF=2&fleetnoF=6022
Does the fact that the issues were deemed uneconomical to repair suggest that a double decker route will be upgraded which will see the first lot of remaining B7s off once all of the cascades have been completed?
(15 Jan 2017, 11:26 am)Jamie M wrote The going is that the N94 Omnidekkas will cascade (based on guess work, of course). I doubt they'd outright replace spare buses with B9s or the sort.
All of the pronto ones have gone due to defects or charity appeal, so I don't feel it's much a surprise that they're failing. I was driving past Emmanuel College at around 5pm a few nights ago and that one was still there with about 5 engineers at work!
The Omnidekkas are too reliable for Stanley at any rate - only one (6127) causes issues ?
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(15 Jan 2017, 11:52 am)S813 FVK wrote No not at all - it would be vehicles such as the Omnidekkas which would replace them. The Pronto ones weren't needed for further use apart from covering projects etc - future planning of Omnidekka arrivals helped with that.That is what I mean, the Omnidekkas will replace the B7s 😛
The strongest rumour for a decker route to be replaced is, of course, the TEN.
The 13 branded B9s could be split up into 12 and 1. The 12 would go to Stanley for the 6/X70/X71 (PVR 10) with 2 corporate liveried spares. The single 1 would be repainted into the Corporate livery and sent to Percy Main to give the Cobalt Clipper 2 spares again (alternatively repaint this B9 into silver and brand it to give them a full branded PVR).
This would replace 12 Omnidekkas at Stanley. These could replace Stanley's own B7s (6009/11/2/3/4/6/32/42) leaving 4, 1 of which would definitely go to Chester-le-Street to replace 6022 with the posibility of the others heading down too. The Percy Main B9 would replace a single B7TL there.
That would mean that at least 13 B7TLs would be withdrawn, not including the extra TEN PVR that would likely remain at Riverside for TTX spares.
(15 Jan 2017, 11:52 am)S813 FVK wrote No not at all - it would be vehicles such as the Omnidekkas which would replace them. The Pronto ones weren't needed for further use apart from covering projects etc - future planning of Omnidekka arrivals helped with that.
The strongest rumour for a decker route to be replaced is, of course, the TEN.
The 13 branded B9s could be split up into 12 and 1. The 12 would go to Stanley for the 6/X70/X71 (PVR 10) with 2 corporate liveried spares. The single 1 would be repainted into the Corporate livery and sent to Percy Main to give the Cobalt Clipper 2 spares again (alternatively repaint this B9 into silver and brand it to give them a full branded PVR).
This would replace 12 Omnidekkas at Stanley. These could replace Stanley's own B7s (6009/11/2/3/4/6/32/42) leaving 4, 1 of which would definitely go to Chester-le-Street to replace 6022 with the posibility of the others heading down too. The Percy Main B9 would replace a single B7TL there.
That would mean that at least 13 B7TLs would be withdrawn, not including the extra TEN PVR that would likely remain at Riverside for TTX spares.
(15 Jan 2017, 12:37 pm)L469 YVK wrote Not being biased at all here BTW even though it's one of the routes that I use often.
Surely GNE would want the 'binge drinking' (although very lovely indeed) B9s removed from the Cobalt Clippers where the 310 barely goes above 30MPH barring between Station Road and Benfield Road as well as the fact that the Cobalt Clipper (alongside Fab 56) were in the pipeline to get GKN modifications completed to save fuel. Surely GNE wouldn't have considered trying it out if the B9s weren't too heavy on the fuel.
As well as that, there are hardly any hills or challenging parts on either the 309 / 310 and with the fuel savings incurred using Streetdecks, GNE could increase the PVR by an extra vehicle if they needed to by either giving the 310 a long layover in Shields or splitting both routes and only have them interworking during some of the peak times and on Sunday daytime.
If the Cobalt Clippers were upgraded:
* 6101(T); 6102; 6103 could then act as spares alongside 6084(T) at Riverside / Hexham for the TEN and in the case of 6101, the TTX.
* 6104; 6105; 6106 could then make up the PVR shortfall on the TEN to have a full allocation of 16x B9TLs.
* 6107 - 6116 including 6117 as a spare could then transfer to Stanley for the 6/X70/X71
The option would also be there to reinstate a half hourly service between Blackhall Mill and Greenside with 6103 being used to increase the PVR to 17 still meaning that Hexham would have 1x B9 spare for 7x vehicles (including the bus that gets used on layover) as well as Riverside having 6102 as spare for 9x vehicles as well as 6101(T) also helping out should it not be needed on the TTX.
