(21 Jul 2017, 10:54 pm)RBZ 5459 wrote 19205 is the E400 joining Shields for the increased summer PVR on the Es. It arrived this evening.

Thanks for that. I didn't realise that the PVR of the Es was due to increase. I don't think that this happened in years gone by prior to the June service changes. I'd be interested to hear when this increased summer PVR period will end.

Cheers!

Seen this on Facebook:


There's a gas bus double deck demonstrator coming to sunderland next week


Any truth?

(23 Jul 2017, 7:40 am)Michael wrote Seen this on Facebook:


There's a gas bus double deck demonstrator coming to sunderland next week


Any truth?

I didn't think it was so soon but yes, should only just be going on the X24, although Shields also requested it.

(23 Jul 2017, 10:07 am)RBZ 5459 wrote I didn't think it was so soon but yes, should only just be going on the X24, although Shields also requested it.

Oh cool, how long do Sunderland have it for?

(23 Jul 2017, 10:17 am)Michael wrote Oh cool, how long do Sunderland have it for?

Probably just long enough to realise the X24 doesn't warrant deckers

(23 Jul 2017, 12:51 pm)stagecoachbusdepot wrote Probably just long enough to realise the X24 doesn't warrant deckers

I used the X34 quite a bit when I was living in Whitburn, but does anyone know how the X24 is doing?

(23 Jul 2017, 12:57 pm)Simmy wrote I used the X34 quite a bit when I was living in Whitburn, but does anyone know how the X24 is doing?

I don't think it'll get new stock very soon the X24... it's no where's near breaking even on route costing yet. Sunderland have always been keen to sample the double deck gas, even when it was just a drawing on paper.

(23 Jul 2017, 1:04 pm)RBZ 5459 wrote I don't think it'll get new stock very soon the X24... it's no where's near breaking even on route costing yet. Sunderland have always been keen to sample the double deck gas, even when it was just a drawing on paper.

Thanks for that. Interesting to hear .

(23 Jul 2017, 1:04 pm)RBZ 5459 wrote I don't think it'll get new stock very soon the X24... it's no where's near breaking even on route costing yet. Sunderland have always been keen to sample the double deck gas, even when it was just a drawing on paper.

Is it well used though?, like from paying passengers, or is it all OAP's?

Sunderland could use deckers, if the most used routes are decreased in Frequancy, like the 16, least then the single decker gas buses could move to all the other routes, making it fully gas.

(23 Jul 2017, 1:12 pm)Michael wrote Is it well used though?, like from paying passengers, or is it all OAP's?

Sunderland could use deckers, if the most used routes are decreased in Frequancy, like the 16, least then the single decker gas buses could move to all the other routes, making it fully gas.

No idea on actually loadings, but that's the overall picture. Always seems to have a fair few people using it peak when I see it back and forward to work. During the day I imagine low loadings still.

(23 Jul 2017, 1:33 pm)RBZ 5459 wrote No idea on actually loadings, but that's the overall picture. Always seems to have a fair few people using it peak when I see it back and forward to work. During the day I imagine low loadings still.

I can imagine that for most services though, could increase now, with the school holidays.

(23 Jul 2017, 1:33 pm)RBZ 5459 wrote No idea on actually loadings, but that's the overall picture. Always seems to have a fair few people using it peak when I see it back and forward to work. During the day I imagine low loadings still.

Should get double decker gas buses for the economic services and run the services from wheatsheaf depot.


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(23 Jul 2017, 1:55 pm)cbma06 wrote Should get double decker gas buses for the economic services and run the services from wheatsheaf depot.


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Agree!  Stupid move to ever convert the Es to all single deck operation.

Can't see logic in moving services from shields to wheatsheaf. Space for an extra 18 vehicles for one and I'm pretty sure I'd rather have them stay based where they are given 3 quarters of the routes are in shields I'd say South Shields is one of the best operational depots in the group and should be pushing for there own funding if they wanted to go for gas buses. This is all hypothetical of course lol

Kind regards

Chris

(23 Jul 2017, 8:45 pm)Youngymmv wrote Can't see logic in moving services from shields to wheatsheaf. Space for an extra 18 vehicles for one and I'm pretty sure I'd rather have them stay based where they are given 3 quarters of the routes are in shields I'd say South Shields is one of the best operational depots in the group and should be pushing for there own funding if they wanted to go for gas buses. This is all hypothetical of course lol

Kind regards

Chris

There's plenty of spaces at the wheatsheaf depot, in its busways heyday the PVR was a lot more before stagecoach got there hands on and dramatically reduced the PVR over the years.


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Could split the E services between Sunderland & Shields.

Works for the TEN services between Riverside and Hexham.

(23 Jul 2017, 9:14 pm)Michael wrote Could split the E services between Sunderland & Shields.

Works for the TEN services between Riverside and Hexham.

Yeah but that means one depot would have 8 and the other 7 and anyway the best way to improve the Es services is probably a mix of Single and Double Deckers boards but I would prefer that idea if the service got new buses

Wasn't there talk of splitting the batch of e300's in exchange for e400s to have a mix allocated to account for busiest journeys and seasonal increases in demand?

(23 Jul 2017, 7:40 am)Michael wrote Seen this on Facebook:


There's a gas bus double deck demonstrator coming to sunderland next week

DD16GAS is due to land today, I'd expect it to be out later in the week after familiarisation. Still to confirm loan spell duration.

(24 Jul 2017, 11:09 am)RBZ 5459 wrote DD16GAS is due to land today, I'd expect it to be out later in the week after familiarisation. Still to confirm loan spell duration.

And indeed it has now arrived.

Spotted it earlier when going to falcon computers.

They were getting a photo of the single deck with double deck one together

Has recently been on trial with arriva north west. Carries Adl e400MMC bodywork on scania chasis. Yet to be known if South Shields request for trail is to happen although I would find it unlikely given there's no refill facility available there

19205 entered service at Shields, on the X34.

(25 Jul 2017, 8:02 am)RBZ 5459 wrote 19205 entered service at Shields, on the X34.

It was on the Es on Sunday

(25 Jul 2017, 8:20 am)Ds1197 wrote It was on the Es on Sunday

Good stuff, seemingly went unreported.

Will it be on the same journey every time its out, for example the 8:27am - X24 from Sunderland, Monday-Friday ?

(25 Jul 2017, 9:04 am)Michael wrote Will it be on the same journey every time its out, for example the 8:27am - X24 from Sunderland, Monday-Friday ?

No idea Michael, be handy if it was anyway!

(25 Jul 2017, 9:06 am)RBZ 5459 wrote No idea Michael, be handy if it was anyway!

Hope so, hopefully it works out where i finish work and its due!, my shifts have all changed, with it being the school holidays.... oh what's a 6 week holiday?

I know the x34 has recently been given cascaded 60 plate e400s but does any one else think this route should be worthy of new vehicles? Rarely see an empty vehicle and hasn't had new buses since it was launched. Closest it's been was when it was allocated P reg darts that were short of 2 years in service at time

(25 Jul 2017, 11:13 am)Youngymmv wrote I know the x34 has recently been given cascaded 60 plate e400s but does any one else think this route should be worthy of new vehicles? Rarely see an empty vehicle and hasn't had new buses since it was launched. Closest it's been was when it was allocated P reg darts that were short of 2 years in service at time

Yeah but could hardly seeing it happening since the PVR is only 3 even I think most of time that's tight for how busy the service can get. Even though I thought they should have reintroduced the 20 minutes frequency for the 6 weeks holiday