(24 Feb 2015, 10:28 pm)Robert wrote Nope, it is just 4. Doing the calculations neccessary you end up with 3.8 which rounds up to4.
(24 Feb 2015, 8:02 pm)citaro5284 wrote The new Streetlites due between March and May will be deployed on three groups of services: The X66 and Lime as many have guessed, but also the Red Kites.
Now, let the guessing commence as to where the Scania Omnicities will be heading to.....
(25 Feb 2015, 8:03 am)Dan wrote I can confirm that Greg in Weardale is correct: the PVR is 5. Buses have a 32-minute layover at Consett Bus Station, which is why the PVR is not 4. The vehicle allocation is three Dennis Tridents and two OmniCitys. Tridents are more-or-less guaranteed on the 0854 departure from Consett as this works off college service X78 and scholars 822, while the 1454 arrival at Consett works onto scholars 827. The other board which is allocated a Trident catches the morning peak customers and presumably requires a double-decked vehicle to alleviate capacity issues on a singledecker.
The PVR of services X30/X31 is also 5 vehicles, and the vehicle allocation is four Dennis Tridents and one OmniCity.
As only three OmniCitys of Stanley's four form part of their vehicle allocation, the depot has one spare OmniCity which should see primary allocation to "Red Kite" services 45/46 in the event that a branded vehicle is unavailable.
Sorry to spoil the fun - but if the former "West Durham Swift" services were ever to receive an upgrade, there's a high likelihood it would be in the form of double decked vehicles all around. There are some runs which need a double decked vehicle due to interworking with scholars, and others should be allocated a double decked vehicle so that people can have a seat on their peak time commute.
(25 Feb 2015, 4:29 pm)Greg in Weardale wrote You can't really calculate PVR by a formula, and it's not necessarily possible to do it manually via the timetable as you don't know when buses may appear off other routes. You really have to have access to the companies' driver boards.
(25 Feb 2015, 4:23 pm)Robert wrote So the boards have been changed again. I base this on that you have always argued that all four omnicities should be allocated to services X70/X71 and all 5 Dennis Trident Presidents (first choice) should have been allocated to services X30/X31. It now appears that this isn't the case...
I'll also say that the timetable therefore states that one vehicle is entering Consett while another is loading up. Shows that that method regarding PVR workouts isnt the case so i am sure you will be able to understand where i went wrong.
(25 Feb 2015, 4:31 pm)Robert wrote You can and it works most of the time but obviously you cant be certain it will work 100% of the time.
(25 Feb 2015, 4:37 pm)Dan wrote Greg in Weardale has a point.
The 'formula' (total running time divided by service frequency) mightn't work if the buses have a slightly unusual interworking pattern and/or extended layover periods. For the same reason as the X70/X71, you may struggle to work out the PVR of the revised 20/20A, as they have a fair amount of layover at each end. Both can be identified without the company's running boards - you just have to be sad enough to stand at a terminus point for long enough to gather the information and work it out..!![]()
(25 Feb 2015, 5:24 pm)Robert wrote Completely agree and i thinkthe X70/X71 is the perfect example for his point. Obviously, if you were to add the 32 min layover into the formula, you would get 4.xx or even 5. Obviously, with me not being a 'taking photos' sort of person, i dont follow this layover malarkey s much but when i get told, i certainly dont throw it out of the window.Dont you just hate it when your surname is used in a sentence in another persons post
(25 Feb 2015, 5:59 pm)Malarkey wrote Dont you just hate it when your surname is used in a sentence in another persons postWhen I think of your surname, it reminds me of a scene from Band of Brothers, I would be a Millionaire perhaps even Billionaire if I had a quid on my surname being mentioned in sentence/conversation or on tv, happens more often than you think you know.
(27 Feb 2015, 6:21 pm)Jimmi wrote It seems like they are in no hurry to reapply Pronto vinyls on the front of one of the Pronto branded President's, so I'm wondering if this could potentially be a sign that the X21 may get investment soon.
(27 Feb 2015, 10:16 pm)DaveyBowyer wrote I don't think GNE will upgrade the X21 until a suitable heavyweight decker is out there on the market or an existing B9 service justifies an upgrade. I know lightweight deckers are good initially but what about in 7 years time? GNE have stuck with heavyweight deckers (except the Angel) for the past 4 years now and nothing major has gone wrong with any of them. What you've got to remember also is that with no turbo on a Cummins Unit when it fails, the Horsepower would only be at roughly 150-200 bhp and that would cause problems. I've got nothing against Cummins engined vehicles but I don't like them for demanding work whatever the setup.Out of interest, as I have no idea how engines work (well in any detail anyway), how often do/likely is it for, a turbo to fail?
(27 Feb 2015, 10:31 pm)mb134 wrote Out of interest, as I have no idea how engines work (well in any detail anyway), how often do/likely is it for, a turbo to fail?
(27 Feb 2015, 11:06 pm)DaveyBowyer wrote Well judging by the 57 plate E400 examples at Ashington, normally before 7 years. Look at the state of Washington's B9 Geminis 6001 - 6007 (Jul 2011 first service and always been on the X1) then look at the state of Blyth's and Belmont's Cummins Engined VDL Gemini deckers (first service Jan 2012 mostly for the 308 then only used on X10 / X11 after March / April 2013). That says it all basically.Ah okay
(27 Feb 2015, 10:16 pm)DaveyBowyer wrote I don't think GNE will upgrade the X21 until a suitable heavyweight decker is out there on the market or an existing B9 service justifies an upgrade. I know lightweight deckers are good initially but what about in 7 years time? GNE have stuck with heavyweight deckers (except the Angel) for the past 4 years now and nothing major has gone wrong with any of them. What you've got to remember also is that with no turbo on a Cummins Unit when it fails, the Horsepower would only be at roughly 150-200 bhp and that would cause problems. I've got nothing against Cummins engined vehicles but I don't like them for demanding work whatever the setup.
(28 Feb 2015, 10:13 am)Robert wrote I think GNE would rather go for this option than have 7 more years of breakdowns with the B7s (or however long it may be) before a suitable heavyweight vehicle is out there...
(28 Feb 2015, 12:33 pm)DaveyBowyer wrote But a heavyweight vehicle bar a few lecky and build issues, would have no major trouble. Several of the 61 reg DB300 deckers at Blyth and Belmont have had engine trouble and the haven't been always used on express work but the 7x 11 reg B9s at Washington have dealt with a more demanding route (about the same length as the X21 / X22 between Newcastle and Ashington) and have suffered from no issies often with full loads between Newcastle and Galleries combined with rough driving to keep the service running as close to time as possible.
(28 Feb 2015, 1:21 pm)citaro5284 wrote What has TfL got to do with buses in the North East or any other part of the country for that matter?
(01 Mar 2015, 10:58 am)DaveyBowyer wrote If GNE were to invest in new buses for the Coaster, do you think E400 MMCs remapped to cope with the hills would be justified or do you think that single deckers are more suited?
(01 Mar 2015, 10:58 am)DaveyBowyer wrote If GNE were to invest in new buses for the Coaster, do you think E400 MMCs remapped to cope with the hills would be justified or do you think that single deckers are more suited?
(01 Mar 2015, 11:04 am)Dan wrote I'd imagine that the next step up for the "Coaster" services would be double deckers - whether it be cascades or new vehicles. Especially during summer, they do get quite full, and it'd help keep things running smoothly when the Metro encounters an issue! Problem is that, outside of peak times and/or summer, single deckers are more suited.
Would like to see a full double decker allocation to "Coaster" service 1, "Prince Bishops" services 20/20A, "Crusader" service 27, "Diamond" services 43/44 and the former "West Durham Swift" X30/X31 and X70/X71 services, but I'm not sure if this will happen any time in the near future, especially with the threat of Quality Contracts ahead of us.
(01 Mar 2015, 12:45 pm)DaveyBowyer wrote I don't think it would be cascades. If GNE wanted to continue with shortfalls, they could use 6001-6007 and 6049-6055 but, the next natural progression role for them would be to upgrade the Pronto and provide reliable spares to existing B9 services and if all goes well with the flybrid wheels on the CC and Fab 56, make up the PVR on the Angel.
(01 Mar 2015, 1:54 pm)Michael wrote No idea, i would imagine, the deckers will probables be after the Streetlites.
Citaro is the best person to answer it. =)