(26 Feb 2015, 7:32 pm)Andreos1 wrote They tweeted a link to a survey about services in Darlington earlier.
Imagine it is on their fb page too.
(26 Feb 2015, 7:36 pm)Jimmi wrote There was - I posted a link to the survey from there earlier, probably should have posted here instead of the latest thread - oh well!
Link to the survey: http://bit.ly/1zKpu3C
(26 Feb 2015, 7:37 pm)Andreos1 wrote Just going through the unread posts and saw mention of it elsewhere.
Came to this one before the 'latest' thread.
Nevermind
(04 Mar 2015, 8:47 pm)Jimmi wrote Just noticed that the additional peak summer journeys on service X93 will now start on Sunday 29th March and will run until Sunday 1st November. The registrations will be split at Guisborough and Whitby from the same date.
Wonder what they'll use alongside the MAX branded B9TL's.
(05 Mar 2015, 1:18 pm)DaveyBowyer wrote Should use 2 of the best out of 7453 - 7456 for the X93. With a bit of TLC, they'd be good powerful workhorses.
(05 Mar 2015, 3:22 pm)Cock Robin wrote They couldn't cope with the route last summer but no doubt a new coat of paint and wifi fitted will help them get up the banks.
(05 Mar 2015, 4:24 pm)Jimmi wrote Problem is there isn't much else they could probably use on there as using something more modern would be a bit of a waste because of the 4 or so months they won't really be used out of the peak season and most other modern double deckers are now branded for other services and some other more modern buses like the 57 reg Lowlander's are totally shot so would be likely to spend less time on the X93 and more time at the side of the road or in Redcar depot needing to be repaired.I really can't see how a 13 year old ex-London decker will be in better condition than a 7 year old Lowlander. I'm not saying that 7453-6 should go on there, I just think that for this summer at least they'd be far better than 7485/6 would be.
Old B7TLs are probably not the most ideal allocation for the X93 but it's probably the best we're going to get for now.
(05 Mar 2015, 4:52 pm)mb134 wrote I really can't see how a 13 year old ex-London decker will be in better condition than a 7 year old Lowlander. I'm not saying that 7453-6 should go on there, I just think that for this summer at least they'd be far better than 7485/6 would be.
(05 Mar 2015, 4:59 pm)Tommy_1581 wrote 7453 - 7456 are shot. The Coast and Castles 518 nearly killed them, one apparently drove over a field and then all the others started playing up. I assume 7485/6 will not have e-leather seats fitted as I believe the seats were re trimmed last year.
It would be better if Arriva could fit Wi-Fi and just stick "X93 along the glorious Yorkshire coast" stickers on the side. Instead of lying about new buses, then passengers turn up complaining that it isn't.
(05 Mar 2015, 5:03 pm)Mark P wrote So if only 7485/6 are going MAX, does that mean the entire peak season without a spare... or is there a PVR change this year?
(05 Mar 2015, 5:06 pm)Jimmi wrote 7485/6 seem like they will be re trimmed with e-leather seating as they will be MAX standard.
It won't be the first time Arriva will have refurbished a bus after less than a year, 1512 arrived around autumn 2013 and around a year later it was refurbished to Sapphire spec for the 5/5A!
(05 Mar 2015, 5:06 pm)Jimmi wrote 7485/6 seem like they will be re trimmed with e-leather seating as they will be MAX standard.
It won't be the first time Arriva will have refurbished a bus after less than a year, 1512 arrived around autumn 2013 and around a year later it was refurbished to Sapphire spec for the 5/5A!
(05 Mar 2015, 5:09 pm)Jimmi wrote From what I can see if only 7485/6 get done there is probably going to be no spare, so no doubt Tesma's will be on the X93 not making MAXimum Impact.
(05 Mar 2015, 5:12 pm)MarcTheA4 wrote wow...that's a bit unnecessarily extreme.
(05 Mar 2015, 5:12 pm)Dan wrote Don't think so. Believe I read / was told that the two Volvo B7TLs will merely be repainted and fitted with Wi-Fi, retaining their standard fabric moquette.
Begs the question: why have a brand if you're not going to standardise it? The exact same has happened with "Sapphire"; whilst the specification is similar, each and every single "Sapphire" branded vehicle is not the same up and down the country. Some have white destinations, others don't. Some have 2+1 seating to allow more leg-room, others don't. The list goes on - and now the same is happening with "MAX".
The Lowlanders are great and have an abundance of power. Although the Volvo B7TLs performed well, better buses are required as the B7TLs fall down the hills when they have to come to a complete halt to get back into first gear. A 57-reg Lowlander should have at least been trialled - tachographs aren't required when the peak season timetable comes into fruition, so why not? The only logical explanation I can come up with is that it saves Arriva a job: drivers and engineers don't have to familiarise themselves with a Lowlander for a few months during the peak season operation of the X93.
(05 Mar 2015, 5:32 pm)MarcTheA4 wrote Just like to voice my views on these ALX400s being specified for MAX...I'm no regular user of any ALX400 (or Lowlander) routes, but my experience of having them on the X24 - is that they are absolute horses. They could go to London and back on their hands and knees!
My point is: they appear to be great buses, and I doubt they would encounter many life-threatening problems.
