(02 Apr 2014, 7:47 pm)robisdave15 wrote Can go along with what Davey is saying about the B9TL's. I do Newcastle regularly on the TTX and have never had any bother. Think it's helped by the quality of maintainance from the team at GNE Riverside.
Can go along with what has been said about the engineering team at Redcar? It's been the same for years with constant breakdowns, failures to meet it's PVR and so on; even an intake of New fleet (Temsas and Pulsars) didn't help. Watch this space if the new management sort it out.
Finally. Ecocities on the X93? How would that help with the overcrowding situation?

(02 Apr 2014, 6:09 pm)Davey Bowyer wrote I'm still shocked as to why Arriva never gave the B9TL any thought well before the Euro 5 deadline. They would have been excellent for the X10, X11, X18, X21, X22 and X93. They are very powerful vehicles and the handling is great. Braking and gear changes are very smooth.

(02 Apr 2014, 8:15 pm)aureolin wrote How do you know they didn't give it any thought? All those services combined would require 37 vehicles, based on the following requirements:
X10/X11 PVR 12, X18 PVR 6, X21 PVR 8, X22 PVR 6, X93 PVR 5.

I'd imagine the bus industry is the same as any other, and you can't just go around placing a massive order for new vehicles, without a cast iron business case and forecast to show the money is going to be earned back.

It's just not realistic.

(02 Apr 2014, 8:15 pm)aureolin wrote How do you know they didn't give it any thought? All those services combined would require 37 vehicles, based on the following requirements:
X10/X11 PVR 12, X18 PVR 6, X21 PVR 8, X22 PVR 6, X93 PVR 5.

I'd imagine the bus industry is the same as any other, and you can't just go around placing a massive order for new vehicles, without a cast iron business case and forecast to show the money is going to be earned back.

It's just not realistic.

(02 Apr 2014, 8:23 pm)Kuyoyo wrote X93 has a seasonal PVR difference - PVR 5 on the current (winter) timetable, increasing in the summer (previously PVR 7, rumour is this year will see a PVR of 8 instead).

X21/X22 for the same reason - hence why there's only 6 new E400s on order for the route as part of the 'Sapphire' upgrade with the remaining 8 being made up of refurbished examples (I would guess a further couple will also be treated to give spares).

(02 Apr 2014, 8:28 pm)robisdave15 wrote I know I'm in Arriva land here but just have to compare the TTX X9/10 and now X7 against the X93? Yes the TTX struggled for somewhere but has established itself and the promotion/reliability afforded to the services by GNE is now being rewarded; investment in the B9TL's was a masterstroke. Here on the X93 it would be a risk to seriously promote the service has it has suffered for years with a mish mash of vehicles, inappropriate or otherwise; not only that the majority of services on the route are operated by vehicles based and maintained at s depot some 20 miles away from the principal operating area. When we have vehicles operating on the route as reliable as what they are, sitting at the roadside on some desolate roadside waiting for a replacement vehicle/engineer to turn out is not really the best advertisement!
Then we had, or have the overcrowding issues to deal with? Again not the best way of promoting a service by shoehorning passengers on to an elderly Prestige or even worse, MOD! Why the management at Arriva take the attitude "we can't run extra vehicles", beats me; then there is the other attitude of not being able to provide replacement vehicles to cover breakdowns? Just take a bus of the 27's, not really gonna be missed, surely?
Now we're about to start the new peak season with a collection of vehicles that are already proving to be unreliable....!

(02 Apr 2014, 8:48 pm)robisdave15 wrote Whoops! Didn't think through the tacho thing did I? Yes I know the X93 is operated by Whitby/Redcar (sadly as far as Redcar are concerned), end of the day it!s an Arriva service and all this depit accountability gets wearing!

(02 Apr 2014, 9:19 pm)robisdave15 wrote You see then that it can, and more importantly, should be done, irregardless of the tacho issue. I''ve known times, and only recently, when I've been waiting at MBS to travel home and it's being announced that certain X93 trips will operate due to breakdowns, the only advice being offered is to wait for the next service. I know it's not easy/practical to conjure up a replacement bus/driver but for a service like the X93 I think it's something that should be considered.

(02 Apr 2014, 9:19 pm)robisdave15 wrote You see then that it can, and more importantly, should be done, irregardless of the tacho issue. I''ve known times, and only recently, when I've been waiting at MBS to travel home and it's being announced that certain X93 trips will operate due to breakdowns, the only advice being offered is to wait for the next service. I know it's not easy/practical to conjure up a replacement bus/driver but for a service like the X93 I think it's something that should be considered.

(02 Apr 2014, 9:44 pm)robisdave15 wrote Just the point I'm making? There are some shocking things I've heard and witnessed. There!'s the hanging around at MBS when services fail and nobody can be bothered to sort anything; there are the hours spent at the roadside between Scarborough and Whitby while the fitters travel out from Redcar; vehicles that can scarcely climb out of Robin Hoods Bay...it's not fantasy or a moan, you just have to travel on the service, speak to the passengers and drivers, who I hasten to add, do an admirable job all things considered. Promote the service? That's easy? Get some vehicles that can make it from A to B and do it regularly!!

(03 Apr 2014, 8:04 am)upt50k wrote The Omnis pull well but the Polish bodywork rattles a lot and the door opening and closing can be slow and also some problems with emergency open/close. These should be the things that should be looked at when re furbed But I cannot see it happening. Also does anyone Know if the re seating of the Temsas is still going ahead

(02 Apr 2014, 8:28 pm)robisdave15 wrote I know I'm in Arriva land here but just have to compare the TTX X9/10 and now X7 against the X93? Yes the TTX struggled for somewhere but has established itself and the promotion/reliability afforded to the services by GNE is now being rewarded; investment in the B9TL's was a masterstroke. Here on the X93 it would be a risk to seriously promote the service has it has suffered for years with a mish mash of vehicles, inappropriate or otherwise; not only that the majority of services on the route are operated by vehicles based and maintained at s depot some 20 miles away from the principal operating area. When we have vehicles operating on the route as reliable as what they are, sitting at the roadside on some desolate roadside waiting for a replacement vehicle/engineer to turn out is not really the best advertisement!
Then we had, or have the overcrowding issues to deal with? Again not the best way of promoting a service by shoehorning passengers on to an elderly Prestige or even worse, MOD! Why the management at Arriva take the attitude "we can't run extra vehicles", beats me; then there is the other attitude of not being able to provide replacement vehicles to cover breakdowns? Just take a bus of the 27's, not really gonna be missed, surely?
Now we're about to start the new peak season with a collection of vehicles that are already proving to be unreliable....!

(04 Apr 2014, 8:33 pm)robisdave15 wrote Seen that the "enhanced" services on the X93 are being promoted on the buses now? Wonder just what these are going to be?

(04 Apr 2014, 9:12 pm)Davey Bowyer wrote Looking at the Northumbria orders according to PPT from Arriva, this is what is being invested in Ashington Depot this year:

- 5 new double deck buses for the X18 (B9TL which is unlikely or E400)
- 8 new double deck buses for the X21 and X22 (E400's with assumption of 7514 to 7521 also getting upgraded). That will be 14 plus 2 spare.
- 3 new single deck buses for service 35 (assuming VDL SB200 PULSAR 2)

Then what could happen as a result:

- 7505 to 09 and 7511 will upgrade the X14 and X20
- 55 reg coaches for the X15
- Three 57 reg lowlanders making the PVR upto 6 on the 35 and 35a. The best of 4 will act as a spare with 7530 and 7531 for the X18, X21 and X22.
- The two Spectras would be withdrawn and replaced by B10BLE'S or DAF DB250 ALX400'S or Lowlanders for the 30 and 34. Another 1 or 2 from the above would be allocated to the 100.