sunderlands yutongs should be put in service tomorrow

Where's this come from? They haven't fitted the chargers yet (unless they've been in today and done it and finished the concrete jobs), and all publicity says January anyway.

(29 Dec 2024, 8:37 pm)F114TML wrote Where's this come from? They haven't fitted the chargers yet (unless they've been in today and done it and finished the concrete jobs), and all publicity says January anyway.

portable chargers they have

(30 Dec 2024, 10:19 pm)bob22222 wrote portable chargers they have

They only have 2 portable chargers, so not enough to charge 5 buses that are on site

It has been posted on LinkedIn today (Thursday 2nd January) that the Yutongs will begin entering service on Monday (6th January):

Monday is the big day... the day that we launch our new fleet into service!
Sunderland's 20 Yutong Bus & Coach E12's have been spotted around the city over the last couple of months on driver induction training, route calibration testing, school visits and photo shoots, but from Monday the people of Sunderland will be able to experience them on the Stagecoach Bus E1, E2 and E6 services.

(02 Jan 2025, 8:39 pm)cainebj wrote It has been posted on LinkedIn today (Thursday 2nd January) that the Yutongs will begin entering service on Monday (6th January):

Looking forward to seeing them out and about, surprised they're keeping 10 in the depot though... seems like a massive waste... unless the changes at end of the month - brings them back to every 7 mins combined.


If not, then I would hope they'll be used on another route.



Shame I'll be at work.


Edit:

Wonder if the stop announcements will be working?

(02 Jan 2025, 8:49 pm)Michael wrote Looking forward to seeing them out and about, surprised they're keeping 10 in the depot though... seems like a massive waste... unless the changes at end of the month - brings them back to every 7 mins combined.


If not, then I would hope they'll be used on another route.



Shame I'll be at work.


Edit:

Wonder if the stop announcements will be working?

Current rumour is they're eyeing up putting them on the 16 too but not sure how reliable that is. If it's true, I'm sure they won't come to regret that at all.

Personally, I'd put them on the 'middle' boards on the 3 and 20. Also one on the 18 cos... well why not?

(Yesterday, 12:37 am)F114TML wrote Current rumour is they're eyeing up putting them on the 16 too but not sure how reliable that is. If it's true, I'm sure they won't come to regret that at all.

Personally, I'd put them on the 'middle' boards on the 3 and 20. Also one on the 18 cos... well why not?

Is the 16 a bad route?  Any particular bit of it?
I'd always assumed the 10/11/20 would be the worst (other than scholars)

(Yesterday, 12:37 am)F114TML wrote Current rumour is they're eyeing up putting them on the 16 too but not sure how reliable that is. If it's true, I'm sure they won't come to regret that at all.

Personally, I'd put them on the 'middle' boards on the 3 and 20. Also one on the 18 cos... well why not?

Putting them on the 23 would be nice............


18 would be a waste though, same as the 99 - both services get low passenger numbers.

(Yesterday, 9:23 am)Michael wrote Putting them on the 23 would be nice............


18 would be a waste though, same as the 99 - both services get low passenger numbers.

The 18 needs looking at again. After all it’s the only service thst cuts through the middle of Roker. Surely something could be done to make it popular again.

(Yesterday, 11:22 am)Economic505 wrote The 18 needs looking at again. After all it’s the only service thst cuts through the middle of Roker. Surely something could be done to make it popular again.

I agree, but honestly not sure what they could do with the route, it basically overlaps most of the other services in Sunderland.


Gilley Law - 13
Springwell - 23
Thorney Close - 23
Grindon - 16
Pennywell - GNE 61/62/62A (From 26th January)
Hylton Road - 20
Pallion - 10/11
Queen Alexandra Bridge North End - GNE 8, NorthStar 599 and Stagecoach 99
Southwick - A good selection
Fulwell - E2
Seaburn - E1/E2/E6 and 558.
Wheatsheaf - A good selection
Sunderland City Centre - A good selection





The only areas with just the 18 are:


Thompson Road
Seaburn Park Avenue-Chichester Road to Fulwell Roker Baths Road-Kingston Terrace


I wonder, if they would merge the 18 and 99 and make it loop service?

Setting the 18A aside, the 18 tends to get used most through Roker, and Thorney/Grindon to/from Aldi at Pennywell. It's awkward to know what to do with it as it's not often you have absolutely no one on. It also gives many estates a direct bus to the hospital.

The reason I suggested it for Yutongs is because I've heard when GNE updated fleets on their routes, they saw an uptick in passengers. People would get on the 18 because it's an electric.

(8 hours ago)F114TML wrote Setting the 18A aside, the 18 tends to get used most through Roker, and Thorney/Grindon to/from Aldi at Pennywell. It's awkward to know what to do with it as it's not often you have absolutely no one on. It also gives many estates a direct bus to the hospital.

The reason I suggested it for Yutongs is because I've heard when GNE updated fleets on their routes, they saw an uptick in passengers. People would get on the 18 because it's an electric.

Interesting, seems odd, passengers would use the route more if it was electric but then, it would make sense but doesn't one of the 18's need to be a decker due to the interworking with a school service.

I wonder if the 99 would also benefit from the Yutongs?


What's the capacity on them again?

(8 hours ago)F114TML wrote Setting the 18A aside, the 18 tends to get used most through Roker, and Thorney/Grindon to/from Aldi at Pennywell. It's awkward to know what to do with it as it's not often you have absolutely no one on. It also gives many estates a direct bus to the hospital.

The reason I suggested it for Yutongs is because I've heard when GNE updated fleets on their routes, they saw an uptick in passengers. People would get on the 18 because it's an electric.

Wonder if there could be a case for splitting it into 3.

Have something like

7: Sunderland - Grangetown, 8 to Pennywell, 18A from there (Hourly)
8: Sunderland - South Hylton (Hourly)

E1A - Sunderland - South Shields via Roker (Every 30 Minutes), E1/E1A (Every 15 Minutes combined)

99: Seaburn to as far as you go in 30 minutes using the 18 route, then 99 route beyond Pallion.

18/18A withdrawn, they're covered by the above or 599 anyway. The reason for the 18A route is because the bus would sit around doing nothing for 15 minutes so might aswell use the resource.

(7 hours ago)Storx wrote Wonder if there could be a case for splitting it into 3.

Have something like

7: Sunderland - Grangetown, 8 to Pennywell, 18A from there (Hourly)
8: Sunderland - South Hylton (Hourly)

E1A - Sunderland - South Shields via Roker (Every 30 Minutes), E1/E1A (Every 15 Minutes combined)

99: Seaburn to as far as you go in 30 minutes using the 18 route, then 99 route beyond Pallion.

18/18A withdrawn, they're covered by the above or 599 anyway. The reason for the 18A route is because the bus would sit around doing nothing for 15 minutes so might aswell use the resource.

The 18A is for school kids at Aidans and Southmoor.

(7 hours ago)Economic505 wrote The 18A is for school kids at Aidans and Southmoor.

Also used by workers from Roker to the industrial estates near the QA Bridge.

(7 hours ago)Economic505 wrote The 18A is for school kids at Aidans and Southmoor.

Aye of course, no real reason why it couldn't run all day though. Someone is more likely to want to travel to ASDA than a dead end at Gilley Law.