(23 Aug 2017, 4:20 pm)Jimmi wrote I'd say that the X26/X27 & X75/X76 are somewhat similar in terms of demands for routes although the X66/X67 are a bit more duel carriageway road blastings, the Middlesbrough - Saltburn stretch of the X3/X4 routes would probably be a better comparison and whilst the StreetLite's can sit at 50mph easily enough, I think you would maybe have to add a little bit of extra running time to these services to ensure that they have enough running time, even the worst Omnicity's branded for the X66/X67 allocation can manage about 55mph, so I think a bus limited to 50mph may not be the best fit, EcoCity's manage 52mph, unsure about E200 MMC's but think it may me more than both of them?
Id disagree, Yes they probably have the same amount of flat out running but the 8/78 also benefit from slower area's along the route, Which let's the Streetlite's to take a breather while en route, While the X26/27/66/67 are mostly sat at the Speed Limiter for the whole route.
The Ecocity's are on a heavy duty chassis, And are powered by a more than capable engine underneath, Coupled to a Heavy duty Gearbox the ZF Ecolife, The Ex Demo's can sit at 65 or over easily, Baffles me why Arriva decided to limit there's to such a such a underperforming speed.
Long E200MMC's are limited to the 50ish mark, I believe due to Chassis Limitations due to them being on a lightweight chassis, Same thing that bugged the E300 when that was produced, Even though that was supposedly a " Heavy Duty Bus "
(23 Aug 2017, 2:45 pm)omnicity4659 wrote Surely E200 MMCs would be a more superior option than StreetLites?
In a way, Yes. But even they shouldn't be chucked on expresses either in my opinion. Standard spec for Arriva so far is pretty much the cheapest option, ADL's standard offering of the 4.5L, 4 Cylinder Cummins with the Dinky Voith ( The model Voith which is normally restricted to less torque 4 Cylinder's in the UK for Town Work ) Stagecoach atleast seen some sense in specifying the Heavy Duty 6.7L 6 Cylinder Cummins which could easily handle Demanding work, Which is the reason ADL offered in the first place!
A perfect Express in my opinion is the like's of the Volvo B8RLE,Scania K270UB or Mercedes O295N Citaro, All heavy duty Chassis/Engines with Bags of Power and Torque giving them perfect pulling into Fast Traffic and Sitting at 50-60mph.
McGill's have bought 2 batches of Euro6 Citaro's ( All being used on Long Distance Express's out of Glasgow down the M8 ) and they are a absolute dream, Setup for the route's perfectly, Reasonably Quiet, And will sit at around 60mph the whole way.
Unfortunately I've probably put a lot more effort into making this Essay than what Arriva will look at when ordering, 4 Cylinder E200's with dinky Voith's screaming to a North Yorkshire Village near you next year?...
