(05 Feb 2020, 12:32 am)streetdeckfan wrote I'm a big fan of EVs, although with an electric drivetrain being so quiet, it's really noticeable when the bus itself is of low quality. The Yutongs for example, when they had the trial on the X66, it was creaker than the windows on the E200s! and you could fee the weight of the batteries on the roof going round corners. The same with the E200 EV that GNE trialed last year, things that were normally not noticeable over the sound of the engine, were very noticeable! Going off what you wrote, it seems like this wasn't an issue with the Volvos so that's also great to see!
The quality difference between these and the Streetair EVs that Lothian have is streets apart. The Volvo is just a far superior product, but having used the hybrids up in Edinburgh, I wasn't expecting anything else.
Never managed to catch up with the Yutong, so quite looking forward to their arrival up here.
(05 Feb 2020, 12:32 am)streetdeckfan wrote The issue you mentioned about the tables not having stop buttons is the same issue with the E400s, if you're sitting at a table, you have to lean over and push the stop button in front of someone else, which can be quite awkward. Also, I've been on an E400 a few times where the stop buttons on the seats haven't worked at all, so it was only sheer luck that someone downstairs was getting off at my stop, as I didn't have time to walk to the front of the bus to push the only proper stop button (which is a chore in and of itself with the low height upstairs!)
It's strange. Given where the bell is placed on the side wall, I don't think I'd be best pleased with someone reaching over in that area.
I'm yet to be convinced of the latest fad of having no handrails, but equally operators need to put some thought into where the stop buttons should be placed. The rear of the seats, like the Enviros that GNE have recently purchased, is ideal.
(05 Feb 2020, 8:49 am)Jimmi wrote Harrogate Bus Station is rather irritating for someone like myself as I'm a bit impatient and there's not much space to navigate your way through it, always either get stuck behind someone walking really slowly and can't get past them or people stand in a position that makes it so you can't get past them.
Yes, I'd agree with that! It's got a similar issue to the re-development of Durham though, and that the footprint doesn't give them a lot to play with...