(22 Feb 2014, 11:03 am)Dan wrote Providing Nexus were assisting with the cost of the vehicles again (as I believe they did with 629/630 (?)), I'd assume that they would contribute towards an additional vehicle for the 700's PVR of 3 and the 701's PVR of 1, as well as having one vehicle spare - though Go North East would probably have to pay for the spare as it'd be down to operational convenience.
I honestly don't think the Cobalt Connect is worthy of investment. Let's think of how many journeys are secured. If you've been on the Cobalt Connect, you'll know how few passengers actually travel between Cramlington and Ashington. They essentially carry air.
I don't know what to make of the Coaster. If it was to receive investment, I think it would be Mercs as you've pointed out... The livery re-design suggested to me that they'd be on there for another few years yet though.
The Pronto is likely to receive a full set of the same vehicle type rather than a mixture. 3963 is likely to become a 'red spare' in the near future, rather than a branded vehicle. Whether this is by cascades or by investment, I don't know.
The Loop certainly wouldn't justify investment. Not at all. It's a service for Saltmeadows drivers and Gateshead College students, with the occasional single fare and concessionary pass.
As for the Solo SRs... I really don't think that some of the services held within those brand networks can justify the cost of new vehicles. Touching on a few points regarding Hexham... They already have a branded spare MPD (the PVR is 4, and they have 5 vehicles), and 8293's replacement has to be a full sized single decker (just like 8228's had to be).
Replacing the 2011-born Versas (SimpliCity = 10, Orbit = 9) may be a good idea, though I question whether it would be good to do it in 2015 or 2016, given that I feel MPD replacement hasn't been a 'top priority' (X-reg MPDs should have been withdrawn in 2012, not 2013). We know that, no matter what, the "QuayLink" examples are going to be freed up - I've suggested that the current plan is for them to go to Washington for services M2/M3, assuming that the current midi-sized vehicle "trial" (if you want to treat it like that) is successful.
Nevertheless, 19 Versas to play around with... I'm not including the plain purple batch...
For a PVR of 12, I think that 14 Versas (losing one spare as the newer vehicles should be more reliable) could go to Peterlee. There are a number of services which run quite empty, but there are also a number of them which could justify a cascaded Versa. Deptford require 2 MPDs for the 238 and I'd assume like for like replacements and give them 3 for good measure. Crook require 2 MPDs for the 18, and I'd replace these likewise also - accounting for your 19 Versas.
We know that the "South Tyne" branded Cadets on the 5 are being replaced this year. We've been told that those vehicles are going to be withdrawn.
As for the cascades of the 700, you'd be allocating two different vehicle types (Hybrid vs non-Hybrid) again. I think they'll be retained for use on Nexus contracts.
I do think it'll be a contractual requirement for eco-friendly vehicles this time around. A simple Euro regulation won't suffice, if you ask me.
I agree, hence I pointed out that four ''Crusader'' mercs could transfer for the ''Cobalt Connect''. The 19 is only really busy at peak times beyond Cramlington, through the day it's usually only a few passengers beyond Cramlington. I still think Mercs would be suitable for the 19, and encourage more passengers to use the service in the Northumberland areas. This would have a good effect on withdrawing B10BLE's too, as 5251/2 from the Coaster would replace B10BLE's on the 71, 5243-6 Versas (therefore replacing MPD's), 5261-5 would replace Solars which would then replace B10BLE's and 5266-71 could replace Solars/Lolynes on the X25, and also helping to replace MPD's.
If the Simplicity and Orbit were to receive investment, I think some would go to Percy Main for the North Tyne Links, Peterlee for East Durham and Riverside for LOOP. A significant amount of MPD's could be withdrawn as a result of this, and B10BLE's as a result of a upgrade to the ''LOOP'', whether this be in 2015 or 2016...
And I forgot that 8293's replacement has to be a full sized single decker, because of the H11/H53. If the ''LOOP'' recives the Versa's I suggested, 5226 could transfer to replace that piece of crap.
''Sunderland Connect'' should defiantly get Versas. Where the remaining Solos go, I don't know, but I do think the 5. 603-6 don't need to be replaced for a while yet, and seem to be coping well on the W5/W6. It doesn't really justify anything bigger than a MPD in my opinion, unless the frequency was reduced to hourly on each service, which I doubt would happen.
If the M2/M3 does get a upgrade, I'd like to see a brand, something similar to the ''Washington Street Shuttle'', as I did like that brand.