(24 Oct 2020, 1:48 pm)L469 YVK wrote So are Arriva running the 110 using a mixed fleet of StreetDecks & ADL E400 classics?

Yes, and as well as the mix of bus types there is the mix of liveries as well

It’s effected various services at Arriva Yorkshire as only half the cascades to other depots happened, and also the 58 plate Enviro 400s were supposed to be leaving and heading up your way, but only a few were transferred

(25 Oct 2020, 7:40 pm)IRHardy wrote Also don't forget the Streetdecks were ordered by Arriva in response a requirement for low emission buses in use in the area covered by the Leeds Clean Air Zone which had planned to be introduced in January 2020, but due to delays by the UK Government it was delayed until January 2021 at the earliest,.

In September 2019 Wrightbus went bust and so the last 7 Streetdecks were delayed, Arriva then decided that as the CAZ was delayed and there was a chance that the buses would not have a warranty, those last 7 were cancelled.

On 13/10/2020 the CAZ was cancelled as the reductions of traffic due to COVID had reduced emissions to below the levels that the CAZ was due to result in.

But why did GNE persist with their order then despite the uncertainty regarding WrightBus at the time? Unless Storx's point about the credit applied to GNE and Arriva finance in a different way (we will unlikely know that).

@Dan - Do bus operators finance in the same ways or differently? (Don't need to know the particulars of course)

(25 Oct 2020, 7:40 pm)IRHardy wrote On 13/10/2020 the CAZ was cancelled as the reductions of traffic due to COVID had reduced emissions to below the levels that the CAZ was due to result in.

It's almost as if the buses aren't the problem!

(25 Oct 2020, 8:49 pm)L469 YVK wrote But why did GNE persist with their order then despite the uncertainty regarding WrightBus at the time? Unless Storx's point about the credit applied to GNE and Arriva finance in a different way (we will unlikely know that).

@Dan - Do bus operators finance in the same ways or differently? (Don't need to know the particulars of course)

Last I heard, Arriva negotiate longer warranty terms on their vehicles but the new Wrightbus owners not prepared to agree to longer warranty terms.

(25 Oct 2020, 9:26 pm)RobinHood wrote Last I heard, Arriva negotiate longer warranty terms on their vehicles but the new Wrightbus owners not prepared to agree to longer warranty terms.

Will be interesting going forward if that's the case. The 308 if that was to receive new vehicles (doubt it) would suit the StreetDeck hands down.

(25 Oct 2020, 8:49 pm)L469 YVK wrote But why did GNE persist with their order then despite the uncertainty regarding WrightBus at the time? Unless Storx's point about the credit applied to GNE and Arriva finance in a different way (we will unlikely know that).

@Dan - Do bus operators finance in the same ways or differently? (Don't need to know the particulars of course)

All the big groups will finance vehicles differently - some will buy outright, some will buy on HP, others will lease.

As important, they will depreciate the buses over different periods 12 years/15 years/16 years.

Thus the cost charged to the accounts each year will be different - different financing costs and different depreciation policies.

Whats on the market bus wise for a potential replacement for the Solos when the time comes?

(26 Oct 2020, 7:44 pm)V514DFT wrote Whats on the market bus wise for a potential replacement for the Solos when the time comes?

More Solos?


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(26 Oct 2020, 7:44 pm)V514DFT wrote Whats on the market bus wise for a potential replacement for the Solos when the time comes?

I fear that lots of the Solos won't be replaced when their time comes, due to service reductions as a result of lower passenger numbers medium to long term.
If they are, more Solo or ADL Enviro 200 "MPD"

If Arriva do order in the not so distant future, I can see them going (depending on PVRs etc)

- 10x OM934 StreetDecks or ADL E400MMC (Voith) for 308
- 6x OM936 StreetDecks or Scania E400MMC for X93

7628-37 would then cascade down and replace older Geminis in turn replacing older double deckers.

7401-06 would then go to Ashington / Alnwick for either the X14 or X20 with 2x either also going or acting as 'float' spares.

(27 Oct 2020, 5:11 pm)L469 YVK wrote If Arriva do order in the not so distant future, I can see them going (depending on PVRs etc)

- 10x OM934 StreetDecks or ADL E400MMC (Voith) for 308
- 6x OM936 StreetDecks or Scania E400MMC for X93

7628-37 would then cascade down and replace older Geminis in turn replacing older double deckers.

7401-06 would then go to Ashington / Alnwick for either the X14 or X20 with 2x either also going or acting as 'float' spares.

The 308 had its investment a few years back with the refurbished DB300s so can't see that happening. I also highly doubt Arriva would purchase the E400MMC Scania since it doesn't operate the type anywhere in the UK currently & is considerably more expensive than the integral product.

(27 Oct 2020, 5:11 pm)L469 YVK wrote If Arriva do order in the not so distant future, I can see them going (depending on PVRs etc)

- 10x OM934 StreetDecks or ADL E400MMC (Voith) for 308
- 6x OM936 StreetDecks or Scania E400MMC for X93

7628-37 would then cascade down and replace older Geminis in turn replacing older double deckers.

7401-06 would then go to Ashington / Alnwick for either the X14 or X20 with 2x either also going or acting as 'float' spares.

I really don't see those B9s ever ending up at Ashington.

7511/2/4-7 will almost certainly be high up the replacement list at Arriva, at least on the services they're on, which would leave Ashington with 64 and 15 plate E400s as their oldest MAX deckers.

I don't see how B9s that have been destroyed on the X93 would be a better option than E400s of the same age on the X20, myself and Citaro5284 had one of the 64 plates on a Morpeth express over the summer and it handled the A1 stretch with no fuss. Bar 7553 which by all accounts is pretty awful, the rest of the younger E400s at Ashington are generally absolutely fine. 7555 also had some heat issues recently leading it to being at home with the Volvos on the 35 but it's been released back onto more demanding stuff over the last few days.

(27 Oct 2020, 6:10 pm)mb134 wrote I don't see how B9s that have been destroyed on the X93 would be a better option than E400s of the same age on the X20, myself and Citaro5284 had one of the 64 plates on a Morpeth express over the summer and it handled the A1 stretch with no fuss. Bar 7553 which by all accounts is pretty awful, the rest of the younger E400s at Ashington are generally absolutely fine. 7555 also had some heat issues recently leading it to being at home with the Volvos on the 35 but it's been released back onto more demanding stuff over the last few days.

7553 has much improved in recent weeks, as has 55 hence it being allocated express work again. All the E400s bar the ex Yorkshire examples at Ashington are starting to become tired now and are in need of relocating to quieter, less demanding depots.

(27 Oct 2020, 5:23 pm)Cobalt271 wrote The 308 had its investment a few years back with the refurbished DB300s so can't see that happening. I also highly doubt Arriva would purchase the E400MMC Scania since it doesn't operate the type anywhere in the UK currently & is considerably more expensive than the integral product.

That was due to newer Volvo B5LHs being swapped with them and they had no choice. 

X93 is an interesting one though. Perhaps the integral E400MMC coupled with a ZF box would be fine. Also bearing in mind that the only reason the NK57 XXX series (7501 etc) were awful was due to their previous neglect.

(27 Oct 2020, 6:54 pm)Cobalt271 wrote 7553 has much improved in recent weeks, as has 55 hence it being allocated express work again. All the E400s bar the ex Yorkshire examples at Ashington are starting to become tired now and are in need of relocating to quieter, less demanding depots.

Good to hear 7553 has improved, was glacial along the A1 both times I had it in the summer. 7554/6 have been brilliant each time I've had them, though again recently I'm led to believe they've both had issues. 

Really the X15/8 need new MMCs. The 09 plates are shot, particularly 7514/5, and the 57 plates are virtually end of life at this point and just need to be put onto the 35 for the next few years until they die. The 64 plates don't seem too bad, but again they've pretty much all been used flat out for the best part of 6 years on the X18 and probably could do with being pushed over to the X20 or something even less demanding like you say. Then the less said about the Scanias the better, the X14 would benefit with literally anything else on there.

(27 Oct 2020, 8:13 pm)mb134 wrote Good to hear 7553 has improved, was glacial along the A1 both times I had it in the summer. 7554/6 have been brilliant each time I've had them, though again recently I'm led to believe they've both had issues. 

Really the X15/8 need new MMCs. The 09 plates are shot, particularly 7514/5, and the 57 plates are virtually end of life at this point and just need to be put onto the 35 for the next few years until they die. The 64 plates don't seem too bad, but again they've pretty much all been used flat out for the best part of 6 years on the X18 and probably could do with being pushed over to the X20 or something even less demanding like you say. Then the less said about the Scanias the better, the X14 would benefit with literally anything else on there.

Would Arriva perhaps consider ZF for the gearbox on any future MMCs now that they come with stop start and qualify as low emissions buses (as per GNE's XLines examples)?

(27 Oct 2020, 8:13 pm)mb134 wrote Good to hear 7553 has improved, was glacial along the A1 both times I had it in the summer. 7554/6 have been brilliant each time I've had them, though again recently I'm led to believe they've both had issues. 

Really the X15/8 need new MMCs. The 09 plates are shot, particularly 7514/5, and the 57 plates are virtually end of life at this point and just need to be put onto the 35 for the next few years until they die. The 64 plates don't seem too bad, but again they've pretty much all been used flat out for the best part of 6 years on the X18 and probably could do with being pushed over to the X20 or something even less demanding like you say. Then the less said about the Scanias the better, the X14 would benefit with literally anything else on there.

and the deckers aren't even the worst things for reliability at Ashington that has to go to the 3 Solos and the 2 darts. Seen 1801 has been off the road for awhile (again) and that 7510 has been on the 57/57A as usual.

The darts have to be top priority over anything with Arriva especially 1759 which keeps clinging on for life which must be one of the last Transbus darts on the road surely, they were rare enough as it was.

Also speaking of minibuses what's up with 2827 it hasn't been in service since April guessing there's something very wrong with it.