Bendy buses in the UK

[MrTurbostar170]

Konectbus have two or three Citaro's branded for the park and ride. They're only used on the less frequent Mon-Fri routes or during special events as extra capacity.

 

[Busaholic]

There are some bendy buses parked up in Llanelli. Only last week I was asked as I was walking nearby if I knew how to contact the company because the man who approached me wanted to buy some! I had ot check I hadn't picked up a First Cymru coat by mistake, it seemed a bit random

You should have said you were that man and he should make you an offer - and while he was at it, you could sell him Tower Bridge at a knockdown price.

 

[F Great Eastern]

Air coach - First have Citaro Bendies for use on Air coach services

They don't - They are used only on Dublin Airport car park shuttles since Aircoach provides all official shuttle services at the airport to car parks and to shuttle staff around the site.

 

[Alex 2901]

Coventry - NX Coventry, 10 Mercedes Benz O530G Citaro f/n 6012-6021
(Route 4, Arena TESCO - Holbrooks - Coventry - Ball Hill - University Hospital)

York - First, 10 (?) Mercedes O530G Citaro f/n 11101-11110
(Park & Ride routes 2, 3 & 7)

NX still have a batch of 10 Scania CN94UB/OmniCity Artics in reserve, f/n's 6022-6031, placed in reserve in 2015, originally for route 67 (Birmingham - Tyburn Road - Castle Vale)

 

[Y961 XBU]

There is a Citaro with Peoplebus of Liverpool for Soccer Bus

 

[Robertj21a]

Plus a number on airport-car park transfers etc - Arriva have 2 at East Midlands Airport.

 

[SCH117X]

Nottm City Transport used them on the 48 to Clifton and 58 to Arnold from c 2002 and then concentrated them on the 4 to Nottm Trent Uni at Clifton until withdrawal in 2014. Slightly ironically as they had years previously borrowed one of Sheffields 1970s examples only for it to get stuck on a roundabout in the City Centre and quickly sent it back.

 

[WatcherZero]

There are some bendy buses parked up in Llanelli. Only last week I was asked as I was walking nearby if I knew how to contact the company because the man who approached me wanted to buy some! I had ot check I hadn't picked up a First Cymru coat by mistake, it seemed a bit random

Possibly ones currently being used for Swansea University student shuttle bus?

 

[Strathclyder]

I remember artics being introduced by Grampian Regional Transport/First Aberdeen, mainly used on routes 1-4 (later 1 and 2)

K1GRT, Mercedes O405G
W2-7FAL Volvo B7LA
SV05DXC-Y Volvo B7LA

Don't forget SF05 KUH (10183). From what I remember (could be entirely wrong here), it was bound for Aberdeen, but ended getting diverted to First Glasgow, thus becoming the youngest artic operated by the company. Was transferred to FiA in early 2012, I think.

 

[AB93]

York - First, 10 (?) Mercedes O530G Citaro f/n 11101-11110
(Park & Ride routes 2, 3 & 7)

15 - 11101-11115, for routes 2, 3 & 8, although they do get put on 7s sometimes and occasionally also the 59.

 

[Strathclyder]

McGills still have 6 I believe in use on service 38 which were originally with First London. They did have more but the first batch they got have been withdrawn now I think.

3610 (LK05FCA)
3611 (LK05FCU)
3612 (LK05FCV)
3613 (LK05FCZ)
3614 (LK05FDF)
3615 (LK05FDJ)

Bumping up a old thread, I happened to note LK05 FBY (3601) on the 38 to Spateston today (15th March). It's the lowest-numbered artic still active with McGill's, IIRC:

 

[cambsy]

Can remember bendy buses on the London-Glasgow Mega Bus sleeper, when it first started operating, were in some ways better than the double decker used now days, do miss them.

 

[ChrisPJ]

Are those NXWM Scanias likely to ever see service again?

 

[83G/84D]

No-one has mentioned the Brighton & Hove examples!

 

[Hophead]

No-one has mentioned the Brighton & Hove examples!

I would refer you to post number, errrr 1, in the thread......

 

[kevjs]

Nottm City Transport used them on the 48 to Clifton and 58 to Arnold from c 2002 and then concentrated them on the 4 to Nottm Trent Uni at Clifton until withdrawal in 2014. Slightly ironically as they had years previously borrowed one of Sheffields 1970s examples only for it to get stuck on a roundabout in the City Centre and quickly sent it back.

They were moved to the UniLink 4 in 2005. Prior to that it was a less frequent service on an ancient (for Nottingham) single Decker fleet.

One of the six ended up as a library at a school in Chilwell
https://www.nctx.co.uk/2015/07/the-story-of-the-bendy-bus-and-the-very-happy-ending/

 

[83G/84D]

I would refer you to post number, errrr 1, in the thread......

Sorry had a few beers ?????? when I posted......

 

[BestWestern]

First Southampton had some for a while, Wright Gemini or whatever the newer versions were called. Y reg, possibly? I believe they were moved on following problems with the road infrastructure (speed humps, I seem to recall).

Top Gear briefly operated one of the Leyland DAB artics on a circular route at Lydden Hill; sadly only one round trip was completed...

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

First Southampton had some for a while, Wright Gemini or whatever the newer versions were called. Y reg, possibly? I believe they were moved on following problems with the road infrastructure (speed humps, I seem to recall).

Top Gear briefly operated one of the Leyland DAB artics on a circular route at Lydden Hill; sadly only one round trip was completed...

The Southampton ones were Wright Eclipse Fusions and were sent to Glasgow and then to Aberdeen

 

[Strathclyder]

First Southampton had some for a while, Wright Gemini or whatever the newer versions were called. Y reg, possibly? I believe they were moved on following problems with the road infrastructure (speed humps, I seem to recall).

The Southampton ones were Wright Eclipse Fusions and were sent to Glasgow and then to Aberdeen

Indeed they were Wright Eclipse Fusion-bodied Volvo B7LAs, the ex-Southampton ones being of the X-reg persuasion. Remember one of them (X139 FPO/10139) toasting itself in spectacular fashion in late 2010. The B7LAs never lasted as long as the older (and far superior IMO) Wright Fusion-bodied Volvo B10LAs did with First Glasgow, with the former going for good in late 2011/early 2012, the latter in mid-2013; with the best examples of each ending up with Aberdeen, with the rest going to the scrapman.

 

[nerd]

I am surprised that no one on this thread has referred to the Van Hool articulated buses on order for the new Belfast Rapid Transit network

http://www.vanhool.be/ENG/actua/30trambusesforbe.html

https://www.infrastructure-ni.gov.uk/articles/belfast-rapid-transit-introduction

It looks likely that the counterpart Birmingham 'Sprint' BRT network will run using similar vehicles; possibly in 24m double-articulated form, rather than 18m single-articulated.

https://www.tfwm.org.uk/development/sprint/

http://urbanthings.co/meet-sprint/

A key characteristics of these versions of 'bendy buses' is that they have a limited top speed - 40 mph - and hence can safely be configured with a much higher proportion of standing passengers (and fewer seated passengers) than on standard buses.

 

[carlberry]

I am surprised that no one on this thread has referred to the Van Hool articulated buses on order for the new Belfast Rapid Transit network

http://www.vanhool.be/ENG/actua/30trambusesforbe.html

https://www.infrastructure-ni.gov.uk/articles/belfast-rapid-transit-introduction

It looks likely that the counterpart Birmingham 'Sprint' BRT network will run using similar vehicles; possibly in 24m double-articulated form, rather than 18m single-articulated.

https://www.tfwm.org.uk/development/sprint/

http://urbanthings.co/meet-sprint/

A key characteristics of these versions of 'bendy buses' is that they have a limited top speed - 40 mph - and hence can safely be configured with a much higher proportion of standing passengers (and fewer seated passengers) than on standard buses.

So providing buses that are slower, more cramped and have fewer seats is the way to encourage people onto public transport!!!

 

[GusB]

So providing buses that are slower, more cramped and have fewer seats is the way to encourage people onto public transport!!!

40mph is fast enough for buses that will be used in an urban setting.

 

[nerd]

So providing buses that are slower, more cramped and have fewer seats is the way to encourage people onto public transport!!!

The standard model of stopping bus services isn't having much success at the moment; although signs may be more hopeful along the south coast than in London and major cities. one problem though, is that there are a large (though shrinking) body of current bus users for whom the current model is pretty attractive.

But growing bus services appears to require substantial investment in new models of enhanced bus. This becomes especially pressing if there is to be substantial switching out of diesel (including hybrid) into electric power (fuel cells or batteries). What seems clear is that investments in new models of enhanced bus will require investment in new models of bus route infrastructure; signal priority at junctions, dedicated bus stops with real-time PID, pre-ticketing machines, and over half the route in reserved lanes or busways.

Two configurations of enhanced bus (and route) seem to me to be emerging:

- Articulated trambuses (as in Belfast and Brum). Large capacity, single-deck, high proportion standing, low top speed, multiple doors, frequent stop, short inner-urban routes. These bus services will be notably faster than standard stopping services largely through congestion-avoiding reserved lanes and multiple entry boarding/alighting. But serving short routes, they can be economically converted to battery power.

- Rapid transit busways (as in Cambridgeshire, Luton, Gosport and Leigh-Manchester). Premium seating (some with tables), double decker, lower proportion standing, high top speed, single door, limited stop, longer cross city and suburban routes. These bus services can be much faster than standard stopping services through limited stoppng and utilising reserved lanes along radial routes and converted rail alignments. But serving longer routes, they are more likely to be be economically converted to fuel cell or gas power.

Exerience elsewhere suggests that the first model can maintain average speeds in service at peak periods of around 15-17 km per hour - which is some 50% better than stopping bus services. The Leigh and Cambridgeshire busways achieve substantially higher peak period speeds in service; 23-25 km per hour (comparable to a tram).

It does seem that both configurations can be highly successful in attracting former drivers into becoming regular bus users - especially for commuting. The tricky bit being that both configurations imply redesignating congested road space away from general traffic towards bus (and sometimes taxi) use. The experience of the Leigh busway is that this massively increases the capacity of a radial route. But it is still a tricky political sell.

 

[Robertj21a]

.
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Two configurations of enhanced bus (and route) seem to me to be emerging:

- Articulated trambuses (as in Belfast and Brum). Large capacity, single-deck, high proportion standing, low top speed, multiple doors, frequent stop, short inner-urban routes. These bus services will be notably faster than standard stopping services largely through congestion-avoiding reserved lanes and multiple entry boarding/alighting. But serving short routes, they can be economically converted to battery power.
.
.
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So, in simple terms, just what most of the rest of Europe has been doing for decades.

 

[nerd]

So, in simple terms, just what most of the rest of Europe has been doing for decades.

To a degree, yes.

But unfortunately, it seems that it only works if the full package is delverable together. Simply converting to articulated buses, or introducing signal priority, or designating bus lanes along the stretches of road where there is most space for them (rather than where they are most needed); won't achieve nearly so much.

 

[Robertj21a]

To a degree, yes.

But unfortunately, it seems that it only works if the full package is delverable together. Simply converting to articulated buses, or introducing signal priority, or designating bus lanes along the stretches of road where there is most space for them (rather than where they are most needed); won't achieve nearly so much.

Quite agree - you're describing how buses in many/most European cities have operated for many years. It's not just the vehicles, it's the road layouts, the reserved lanes, the traffic light priority - AND a sensible fare system (preferably off-bus).

We are just so many light years behind it's embarrassing.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Quite agree - you're describing how buses in many/most European cities have operated for many years. It's not just the vehicles, it's the road layouts, the reserved lanes, the traffic light priority - AND a sensible fare system (preferably off-bus).

We are just so many light years behind it's embarrassing.

Quite.

The stupid thing is that we have huge lengths of bus lane where they aren't needed, then none at the junction where they are[1]. Part of it is because our traffic light laws are a bit behind - there seems no legal scope to have lights above each lane so you need an island to build a bus overtake. But it isn't *that* hard.

You just need to design the system so the bus only stops when it wishes to.

[1] Midsummer Blvd in MK is a classic - bus lanes all the way up where there is never any congestion even at 8:30am on a weekday, then at the junction at the top where there is - nothing at all. All those bus lanes achieve is insurance claims when cars inadvertently turn across buses and cause accidents due to the counterintuitive road layout.

 

[the101]

There was some talk of Reading Buses introducing some Scania-based Van Hool Exquicitys in the future although I can't remember much about it. I believe that two people from Reading were taken to Van Hool's factory by Scania, so there may be something to it.

 

[nottinghamcity]

I notice recently a couple of articulated Citaros have appeared on the East Midland Airport car park run branded as Arriva, sporting a Leicester Uni "hopper" livery