Reading multiple reports on multiple sites of Arriva cancelling their full order for the upcoming year - any confirmation on this, and if true, what does this mean for the company moving forward?
It wouldn't surprise me. Arriva have moved the MAX-spec hybrids away from Newcastle to Leeds/Wakefield in order to comply with Leeds' new emissions regulations, with non-MAX diesel buses coming the other way to replace them. Doing that, rather than buying new, shows something is going on.
No point buying new for new's sake, but equally we have a lot of *very* old buses operating around here. Even the small independents around here aren't using W-reg buses in regular service.
There are no new vehicles on order for the North West or Wales this year.
A number of vehicle moments are planned which will see route 47 (Liverpool-Southport) converted to double deck and the 11 (Chester-Rhyl) converted to Sapphire.
"Sapphire" ADL400s off the 12 & 51-X51 routes out of Rhyl are occasionally used already on the 11.
Interesting that they intend that route to be completely sapphired in future. If they are not ordering new buses, do you know from where the remainder will be obtained?
That's interesting.The rumours state that the Sapphire buses based in Chester for the 10/10A will go to Rhyl.
The rumours state that the Sapphire buses based in Chester for the 10/10A will go to Rhyl.
I heard the hybrids moved as part of Arriva’s plan to consolidate them at a smaller number of depots, for maintenance purposes.I would point out that hybrid vehicles do have a significant on-cost so it probably makes sense to move them.
The entire industry is drawing its horns at the moment, and not surprising to see Arriva reducing capital spending.
I heard the hybrids moved as part of Arriva’s plan to consolidate them at a smaller number of depots, for maintenance purposes.
As it is, the Leeds clean air zone hasn’t been finalised yet, and the Hybrids aren’t just being used on routes to Leeds, so that won’t have caused any urgency.
I thought Leeds was closer to go live than that. As for your first point, think you’re right in that the Medway ones have been consolidated with others in the North West.
I heard the hybrids moved as part of Arriva’s plan to consolidate them at a smaller number of depots, for maintenance purposes.
As it is, the Leeds clean air zone hasn’t been finalised yet, and the Hybrids aren’t just being used on routes to Leeds, so that won’t have caused any urgency.
Stevenage has got E300s that are falling apart on the Centraline 300/301.High Wycombe had a few new buses and most of the Tamworth Citaros.Harlow needs some buses for the 724 the Citaros on it are about 12 years .Postponing this makes me wonder what their future plans are.
I noticed that last time I was down. What also confused me was that almost every 321 I saw was one of the batch of 17-plate E200 MMCs, with only one of the branded Streelites - have they been moved elsewhere or was what I saw just unusual?That probably explains why the allocation I've seen so far today on the 300/1 consists of:
A handful of E300s in new livery
Volvo B7RLE's with route 2 Hemel branding
a Volvo B7RLE with route 310 Hertford - Hoddesdon branding
Wright bodied VDL SB200
Wright Streetlite
Optare Versa
Mercedes Citaro
A batch of Arriva Click minibuses have turned up in North Wales today.
That probably explains why the allocation I've seen so far today on the 300/1 consists of:
A handful of E300s in new livery
Volvo B7RLE's with route 2 Hemel branding
a Volvo B7RLE with route 310 Hertford - Hoddesdon branding
Wright bodied VDL SB200
Wright Streetlite
Optare Versa
Mercedes Citaro
Your eyes must have failed you as Stevenage or Hemel do not have any Citaros or 310-branded Volvos...
With Stevenage ,Ware ,Harlow and Hemel all under Southern Counties anything is possible they shuffle the buses around a lot.Your eyes must have failed you as Stevenage or Hemel do not have any Citaros or 310-branded Volvos...
At least one Citaro is currently on loan from Maidstone, and the 310 branded Volvo is a transfer after the 310 was double-decked.Your eyes must have failed you as Stevenage or Hemel do not have any Citaros or 310-branded Volvos...