Brighton and Hove / Metrobus

[Lynford1976]

According to a comment seen on Flickr, there are 30 Enviro 400 hybrids on order for the 5/5A/5B. Does anyone know any more on this? If this is true, it's interesting that these buses aren't from Wright.

Yes it is true. To be numbered 301-320.

 

[Robertj21a]

Yes it is true. To be numbered 301-320.

Or even 301 - 330....

 

[Lynford1976]

Or even 301 - 330....

Just checking (Thank you!)

 

[Hophead]

According to a comment seen on Flickr, there are 30 Enviro 400 hybrids on order for the 5/5A/5B. Does anyone know any more on this? If this is true, it's interesting that these buses aren't from Wright.

Seen it also reported by Southdown Enthusiasts Club and I'd expect them to be fairly clued-up. These will indeed be the first Enviros in the B&H fleet, after several batches of Volvo Geminis from 2011 onwards, followed by 82 StreetDecks.

Don't know what's behind it though, early last year, they did swap a StreetDeck for a BlueStar E400 City for a few weeks.

Like all recent deliveries, these will be dual-door.

 

[trainmania100]

Are the 30 new Alexander Dennis hybrids for Coaster 12s or for 5s?

 

[goldisgood]

Are the 30 new Alexander Dennis hybrids for Coaster 12s or for 5s?

They are for the 5s apparantly. I'd guess if they are good enough there will be more, and the Streetdecks on the Coaster aren't that suited to the route from what I've heard.

 

[Bungle965]

They are for the 5s apparantly. I'd guess if they are good enough there will be more, and the Streetdecks on the Coaster aren't that suited to the route from what I've heard.

Not enough power for the hills?
Sam

 

[Lynford1976]

Not enough power for the hills?
Sam

That's my experience of them!

 

[Hophead]

Brighton & Hove have released a news item in advance of the new Enviros.

Thirty new electric buses will be out on one of our most popular routes by September.

Crucially, these buses can be set to run in zero-emissions mode throughout Brighton & Hove's Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ), which includes North Street. This technique is called geofencing.

Brighton & Hove Buses has invested £9.2 million in 30 extended range electric Euro VI Micro Hybrid buses, which are made by Alexander Dennis Limited and BAE.

These UK-built buses are fully electric - the electric motor drives the bus at all times - and they use a small diesel generator to top up the battery. Regenerative braking does most of this topping up.

When the buses are running in zero-emissions mode not even the generator will be operating.

They’ll be introduced on route 5, one of the city’s busiest bus routes, which serves areas including Hove, Hollingbury, Hangleton, Preston Park and Patcham.

More at the link.

This has also made its way onto the local news outlets. It won't surprise you to hear that not all the keyboard warriors are impressed.

 

[ValleyLines142]

They are for the 5s apparantly. I'd guess if they are good enough there will be more, and the Streetdecks on the Coaster aren't that suited to the route from what I've heard.

They're not suited no, the Streetdecks have those awful chunky windows which is incredibly restricting on the views along the coast. Also they have a outward protruding pillar which prevents double buggies boarding, as I found out last week yet the other examples on the 1, 7 and 49 don't have this.

The 12 needs vehicles such as Gemini 3s, similar to Lothian's 401-425.

 

[Hophead]

The next issue of "Bus Times" will use the 24-hour clock! This will accompany the new timetables from 22nd September.

I expect Barry Doe to announce that this simple change transforms the book from unworthy of review to one of the best around.

 

[Hophead]

At least one of the new Enviro 400 ERs has appeared and has featured in various news reports. In particular, a publication called Sustainable Bus has a similar article to others, but includes a few photographs which illustrate the primarily blue livery which is to be applied. Looks like an upgraded onboard information system is also fitted, judging by the big screen at the front upstairs.

Zero emission mode in the city centre, diesel powered for the rest of the route. The British manufacturer Alexander Dennis delivered 30 new hybrid buses to Brighton & Hove (they will start operations in October).

These vehicles will set a very first in the UK: in fact the buses will be converted in full electric every time they enter the city Ultra Low Emissions Zone (ULEZ), according to the practice called geofencing that for the first time has been combined with zero emissions technology in the UK.

....

The Enviro400ER buses, equipped with BAE Systems’ series hybrid technology, are moved via an electric drivetrain and can run for up to three miles in electric mode, according to the manufacturer.

The buses run on batteries (32 kWh on board), topped up via regenerative braking and a small Euro VI engine used as a generator, if needed, when the bus is outside the zone. They don’t need to recharge in the middle of the day. This keeps buses in service and eliminates the need for the city to invest in charging stations.

The Enviro400ERs don’t have mirrors but instead have two high-definition cameras on the front, relaying pictures to monitors inside the driver’s cab.

 

[Hophead]

For fans of the unusual, the bus trackers are reporting a couple of Citaros (105 & 113) out on route 12 today, all the way to Eastbourne and back. Seems low-hanging trees at Friston are preventing double-deckers from operating so these bendies have had to be unmothballed for the day (the 25 has seen just deckers since lockdown began).

 

[ValleyLines142]

For fans of the unusual, the bus trackers are reporting a couple of Citaros (105 & 113) out on route 12 today, all the way to Eastbourne and back. Seems low-hanging trees at Friston are preventing double-deckers from operating so these bendies have had to be unmothballed for the day (the 25 has seen just deckers since lockdown began).

Must be the wrong ticket machine. Very unusual to see Bendis on the 12 but even more so all other vehicles are Streetdecks (except 477).

A couple of vehicles haven't been used for quite some time. Can anyone shed some light? I've noticed the following haven't been used since:

440-452: before lockdown, guessing hybrids weren't the preferred mode for COVID-19 operation?

472 - 26th March
806 - 7th May
854 - 27th April
933 - 23rd February!!

 

[Hophead]

Must be the wrong ticket machine. Very unusual to see Bendis on the 12 but even more so all other vehicles are Streetdecks (except 477).

A couple of vehicles haven't been used for quite some time. Can anyone shed some light? I've noticed the following haven't been used since:

440-452: before lockdown, guessing hybrids weren't the preferred mode for COVID-19 operation?

472 - 26th March
806 - 7th May
854 - 27th April
933 - 23rd February!!

The 12 is just about the only other route that can take a bendy-bus, as it's pretty much a straight drive along the A259. It seems that the Citaros are shuttling between Denton Corner and Eastbourne to provide a service over that section (a direct route has been provided by diverting buses via the A26 & A27). I understand that Metrobus will be providing vehicles over the weekend, while they wait for the offending trees to be cut back.

 

[Deerfold]

The next issue of "Bus Times" will use the 24-hour clock! This will accompany the new timetables from 22nd September.

I expect Barry Doe to announce that this simple change transforms the book from unworthy of review to one of the best around.

As indeed he did. Well predicted.

 

[Arbitor5]

For fans of the unusual, the bus trackers are reporting a couple of Citaros (105 & 113) out on route 12 today, all the way to Eastbourne and back. Seems low-hanging trees at Friston are preventing double-deckers from operating so these bendies have had to be unmothballed for the day (the 25 has seen just deckers since lockdown began).

This is untrue, the ticket machines were taken off those Citaro's and placed on loaned MetroBus streetlites without the fleet numbers being changed. This would also of been illegal due to the fact that all the Citaro's are SORN.

 

[700007]

Last time I saw Citaros on the 12 was in February when the A259 was shut after a serious RTC in Roedean...meant that the 'regular' Coasters had been curtailed (from Eastbourne) to Rottingdean and then diverted to the Amex where passengers could change onto a bendy shuttle 12. Although really not sure if these were 12s or 25X!

Also had a Citaro on the 29 during another serious RTC in March this year but this was shuttling along the Lewes Road and alas did not leave Brighton.

 

[SouthEastBuses]

When are the 25 Citaros going back into service?

 

[Deerfold]

When are the 25 Citaros going back into service?

Unlikely to be before the Universities are back.

 

[caetanonimbus]

Today is the final day of the Uckfield outstation. Brighton & Hove are permanently closing their Uckfield outstation after today to save costs and all buses will return to the Brighton (Lewes Road) depot overnight. It i very a tiny outstation (it is just an empty yard where they park their buses and a tiny building nearby at the bus station as the office) and only six vehicles are based there every night and only twelve drivers in total are based there. But the outstation has been used for probably over twenty years now so it is a shame to see it go. Brighton & Hove are probably closing this to save money due to the Corona Virus situation.

 

[Arbitor5]

When are the 25 Citaros going back into service?

8 will return to service from September. 107 is being used to refresh drivers at the moment.

Today is the final day of the Uckfield outstation. Brighton & Hove are permanently closing their Uckfield outstation after today to save costs and all buses will return to the Brighton (Lewes Road) depot overnight. It i very a tiny outstation (it is just an empty yard where they park their buses and a tiny building nearby at the bus station as the office) and only six vehicles are based there every night and only twelve drivers in total are based there. But the outstation has been used for probably over twenty years now so it is a shame to see it go. Brighton & Hove are probably closing this to save money due to the Corona Virus situation.

Not sure where you have heard this but there have been 'rumours' for years about its closure, the same with Eastbourne. There was a high management decision before the Virus to keep it open. There are less than 12 drivers working from there, only 4 buses are left overnight night and it's not an empty yard it’s rented from a nearby firm. I also highly doubt it's closure today as I'm down to work there 3 days next week.. but it’ll close one day.

 

[700007]

8 will return to service from September. 107 is being used to refresh drivers at the moment.


Not sure where you have heard this but there have been 'rumours' for years about its closure, the same with Eastbourne. There was a high management decision before the Virus to keep it open. There are less than 12 drivers working from there, only 4 buses are left overnight night and it's not an empty yard it’s rented from a nearby firm. I also highly doubt it's closure today as I'm down to work there 3 days next week.. but it’ll close one day.

Is the 25X coming back, and is this the service that will see the bendies whilst double deckers continue to run the 25?

 

[Arbitor5]

Is the 25X coming back, and is this the service that will see the bendies whilst double deckers continue to run the 25?

No. Only the 25 will run with a limited service with 8 Citaro’s with another 2 being spare in the depot. The double deckers will be going back to the routes they usually operate on as the company is striving to achieve an almost 100% normal service on most routes. (29’s to T.Wells will remain every hour and 25’s are reduced).

 

[700007]

No. Only the 25 will run with a limited service with 8 Citaro’s with another 2 being spare in the depot. The double deckers will be going back to the routes they usually operate on as the company is striving to achieve an almost 100% normal service on most routes. (29’s to T.Wells will remain every hour and 25’s are reduced).

Thanks for the handy info - just seen the Buses website which gives an overview of service changes from 30th August.

No 25X, no 50U, but 5B to Sussex Uni is reinstated and the 25 will stay every 10 minutes with the brandies to Old Steine. The plan sounds good so far, as unis will be aiming to be online as much as possible so I doubt there is a need for super high frequency buses along Lewes Road. 24/25/48/49 providing about 23 buses an hour should cope well I reckon.

 

[Arbitor5]

In preparation for the arrival of another batch of Enviro400 ER's for Whitehawk, 809 to 824 are having their branding covered/removed for their impending transfer to Lewes road garage. 823 is the first seen below, with its temporary black swish until being painted next year.

Large NS
Large OS

 

[700007]

In preparation for the arrival of another batch of Enviro400 ER's for Whitehawk, 809 to 924 are having their branding covered/removed for their impending transfer to Lewes road garage. 823 is the first seen below, with its temporary black swish until being painted next year.

Large NS
Large OS

Wow looks strange without the pink! They're due to move to Lewes Road? I heard elsewhere that they were due to move for route 2, with the Volvo B5s converted to diesel and used elsewhere in the company. The remainder would be used on route 27 whose G2s will transfer to Metrobus. I understand ultimate goal is to rid B&H of as many Scanias as possible?

 

[SouthEastBuses]

BREAKING NEWS!

24 new ADL Enviro400 ER MMCs for routes 1 & 1A. These will be numbered 331 to 354, and will have exactly the same livery as the current route 5 E400ER MMCs.

As a result, 8 Streetdecks (apparently 801 to 808) will transfer to route 27, with some of its current 27 B9TLs to be transferred to Metrobus for use on the 420, due to the current OmniCity DDs not complying with London ULEZ.

 

[700007]

BREAKING NEWS!

24 new ADL Enviro400 ER MMCs for routes 1 & 1A. These will be numbered 331 to 354, and will have exactly the same livery as the current route 5 E400ER MMCs.

As a result, 8 Streetdecks (apparently 801 to 808) will transfer to route 27, with some of its current 27 B9TLs to be transferred to Metrobus for use on the 420, due to the current OmniCity DDs not complying with London ULEZ.

Indeed. 27 was also chosen to go dual door in order to help with dwell times and reliability. The route is very busy and dwells too long at key stops to be providing a smooth service. Good call from B&H (as pretty much always).

 

[SouthEastBuses]

Indeed. 27 was also chosen to go dual door in order to help with dwell times and reliability. The route is very busy and dwells too long at key stops to be providing a smooth service. Good call from B&H (as pretty much always).

Doesn't surprise me, the 27 serves the Park & Ride in Brighton so it's always going to be a busy route!