JasonL
Member
Is it true that the E400 FCEV's at St. Helens have been withdrawn and will not enter service? I've heard it from a few sources.
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Liverpool City Region-Bus Franchising
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JasonL
Member
What a waste of money
markymark2000
On Moderation
. deleted
mattb7tl
Member
Hydrogen is the future!
Just ignore the fact the infrastructure is expensive and problematic and you may also want to miss the fact it takes several times more energy to charge a hydrogen bus compared to an electric bus.
Just ignore the fact the infrastructure is expensive and problematic and you may also want to miss the fact it takes several times more energy to charge a hydrogen bus compared to an electric bus.
WWH44L
Member
- Joined
- 7 Nov 2014
- Messages
- 157
Do you have official confirmation of this or is it just rumour?
darylyates17
Member
Best way out of it is to convert them to electric if at all possible.
It’s no rumour all the hydrogen facilities have been taken from Jackson st
JasonL
Member
They will have to, it would save whoever gets the St. Helens garage next year money on 10 buses while the rest would be replaced
Surely if the buses aren't fit for service then the majority, if not all of the cost will be covered by Alexander Dennis under warranty anyway and simply returned to the manufacturer. We're not talking about one fault either, the buses were plagued with various issues and only 9 made it into public service for a very limited period.
Merseytravel/LCR are also a strategic area for future orders of ADL products and Alexander Dennis and they won't want to upset the decision makers through poor customer support. ADL have demonstrated both an Enviro100ev and Enviro400ev since the fleet were taken out of service in 2024.
JasonL
Member
So, I heard that in 9 days the staff at Arriva St. Helens depot will be informed which company will take over the depot in September 2026 and there will be a public announced 2 weeks later after in January 2026. Is this true?
Statto
Established Member
Farcical i remember them introduced with much fanfare, only for them to barely turn a wheel in service, the batch of 10 that Stagecoach were allocated haven't even entered service, think they're back at ADL.
Leyland Bus
Established Member
Where did you hear it?
JasonL
Member
Dennis Dart forums website
Leyland Bus
Established Member
I haven't seen any dates be officially announced yet, could be someone who works there or then again, could be hearsay...
I'm trying to remember our tranche annoucements, I think we found out the same time as the public announcements came out.
JasonL
Member
From what I read, St. Helens depot staff will could find out on the 19th and a public announcement might be made 2 weeks later around the 2nd of January.
Leyland Bus
Established Member
I can't see that as it would leak like a sieve.
JasonL
Member
True, there would be some people on the inside that would give it away before the public announcement is made.
Statto
Established Member
Why such a delay, as said the news will leak like a sieve from the 19th whether officially or unofficially.
TheGrandWazoo
Veteran Member
What usually happens is that the tendering parties are informed but it is not announced. There is then a statutory 10 day standstill period where any party can register an objection.
I suspect this is what might be happening here and that Arriva will know the outcome but it won’t be advised to the staff until the formal announcement.
I suspect this is what might be happening here and that Arriva will know the outcome but it won’t be advised to the staff until the formal announcement.
Leyland Bus
Established Member
That's it! Was wracking my brain for that bit!
Staff get told after the 10 day period but chatter will be rife in the meantime.
Statto
Established Member
That makes sense, but they'll still be leaks a plenty from the 19th.
TheGrandWazoo
Veteran Member
Again, I suspect that the local management won’t know and it’ll be kept with senior management and HR because every party signs an NDA not to leak.
Leyland Bus
Established Member
It was allover the shop that Metroline had won big in Tranche 3 and Stagecoach had kept Stockport before the announcement was made, so it either got out or was a really good guess. I suspect similar here, unless MPTE are better sealed against leaks!!
TheGrandWazoo
Veteran Member
Exception rather than the rule, and a lot of rumours were circulating so some guesses were going to be right! Tranches 1 & 2 weren’t leaked and the Cornish one caught everyone by surprise.
Leyland Bus
Established Member
True, especially the Cornish one!
They're being converted to battery-electric instead
Source: https://www.route-one.net/news/liverpool-hydrogen-buses-to-go-battery-electric-amid-investment/
gka472l
Member
Sensible.....I wonder if they might be done in time for the St Helens franchise starting in September 2026, assuming they will still go on the 10A, which they're branded for (well, the locations rather than the actual route number)
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darylyates17
Member
Would make sense for all 20 to be at St Helens for the 10As, what's the PVR expected to be with the frequency being reduced?
gka472l
Member
Showing every 10 minutes on the whole for the 10A, presume that would account for most of the 20. Although looking at the 10A this evening (1817 on a Wednesday evening), there's currently 11 buses on it, with 9 on the very similar 10....
