Arriva Midlands

[Budge1980]

Just wondering if there is a reason for poorer maintenance. Not as an excuse but as an explanation. For example, were Aylesbury and High Wycombe desperate to get enough buses out to provide the service due to other buses being on long term sick, waiting parts etc and not having enough cover. Did Derby have more spares or less RTAs etc.

 

[Trainman40083]

Just wondering if there is a reason for poorer maintenance. Not as an excuse but as an explanation. For example, were Aylesbury and High Wycombe desperate to get enough buses out to provide the service due to other buses being on long term sick, waiting parts etc and not having enough cover. Did Derby have more spares or less RTAs etc.

Every time I looked at Bustimes, I got the impression that 10% or less of the fleet was off the road, either spare or for maintenance. Every time I went past Ascot Drive depot at Derby, there seemed few buses under maintenance... That gave the impression of high reliability. Can't recall many RTA; the odd fire, but I guess where the need arose, they just brought a bus in from an another depot.

 

[43055]

Yes, the workshops at Derby are doing up quite a few 12 plated Citaros for use as driver trainers.... Think one has gone to Yorkshire already, so they may not be part of the Midlands allocation.

Thanks. Further to this T010 BD12 DHZ was out on Burton Road earlier this afternoon so looks like Derby has one themselves.

Seemingly very deserving. Arriva Derby certainly tries hard at just about everything, despite a notably elderly fleet.

Very deserving. Hard to think it was once a loss making depot.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Awfully run but the Citaros were not actually thirsty. Many of them could go a whole day without needing to fill up.

That's not really the point. It's how many mpg they return that's important.

 

[Trainman40083]

Thanks. Further to this T010 BD12 DHZ was out on Burton Road earlier this afternoon so looks like Derby has one themselves.

Very deserving. Hard to think it was once a loss making depot.

T012 is around too, plus the odd Enviro 200/400.

 

[zkyx02]

Scania OmniCity 3577 (YT09 ZBX) is now withdrawn, marking the 3rd omni to be withdrawn (none fire related)

 

[Voyager 2953]

That's not really the point. It's how many mpg they return that's important.

I think you find that the bigger the engine the less diesel it uses. The B8RLE has a better return on fuel than on the 4.5L E200, the engine is worked less due to it having more power and therefore less tractive effort is needed to move it. The SB200s aren’t as good on fuel as you would think. They’re just a common type in the fleet and of course supplied by Arriva Bus & Coach.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 30 Nov 2024 ==

Also regarding the cuts to the X4 service it’s going to be another 130 and X30 situation. The 100 is now starting to pick up many of the Arriva passengers because despite being advertised as an “X” service the X4 is anything but that. It take 1hr and 40 minutes from Aylesbury to Milton Keynes compared to Red Rose taking 52-57 minutes. The new section between Leighton Buzzard and Sandhills is ridiculous and ill thought out. Most X4s are now underused.

Taj Khan must be grinning once again; he must love a service announcement from Arriva. How they managed to make a mess of Aylesbury and High Wycombe is a testament to the bad management at both of those bases.

 

[bringiton]

Scania OmniCity 3577 (YT09 ZBX) is now withdrawn, marking the 3rd omni to be withdrawn (none fire related)

Is there any more news around pulsars coming in to replace them? Its around a month till new year and only a few have been withdrawn so far..

 

[Trainman40083]

Is there any more news around pulsars coming in to replace them? Its around a month till new year and only a few have been withdrawn so far..

I would think it might be tied in with MOT expiry date of the existing Scanias and what progress has been made bringing in other buses, to try release said Pulsars to Derby.

 

[bringiton]

I would think it might be tied in with MOT expiry date of the existing Scanias and what progress has been made bringing in other buses, to try release said Pulsars to Derby.

Or something which renders the vehicle too expensive to repair...

I'd think derby would be wanting some more quite quickly, recently quite a few scanias have appeared on x38 over the pulsars, even over a streetlite which could of gone instead...

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

I think you find that the bigger the engine the less diesel it uses. The B8RLE has a better return on fuel than on the 4.5L E200, the engine is worked less due to it having more power and therefore less tractive effort is needed to move it. The SB200s aren’t as good on fuel as you would think. They’re just a common type in the fleet and of course supplied by Arriva Bus & Coach.

The Citaro is a much heavier vehicle and returns a lower mpg.

 

[zkyx02]

Is there any more news around pulsars coming in to replace them? Its around a month till new year and only a few have been withdrawn so far..

I believe Derbys are mainly coming from Manchester, so January will see the biggest influx, although most omnis are doing really well atm.

I would think it might be tied in with MOT expiry date of the existing Scanias and what progress has been made bringing in other buses, to try release said Pulsars to Derby.

The Scanias are still being MOT’d, a few have been done recently.

recently quite a few scanias have appeared on x38 over the pulsars, even over a streetlite which could of gone instead...

I’d much rather a Scania than a streetlite on X38s, the Scanias will only do 56… but that’s still 10mph ahead of a streetlite which makes a huge difference.

 

[Trainman40083]

I believe Derbys are mainly coming from Manchester, so January will see the biggest influx, although most omnis are doing really well atm.

The Scanias are still being MOT’d, a few have been done recently.

I’d much rather a Scania than a streetlite on X38s, the Scanias will only do 56… but that’s still 10mph ahead of a streetlite which makes a huge difference.

I never ever travel on a Streetlite.

 

[Russel]

Exactly this; the maintenance and both Aylesbury and Wycombe was shocking. I have a catalogue of photos that would put any higher out to shame. Awfully run but the Citaros were not actually thirsty. Many of them could go a whole day without needing to fill up. It’s the maintenance that let them down but even a bad Citaro is a decent bus.

The Pulsar is decent in my opinion but it doesn’t come close to the Eclipse or Citaro. It is very solid and far far better than the E300 which it rivals.

Both internally and externally, the Citaros Tamworth gained are an embarrassment.

But then, the ex Manchester E300s aren't exactly presentable either.

 

[Trainman40083]

Both internally and externally, the Citaros Tamworth gained are an embarrassment.

But then, the ex Manchester E300s aren't exactly presentable either.

I guess depots want to offload buses that they would have to spend money on. The recipient has to invest in them.

 

[Russel]

I guess depots want to offload buses that they would have to spend money on. The recipient has to invest in them.

That's the typical Arriva race to the bottom attitude we've all become accustom to!

 

[Trainman40083]

That's the typical Arriva race to the bottom attitude we've all become accustom to!

Maybe the new owners will have a different outlook.

 

[Voyager 2953]

Maybe the new owners will have a different outlook.

They do; but if you have the same people in charge at Leicester then garages such as Luton, Milton Keynes etc are not destined for anything great.

The up and coming changes in Milton Keynes are obviously designed by someone who has never worked there and probably uses some sort mapping software to design the schedules akin to what happened with Aylesbury and Wycombe.

I want to see what the hype about the new LOOP route in Milton Keynes is all about; can’t imagine it will run with anything newer than a 2013 Optare Solo.

 

[Trainman40083]

They do; but if you have the same people in charge at Leicester then garages such as Luton, Milton Keynes etc are not destined for anything great.

The up and coming changes in Milton Keynes are obviously designed by someone who has never worked there and probably uses some sort mapping software to design the schedules akin to what happened with Aylesbury and Wycombe.

I want to see what the hype about the new LOOP route in Milton Keynes is all about; can’t imagine it will run with anything newer than a 2013 Optare Solo.

It is a shame in some respects. We have First Group, Stagecoach etc changing their image. We have Arriva in that overall blue. Sometimes I think it just blends into the background.

 

[station_road]

Arriva Derby have registered a timetable change for the 2/2A from 4 January 2025, and a timetable/route change for the Alvaston buses 1A/1B/1C from the same date, but no details yet (page 14 of the pdf linked to below, which is the 27 November notices from the North West Traffic Commissioner)

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6746ff322f94bef8ff48bffb/np_3152_27_November_2024.pdf

 

[Trainman40083]

Arriva Derby have registered a timetable change for the 2/2A from 4 January 2025, and a timetable/route change for the Alvaston buses 1A/1B/1C from the same date, but no details yet (page 14 of the pdf linked to below, which is the 27 November notices from the North West Traffic Commissioner)

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6746ff322f94bef8ff48bffb/np_3152_27_November_2024.pdf

1B extends down Snelsmore Lane to Chellaston.

 

[Russel]

They do; but if you have the same people in charge at Leicester then garages such as Luton, Milton Keynes etc are not destined for anything great.

It's a very short sighted way of managing a business, destroying a business from the inside isn't going to provide long term employment...

 

[zkyx02]

recently quite a few scanias have appeared on x38 over the pulsars, even over a streetlite which could of gone instead...

If you’ve noticed an omni tracking on X38s for the past 2 days, it’s a machine swap. 3739 is back after some issues with the gearbox.

1B extends down Snelsmore Lane to Chellaston.

The 2A is also ‘supposedly’ extending to the new estate.

I never ever travel on a Streetlite.

as a passenger I cannot stand them, the interior lights are shockingly bright with no dimming feature, they vibrate like there’s no tomorrow while stationary, suspension is pretty dire & the braking… is horrific.

 

[bringiton]

If you’ve noticed an omni tracking on X38s for the past 2 days, it’s a machine swap. 3739 is back after some issues with the gearbox.

Ah right that makes more sense.

 

[Russel]

as a passenger I cannot stand them, the interior lights are shockingly bright with no dimming feature, they vibrate like there’s no tomorrow while stationary, suspension is pretty dire & the braking… is horrific.

Though both are terrible, I prefer the Streetlite over the E200!

 

[Trainman40083]

Though both are terrible, I prefer the Streetlite over the E200!

Best agree on ..Avoid both.

 

[zkyx02]

Though both are terrible, I prefer the Streetlite over the E200!

Personally I’d prefer a E200.

 

[arrivamatt]

They do; but if you have the same people in charge at Leicester then garages such as Luton, Milton Keynes etc are not destined for anything great.

The up and coming changes in Milton Keynes are obviously designed by someone who has never worked there and probably uses some sort mapping software to design the schedules akin to what happened with Aylesbury and Wycombe.

I want to see what the hype about the new LOOP route in Milton Keynes is all about; can’t imagine it will run with anything newer than a 2013 Optare Solo.

Once again, a repeat of sweeping criticism about individuals, rather than the service changes, without providing any specifics.

Would you care to detail your thoughts on Milton Keynes' upcoming service changes? Of course Arriva uses mapping software - as does the rest of the bus industry - we do not use paper and pen and ley lines...

 

[Penfold@658]

Is 3808 still in fleet list at Thurmaston as its not been out since August

 

[43055]

1B extends down Snelsmore Lane to Chellaston.

The 2A is also ‘supposedly’ extending to the new estate.

Sounds like the 1B and 2A will join to create a big circular route and allow some decker workings on the busy 2's.