First Aberdeen

[Jordan Adam]

Was definitely a renown so come to think of it probably 62204. A fine machine!

Missed your reply! oops

Indeed, albeit the other two W-RNA's (62212/13) were pretty crap when with Aberdeen. I had 62212 in Stirling in 2015 and it did seem much better however.

 

[Jordan Adam]

Looking on Bustimes.org of late is it notable how much the Enviro300s stray now that they're being repainted. Of the batch of 22 only 10 are on the Northern Lights today, this would've been unthinkable a year or so ago! Much more Streetlites appearing on the 12 now too.

 

[Jordan Adam]

It has now been officially confirmed that the 15 Streetdecks will enter service over the Summer, as already mentioned on this thread the first 7 are due to arrive next month. The Vanhools once overhauled will be redeployed on the X27.

https://www.eveningexpress.co.uk/fp...rogen-buses-to-hit-aberdeen-streets-in-summer

First double-decker hydrogen buses to hit Aberdeen streets in summer

A new fleet of hydrogen double-decker buses will be rolled out across Aberdeen in the summer.
Aberdeen City Council confirmed today First Aberdeen will use the 15 buses on its most popular routes.
The vehicles will arrive in spring, with final testing and driver training scheduled ahead of the full launch in summer.

According to the council the buses will be mainly used on the number 19, Peterculter to Tillydrone route, with other vehicles also used on the X27, city centre to Aberdeen airport via dyce station route.

The £8.3 million project is funded by Aberdeen City Council, the Scottish Governement and the European Union, it equates to about £500,000 worth of investment per vehicle.

Refueling of the buses, which are said to be as efficient as electric vehicles, takes around 10 minutes.

Aberdeen City Council co-leader councillor Jenny Laing said: “Aberdeen is at the forefront of developing green technologies and our continued innovative commitment to hydrogen truly puts us on the global map.

“The new buses come with even better technology helping to tackle air pollution in the city and further makes Aberdeen an entrepreneurial and technological leader by pushing boundaries for hydrogen.

“We are really proud to be the world’s first city with hydrogen double-deckers and we look forward to seeing them on the city’s roads.”

David Phillips, operations director for First Aberdeen, said: “We are delighted to be working in partnership with Aberdeen City Council to deliver these state-of-the-art and ground-breaking new buses to the people of Aberdeen.

“We are in the process of adapting our depot to accommodate these environmentally friendly zero emission vehicles and are upskilling all our staff to accommodate this next generation of buses.

“It is a huge effort from all our staff to deliver this project, so we extremely proud to be a part of this project in helping the city to lead the way on the hydrogen journey.”

Keep up to date with the latest news with The Evening Express newsletter
Scotland’s Energy Minister, Paul Wheelhouse, said: “Scotland has some of the most ambitious emission reduction targets in the world so, in the years to come, I expect we will begin to see many more ‘greener and cleaner’ transport solutions like this begin to emerge.

“I’m proud that today’s announcement, which is a World first, has been made possible thanks in part to Scottish Government funding.

“We are currently undertaking a wide-ranging project to assess the potential for hydrogen and hydrogen fuel cells for use in transport and heating across Scotland.

“Hydrogen could well play an important role in the energy transition that’s required in order to meet our 2045 net zero emissions target.”

The 15 buses will be built by Northern Ireland firm Wrightbus.

John McLeister, Wrightbus director for sales and business development, said: “This is the start of an exciting chapter for Wrightbus in Aberdeen which will be the first city to introduce this large deployment of fuel cell zero emission vehicles.

“We are thrilled at this opportunity to partner with First Aberdeen and Aberdeen City Council to deliver a green well to wheel zero emission solution which will also showcase the world’s first fuel cell electric double decker bus operation.”

 

[JumpinTrainz]

It has now been officially confirmed that the 15 Streetdecks will enter service over the Summer, as already mentioned on this thread the first 7 are due to arrive next month. The Vanhools once overhauled will be redeployed on the X27.

https://www.eveningexpress.co.uk/fp...rogen-buses-to-hit-aberdeen-streets-in-summer

Great news for Aberdeen. I like the Streetdecks so it’ll be good to see a bit of variety. Do we know if this is all the new stock they are getting or if they’re getting anything else?

 

[Jordan Adam]

Great news for Aberdeen. I like the Streetdecks so it’ll be good to see a bit of variety. Do we know if this is all the new stock they are getting or if they’re getting anything else?

That's all the new vehicles that have been confirmed, however there has been talk of getting even more Hydrogens by the end of the year. This initial batch will displace 7 Geminis.

We're also due to be getting 11108-15 from York.

 

[JumpinTrainz]

That's all the new vehicles that have been confirmed, however there has been talk of getting even more Hydrogens by the end of the year. This initial batch will displace 7 Geminis.

We're also due to be getting 11108-15 from York.

I presume these bendies are going to be used to replace the B7LAs on the 1&2 services.

It would have been nice to see some of the new Wright bendy buses come to Aberdeen since they are the ideal stock for the 1&2. Hopefully in the future.

 

[AndrewTaylor95]

Wonder if we will get the Gemini's in Caley

 

[JumpinTrainz]

Wonder if we will get the Gemini's in Caley

I wouldn’t be surprised if that were to happen. Really they would only have to apply the new livery as internally they were refurbished a few years back. I can’t see them keeping them in Aberdeen if there aren’t buses which need replacing just yet. Plus with Glasgow’s LEZ looming, Gemini’s from FSE have already been cascaded in.

 

[AndrewTaylor95]

FSE Gemini's are cracking vehicles much better than the native ones, so I can only imagine Aberdeen's ones will be just as good

 

[Volvodart]

Glasgow would not need any buses of that age, unless they are to start doing the exhaust conversions on the Euro4s.

 

[AndrewTaylor95]

They've been doing retrofitting on the E300s so I would imagine anything with an Adblue tank which all B9TLs in Glasgow do then I think they're still in with a shout of a transfer down to Caley

 

[Jordan Adam]

I presume these bendies are going to be used to replace the B7LAs on the 1&2 services.

It would have been nice to see some of the new Wright bendy buses come to Aberdeen since they are the ideal stock for the 1&2. Hopefully in the future.

If i were to guess based on what is confirmed the fleet movements will be as follows. (* signifies this has been confirmed)

• 15 Wright Streetdecks in for Service 19*
• 10 Vanhool A330s in for Service X27 (These are currently away for their planned overhaul)*
• 8 Citaro Gs in for the Bridges*
• 7 Geminis out*
• 14 B7LAs out
• 62167/78 & 69123/24 out. (The latter two could be retained as reserve vehicles)

This works out at 33 buses in and 25 out, so would leave us with enough spares to cover the lower vehicle availability of the Hydrogens.

I wouldn’t be surprised if that were to happen. Really they would only have to apply the new livery as internally they were refurbished a few years back. I can’t see them keeping them in Aberdeen if there aren’t buses which need replacing just yet. Plus with Glasgow’s LEZ looming, Gemini’s from FSE have already been cascaded in.

FSE Gemini's are cracking vehicles much better than the native ones, so I can only imagine Aberdeen's ones will be just as good

It's not been confirmed where they'll be going but i'd assume Glasgow, that said they could go to Larbert to replace the much older deckers there. Although not a driver from my understanding the Aberdeen Geminis are great to drive and nicer than those in Glasgow, which makes sense as they've had a less intensive life than the Glasgow and FSE batches.

Glasgow would not need any buses of that age, unless they are to start doing the exhaust conversions on the Euro4s.

Iirc Glasgow are going to be converting some Geminis, hence why many have been refurbished for the X1 and 61.

 

[JumpinTrainz]

They've been doing retrofitting on the E300s so I would imagine anything with an Adblue tank which all B9TLs in Glasgow do then I think they're still in with a shout of a transfer down to Caley

I’ve saw a fair number of converted E300s. They even have a little sticker pointing to the exhaust saying they’ve been converted for the LEZ zone.

 

[Jordan Adam]

https://www.firstgroup.com/aberdeen...planned-changes/service-changes-29-march-2020

Service Changes - 29 March 2020
Changes to Services 1/1B/2/X1 and X27 from 29th March 2020

Service 1

Danestone terminus reverts to a unique terminal point opposite Wallacebrae Road. Danestone Tesco is no longer served (please use Fairview Grange bus stop to access Tesco).

Minor amendment to departure and journey times.
Revised public holiday schedule.

Service 1B

Additional journeys in the morning towards RGU to assist with capacity issues.

Minor amendment to departure and journey times.
Revised public holiday schedule.

Service 2

Minor amendment to departure and journey times.
Revised public holiday schedule.

Service X1 - NEW

New service operating from Guild Street towards RGU with two outward journeys in the morning, Monday-Friday and additional capacity from Union Street to RGU.

Service X27

Now operating via Aberdeen Airport forecourt fast & direct from the City Centre and Dyce Railway Station. Service X27 serves City Centre, P&J Live (TECA), Aberdeen Airport, Heliports and Dyce Railway Station.

Two additional bus stops along the limited bus stops section between Holburn Junction and Manor Drive: Anderson Road and North Anderson Drive.

Minor amendment to departure and journey times.
Revised public holiday schedule.

All other services remain unchanged
For full timetable details please click here and select the "forthcoming" tab.

To view the network maps for the routes, please click here

To summarise...

• All Service 1s return to operating via Laurel Place rather than Tesco.
• Additional 1B & X1 services to RGU
• X27 now serves Aberdeen Airport (to offer a link to the Rail Station) and serves two additional stops on Hilton Drive.

New PDF Timetable booklets can be found here...
Service 1/1B/2/X1/40 - https://www.firstgroup.com/uploads/maps/Service_1-1B-2_WEB-March2020.pdf
Service X27 - https://www.firstgroup.com/uploads/maps/Service_X27_WEB-March2020_0.pdf

 

[JumpinTrainz]

Does anyone know if 11108-15 will be internally refurbished before coming to Aberdeen?

 

[Jordan Adam]

Does anyone know if 11108-15 will be internally refurbished before coming to Aberdeen?

Not been confirmed but I'd hope so as the seats on them look well past it. The Enviro500s were actually meant to be fully refurbished to the same standard as the B7LAs back in 2016 however it never got the go ahead.

 

[JumpinTrainz]

Not been confirmed but I'd hope so as the seats on them look well past it. The Enviro500s were actually meant to be fully refurbished to the same standard as the B7LAs back in 2016 however it never got the go ahead.

They would both benefit from leather seating or at the very least a retrim of their current fabric.

Those bendies coming look pretty decent. Both them and the E500s will look very smart in the new livery.

 

[Volvodart]

Not been confirmed but I'd hope so as the seats on them look well past it. The Enviro500s were actually meant to be fully refurbished to the same standard as the B7LAs back in 2016 however it never got the go ahead.

Some appear to have been retrimmed quite recently:-

https://www.flickr.com/photos/jimbo...Ts-fzemHT-fztDRG-fzenj2-fzepMa-fzeo8p-dZJ3Kj/

 

[Jordan Adam]

Some appear to have been retrimmed quite recently:-

https://www.flickr.com/photos/jimbo...Ts-fzemHT-fztDRG-fzenj2-fzepMa-fzeo8p-dZJ3Kj/

Looking at other photos of the same bus it doesn't seem that recent, most of the seats are quite baggy and worn/faded.

The only Citaros that have had any refurbishment are the 7 that are staying with York.

 

[Volvodart]

The other photos are a different bus!

 

[Jordan Adam]

The other photos are a different bus!

I know, but there's other photos of the same bus.

 

[Volvodart]

Where? The only 2 photos of it I could find looked like new.

 

[JumpinTrainz]

I’ve saw a few from YouTube videos and they don’t look terrible but could be doing with a freshen up. Depends how long Aberdeen intend to use them. They’re about 11/12 years old already.

I don’t understand why First don’t want to spend money on new bendy buses for Aberdeen when clearly they’ve proven suitable for many years now. The E500s, as has been said before, are unsuitable at RGU as would E400XLBs due to manoeuvrability.

 

[Jordan Adam]

Where? The only 2 photos of it I could find looked like new.

This is the only other image on Flickr, however there's some over Facebook and there's various videos on youtube, to me at least the seats don't look that fresh, if it has been retrimmed then it was a few years ago.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/jimbolimbo9/49404970202

I don’t understand why First don’t want to spend money on new bendy buses for Aberdeen when clearly they’ve proven suitable for many years now. The E500s, as has been said before, are unsuitable at RGU as would E400XLBs due to manoeuvrability.

I agree, if this was any other operator the 1/2 would be getting new vehicles every 6-7 years. Most drivers i know prefer driving B7LAs on the 1/2 over the E500s as they just work better. Part of the issue with the 1/2 is that many people are not going that far, Seaton or Garthdee to the city centre for example is only 10 minutes or so, so when a decker turns up they're less willing to go upstairs, hence often with the E500s unless it's a peak run to RGU you'll see people standing on the lower deck while the upper deck is half full. This isn't an issue on the B7LAs as most people have no problem going through to the "trailer" (technically it's not a trainer as it's powered) - this was also First's argument for buying so many artics 15-22 years ago in the first place! Additionally with the B7LAs time spent at stops is much less thanks to the second door, you could get two doors on the E500s however you'd then loose 4 seats, which just makes the capacity issue even worse.

E400XLBs sound like a good solution, however i can already see numerous issues they'd have here, especially when you consider the E500s are used network wide frequently.

 

[Volvodart]

They look newly done to me. We shall see when it arrives.

 

[SouthEastBuses]

That's all the new vehicles that have been confirmed, however there has been talk of getting even more Hydrogens by the end of the year. This initial batch will displace 7 Geminis.

We're also due to be getting 11108-15 from York.

Nice! Glad to hear that the BG58 Citaros won't be withdrawn!

 

[overthewater]

https://www.eveningexpress.co.uk/fp...s-first-aberdeen-set-close-union-street-shop/

Where in the City would passengers get timetables????

Proposals have been put forward by First Aberdeen bosses to shut the ticket office on Union Street due to a downturn in the sale of paper tickets.

The transport company, which has its depot on King Street, runs most bus routes around the city.

Consultations are now being carried out with five employees who work at the shop.

Graeme Macfarlane, commercial director for First Aberdeen, confirmed it is looking at closing the store.

He said: “I can confirm we have announced proposals to close the First Aberdeen travel shop on Union Street.

“Over the past few years we have seen a steady shift in demand from paper to digital tickets and it is now at a level where more than 80% of tickets are bought by digital means.

“As a result of this behavioural change, we no longer have the level of paper ticket sales to justify the expense of the additional premises.

“We are currently consulting on our proposals with affected staff and their trade union colleagues on the possible outcomes and we have a number of options under consideration.”

Local representatives stated their disappointment at the potential loss of the centre on Union Street.

George Street and harbour councillor Sandra Macdonald said: “It’s disappointing. I have seen people go in although it’s not as busy as it used to be.

“There are people who value the service and the face-to-face aspect of going in to talk to staff.

“Having such a front-facing office on Union Street was a plus for the company and useful for people to just pop in for bus information.

“Obviously people with mobile phones can use the app to find out bus times but some customers who depend on buses will now be unable to pop in for advice or timetables.”

The travel centre is currently open from 9am until 5.30pm Monday to Friday and 9am until 4.30pm on Saturday.

Advisers based there offer information to customers about bus routes and services around the city. They also help to pinpoint the cheapest journeys.

George Street and harbour councillor Michael Hutchison said: “Firstly, my thoughts are with those whose jobs are at risk at what will be a difficult time.

“The shop offers an important facility to those who can’t use contactless facilities and also for tourists who want to know how to get around our city.”

Fellow representative Ryan Houghton added: “The closing of any unit on our main street is sad but with such a drop in sales it’s understandable.

“I’ll be writing to First Aberdeen concerning the jobs at risk and the steps they’ll be taking to ensure access to services for those who still rely on traditional methods.”

 

[Deltic1961]

Online. Like everything else these days.

 

[Jordan Adam]

https://www.eveningexpress.co.uk/fp...s-first-aberdeen-set-close-union-street-shop/

Where in the City would passengers get timetables????

Online. Like everything else these days.

You can get them at the reception to King Street Depot, there's a rack to the right of the door.

 

[Jordan Adam]

From Monday the 1B/20 will be going on to University Closed timetable. Additionally as of today the 9U stopped operating.

All other services are operating as normal.

B10BLE 62167 has returned to service following her MOT.