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Five less seats, which on a high frequency route like the 1/2 adds up to 40 less seats per hour (basically a single decker bus). Standing capacity on the E500s is also higher due to their longer length and higher permitted weight due to them being triaxle.
It really is the lack of overall capacity when compared to Artics that is noticed though when it comes to the RGU runs. Especially when you consider the B7LAs which were the main type on the route for almost two decades could carry nearly 160 passengers.
Going by the fact they’re replacing the E500s with buses of less capacity - I reckon once the current Mercs go in the near future they’ll probably not replace them with new artics.
I always thought the 1/2 was a busy route and would merit some new artics but obviously not. It seems to have got a lot of hand me downs over the years.
There are now only massive loads on the 1/2 for around 10 to 12 weeks a year due to the change in how the University at Garthdee does things now. The load would manage with standard double deckers the rest of the time, particularly now as the 1A is an all day service again.
Does anyone know if there was any further talks of converting the hybrid E400s to diesels? Last I heard they were in storage and it was being considered. That would certainly add more capacity to Aberdeen?
Does anyone know if there was any further talks of converting the hybrid E400s to diesels? Last I heard they were in storage and it was being considered. That would certainly add more capacity to Aberdeen
The exact companies involved are unknown until the individual company accounts are filed, but First Bus in total wrote down a net book value totalling £4.2 million of passenger carrying vehicles in the accounts to March 2023, so I expect these were included in that figure to allow them to be scrapped.
Specifically the comparison I was making is that the 12m Enviro 500s aren’t particularly spacious compared the the 10.9m Enviro 400 models, you may be able to carry more bodies overall with the Tri-Axle but there very tight at full capacity, especially when trying to squeeze past standees on the lower deck where no middle door is present.
Bendy buses make great sense in terms of outright capacity but there cost and upkeep in terms of there turn table also makes them less desirable.
I would just say again that for Aberdeen the best combination to replace the Citaros would be ADLs 400 XLBs for that high as possible capacity, the Enviro 500s could easily be replaced by Enviro 400MMC at 11.5m.
Having experienced dual-door buses as a passenger and driver I do personally think their great things for busier than usual bus services.
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Really disappointing that they’re transferring these north, here I was hoping we weren’t getting the oldest batch of MMCs and now we’ve ended up with worse. Surely they’re not going to last long at Aberdeen before they’re replaced by MMCs anyway. Routes 1&2 also deserve better than these out of date busses.
Personally I think they could invested and got further use from these buses, but for them sitting in Dumbarton rotting away doesn’t seem very ecological or sensible irregardless of there current value.
Is there something wrong with hydrogen stores still? Noticed that quite a few of the hydroliners aren’t making it out each day which is quite unusual for them.
Is there any estimate as to when the Enviro 400s will begin service in Aberdeen?
Also wondering what the situation is regarding repaints. Will the remaining Streetlites and E500s ever be done? Or are they just being left until they’re either accident damaged or withdrawn in the case of the E500s
Personally I think they could invested and got further use from these buses, but for them sitting in Dumbarton rotting away doesn’t seem very ecological or sensible irregardless of there current value.
They're twelve years old and having experienced the problems with repowering ones in Bath, probably don't think it makes economic sense. The Volvo 7900Hs have also gone and I think Stagecoach are also now culling their early hybrids?
Also wondering what the situation is regarding repaints. Will the remaining Streetlites and E500s ever be done? Or are they just being left until they’re either accident damaged or withdrawn in the case of the E500s
Not sure if it's still the case but there had been a proposal that some Streetlites would go once the rest of the Hydrogens return hence why repaints stopped, however its looking likely to be the end of next year before that happens. As for the E500s I'd imagine the two still in Olympia livery are likely going to be coming off this month. Notably 38204 is at the regional repair centre in Glasgow just now due to accident damage.
They seem to have went back to the original plan of 10 Enviro500s staying rather than 5, 15 Enviro400s are still due to come north though. I'd assume this is to cover for the additional buses required once the 1A returns. Additionally the four B7RLEs still in service are staying for the foreseeable future.
Four are already here. 33915 and 33923 in Aberdeen Urban livery and 33911 and 33919 still in Glasgow Urban livery. I would assume they'll go in to service next week as they'll be required for Offshore Europe shuttles.
33911 and 33919 are believed to be returning back to Glasgow after offshore Europe hence not being repainted.
On a separate note they appear to now be working through retrimming the interiors on all the Enviro300s. The Ex-Glasgow examples and the last few native Aberdeen examples to be repainted all received a retrim at the same time as per company policy now, however they've also started working through the rest of the native examples. 67799 is the most recent example to be treated.
33911 and 33919 are believed to be returning back to Glasgow after offshore Europe hence not being repainted.
On a separate note they appear to now be working through retrimming the interiors on all the Enviro300s. The Ex-Glasgow examples and the last few native Aberdeen examples to be repainted all received a retrim at the same time as per company policy now, however they've also started working through the rest of the native examples. 67799 is the most recent example to be treated.
That was 67798 which was sent away to the regional repair centre and repainted in June due to accident damage, hence was treated to a retrim at the same time. All buses since late last year have been retrimmed upon repaint as it is now company policy.
38204 is currently at the regional repair centre due to accident damage so it'll be interesting to see what happens with it. Given 10 Enviro500s are due to come off and knowing First it'll probably be repainted/retrimmed and then withdrawn four weeks later...
On a separate note they appear to now be working through retrimming the interiors on all the Enviro300s. The Ex-Glasgow examples and the last few native Aberdeen examples to be repainted all received a retrim at the same time as per company policy now, however they've also started working through the rest of the native examples. 67799 is the most recent example to be treated.
The first ones done did not get all seats done and the ones that looked acceptable then are starting to get the trim peeling now.The later ones have had all seats done. The remaining unpainted Streetlites really should get a repaint if they will be here until the end of 2024 when the 10 hydrogen buses are anticipated to come back.
I saw at least one of the e400's in service today. I was in another bus heading the opposite way so didn't get a chance to catch a fleet number or route. It was in the Aberdeen livery, though.
This nonsense of them swapping deckers out for singles at night is getting a bit ridiculous now on the 1&2. Twice yesterday I waited for a bus on king street and they were both full and I couldn’t get on. One of them being at 7pm and the other at 11pm. Luckily there is some extra capacity on the route at night with the 20 now coming down king street and yesterday night they swapped the two Enviro 300s that were on it for 500s at night so they managed to hoover up some of the massive crowds with the one I was on leaving St Peter street stop full and standing at 11pm. Of course it is freshers week so there will be more students heading into town than usual however the last bus of the night being full is nothing new.
On another note did anyone see any evidence of the night 20 running last night? I was under the impression that it wouldn’t run on Tuesday nights/Wednesday mornings but the app said that it was. However, as we were walking up Union street at about 2am we thought we’d try the bus but the people waiting at the stop said they’d been there 40mins and nothing had shown up yet.
This nonsense of them swapping deckers out for singles at night is getting a bit ridiculous now on the 1&2. Twice yesterday I waited for a bus on king street and they were both full and I couldn’t get on. One of them being at 7pm and the other at 11pm. Luckily there is some extra capacity on the route at night with the 20 now coming down king street and yesterday night they swapped the two Enviro 300s that were on it for 500s at night so they managed to hoover up some of the massive crowds with the one I was on leaving St Peter street stop full and standing at 11pm. Of course it is freshers week so there will be more students heading into town than usual however the last bus of the night being full is nothing new.
On another note did anyone see any evidence of the night 20 running last night? I was under the impression that it wouldn’t run on Tuesday nights/Wednesday mornings but the app said that it was. However, as we were walking up Union street at about 2am we thought we’d try the bus but the people waiting at the stop said they’d been there 40mins and nothing had shown up yet.
The timetable data does have the Night time 20 as starting last night (Tuesday in to Wednesday), but appears it didn't run.... not a great start.
I agree regarding the 1/2, as someone who lives just off King Street it's beyond frustrating when you're trying to get in to town in the evening and buses are racing bus with "Sorry Bus Full" on the screen. They really ought to go back to having the E500s and Citaros out in the evenings as single deckers are just not suited for the levels of demand.
However, as I mentioned above, on the first bus app it said the busses were running last night, quite misleading considering hundreds of new students have just moved to the city and will be relying on the app to be correct.
I agree regarding the 1/2, as someone who lives just off King Street it's beyond frustrating when you're trying to get in to town in the evening and buses are racing bus with "Sorry Bus Full" on the screen. They really ought to go back to having the E500s and Citaros out in the evenings as single deckers are just not suited for the levels of demand.
Hopefully they can sort out this ‘night 20’ to make it successful as I feel it could be however having a look at the app the 00:00 departure from Hillhead is showing as cancelled. Freshers week is the week they should be pushing it the most to get it known to the students. Also wondering why just the one journey would be cancelled when all of the other ones are still showing as running?
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