First Leicester

[MasterSpenny]

Looking through the chassis of the GB Kite Electroliners on Bus Lists on the Web (buslistsontheweb.co.uk) and I noticed that 63531 has been missed?
The below link is trying to tell me it’s plate is BN23YSB but I don’t think it got registered, especially considering it’s strikethroughed.

buslists.uk

BN23 YSB​

Model: Wright GB Kite Electroliner

Operator: First Midlands

Fleet number: 63531

Depot: Leicester

Status: Not yet entered service

Original registration: BN23 YSB

Livery: Leicester buses green

Search for photos on Flickr: All / Last 180 days

 

[cnjb8]

Looking through the chassis of the GB Kite Electroliners on Bus Lists on the Web (buslistsontheweb.co.uk) and I noticed that 63531 has been missed?
The below link is trying to tell me it’s plate is BN23YSB but I don’t think it got registered, especially considering it’s strikethroughed.

buslists.uk

It had to go back to Wright for modifications. Unsure if it ever received that reg though

 

[adrianjohnson]

Have deliveries of electric buses for First finished now? Is the plan for Leicester to be fully electric? I've looked on bustimes and there are still some diesel single deckers left, and there are no electric double deckers - any due to arrive?

 

[borage]

Have deliveries of electric buses for First finished now? Is the plan for Leicester to be fully electric? I've looked on bustimes and there are still some diesel single deckers left, and there are no electric double deckers - any due to arrive?

I count 68 electric single deckers on the bustimes.org list, leaving a further 18 buses still to come (which were funded more recently), and according to this document (Zebra Extension Redacted Bid (January 2023) [pdf - 5.01 Mb]) the remaining 18 will be double deckers:

18 additional double deck buses are requested.

 

[MasterSpenny]

I count 68 electric single deckers on the bustimes.org list, leaving a further 18 buses still to come (which were funded more recently), and according to this document (Zebra Extension Redacted Bid (January 2023) [pdf - 5.01 Mb]) the remaining 18 will be double deckers:

Has a type on order been revealed by any chance?

 

[LazyGuy222]

Has a type on order been revealed by any chance?

Wright Streetdeck Electroliners have been ordered. As far as I’m aware it’s now 22 that have been ordered rather than 18, which is good as currently routes that need double deckers are using singles, and there’s been a fair bit of overcrowding on routes.

 

[SSmith2009]

Wright Streetdeck Electroliners have been ordered. As far as I’m aware it’s now 22 that have been ordered rather than 18, which is good as currently routes that need double deckers are using singles, and there’s been a fair bit of overcrowding on routes.

I thought it was upped to 26? The planned 18 then another extra 8 for the 54

Quite a lot of overcrowding on the New Parks services (13 & 14/14A) while deckers are running near enough empty on the 4 and 15

 

[LazyGuy222]

I thought it was upped to 26? The planned 18 then another extra 8 for the 54

Quite a lot of overcrowding on the New Parks services (13 & 14/14A) while deckers are running near enough empty on the 4 and 15

It may very well have increased to 26, least I heard it was 22 though.
Surprised about deckers being empty on the 4, very busy route normally.

 

[Robertj21a]

I thought it was upped to 26? The planned 18 then another extra 8 for the 54

Quite a lot of overcrowding on the New Parks services (13 & 14/14A) while deckers are running near enough empty on the 4 and 15

Presumably 8 more deckers means that 8 of the single deck Kites will move elsewhere.

 

[SSmith2009]

Presumably 8 more deckers means that 8 of the single deck Kites will move elsewhere.

Or allow for potential frequency uplifts?

 

[cnjb8]

Presumably 8 more deckers means that 8 of the single deck Kites will move elsewhere.

There are still some B7RLEs in service at Leicester so they will be replaced by these Kites

 

[Robertj21a]

There are still some B7RLEs in service at Leicester so they will be replaced by these Kites

The total number required (PVR) is easily calculated. Are there any planned increases that would require 8 more buses? I'm sure the B7RLEs remaining will go soon as they appear to have been effectively replaced by Kites already.

 

[MasterSpenny]

Looking through the chassis of the GB Kite Electroliners on Bus Lists on the Web (buslistsontheweb.co.uk) and I noticed that 63531 has been missed?
The below link is trying to tell me it’s plate is BN23YSB but I don’t think it got registered, especially considering it’s strikethroughed.

buslists.uk

buslistsontheweb.co.uk has confirmed 63531 to now be BK73AMV

 

[Wiggy49]

The first 5 Leicester double deck Electroliners have entered service today (13th May) according to bus times
36617-21

 

[SSmith2009]

The first 5 Leicester double deck Electroliners have entered service today (13th May) according to bus times
36617-21

Can confirm it's correct

Definitely a better ride compared to the single deckers

 

[Wiggy49]

10 Electroliner deckers in service today (Friday 17th)
36614-22/4
They are releasing Streetdecks for cascade within the group.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 20 May 2024 ==

Brand new 36623 was exhibited at the Great Central Quorn bus rally on Sunday 19th May, and entered public service later that evening for the first time, making 11 Electroliners in service so far.

Does anybody know for sure yet how many more than the original 18 Electroliners are on order, and when they might be coming ?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 23 May 2024 ==

Anybody keeping track and a list of where the diesel fleet have gone now the Electrics are in service ??

Will we have a fully electric fleet soon, or are we keeping some diesels for the Amazon and EMA contracts ?

 

[MasterSpenny]

The trial of an Aircoach service from Leicester to Birmingham Airport is due to end on the 31st of August. However, some trips will continue to operate until the 31st of October, with those trips having had bookings.

First Leicester to end Aircoach Birmingham Airport trial - routeone

First Leicester will bring to an end the trial of an Aircoach service between the city and Birmingham Airport after 31 August.

www.route-one.net

First Leicester will start to wind down the trial of an Aircoach service between the city and Birmingham Airport after 31 August.

The operator says that while it monitored traveller numbers over the key spring and summer period, patronage did not reach a viable level. Although the trial will conclude on 31 August, specific trips upon which bookings have already been made will continue until 31 October, with those journeys remaining open to other travellers.

Aircoach launched in September 2023 using several 16-seat Mercedes-Benz Sprinter minicoaches that joined the group via its purchase of Airporter in Northern Ireland during 2022.

Seats were offered from £9, and the service was promoted as running every hour, 24/7 at launch, although the Aircoach website shows that the timetable was amended from mid-August to run every 90 minutes during the day and two-hourly overnight.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

The trial of an Aircoach service from Leicester to Birmingham Airport is due to end on the 31st of August. However, some trips will continue to operate until the 31st of October, with those trips having had bookings.

First Leicester to end Aircoach Birmingham Airport trial - routeone

First Leicester will bring to an end the trial of an Aircoach service between the city and Birmingham Airport after 31 August.

www.route-one.net

Already mentioned on the Aircoach thread... mind you, that is entitled Aircoach Ireland so perhaps some forum tidy needed

 

[Wiggy49]

Add to this the EMA shuttles finish at the end of October so the 5 recent diesel powered Volvo Evora's 69618-22 will also become available for other duties or cascade.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 7 Sep 2024 ==

Another repowered Streetdeck EV has been noted at the garage, 70102 rereg OIG 1792 now in full leicester green electric livery and has since gone to Sheffield for testing on the hilly 51 route

 

[Edvid]

70102 is now in regular service on Leicester routes, so the test runs were presumably done to satisfaction. Seen on the 14 today (not my photo).

70102 - OIG 1792 (SN65 OMP)

Leicester St Margaret's Bus Station

www.flickr.com