London Bus Thread

[route101]

If its any consolation we've only had three orders of new buses for First in Sheffield since 2002:

2003: 53 plate Geminis for route 41 - now with First in Glasgow
2006: 06 plate Geminis for route 60 - now with First in Glasgow
2008: 08/58 plate Geminis for 47/48/75/76 (most still in Sheffield, but a few moved to Doncaster to cover for other Geminis which are now with First in Glasgow)

Yikes ! It dosent seem there are that many of the yorkshire transfers up here in Glasgow.
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Catch (or even just look at) a FirstBus 57 plate B9TL/Gemini and then do the same with a Lothian 57 plate B9TL/Gemini. You wouldn't believe they were the same age!

Yeah the Lothian buses hold their age well , , the First Glasgow Geminis are a bit worse looking than First Edinburgh ones IMO.

 

[jon0844]

We're quite fortunate to have pretty new buses, but haven't low floor buses been built for some time now?

I know that newer buses get a more modern look from the outside, better lighting, nicer seating etc - but aren't we at a point where a 10 year old bus is actually, with a refurb inside perhaps, more than capable of operating a good service.

Clearly the mechanicals need to be looked after, and there's the issue of emissions from older engines, but it's a stark contrast to say, 10-15 years ago where you had 10-15 year old buses that had narrow doorways, big steps to board and so on.

 

[Ivo]

Low floor buses have been around since the mid 90s in regular commercial service. I have been on three different sets of M-reg Dennis Lance SLFs, and one Northern Ireland set (in Bath >_>) of the same age.

 

[causton]

I know that newer buses get a more modern look from the outside, better lighting, nicer seating etc - but aren't we at a point where a 10 year old bus is actually, with a refurb inside perhaps, more than capable of operating a good service.

Uno's 03 reg Darts are a bit rattly but they do the job well, and shift their behinds a lot! They feel faster than the Citaros in urban areas as it takes so long for the Citaro to work the doors and then set off again... or perhaps it's because the Darts are louder! :P

 

[MCR247]

Wow, all of this has made me really appreciate NCT and Trent Barton now. I'm surprised at Lothian though...

 

[Mojo]

Low floor buses have been around since the mid 90s in regular commercial service. I have been on three different sets of M-reg Dennis Lance SLFs, and one Northern Ireland set (in Bath >_>) of the same age.

Bear in mind that there is a difference between low floor and super low floor, the latter being those kneeling buses with access for wheelchairs.

The first super low floor bus operated on 4 February 1998 and Ivo will be interested to know that this was run by Abus.

All new omnibuses are now super low floor, and the accessibility regulations for 2015-2017 will require all omnibuses to be accessible by certain dates.

http://dptac.independent.gov.uk/door-to-door/03/05.htm

 

[Ivo]

Bear in mind that there is a difference between low floor and super low floor, the latter being those kneeling buses with access for wheelchairs.

The first super low floor bus operated on 4 February 1998 and Ivo will be interested to know that this was run by Abus.

All new omnibuses are now super low floor, and the accessibility regulations for 2015-2017 will require all omnibuses to be accessible by certain dates.

http://dptac.independent.gov.uk/door-to-door/03/05.htm

A non-busman coming up with this? I'm impressed!

I would be interested by that fact, actually. I don't suppose you happen to know any other details about this specific bus, and whether it is still owned by the fairest [I'm thinking Cinderella fair, not non-XC fair, here] of Bristol's main three operators?

 

[Mojo]

Sorry not sure whether it's still in service. The registration number is R222 AJP.

 

[MCR247]

I think it is with Peters, Brislington

 

[tbtc]

Wow, all of this has made me really appreciate NCT and Trent Barton now

I'd argue that Nottingham has the best bus service in England after London. In fact, I'm struggling to think of anywhere that comes close...
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Yikes ! It dosent seem there are that many of the yorkshire transfers up here in Glasgow

The 53 and 06 plate Geminis were only small batches (roughly twenty and ten), they were mainly on the 18 and the Kirkintilloch routes last time I was in Glasgow (registrations beginning with "Y" rather than "S", but otherwise identical to the "native" Geminis)

 

[Ivo]

I'd argue that Nottingham has the best bus service in England after London. In fact, I'm struggling to think of anywhere that comes close...

I would suggest that Brighton has the best outside of London, but otherwise it and Nottingham are in a league of their own.

 

[Tom B]

I would suggest that Brighton has the best outside of London, but otherwise it and Nottingham are in a league of their own.

Edinburgh is definitely up there - all buses are council run, and there are so many things that private operators don't bother with (travel information, smartcards, MUD buses, nightbuses, actually washing vehicles etc).

 

[route101]

Edinburgh is definitely up there - all buses are council run, and there are so many things that private operators don't bother with (travel information, smartcards, MUD buses, nightbuses, actually washing vehicles etc).

Yeah agree that Edinburgh has the best buses light years ahead of both First Glasgow and First Edinburgh . Cardiff Bus is another tho i didnt see many double deckers.

 

[MCR247]

Edinburgh is definitely up there - all buses are council run, and there are so many things that private operators don't bother with (travel information, smartcards, MUD buses, nightbuses, actually washing vehicles etc).

Nottingham has that

Although what is an MUD bus?

Having been to Brighton, I would say Nottingham's is better, beings as unbiased as possible

 

[nctx]

any idea when the first new routemaster will come online , must be making a prototype by know , Metroline boy's at Willesden depot told me First at Westbourne will get the first ones .

Any ideas anyone.

 

[Tom B]

Nottingham has that

Although what is an MUD bus?

Having been to Brighton, I would say Nottingham's is better, beings as unbiased as possible

A MUD bus is Edinburgh terminology for a bus which sits spare in the city centre with a driver all day to plug gaps in the service. For instance, if there's been a delay to (say) the 31s and some have to be part-routed to make up time, the mud bus will be sent out to do a round trip to plug the gap left by the delayed/part-routed buses.

any idea when the first new routemaster will come online , must be making a prototype by know , Metroline boy's at Willesden depot told me First at Westbourne will get the first ones .

Any ideas anyone.

There's a mock up in existence, which currently lives at Covent Garden.

 

[mbonwick]

A MUD bus is Edinburgh terminology for a bus which sits spare in the city centre with a driver all day to plug gaps in the service. For instance, if there's been a delay to (say) the 31s and some have to be part-routed to make up time, the mud bus will be sent out to do a round trip to plug the gap left by the delayed/part-routed buses.

Stagecoach have a similar thing in Carlisle, or did until 34696 (?) got damaged.

 

[bb21]

Just a quick question, what happens to all off the ex London buses, I.e the bendys and so on.

Some extra info on the bendys:

Arriva London North cascaded five previously on the 38 to Leicester, now used on the rebranded Unilinx 80/80A, numbered 5000-5004.

Go-Ahead London cascaded one previously on the Red Arrow routes to Go South Coast's Wilts & Dorset, now used on the revamped university route U1, numbered 4001.

Go South Coast also originally intended to run artics in Plymouth, but I think they decided against it. (Need to check when I get home.)

Arriva, after winning the tender contract to operate the new unified bus network in Malta, are in the process of refurbishing a large number of ex-London artics, from the 38 and 149, before shipping them to the island.

A number of ex-London artics are also being used at the Olympic construction site.

Ivo might have some more to add.

 

[DavidBusDriver]

An R-reg bus was certainly not the first Low-Floor, I believe that you may be considering the first Low-Floor Double Decker which was indeed I believe a DAF DB250GS/Optare Spectra, correctly with AbuS of Bristol.

The first Low Floor buses were L-registration, Dennis Lance SLF/Wright Pathfinder 320, know there were some in London but I am not sure on which route, but my local bus depot at the time, before I moved down London, took delivery of 5 Lance SLF's (one L, and 4 M plate) for use on the 325/326 North Tyneside circular routes - on which they stayed until just last year I believe.

 

[tbtc]

I'd argue that Nottingham has the best bus service in England after London. In fact, I'm struggling to think of anywhere that comes close...

Edinburgh is definitely up there - all buses are council run, and there are so many things that private operators don't bother with (travel information, smartcards, MUD buses, nightbuses, actually washing vehicles etc).

I did say England, hence no mention of Lothian, Cardiff or First Edinburgh... (I was joking about one of those three)
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The first Low Floor buses were L-registration

I've heard people claim that buses used to be low floor generations ago, but height became more important (and somewhere to stick the engine), then things came full circle... not sure of the veracity of this

 

[Heinz57]

Just a quick question, what happens to all off the ex London buses, I.e the bendys and so on.

Some of the old Route Masters came up to Nottingham and did a few city services. Not here any more though

 

[Eng274]

Some Ex-First London double deckers have arrived in Edinburgh.

 

[90019]

Some Ex-First London double deckers have arrived in Edinburgh.

Would they be the Presidents which have appeared recently?

 

[Tom B]

Would they be the Presidents which have appeared recently?

Yep. First policy seems to be to give us secondhand London buses, which are usually falling apart.

 

[tbtc]

Yep. First policy seems to be to give us secondhand London buses, which are usually falling apart.

Eastern Scottish used to be one of the "flagship" operations of the Scottish Bus Group. They tended to get the new buses whilst the likes of Fife had to make do with older stock.

Shows the difference a generation under First looks like compared to a generation under Stagecoach - Fife has been a lot better looked after in recent times

 

[Eng274]

Yep. First policy seems to be to give us secondhand London buses, which are usually falling apart.

I'm on one of them just now, something at the back axle has worked itself loose and is clunking around something awful. They seem to be fresh out of a refurb which is good, gives them a fighting chance given some of the native fleet have never seen a new seat or a paint brush in their life.

 

[route101]

I'm on one of them just now, something at the back axle has worked itself loose and is clunking around something awful. They seem to be fresh out of a refurb which is good, gives them a fighting chance given some of the native fleet have never seen a new seat or a paint brush in their life.

Yeah ive noticed more Tridents or Presdents in Edinburgh . The 03 plate ones lookgood .