Nottingham City Transport

[joieman]

What's that like price-wise compared to similar vehicles? Is £25,000 an average price for a 15 year old vehicle?

Birmingham Busworks are selling two of Arriva Derby's former Scania Omnilinks (08-plate) and twelve of their Omnicities (58/09-plate) from £11,450 and £14,950 respectively. But I remember a couple of eBay listings for East Lancs Nordics for about thirty grand last year.

 

[TR673]

What's that like price-wise compared to similar vehicles? Is £25,000 an average price for a 15 year old vehicle?

NCT are known for maintaining their vehicles well, plus it's been retrofitted to Euro 6, is decently specced and has a much beefier engine than typical Solos. So it probably commands a bit of a premium over similarly aged Solos from other operators, or with Mercedes engines.

 

[cnjb8]

It might be worth noting that at least one of the yellow line Optare Solo SRs is for sale via Bus & Coach Buyer.
Although considering it doesn't say "choice of [X amount]" it looks like only 364 is for sale.

Used Buses, Coaches & Minibuses for Sale UK | Bus & Coach Buyer Classifieds

Search hundreds of used coaches, buses & minibuses for sale in the UK from PSV dealers and directly from operators. Easy to use - contact seller directly.

classifieds.busandcoachbuyer.com

View attachment 174471

I wouldn't be surprised if the other members of the batch have already been sold pending withdrawal

 

[callum3490]

It might be worth noting that at least one of the yellow line Optare Solo SRs is for sale via Bus & Coach Buyer.
Although considering it doesn't say "choice of [X amount]" it looks like only 364 is for sale.

Used Buses, Coaches & Minibuses for Sale UK | Bus & Coach Buyer Classifieds

Search hundreds of used coaches, buses & minibuses for sale in the UK from PSV dealers and directly from operators. Easy to use - contact seller directly.

classifieds.busandcoachbuyer.com

View attachment 174471

The whole single deck fleet is being replaced by yutongs

Be interesting to see if any have been ordered for the 29

 

[MCR247]

The whole single deck fleet is being replaced by yutongs

Be interesting to see if any have been ordered for the 29

They’ve not announced any order just yet. The 29 and spares may be why not all of the Enviro 200 MMCs have gone yet

 

[tram21]

Well there's 14 coming later this year. All currently branded routes (bar the 53/54) have their branded buses. So I'd expect this 14 to be mostly spare buses, but if the 29 is a success then maybe they'll brand two up for it.

I heard they had ordered an extra bus for the 30 to cover the increased PVR, but I don't know if that's coming in the current batch or the next.

 

[edwin_m]

According to NCT website: https://www.nctx.co.uk/nottinghams-bridgford-bus-gets-upgrade

As well as Bridgford Bus routes getting an upgrade, electric buses will soon be introduced to the following routes:

• Navy 3 to Wilford Lane, Ruddington, and Clifton
• Navy 48 to Meadows, Queens Drive, and Clifton
• Sky Blue 61 to Mapperley, Woodborough, Lambley, and Calverton
• Yellow 70, 71 to Sherwood Rise, Basford, and Bulwell

These buses will join the 2024 fleet, which are already in service on Green 11, Pink 30, Blue 39, 40/X, 41, 42, and Red 50.

 

[Trainman40083]

They’ve not announced any order just yet. The 29 and spares may be why not all of the Enviro 200 MMCs have gone yet

Yes, just Enviro 200MMC 399 remains.

 

[MCR247]

Yes, just Enviro 200MMC 399 remains.

Ah have 301 and 302 been sold too now?

 

[cnjb8]

Ah have 301 and 302 been sold too now?

Hornsby of Scunthorpe

 

[MCR247]

Hornsby of Scunthorpe

Thanks

 

[JollyGood02]

Well there's 14 coming later this year. All currently branded routes (bar the 53/54) have their branded buses. So I'd expect this 14 to be mostly spare buses, but if the 29 is a success then maybe they'll brand two up for it.

I heard they had ordered an extra bus for the 30 to cover the increased PVR, but I don't know if that's coming in the current batch or the next.

There's a new navy route planned for the fairham estate. the buses for that would probably be in this batch as well

 

[tram21]

There's a new navy route planned for the fairham estate. the buses for that would probably be in this batch as well

Very good point. With the 61, 53 & 54 (and potentially 29) no longer needing allocated spares, and with the Yutongs high reliability you don't need many spares.

 

[JollyGood02]

Very good point. With the 61, 53 & 54 (and potentially 29) no longer needing allocated spares, and with the Yutongs high reliability you don't need many spares.

The 53/54 currently have their own branded buses, albeit spares with decals slapped on

 

[mainframe444]

NCT have posted this on their service update page this morning…..

• Vehicle Issue
  Today 05:30
  An overnight software update to our electric buses has failed, which is preventing them from entering service. The vehicle manufacturer is working with us to resolve the issue, but there will be cancellations and delays on these services. Sorry for the inconvenience caused.

This will obviously cause major gaps in service, as well as some interesting workings, as I type there’s a DD on the 41 route (city - St Ann’s)…..

M

 

[Omnidekkalover]

yutongs aren’t doing great today

 

[tram21]

They are now returning to service

 

[NNN_062]

Since there are 5 yutongs for the 48, does this mean that the 48 will be increased to every 15 minutes rather than every 20???? Currently the PVR for the 48 is 4, so if there are 5 then it would surely be every 15 minutes

 

[callum3490]

Since there are 5 yutongs for the 48, does this mean that the 48 will be increased to every 15 minutes rather than every 20???? Currently the PVR for the 48 is 4, so if there are 5 then it would surely be every 15 minutes

Fairly certain I read that the frequency is being increased to every 15 minutes so yes would need an extra bus. This is why the change doesnt make as much sense, surely downgrading to single decks but with an increased frequency (cost of operating & maintaining an extra bus) plus an extra driver is no more cost effective than keeping to double decks that are slightly less frequent?

 

[NNN_062]

Fairly certain I read that the frequency is being increased to every 15 minutes so yes would need an extra bus. This is why the change doesnt make as much sense, surely downgrading to single decks but with an increased frequency (cost of operating & maintaining an extra bus) plus an extra driver is no more cost effective than keeping to double decks that are slightly less frequent?

I think the cost to run 5 single deckers on the 48 would be cheaper than to run 4 double deckers on the 48, and after all the increase in frequency would surely mean no complaints about the 48 when NCT announces its timetable changes on Facebook

 

[Andy Pacer]

Since there are 5 yutongs for the 48, does this mean that the 48 will be increased to every 15 minutes rather than every 20???? Currently the PVR for the 48 is 4, so if there are 5 then it would surely be every 15 minutes

Although this would cut 5 minutes off the journey time for each rounder which might not be popular with drivers.
Are we sure there are 5 branded navy, or is it 4 branded and a silver spare?

 

[tram21]

Are we sure there are 5 branded navy, or is it 4 branded and a silver spare?

There's 5 branded navy.

 

[Andy Pacer]

There's 5 branded navy.

How odd!

 

[tram21]

It's worth saying the changes are from Sunday 30th March. Nothing has been submitted to the traffic commissioner as yet, probably be this week.

 

[Andy Pacer]

It's worth saying the changes are from Sunday 30th March. Nothing has been submitted to the traffic commissioner as yet, probably be this week.

The deadline for submissions for 30 March was 16 Feb, presumably you mean nothing has been processed.

 

[tram21]

The deadline for submissions for 30 March was 16 Feb, presumably you mean nothing has been processed.

Apologies, yes I meant nothing has been published by them yet!

 

[callum3490]

Fairly certain I read that the frequency is being increased to every 15 minutes so yes would need an extra bus. This is why the change doesnt make as much sense, surely downgrading to single decks but with an increased frequency (cost of operating & maintaining an extra bus) plus an extra driver is no more cost effective than keeping to double decks that are slightly less frequent?

I think the cost to run 5 single deckers on the 48 would be cheaper than to run 4 double deckers on the 48, and after all the increase in frequency would surely mean no complaints about the 48 when NCT announces its timetable changes on Facebook

But would it? Probably in these circumstances with it being electric vs diesel but if it was an equivalent surely not, you’ve got the cost of purchasing, maintaining the extra vehicle, extra driver etc. I think if it was going from diesel double decks to diesel singles the cost savings would be negligible but being diesel vs electric maybe there is still a saving although i still cant imagine it being a great cost cutting measure

To say the route doesnt warrant double deckers but then to increase the frequency just seems very odd

 

[Andy Pacer]

But would it? Probably in these circumstances with it being electric vs diesel but if it was an equivalent surely not, you’ve got the cost of purchasing, maintaining the extra vehicle, extra driver etc. I think if it was going from diesel double decks to diesel singles the cost savings would be negligible but being diesel vs electric maybe there is still a saving although i still cant imagine it being a great cost cutting measure

To say the route doesnt warrant double deckers but then to increase the frequency just seems very odd

Exactly my thoughts. The additional costs would be in the region of £200k per year - I doubt they would see an uplift on passenger derived revenue of £200k.

 

[callum3490]

Exactly my thoughts. The additional costs would be in the region of £200k per year - I doubt they would see an uplift on passenger derived revenue of £200k.

Exactly. The cost of the extra driver alone probably offsets the economy savings made of running single decks vs double decks. The only reason I can think is possibly something to do with if there were any funding requirements for routes receiving single deck electrics, maybe a minimum frequency requirement for it to be eligible for funding?

 

[Teapot42]

Exactly. The cost of the extra driver alone probably offsets the economy savings made of running single decks vs double decks. The only reason I can think is possibly something to do with if there were any funding requirements for routes receiving single deck electrics, maybe a minimum frequency requirement for it to be eligible for funding?

Would a combination of single deckers and increased frequency reduce the dwell time enough at each stop to speed the service up? And might that allow some cost savings?

For example, more frequent service potentially means fewer stops and less passengers per stop. Also, single deck means less waiting for passengers to climb the stairs.