Transdev Blazefield

[Ballyheigue]

Another update from Paul Turner reveals that B7RLE 1803 is at Blackburn for disposal and eCitaros 1032 & 1035 (the final eCitaros) have arrived at Keighley.

They've done a lot better than a lot of same aged examples First had. Even though they've had a couple of overhauls, 20 years is really good going for a modern single decker.

 

[Andyh82]

They've done a lot better than a lot of same aged examples First had. Even though they've had a couple of overhauls, 20 years is really good going for a modern single decker.

20 years operating the same route as well, I bet that doesn’t happen very often

 

[aswilliamsuk]

They've done a lot better than a lot of same aged examples First had. Even though they've had a couple of overhauls, 20 years is really good going for a modern single decker.

Remember they had a significant refurb mid-life, which will have helped.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 15 Nov 2025 ==

Are all the E-Citaroes for 662 only I thought some were meant to be going on 67s as well?

They are for the 67 as well, the priority appears to be the 662 first.

 

[YorkRailFan]

1860 has moved back to Idle for schools.

 

[SCH117X]

20 years operating the same route as well, I bet that doesn’t happen very often

Same for the 2004 Route Ones at Harrogate

 

[Deerfold]

Remember they had a significant refurb mid-life, which will have helped.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 15 Nov 2025 ==


They are for the 67 as well, the priority appears to be the 662 first.

Many of my recent sightings of the 67, it's been a minibus, so that'll be quite the upgrade.

 

[SCH117X]

1034 has done a return 67 today; 1610 to Bradford, 1730 return. Photos on Facebook proving for once the bustime tracking is correct.

 

[stevieinselby]

Many of my recent sightings of the 67, it's been a minibus, so that'll be quite the upgrade.

Over the last couple of weeks (assuming the tracking on bustimes is correct) the 67 has been run almost entirely by Eclipses, on a few days one of the three buses has been a Solo, and there have been brief appearances by a Strata and an eCitaro each running on one evening only.

 

[9143180]

The new 662 E Citaros are very nice and an improvement over the old Eclipses, but the reduced seating capacity is certainly noticeable. I’ve just gotten off of a standing room only service on a Sunday morning

 

[Deerfold]

Today, so far, the entire 62 and 67 service have been eCitaros, which was a pleasant surprise on my trip to Ilkley.

 

[317 forever]

Today, so far, the entire 62 and 67 service have been eCitaros, which was a pleasant surprise on my trip to Ilkley.

I like it when operators are willing to use spare modern buses on other routes on Sundays, as in your example here.

 

[stevieinselby]

I like it when operators are willing to use spare modern buses on other routes on Sundays, as in your example here.

When one of the things about electric buses is that they cost more to buy but less to run than diesel buses, it makes a lot of sense to run the electrics 7 days a week and let the diesels rest on Sundays.

 

[mph111]

I like it when operators are willing to use spare modern buses on other routes on Sundays, as in your example here.

In my experience as an HGV operator, it makes sense to put your new(er) stuff out on quieter days to reduce your risk of breakdown.

 

[317 forever]

Thank you both for your replies

When one of the things about electric buses is that they cost more to buy but less to run than diesel buses, it makes a lot of sense to run the electrics 7 days a week and let the diesels rest on Sundays.

Indeed, this then saves on diesel fuel costs

In my experience as an HGV operator, it makes sense to put your new(er) stuff out on quieter days to reduce your risk of breakdown.

So, in the cases of buses it makes the (usually) less frequent service more reliable.

 

[Shaw S Hunter]

In my experience as an HGV operator, it makes sense to put your new(er) stuff out on quieter days to reduce your risk of breakdown.

Here in Harrogate it seems that having overcome the teething problems the electric buses are almost unbreakable. Even allowing for the withdrawal of the X98/99 it's noticeable how the service is being maintained with a smaller fleet. Impressive if a little boring from an observer's point of view.

Slightly related point: OmniDekka 2105 has recently monopolised workings on the Saturday only 59 (Skipton). Apart from one windy weather day it has worked the route every week since mid-August.

 

[SCH117X]

Here in Harrogate it seems that having overcome the teething problems the electric buses are almost unbreakable. Even allowing for the withdrawal of the X98/99 it's noticeable how the service is being maintained with a smaller fleet. Impressive if a little boring from an observer's point of view.

Envio 400EV 2217 was involved in a RTA on Friday. Three days last week Harrogate locals had a B7RLE on them which are otherwise Mon-Sat is being maintained by a mixture of electric and hybird Citaros.Sundays being all electric. More than normal maintenance issues with those could cause problems.

 

[Shaw S Hunter]

Envio 400EV 2217 was involved in a RTA on Friday. Three days last week Harrogate locals had a B7RLE on them which are otherwise Mon-Sat is being maintained by a mixture of electric and hybird Citaros.Sundays being all electric. More than normal maintenance issues with those could cause problems.

Agree that there is obvious scope for problems with such a small spare level in the fleet. It will be a good long-term measure of electric bus reliability.

 

[SCH117X]

Agree that there is obvious scope for problems with such a small spare level in the fleet. It will be a good long-term measure of electric bus reliability.

Seems they on the verge of not having enough vehicles with both B7RLEs on Harrogate locals today. Looks like a shortage of hybrid /eCitaros was discovered after one of the hybrids was sent out to work the 21. eCitaro 1036 is tracking on the 36 so presume that is a ticket machine error.

 

[YorkRailFan]

Keighley B9TL 2410 (ex-Reliance) now has temporary 'Transdev' vinyls, replacing its 'I'm Joining York & Country' vinyls. https://www.flickr.com/photos/19716...f1yxn-2q4bXnp-2pXE53t-2pX6v3d-2pPJbBt-2pGmB4M (not my photo, credit to original photographer)

 

[LucyP]

The ADLs are far from unbreakable on the 36 route.

 

[SCH117X]

The ADLs are far from unbreakable on the 36 route.

Same goes for any fleet of buses

 

[YorkRailFan]

Flyer Versa 278 has been re-withdrawn, Burnley B7TL 2762 and Blackburn B7TL 2763 have been withdrawn.

 

[northernchris]

Had my first ride on one of the new Citaros on the 662 on Friday. Impressed with how quick off the mark they are and find the interiors to be smart. Also like the additional grabrails at head height towards the front which will be useful for standing passengers. However, despite it being an off peak early afternoon trip it was busy, with the driver deciding 6 standing passengers was enough to not pick anyone else up. There would have been fewer passengers onboard than the previous B7s could have seated, hopefully it's just teething issues and Transdev are monitoring capacity.

 

[YorkRailFan]

Paul Turner notes quite a few changes. Firstly, Mercedes Hybrid 1513 has moved from Harrogate to Flyer (Idle) following eCitaro 1036's repaint and return to service.

Gemini 2 2411 (ex-Reliance) is now at Keighley for parts recovery pending disposal (its incorrectly tracking on Bustimes still), as a result 2410 has moved from Keighley to Idle and 2423 has moved from Idle to York. The latter move reunites 2421-24 at York for those interested.

Additionally, Enviro 200MMCs 514 & 518 have arrived in Blackburn.

 

[YorkRailFan]

B7RLE 1850 seems to have had the honour of being the first bus to receive the new "BrontëBus" branding.

 

[SCH117X]

B7RLE 1850 seems to have had the honour of being the first bus to receive the new "BrontëBus" branding.

1849 is also to recieve the brading according to Paul Turner on Facebook. Confirmed 2713, 2758 and 2762 were collected by PVS while new Enviros 514/7-9 are at Intack

 

[M60lad]

Both Blackburn and Burnley Depots are suffering major problems with 481, 483, X41 & X43 services this morning due to a road closure on M66 just after Ramsbottom heading towards Manchester, in fact if BusTimes is accurate 05:45 483 Burnley-Bury service has took an interesting route to Bury to avoid the problems as it has run normal route to Shuttleworth then gone via Ramsbottom and Brandlesholme.

Looking at BusTimes there's going to be major problems for X43 as there's 8 buses stuck in traffic on surrounding roads heading towards Manchester with one bus in Burnley and none having reached Manchester in the morning rush hour.

Seems a similar situation with X41 with what is supposed to have been 08:00 Shudehill-Accrington still stuck just after Ramsbottom on its way into Manchester.

 

[mph111]

Noted Tuesday morning circa 0730 (as a significant surprise) was 1018 BV74NFO joining the M1 south from the M18; a long way from its normal stomping ground! Bustimes suggests this was back in service in Harrogate by 1500.

 

[Shaw S Hunter]

Noted Tuesday morning circa 0730 (as a significant surprise) was 1018 BV74NFO joining the M1 south from the M18; a long way from its normal stomping ground! Bustimes suggests this was back in service in Harrogate by 1500.

Some months back one of the (now ex-) demonstrators was similarly seen on the M-way network in S Yorks returning to service in Harrogate very shortly thereafter. Could it be that M-B/Evobus have a facility in the area which is used for occasional warranty or rectification work?

 

[YorkRailFan]

1849 is also to recieve the brading according to Paul Turner on Facebook. Confirmed 2713, 2758 and 2762 were collected by PVS while new Enviros 514/7-9 are at Intack

1849 now also has "BrontëBus" branding, see here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/202426151@N03/54981410628
(Not my photo, credit to original photographer)