Transdev Blazefield

[dodecahedron67]

I think there's a certain "tier" of care taken to certain routes, certainly when it was cityzap/coastliner on the same corridor the cityzap buses looked like they had more care taken after them.
The 36 is the flagship route so gets taken good care of
X98/X99 seem to be the lesser loved child of the "flagships", and coastliner now gets more care taken as they're the "top tier" of Leeds-York buses

 

[johntea]

Am I imagining things or did the 36 used to have folding seat tables on the upper deck? I've travelled on the service quite a bit recently and that no longer seems to be the case which is a bit annoying when you have a coffee and nowhere to put it!

 

[RustySpoons]

Am I imagining things or did the 36 used to have folding seat tables on the upper deck? I've travelled on the service quite a bit recently and that no longer seems to be the case which is a bit annoying when you have a coffee and nowhere to put it!

They did, but they were vandalised quite often and they always made an absolute racket as they would rattle so they were removed.

 

[Andyh82]

"Wood" trim at the front upstairs, which is just paper with a wood grain printed on it, and glued over the plastic was always going to be susceptible to being torn off, and it has been at the edges.

That comes across like a bit of a silly comment. You talk like someone at Transdev has used a pritt stick to glue some paper to the floor

The floor should be fixed by the manufacturer to a high standard whether the operator chooses wood design or a standard grey plain type design

 

[Ashly_Jethro]

Is this just a general ADL thing, or is there a reason why the X98/9/former CityZap vehicles are in such bad shape internally?

I don’t think it is an ADL thing as the WW half of the fleet is still fine, as are the 1 e200s

It's because of the poor choice of interior colours, and materials, a bit of vandalism and anti-social behaviour, and a lack of cleaning. Light grey leather on the seat outer panels was never going to stay clean. Shiny black plastic material at foot level along the staircase and upper deck was always going to look dirty, stained and scuffed and it does. "Wood" trim at the front upstairs, which is just paper with a wood grain printed on it, and glued over the plastic was always going to be susceptible to being torn off, and it has been at the edges. Light trim to the sides of the front windscreen was always going to show dirt from people with no manners putting their feet on the hand rail and their dirty soles marking the panels at the edges.

There is also a lack of maintenance. Some of the "fairy light" panels along the sides have fallen off, or been vandalised and removed. and have not been replaced, so you can see the led strips and wiring at the ends. Hardly any of the reading lights in the seat backs work. The heated front windscreen upstairs doesn't work, and the buses are just as steamed up as any other bus. The heating is poor and the bus always feels cold, and the lighting on the left hand side is never on. That makes the buses feel worse too.

Granted, the pale “e-leather” was a poor choice practically but the rest aside from the moquette is the same as WW, so it’s not a design or manufacturer issue. I can understand that they started to loose priority when the decision was made to “axe” Zap and I know they’re due semi-refurbishment out of their old zap colours. whether that extends to the seat trims or not is anyone’s guess. So I imagine a lot of stuff is being bookmarked to have everything looked at properly then. Perhaps they may even go back to ADL to have the work done (including the new livery)

The list of other issues does seem very targeted and I fail to believe certain issues stem across all 4 vehicles.

I also wonder how the x43 can withstand being regularly used on a couple school/college contracts and not be so vandalised…

 

[Delenn]

That comes across like a bit of a silly comment. You talk like someone at Transdev has used a pritt stick to glue some paper to the floor

The floor should be fixed by the manufacturer to a high standard whether the operator chooses wood design or a standard grey plain type design

I get exactly what Lucy means though. The X98 I was on did indeed look like paper. Sure it wasn't just paper though!

I did only travel on one example, but it still declares "Sky Class" on the outside and they do make a big deal of Sky Class, so that's why I asked. The LEDs worked on the example I was on (although I'd personally prefer they were not there at all).

On this one, the shiny black plastic was looking very bad. It might have well been gorgeous when they were new, but it hasn't worn well. The more matt Coastliner/36 version seems to wear a lot better.

As for the upstairs front windscreen heater, that wasn't working.

Oh, and one thing I didn't mention was the noise. It was so noisy with blowing noise upstairs at the front (ie not engine noise). I've never been on a bus with such noise. To be honest, I was pleased to get on a 36!

 

[Bwsbro]

I think the main problem with the Skylink deckers are that the standards have slipped since moving the X98 & X99 onto the Harrogate Licence.

I caught two a few weeks back for local journeys within Leeds and they were filthy, externally and internally, and I can definitely state that these were not dirt caused by that’s mornings service.

It’s a shame that standards are falling, but I fear that this is happening across the whole network atm

 

[LucyP]

@Andyh82 - I wasn't talking about the floor. The paper trim is at the bottom of the windscreen upstairs, and it is indeed just paper with a wood grain printed on it, and then glued on. I don't know if I am allowed to post a link to a YouTube video on here. If I am, then this is the link. Pause the video at 52 seconds and you can see the light "wood" where the grab rails and the black bell push are attached.

If I am not allowed to post a link, then google: X99 bus youtube and the second result that comes up is the one that you need, posted on 18/10/22 from Eurasia Transport Explorer.

ADL won't accept the buses back, because (a) the warranty will have expired; (b) it won't cover vandalism; (c) it won't cover a poor choice of fittings by the customer. It must always have been obvious that paper trim, no matter how well glued down, was always going to be susceptible to vandalism. Yes at a distance it looks smart, or probably once did, but now it's obviously just paper, torn and dirty at the edges.

There are induction chargers in the back of the seat in front. The slots are too small for the current generation of iPhones. I used the bus yesterday and watched a respectable looking, middle aged woman, force the panel from the seat back, remove it, so that it was hanging by it's wires, so that she could then place her phone onto it, to charge it.

I don't think that the buses will be having any upgrades or refurbishments. I think there is new management in place, and a freeze in spending, because of the recent financial performance.

 

[SCH117X]

Since moving to Starbeck those four vehicles have been hammered without any break bar a mechanical etc. They really could do with 2019, the Pride of the North one, as well which York made use of at times on the CityZap. It might be they are going to be refurbed so a why does it matter attitude might exist. When not available one of the red four Geminis has to deputise, today 2775 being use in place of 2018 (assuming the tracking is corrrect). That then is problem when one of the Geminis faiis as the others invariably in use are out on a service meaning a longer delay in getting a replacement vehicle - it seems to be a service they are loathed to put a single decker on.

 

[Andyh82]

I’d be surprised if there were any plans to do an interior refurbishment on such new buses

I imagine the interior condition is being exaggerated, where the X98/X99 is concerned, the poster has form.

 

[SCH117X]

Good point and seems to know more about (presumably alledged) management changes than routeone for example.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 22 Mar 2023 ==

There is a vacancy at Starbeck, which might explain some matters, for a

Bus Shunter & Valeter who is friendly, flexible, able to work on their own initiative or part of a small, family-feel team. Some of your responsibilities will be:

• Make sure the buses are clean internally and externally.
• Valet the buses to our high standards
• Fuelling the buses up on a night
• Parking up the vehicles on a night
• Driving the vehicles through the bus wash

https://uk.indeed.com/cmp/Transdev-Blazefield-Ltd-1

 

[LucyP]

Delenn was making the same comments as me, and like me, they have actually been on the buses. Most people commenting on here have not.

I don't see how the buses "have been hammered". There are 2 buses per hour in each direction during the day, which reduces to 1 per hour in the early evening, 6 days per week. On Sunday it is one bus per hour in each direction and no buses before 9am. It's a journey of about 15 miles, and it takes about an hour. Outside of peak hours, during the day, there are few passengers, and in the evenings, you can count the number on one hand, easily. That isn't hammering the bus at all.

These buses were brand new in December 2020. They didn't even operate for 2 years on the Zap route, and there were few passengers because of Covid etc. which is why the service was cancelled. They have been on the X98/9 for about 6 months and it isn't an intensive route either.

 

[Ashly_Jethro]

Since moving to Starbeck those four vehicles have been hammered without any break bar a mechanical etc. They really could do with 2019, the Pride of the North one, as well which York made use of at times on the CityZap. It might be they are going to be refurbed so a why does it matter attitude might exist. When not available one of the red four Geminis has to deputise, today 2775 being use in place of 2018 (assuming the tracking is corrrect). That then is problem when one of the Geminis faiis as the others invariably in use are out on a service meaning a longer delay in getting a replacement vehicle - it seems to be a service they are loathed to put a single decker on.

I’d be surprised if there were any plans to do an interior refurbishment on such new buses

I imagine the interior condition is being exaggerated, where the X98/X99 is concerned, the poster has form.

There is a vacancy at Starbeck, which might explain some matters, for a

https://uk.indeed.com/cmp/Transdev-Blazefield-Ltd-1

All very reasonable possibilities.

Though in regards to the interior referbs; mellor 67, an even new bus, has just received a full re-trim to include grey e-leather from the orange it had previously.

And though “hammered” may not be used in the context of extensive strain, it does seem to be used in the sense that all 4 are needed often enough for the depot not to want them off the road for long, as a spare decker will likely be more needed elsewhere to cover others route vehicles that may not be able to run at all.

 

[SCH117X]

And though “hammered” may not be used in the context of extensive strain, it does seem to be used in the sense that all 4 are needed often enough for the depot not to want them off the road for long, as a spare decker will likely be more needed elsewhere to cover others route vehicles that may not be able to run at all.

Yes thats the context I was using “hammered” in - there is no immediate equivalently specified substitute like York had with them and the Pride of the North one so provided the bus is serviceable any interior defect is not going to preclude it being put out in service provided its not hazardous.

For some reason a few years back pre the Harrogate Electrics Starbeck one Saturday turned out on the Harrogate locals a B10BLE with a missing seat ! It didn’t look good but it didn’t hamper passenger safety and on the plus side gave 2 seats massive legroom. The next day I saw the same B10BLE out of service on the A59 heading east back to Harrogate – it had presumably been to Blackburn for a new seat to be fitted.

 

[158756]

Some of these errors have been corrected but this is still a poor quality timetable.
In the M1, M2 towards Burnley the 15.16 from Accrington to Burnley is shown twice, once in the right place and once about half an hour too early.
Away from Burnley the 152 at 19.58 doesn't go to Padiham (it does), ditto the Sunday M2 at 09.43 (it comes back from Padiham but presumably goes there)
But worst is the uncertainty leaving Burnley around 15.00. The "then at" shows departures from Burnley at 02, 12, 22, 32, 42, 52, but after the 'until' the first bus is 15.03. So is there a 15.02 to Clitheroe or not? On the normal pattern it would arrive Clitheroe at 15.49, but on schooldays (except Weds) the equivalent return journey departs at 15.47 - so questionable. On NSD and Weds it departs Clitheroe 16.01 as normal pattern so surely the journey to Clitheroe runs those days - but what about schooldays? If the pattern is as shown then the first journey after the 'until' must fit with the pattern, only after that can you have journeys which don't.
Does anyone proof read things these days?

Regarding the service itself there are a few M2 extras between Burnley and Padiham which could well cover for school peaks, that's good, but there's few extras to the 10-minute pattern northwards to Colne and the x10 reduces to x15 from 17.30 off Burnley, which is poor. Considerably short of the intensive service the Mainline was supposed to be.

They've now fixed the issues there were with the 3pm departures, but have (possibly intentionally?) introduced a new one in the process. The current 14:55 to Clitheroe (the bus which runs those 15:47/16:01 departures in the other direction) is now in the timetable but retimed to 14:52, which is the same time as a departure on the 152 to Preston. That 152 is now omitted from the timetable. I'm not 100% sure if that is a mistake or if it could be intentional to direct passengers on the shared section to the Clitheroe service - the 152 can struggle with timekeeping in the afternoons.

If bustimes.org is correct, 3 B10s have now been withdrawn. It also says two Solos have been transferred from Rosso along with one of the minibuses, though the Solos appear to only be doing school and works services at the moment. Today's service on routes 1-5 appears to have been provided by 6 B10s, 2 Enviro 200s, 1 Versa and 1 ex-Keighley Solo.

 

[AlastairFraser]

The first daily service update (Burnley service update) illustrates why it is a bad idea to withdraw the Wizz or at least a bus incorporating the Burnley to Colne M65 section - a delay of up to 20 mins due to heavy traffic on routes heading east out of Burnley today is a regular occurrence and needs sorting out, it'll just push people back into cars or perhaps the train if Northern get their act together.

If you look at the traffic layer on Google Maps in the area, you'll see the standstill congestion in areas like Brierfield and Nelson, while the motorway is free flowing.

 

[M60lad]

Its not just heading out of Burnley that can be the problem, heading through Colne is another problem and in the past I've seen traffic heading towards Colne backed upto Rail Station and that's been during the day.

Mind you Transdev have a history of doing this as I believe in the past the Burnley-Keighley service used run via A629 into/out off Keighley.

 

[Ken H]

Its not just heading out of Burnley that can be the problem, heading through Colne is another problem and in the past I've seen traffic heading towards Colne backed upto Rail Station and that's been during the day.

Mind you Transdev have a history of doing this as I believe in the past the Burnley-Keighley service used run via A629 into/out off Keighley.

M4 Keighley-Burnley goes through Utley, Steeton, loops the loop through Airedale Hospital then straight through Crosshills, Glusburn and Cowling.
Utley gets 7 buses an hour. I am sure 1 or more of them could use the bypass between Steeton and Keighley to give faster journeys. maybe one M4 and one 66

66 Keighley - Skipton
62 Keighley - Ilkley
M4 Keighley - Burnley
602 Keighley - Steeton.

 

[Deerfold]

M4 Keighley-Burnley goes through Utley, Steeton, loops the loop through Airedale Hospital then straight through Crosshills, Glusburn and Cowling.
Utley gets 7 buses an hour. I am sure 1 or more of them could use the bypass between Steeton and Keighley to give faster journeys. maybe one M4 and one 66

66 Keighley - Skipton
62 Keighley - Ilkley
M4 Keighley - Burnley
602 Keighley - Steeton.

I'm assuming you mean 903 Keighley- Silsden rather than 602?

I'm not sure how much time they'd save compared with passengers they'd lose. They do currently run the early Sunday 862 on the bypass which is a shame as it used to be rather well timed at Steeton for the first train to Leeds.

If you run one of two buses on the same route via the bypsss you risk uneven headways and confused passengers.

The 903, as well as not being run by transfer since it was the he 713, arrives the hills above Utley on the other side to the bypass.

 

[RustySpoons]

Easy to forget that this year is the 20th anniversary of the 'new' 36 that changed everything. Although the original spec appears quite basic now, back then leather seats on a service bus back then was completely unheard of.

The Tweet below states that it raised the bar for First and Arriva, but I'd argue that it raised the bar for the industry as a whole.

Although I don't think the current 36 is as much as a game changer as the original, more an evolution of it, it's hard to deny that it's still an impressive product. And the fact it was more evolution rather than revolution is a testament to how much the original moved the industry forward - rather than being the best, it's amongst the best.

I wonder what the next 20 years will offer...?

@MostScenicBus says...

2003 when 1 rte went for highest of standards. #the36 by @harrogatebus went for airline seat luxury. #Ripon has no rail but its main aim was to compete for commuters with Northern Rail from #Harrogate to #Leeds. OTT? but it raised the bar for @FirstWestYorks @arrivayorkshire

 

[bluenoxid]

With regards to the discussion about using the Aire Valley bypass, there isn’t much time saved from Steeton Top to Beechcliffe roundabout going via the bypass. It takes time to get up and down station road in Steeton and navigate two further roundabouts.

 

[SCH117X]

Two vehicles less needed at York from next Sunday as East Yorkshire will be working the 12, presumably out of their Pocklington depot, so maybe 2019 might wander westwards .
There is a timetable changes for the 22 from April 16 so it seems that is saved for the time being- the dual visit to Ripon bus station by a morning school run service is being cut to a single visit and the final eastbound working is being terminated at Boroughbridge meaning the vehicle can be at the Skelton depot before the currently timetabled service has reached its York terminus, so no doubt providng a cost saving against any custom lost. Not sure what the Ripon change achieves unless their has been a timekeeping issue - its going to put off any passengers wishing to go in the Boroughbridge/York direction as they first have to go to school with the school kids.

Re 36; 20 years of progress showed up earlier this year with a customer annoyingly tweeting over the vehicle that had been provided - the sole surviving at Starbeck original type (albeit originally a Witch Way vehicle) 3614 (orignally 2765).

 

[E-Rail]

Are the original Burnley and Pendle B7TL Presidents from 2001 still in active use anywhere in the group?

 

[Leedsbusman]

Two vehicles less needed at York from next Sunday as East Yorkshire will be working the 12, presumably out of their Pocklington depot, so maybe 2019 might wander westwards .
There is a timetable changes for the 22 from April 16 so it seems that is saved for the time being- the dual visit to Ripon bus station by a morning school run service is being cut to a single visit and the final eastbound working is being terminated at Boroughbridge meaning the vehicle can be at the Skelton depot before the currently timetabled service has reached its York terminus, so no doubt providng a cost saving against any custom lost. Not sure what the Ripon change achieves unless their has been a timekeeping issue - its going to put off any passengers wishing to go in the Boroughbridge/York direction as they first have to go to school with the school kids.

Re 36; 20 years of progress showed up earlier this year with a customer annoyingly tweeting over the vehicle that had been provided - the sole surviving at Starbeck original type (albeit originally a Witch Way vehicle) 3614 (orignally 2765).

The morning change at Ripon reverts to the pre 2022 timetable. I’m told the second visit was added when V22 ended but isn’t now needed as the 36 connects well enough with the first visit.

 

[Delenn]

Has anybody heard anything about the new buses for the 36 being ordered (or indeed the Harrogate single decker fleet)? Was just reminded they were meant to be in place in 2024, but it has all gone quiet of late. Anyone heard what they are likely to order?

 

[SCH117X]

Has anybody heard anything about the new buses for the 36 being ordered (or indeed the Harrogate single decker fleet)? Was just reminded they were meant to be in place in 2024, but it has all gone quiet of late. Anyone heard what they are likely to order?

They have a Wright Streetdeck Electroliner on loan at present https://www.flickr.com/photos/stazicker/52746227658/

 

[Seehof]

I don’t think any extra vehicles were put into York to operate the 12. At the moment I am not aware of any other changes to local York Transdev services.

 

[308165]

Are the original Burnley and Pendle B7TL Presidents from 2001 still in active use anywhere in the group?

Some are at Keighley doing school and some service work. I routinely see 2703 in Crosshills on school jobs.

 

[SCH117X]

I don’t think any extra vehicles were put into York to operate the 12. At the moment I am not aware of any other changes to local York Transdev services.

They have an ADL demonstrator on short term loan https://www.flickr.com/photos/east_lancs/52771154295

 

[RustySpoons]

Has anybody heard anything about the new buses for the 36 being ordered (or indeed the Harrogate single decker fleet)? Was just reminded they were meant to be in place in 2024, but it has all gone quiet of late. Anyone heard what they are likely to order?

I believe they've still not got the depot infrastructure in place (same at Keighley), which is obviously needed before the buses arrive. As of yet no one seems to know when or if this work is going to take place. With Alex Hornby seemingly not returning I wonder if they'll either quietly back out of the whole idea or delay things and consider other options?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 26 Mar 2023 ==

Re 36; 20 years of progress showed up earlier this year with a customer annoyingly tweeting over the vehicle that had been provided - the sole surviving at Starbeck original type (albeit originally a Witch Way vehicle) 3614 (orignally 2765).

2765 was the sole example that went to Lancashire United for the Lancashire Way, it supplemented a few of the original Plaxton Presidents that helped relaunch the X40/X41 service back in 2005. I don't think it actually lasted very long at LU though before going to Harrogate. It was then refurbished to the same spec as the rest of the original 36** batch when they had their mid-life overhaul.