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Post by Volvo on Nov 22, 2019 0:14:00 GMT
The Southern Vectis examples are likely N270UD's which have a more powerful engine just the ex B&H ones now with Metrobus. Had to look back through my notes but the SP I had on the 79 was SP20197 and it performed well enough - nothing too good or bad. From memory SP40195/40196/40198 are awful, SP40202-40204 are just bog average, and the others I don't really remember, but I think were borderline bad, but not as bad as 40195/40196/40198. They are all useless lol. So glad that I got ADE40406 for my second half as it's 3 rounders!!! I couldn't imagine having an SP I would have cried.
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Post by E279 on Nov 22, 2019 0:50:21 GMT
From memory SP40195/40196/40198 are awful, SP40202-40204 are just bog average, and the others I don't really remember, but I think were borderline bad, but not as bad as 40195/40196/40198. The 59 reg SPs at SO are miles better for sure. Those Southern Vectis buses aren't N270UD's, buslistsontheweb has them down as N230UD's. The ones I'm talking about are 09 regs 1146-1152. They also have the preferable seating kinds, that is found on many of Metroline's buses (I have no idea the name of that type of seating), overall they were much better to ride by miles. They are all useless lol. So glad that I got ADE40406 for my second half as it's 3 rounders!!! I couldn't imagine having an SP I would have cried. ADE/ADHs at BT seem to do way better than the SPs and VHs. I find the 3 Gemini 3 VHs to be okay, is it just the G2 versions or as a driver do you not really favour the Gemini 3 either?
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Post by Volvo on Nov 22, 2019 1:06:11 GMT
Nah the Gemini 3s are excellent. It's just the Gemini 2s that are terrible except 4 of them.
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Post by snowman on Nov 22, 2019 9:07:45 GMT
With the 266 (gained) and 306 (new, split of 391) in just over 2 weeks, time for a summary of the double decks which are not currently in use. Presumably some of these will be for these additional routes ADE 40421, 423, 424, 428, 431, 433, 439-433 ADH 45005, 011, 040, 042, 045-047 SP 40009, 040, 063, 071, 076, 104, 112-114, 117, 200 VH 45105, 127, 140, 162, 163, 186, 227, 237, 239 no obvious batches, so have to see what gets used in the end, and some of these may be out for other reasons (upgrades, repair etc) ADE 40422/37/38/44 should transfer over in addition. Rumours that ADH 45021 has been repaired following fire damage and wil likewise reappear. That would probably allow some in the ADH 45439-48 to make the move also as mentioned. Effectively the E3 will probably become virtually all 60 reg ADH. Of course if they are still short then TFL will just cut a PVR somewhere. According to Latest LOTs TLB, the 306 will be VH operated using some displaced from cuts to 18 and some from 65 (which regains SPs) From memory the 697 loses 2 buses, and 698 loses 1 (due to new 278 which will be operated by Abellio), there had also been a few SPs on the 81 which came spare, and the 65 lost 8 SPs (replaced by new VHs ordered for 406), some of these have been covering euroVI upgrades. Some have also been helping out on 203 (due to lack of DXEs on H37) although H37 now seems to be seeing mix of DXE and DLE, and of course more DLEs come free from 391 cutback so no reason to continue double decks on 203
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Post by E279 on Nov 22, 2019 9:25:09 GMT
ADE 40422/37/38/44 should transfer over in addition. Rumours that ADH 45021 has been repaired following fire damage and wil likewise reappear. That would probably allow some in the ADH 45439-48 to make the move also as mentioned. Effectively the E3 will probably become virtually all 60 reg ADH. Of course if they are still short then TFL will just cut a PVR somewhere. According to Latest LOTs TLB, the 306 will be VH operated using some displaced from cuts to 18 and some from 65 (which regains SPs) From memory the 697 loses 2 buses, and 698 loses 1 (due to new 278 which will be operated by Abellio), there had also been a few SPs on the 81 which came spare, and the 65 lost 8 SPs (replaced by new VHs ordered for 406), some of these have been covering euroVI upgrades. Some have also been helping out on 203 (due to lack of DXEs on H37) although H37 now seems to be seeing mix of DXE and DLE, and of course more DLEs come free from 391 cutback so no reason to continue double decks on 203 Busdryer had stated in an earlier post that the DLEs from the 391 could make up part of the new 326 allocation.
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Post by Hassaan on Nov 22, 2019 9:54:52 GMT
I know I said previously I woul rather have a SP than the 13reg VHs. I hold my hands and feet up, I was very wrong. I hadn't drive a SP since the middle of August so I forgot how bar they are. After today on the 79 where I couldn't keep up with my leader with VH101 (which is a terrible machine)with SP198 coniserign I was 6 late and he was running with me. I'm not about this SP aka Snails Pace life. Give me the VH I don’t get what’s happened to them since they’ve gone to BT. Most of the SPs we have in south west London aren’t too bad, some actually really fast. Much better than an Enviro 400 or Gemini 2 imo. Maybe they were just the worst batch. Thing is, when at HH they were exactly the same as the 10-reg at AV. They were also very similar to the 59-reg Euro5 at FW and the old ones at V, which only differ in being able to rev a tiny bit higher. Everything else about the programming is the same. The drivers at AV, HH and FW (plus V in the past) may or may not complain in the garage, but ultimately just get on with it in the end, and the company certainly thinks they're fine as they're now up to 10 years old with no changes.
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Post by Frenzie on Nov 22, 2019 10:17:06 GMT
I don’t get what’s happened to them since they’ve gone to BT. Most of the SPs we have in south west London aren’t too bad, some actually really fast. Much better than an Enviro 400 or Gemini 2 imo. Maybe they were just the worst batch. Thing is, when at HH they were exactly the same as the 10-reg at AV. They were also very similar to the 59-reg Euro5 at FW and the old ones at V, which only differ in being able to rev a tiny bit higher. Everything else about the programming is the same. The drivers at AV, HH and FW (plus V in the past) may or may not complain in the garage, but ultimately just get on with it in the end, and the company certainly thinks they're fine as they're now up to 10 years old with no changes. I think the ones at AV have had some performance enhancements because some on the 10 reg have been performing superbly recently (just a shame some have been limited). I’ve even experienced kick down on a few of them. It’s been a while since I’ve gone on an HH example but they had to deal with 40mph road so couldn’t have been that bad. Currently, SP40051 seems like the best bus at AV right now. Though the others 09 reg seem just as good.
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Post by i3lu on Nov 22, 2019 10:25:07 GMT
According to Latest LOTs TLB, the 306 will be VH operated using some displaced from cuts to 18 and some from 65 (which regains SPs) From memory the 697 loses 2 buses, and 698 loses 1 (due to new 278 which will be operated by Abellio), there had also been a few SPs on the 81 which came spare, and the 65 lost 8 SPs (replaced by new VHs ordered for 406), some of these have been covering euroVI upgrades. Some have also been helping out on 203 (due to lack of DXEs on H37) although H37 now seems to be seeing mix of DXE and DLE, and of course more DLEs come free from 391 cutback so no reason to continue double decks on 203 Busdryer had stated in an earlier post that the DLEs from the 391 could make up part of the new 326 allocation. It has been mentioned here so many times the 326 can't take DLEs.
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Post by E279 on Nov 22, 2019 10:45:49 GMT
Busdryer had stated in an earlier post that the DLEs from the 391 could make up part of the new 326 allocation. It has been mentioned here so many times the 326 can't take DLEs. Simply relaying a message from someone who generally is correct when giving information about RATP. Why can’t they take DLEs!
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Post by busdryver on Nov 22, 2019 11:40:04 GMT
Busdryer had stated in an earlier post that the DLEs from the 391 could make up part of the new 326 allocation. It has been mentioned here so many times the 326 can't take DLEs. But we do know that both the 272 and 440 can take DLEs, and the shorter versions (DME) should be able to go round the 326 so looks like a solution...
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Post by LT 20181 on Nov 22, 2019 11:49:07 GMT
DE 20192 is at BT with 20123 back at SO 🤔
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Post by snowman on Nov 22, 2019 12:58:52 GMT
It has been mentioned here so many times the 326 can't take DLEs. But we do know that both the 272 and 440 can take DLEs, and the shorter versions (DME) should be able to go round the 326 so looks like a solution... The big question is what length can the 326 take clearly can handle current 10.2m DEs, but can it take the 10.49m DMEs sounds like the 10.87m DLEs are too long, which suggests at least one part of the route does not have much spare clearance even for existing DEs as an additional 0.7m is not that much extra
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Post by ADH45258 on Nov 22, 2019 13:01:37 GMT
But we do know that both the 272 and 440 can take DLEs, and the shorter versions (DME) should be able to go round the 326 so looks like a solution... The big question is what length can the 326 take clearly can handle current 10.2m DEs, but can it take the 10.49m DMEs sounds like the 10.87m DLEs are too long, which suggests at least one part of the route does not have much spare clearance even for existing DEs as an additional 0.7m is not that much extra Another option could always be for DLEs (including from the 391) to go to FW for the 33 or 371, releasing the newer 60reg DEs to the 326. Though the 11reg at BT are slightly newer, so RATP could repeat the 395 situation (swapping the 251 & 326 allocations, as with the 395/H13 & H11).
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Post by Volvo on Nov 22, 2019 14:00:30 GMT
According to Latest LOTs TLB, the 306 will be VH operated using some displaced from cuts to 18 and some from 65 (which regains SPs) From memory the 697 loses 2 buses, and 698 loses 1 (due to new 278 which will be operated by Abellio), there had also been a few SPs on the 81 which came spare, and the 65 lost 8 SPs (replaced by new VHs ordered for 406), some of these have been covering euroVI upgrades. Some have also been helping out on 203 (due to lack of DXEs on H37) although H37 now seems to be seeing mix of DXE and DLE, and of course more DLEs come free from 391 cutback so no reason to continue double decks on 203 Busdryer had stated in an earlier post that the DLEs from the 391 could make up part of the new 326 allocation. DLEs on the 326?? I find that quite suspect as even when we have been short of buses on the 326 and DLEs spare in the garage we were not allowed to use them on the route. Even when we were doing the route learning and there were 3 DLEs spare and no DEs the driver trainer says we not allowed to use the DLE as they can't fit around the route.
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Post by vjaska on Nov 22, 2019 15:14:40 GMT
Busdryer had stated in an earlier post that the DLEs from the 391 could make up part of the new 326 allocation. DLEs on the 326?? I find that quite suspect as even when we have been short of buses on the 326 and DLEs spare in the garage we were not allowed to use them on the route. Even when we were doing the route learning and there were 3 DLEs spare and no DEs the driver trainer says we not allowed to use the DLE as they can't fit around the route. Don't worry, there was never any confirmation about it happening - the most that was said in the original post was "maybe" As you have driven the route, is there any spot you know where either the current DE's struggle with or where you would think a wider 10.5m MMC could potentially struggle with?
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