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Post by vjaska on Jul 3, 2014 11:05:10 GMT
Been advised that Arriva have no idea what to do with most of the DLAs now leaving London. Apparently the Provincial operations dont want them and some areas like Merseyside are even scrapping some they received few years ago. They will initially be stored at Borehamwood, Blackburn, Derby etc. But may go for scrap. Delved a bit and seems premium routes get Sapphire (luxury spec), then there is Max (trialled in Yorkshire but without some features like laptop points), then normal spec. The buses being displaced by these are better than the ex London ones (and dont need converting from TfL spec). Another factor is Arriva are changing to long single decks like streetlite max for medium sized towns. Of course double decks aren't needed for rural areas. Any DLA fans can start crying now as scrap seems inevitable. Arriva London isn't going to pay about 10k per bus to convert and refurb them and the provinces have there own displaced buses (nil conversion costs) so its a no brainer. So far, Arriva Merseyside have only scrapped around 8 (former DLA2-10 IIRC), there is someone I can ask about this which I will later on. Not all Sapphire routes are getting new vehicles displacing older vehicles - Arriva Medway 101 & Arriva The Shires 280 have kept their Enviro 400's and have extra ones ordered alongside. Better is an 'opinionated' word - not everyone will agree that buses replacing them are better. The problem is, I remember you saying that operators will start shunning ex London vehicles due to TfL spec incorporating a rear door ramp, dual door, etc and yet operators are still purchasing secondhand London buses to this day. And personally, I don't see that stopping.
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Post by M1104 on Jul 3, 2014 12:44:24 GMT
Indeed, I mean they'd get more money back than scrapping them, I'm sure plenty of independent operators will take one - a lot of the Euro II DLA's are still in great condition especially when there are much newer buses falling apart. How about keeping them in London service? There's plenty of Arriva routes which could have done with a DD conversion...66, 166, 173, 184, 255, 286, 289, 303/305, 313, 428, B15... DLA's would have been ideal for that purpose. Even the V reg DLAs would have been fine, the last one, DLA129 left at the start of the year, yet there are still some V reg buses in TFL service. Costs and the drive for better London air quality are two aspects that will sadly prevent them from that possibility, especially beyond 2016.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 3, 2014 12:45:51 GMT
Indeed, I mean they'd get more money back than scrapping them, I'm sure plenty of independent operators will take one - a lot of the Euro II DLA's are still in great condition especially when there are much newer buses falling apart. How about keeping them in London service? There's plenty of Arriva routes which could have done with a DD conversion...66, 166, 173, 184, 255, 286, 289, 303/305, 313, 428, B15... DLA's would have been ideal for that purpose. Even the V reg DLAs would have been fine, the last one, DLA129 left at the start of the year, yet there are still some V reg buses in TFL service. 166?!
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Post by Deleted on Jul 3, 2014 13:14:06 GMT
During weekends and school hours, why not?! Same with the B15... There has to be a serious reason as to why double deckers are needed, not just throwing routes out of thin air. Mant single decker routes are busy during school times and weekends, but having full dd allocation is by no means feasiable for the whole day, such is the case with the 166.
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Post by Nathan on Jul 3, 2014 13:38:49 GMT
Indeed, I mean they'd get more money back than scrapping them, I'm sure plenty of independent operators will take one - a lot of the Euro II DLA's are still in great condition especially when there are much newer buses falling apart. How about keeping them in London service? There's plenty of Arriva routes which could have done with a DD conversion...66, 166, 173, 184, 255, 286, 289, 303/305, 313, 428, B15... DLA's would have been ideal for that purpose. Even the V reg DLAs would have been fine, the last one, DLA129 left at the start of the year, yet there are still some V reg buses in TFL service. Sorry but...DDs on the 255 and 286 don't really sound necessary. In fact, I don't even think it would be possible. Same with the B15 too.
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Post by snoggle on Jul 3, 2014 13:50:07 GMT
Indeed, I mean they'd get more money back than scrapping them, I'm sure plenty of independent operators will take one - a lot of the Euro II DLA's are still in great condition especially when there are much newer buses falling apart. How about keeping them in London service? There's plenty of Arriva routes which could have done with a DD conversion...66, 166, 173, 184, 255, 286, 289, 303/305, 313, 428, B15... DLA's would have been ideal for that purpose. Even the V reg DLAs would have been fine, the last one, DLA129 left at the start of the year, yet there are still some V reg buses in TFL service. It's air quality and the standards set by TfL on that that is the big killer for older buses. Euro2 had to go and Euro3 is next in line with a TfL business objective to reduce the numbers. I don't disagree with your desire to see more capacity where it's needed but current policies mean old deckers aren't going to be used on TfL services.
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Post by joefrombow on Jul 3, 2014 17:05:41 GMT
Ex Docklands Scania SOC 8 in Chelmsford looking exactly the same with LED blinds now with NIBS buses .
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Post by VPL630 on Jul 3, 2014 17:52:41 GMT
Ex Docklands Scania SOC 8 in Chelmsford looking exactly the same with LED blinds now with NIBS buses . They have 7 of them, all like that, they have had them for quite a while
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Post by joefrombow on Jul 4, 2014 4:47:26 GMT
Ex Docklands Scania SOC 8 in Chelmsford looking exactly the same with LED blinds now with NIBS buses . They have 7 of them, all like that, they have had them for quite a while Oh right its the first time I,ve seen one knocking about down here on my travels at first I thought it was with Hedingham since that's a go ahead company until I drove up on the nearside and saw the NIBS logo and Legals I wonder if they are going to put them into there own livery .
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Post by VPL630 on Jul 4, 2014 10:30:18 GMT
They have 7 of them, all like that, they have had them for quite a while Oh right its the first time I,ve seen one knocking about down here on my travels at first I thought it was with Hedingham since that's a go ahead company until I drove up on the nearside and saw the NIBS logo and Legals I wonder if they are going to put them into there own livery . I see them all the time as I live near the route where they run light, if they throw one out today I will snap it, They have avoided me for so long now I'd given up chasing them lol
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Post by towerman on Jul 4, 2014 13:29:38 GMT
Another ex Metroline Dart in Milton Keynes with Redline Y158 NLK.
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Post by VPL630 on Jul 4, 2014 15:09:21 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jul 9, 2014 12:34:20 GMT
In Loughton today, I noticed ex-Metroline TP49 (V749GPY) on what looked like a school trip. It looked shabby still in Metroline red with fleetnumber, so I presumed it was with Regal Busways . But on a google search, it looks like Ensign sold this to Bear Buses of Feltham in February 2012. Whether it is still with that operator or not, I don't know.EDIT: Saw this vehicle again, after it got stuck down my road. Legal lettering was on paper blu-tacked to the window, and I think it said Solitaire Travel Ltd of Rochford.
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Post by towerman on Jul 11, 2014 13:17:35 GMT
Seen with UNO in Northampton LG02 FFY another ex London Dart?
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Post by towerman on Aug 1, 2014 12:30:45 GMT
LX51*** ex Stagecoach Alexander Dart on route 8 in Corby with Connect Bus.16162 still with Stagecoach at Corby garage.
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