|
Post by busdryver on Jan 10, 2021 17:40:10 GMT
ADE40452-ADE40454 have transferred to RP. This could release 3 VHs for __? I believe it is to release the ADHs that have been covering there. Lots of buses to refurbish before May/June uptake of the 28, E1 and 481 - all using existing vehicles.
|
|
|
Post by busdryver on Jan 10, 2021 17:39:55 GMT
ADE40452-ADE40454 have transferred to RP. This could release 3 VHs for __? I believe it is to release the ADHs that have been covering there. Lots of buses to refurbish before May/June uptake of the 28, E1 and 481 - all using existing vehicles.
|
|
|
Post by busdryver on Jan 10, 2021 17:38:06 GMT
There was more to it than just the distance and vehicle types The 413 was out to tender anyways so RATP likely considered not worth bidding for out of TV when the route runs so close to Sutton Garage and that there is a chance the Citaros helped to win the 117 instead that runs closer to AV or HH. With potentially 10 year old buses allowed, Go ahesd could take it on with the 61 and 65 reg off the 80. The maximum age of buses for a new tender is 8 years (allowing for 15 years at the end), so oldest possible at the moment are 2013 vehicles...
|
|
|
Post by busdryver on Jan 8, 2021 21:39:13 GMT
Looks like school services won't be needed and the 600-series routes will be suspended until March at the earliest, based on what Boris is saying at the moment. I have heard through the grapevine that the extras (the V buses) are now discontinued, and Operators can release the buses being used, as won’t be returning. Unofficial at the moment. (not to be confused with the normal 600 series routes which will resume at some future date) I guess in practice this means that any bus that is not upgraded to euroVI can be disposed of. They had to leave before 1st March anyway, or pay daily charge, (or not pay and be fined Just checked TfL bus changes webpage, and all references to school bus extras seem to have been removed which seems to back this up (if it hadn’t I wouldn’t have posted the above, as it was unsubstantiated rumour) tfl.gov.uk/modes/buses/bus-changes?intcmp=47904This is not what I understand - they are suspended until the lockdown finishes but they will be back... buses are stood down, but not being disposed of as yet...
|
|
|
Post by busdryver on Jan 8, 2021 9:32:52 GMT
Any news on the extra DN’s at HH ? I understand that they are awaiting TfL equipment to be fitted before being moved in to service. Location not yet known (by those I spoke to!).
|
|
|
Post by busdryver on Jan 5, 2021 12:30:06 GMT
Such a shame Quality Line is going. Indeed shocking to hear this seen from another source too. I assume the 413 will go to A, 463 & S1 will go to C with the 413 extension possibly to C? 463 - WS33, 34, 37, 39, 41, 42, 43, 45, 47, 48 all returns to GAL Whatever will happen to routes Routes 293 404 467 470 S3 are going where? The other routes are all going to Tolworth, I would imagine a further cascade of routes out of Tolworth will be needed, but Fulwell and Hounslow Heath both have space, so I can't see that being an issue.
|
|
|
Post by busdryver on Dec 27, 2020 8:53:20 GMT
I don’t think that is even running. They were still in use on the V642 V293 and as relief rooms at Heathrow and Harrow. 606 is due to be awarded , pvr 3 ? Additions to BT to help get the VH’s away for refurb ? Additions to RP and EB to replace hybrids for use on E1/481 in May ? I don’t know if the Bedfont Lakes Scania have had emissions upgrades, obviously becomes relevant 1st March. I have no idea if and when the shuttle buses resume. The E400s on loan to Stagecoach were originally due back by end of year, seems to have been delayed as Stagecoach haven’t finished installing their electric bus chargers The decision to resume the school extras from 4th January has meant some buses due to leave will get another extension including SP1-8 The continuation of the school extras and the extension of the Stagecoach loan will put pressure on number of VHs that can be away for refurb, if you exclude New Year and Easter holiday periods need to do 23 buses in about 15 weeks. They are already about 7.5 years old, so cannot wait too long. Don’t forget that RATP also have to refurbish buses for the 481 (6), E1 (12), 71 (14), 418 (8), 467 (3), 697 (3), 117 (11), 698 (6) & K5 (8) all before the summer as well, I think that they are being brought in to bolster the fleet during busy times! With the Stagecoach buses not coming back for a while and
|
|
|
Post by busdryver on Dec 26, 2020 16:53:09 GMT
That’s not how I understand it - The Scanias are all expected to return on 4th January on the V Route extras. I know some DEs have been stood down, but not the SPs... so must be for something else Are the 56 reg the school extras or is it the ex 183 batch? The ex-183 batch are on the regular schools, the 2006’s are on the extras along with a few of the BFL Scanias and the two VLEs (along with anything else that is spare!!)
|
|
|
Post by busdryver on Dec 26, 2020 13:35:51 GMT
I had a random thought that maybe a single deck route is being converted to DD which releases vehicles for the 117. If so, my money is on the 216. So many are full under the new capacity restrictions. Probably a long shot but who knows. It will be school extras. The previous arrangements ended on 18th December so the extras operated from 4th January and any buses hired for these will come under new arrangements. That’s not how I understand it - The Scanias are all expected to return on 4th January on the V Route extras. I know some DEs have been stood down, but not the SPs... so must be for something else
|
|
|
Post by busdryver on Dec 21, 2020 14:58:25 GMT
The current double deck training fleet had central staircases, not forward staircases over the wheel arch, so there is a window between stairs and cab which helps instructors visibility It may be easier to use deckers with emission upgraded engines, and swap these engines into the training fleet. Whole engine should fit (might need modified mounting brackets and extra vent grill), but much easier than modifying staircases. Didn’t someone say a withdrawn Tower Transit bus was in shed, might be for something else, but a potential engine doner is outside possibility. Although in reality you can't get your hand on anymore centre staircase buses, other operators such as Go Ahead and Stagecoach manage to use buses that don't have centre staircases so I can't see why RATP wouldn't be able to do the same. It's immaterial - the training fleet will be all single deck. THe 2013 DN is not for training, I would imagine it is for future use on something, as it is still new enough for a TfL contract.
|
|
|
Post by busdryver on Dec 21, 2020 13:49:37 GMT
I agree, it's an improvement over the all red - I hear that the next batch will be white rather than red, so this will go with that too. I expect all the old TAs etc will be withdrawn in time for the LEZ in March. A few if not all of SP40019-24 would make sense then Scanias are not good for training as they have the staircase in the way... likely to be more DEs that will be coming from the current school bus fleet.
|
|
|
Post by busdryver on Dec 21, 2020 10:53:26 GMT
An interesting mix of London red and RATP's corporate mint green. I don't love it, but it's not terrible. I agree, it's an improvement over the all red - I hear that the next batch will be white rather than red, so this will go with that too. I expect all the old TAs etc will be withdrawn in time for the LEZ in March.
|
|
|
Post by busdryver on Dec 16, 2020 11:41:00 GMT
Looks like SP 40004, 40005 are now out out use I believe the remainder of SP 40001-8 are expected to finish by Friday when school term ends I think some newer SPs are moving over from Fulwell (displaced from 65 by 306s VHs) Not sure of all the new allocations, but SP 40071-5 are for 698 (until it gets its hybrids for new contract starting September 2021) Just stood down for Xmas, and they will be back running in the New Year... still no plans for withdrawal yet...
|
|
|
Post by busdryver on Dec 15, 2020 12:57:37 GMT
Possibility that VH45187-195 are moving ifron FW into RP following the arrival of the 306 batch at Fulwell. As busdryer commented, previously, RATP seem to be doing a shift around to get batches together. Does that release the ADHs from RP. If so are they heading to the 418 and not VHs as we presumed? Aside from that I’m not sure why RP are receiving more examples. RP lost 255-257 to Hounslow, so that accounts for three of them - also LOTS reported that the Streetdeck was going back to Wright’s so that would be another one...
|
|
|
Post by busdryver on Dec 14, 2020 11:13:16 GMT
With transfer of some of the 306s VHs to FW, route 65 has highest number of VHs working it Currently 19 VH and 8 SPs Looks like some of the displaced SPs 4009x have moved to 183 There are some 13reg VHs that haven’t been used for a few days, have the refurbishments now started ? Seems to be some busical chairs going on. SP40052-55 seemingly moved FW>AV SP40092-95 AV>SO A bit odd that the AV appear to keep the 183’s allocation which has been on loan for a couple of months and the others move. Not sure why 52-55 didn’t just go straight to SO from FW. Probably a good reason but who knows. As I understand it, it is preparing the fleet for next summer, so more likely different lease ending dates
|
|