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Post by Eastlondoner62 on Mar 2, 2021 11:31:21 GMT
Needed to go out for something work related today and luckily lined up with the start date for the 173s EVs. The buses themselves are lovely, really comfortable and really smooth. Rattle free too which busts the myth going out there that for some reason City EVs rattle, not had that issue on Metroline's or Go Ahead's and now not Stagecoach's either. Have to say one thing though, apart from sounding very much like an Electrostar at high speed, that's pretty much it. Electrics have literally no character whether they're going slowly or quickly. My previous rides were all limited to routes such as the 43, 212, 106 and 230 where it's unlikely a bus will reach any sort of speed but even just heading down the A13 where we hit decent speeds the bus sounded like it had no character at all. If we all didn't like plain red buses, we're in for one when electrics take the mass market, and even more so if they all end up being ADL EVs too. Have to say I absolutely love the electrics, won't get much of a chance to try them on the 173 until I'm next working at Beckton. Always feel like "this is the future" when I get on them, interiors feel really light and airy, love the blue light around the "window" panel at the back- think they'd look really special finished to a sort of Transdev/Best Impressions standard. Waiting for lockdown to ease before I try out an Optare on the C3. I'm not too bothered about engine noise (unless I'm on something like a Cummins engined Lynx), I've normally got earphones on when I'm travelling. Oh yes, as a passenger they are amazing buses. They are soo smooth and they feel very futuristic at the same time, even little things like the light at the back make it feel nice and airy. I've not been on the C3s buses for the same reasons, although I did take a ride on the 134s buses and I certainly much prefer the ADL variants of electrics. That said the MetroDecker EV has to be the best bus Optare has built, not sure whether that's a good or bad thing
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Post by dashing0ne on Mar 2, 2021 12:12:12 GMT
Stagecoach Guilford started using MMC electric buses on route 715.
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Post by wirewiper on Mar 2, 2021 12:27:36 GMT
Stagecoach Guilford started trialling MMC electric buses on route 715. They were buses which are not being used on Guildford Park & Ride as the service is currently suspended due to covid-19. ADL Enviro200 MMCs have now been drafted into Guildford for the 715 to meet the EuroVI emissions requirement, although this does not rule out electric vehicles being ordered for the route in future.
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Post by vjaska on Mar 2, 2021 12:30:16 GMT
Stagecoach Guilford started trialling MMC electric buses on route 715. Are you sure it’s a trial as I thought electrics were merely temporarily allocated due to the 715 crossing into the LEZ with Euro VI buses transferring in for the route very soon? EDIT: wirewiper confirms it isn’t a trial thanks to him so in future, if your unsure, can you not say things as if they are fact especially as this isn’t the first time either.
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Post by dashing0ne on Mar 2, 2021 13:59:16 GMT
Stagecoach Guilford started trialling MMC electric buses on route 715. Are you sure it’s a trial as I thought electrics were merely temporarily allocated due to the 715 crossing into the LEZ with Euro VI buses transferring in for the route very soon? EDIT: wirewiper confirms it isn’t a trial thanks to him so in future, if your unsure, can you not say things as if they are fact especially as this isn’t the first time either. Yes the ENviro 300's are not LEZ compliant, I edited the post, sorry for any inconvenience.
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Post by twobellstogo on Mar 2, 2021 14:00:51 GMT
Stagecoach Guilford started trialling MMC electric buses on route 715. Are you sure it’s a trial as I thought electrics were merely temporarily allocated due to the 715 crossing into the LEZ with Euro VI buses transferring in for the route very soon? EDIT: wirewiper confirms it isn’t a trial thanks to him so in future, if your unsure, can you not say things as if they are fact especially as this isn’t the first time either. Yep : there is nothing to stop electrics running the 715 again in the future, but now the route should be primarily in the hands of E200MMCs transferred from Winchester to Guildford (with the old 715 stock going the other way).
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Post by M1104 on Mar 2, 2021 17:18:39 GMT
It's been reported that Spirit of London 19000 is due to move to the LT Museum, the bus now owned by TfL.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 2, 2021 20:08:42 GMT
I am hoping for a few odd workings of the electrics at BK - They have always mixed things up with odd workings in the past such as regular double deckers on the 396 before it was lost.
Can see them maybe sneaking out on the 62.
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Post by Eastlondoner62 on Mar 2, 2021 20:19:49 GMT
I am hoping for a few odd workings of the electrics at BK - They have always mixed things up with odd workings in the past such as regular double deckers on the 396 before it was lost. Can see them maybe sneaking out on the 62. Heard the 62 has failed a route test so that's one route they probably won't be sneaking out onto The parking layout change sounds like it's been laid out in accordance with the 173 run out so I'm quite doubtful of strays frequently. Hopefully we get a few rare ones on the 169, 145 or 179 though
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Post by ThinLizzy on Mar 2, 2021 21:13:45 GMT
I am hoping for a few odd workings of the electrics at BK - They have always mixed things up with odd workings in the past such as regular double deckers on the 396 before it was lost. Can see them maybe sneaking out on the 62. Heard the 62 has failed a route test so that's one route they probably won't be sneaking out onto The parking layout change sounds like it's been laid out in accordance with the 173 run out so I'm quite doubtful of strays frequently. Hopefully we get a few rare ones on the 169, 145 or 179 though not wanting to be labelled an "armchair driver" but not sure where they would have failed a route test on the 62. They managed to get Dennis Lances and long-wheelbase Tridents around the route without any issues. At least ADL now do a slightly shorter version of the electric DD now
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Post by 15002 on Mar 2, 2021 21:46:40 GMT
I am hoping for a few odd workings of the electrics at BK - They have always mixed things up with odd workings in the past such as regular double deckers on the 396 before it was lost. Can see them maybe sneaking out on the 62. Heard the 62 has failed a route test so that's one route they probably won't be sneaking out onto The parking layout change sounds like it's been laid out in accordance with the 173 run out so I'm quite doubtful of strays frequently. Hopefully we get a few rare ones on the 169, 145 or 179 though The 62 is the one route that I use frequently that I wanted for them to stray onto so that’s a shame that it failed
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Post by mkay315 on Mar 2, 2021 22:25:48 GMT
Heard the 62 has failed a route test so that's one route they probably won't be sneaking out onto The parking layout change sounds like it's been laid out in accordance with the 173 run out so I'm quite doubtful of strays frequently. Hopefully we get a few rare ones on the 169, 145 or 179 though not wanting to be labelled an "armchair driver" but not sure where they would have failed a route test on the 62. They managed to get Dennis Lances and long-wheelbase Tridents around the route without any issues. At least ADL now do a slightly shorter version of the electric DD now Good ol times with those Lances
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Post by mkay315 on Mar 2, 2021 22:28:37 GMT
I am hoping for a few odd workings of the electrics at BK - They have always mixed things up with odd workings in the past such as regular double deckers on the 396 before it was lost. Can see them maybe sneaking out on the 62. Heard the 62 has failed a route test so that's one route they probably won't be sneaking out onto The parking layout change sounds like it's been laid out in accordance with the 173 run out so I'm quite doubtful of strays frequently. Hopefully we get a few rare ones on the 169, 145 or 179 though I could see it sneaking out on the 145. The 179 not so much. Has any bus driver struggled with that tight turn on South Park Drive by the garage?
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Post by richard on Mar 2, 2021 22:48:36 GMT
It's been reported that Spirit of London 19000 is due to move to the LT Museum, the bus now owned by TfL. That's good to hear. Will it be at Covent Garden or Acton?
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Post by Eastlondoner62 on Mar 2, 2021 23:08:24 GMT
Heard the 62 has failed a route test so that's one route they probably won't be sneaking out onto The parking layout change sounds like it's been laid out in accordance with the 173 run out so I'm quite doubtful of strays frequently. Hopefully we get a few rare ones on the 169, 145 or 179 though not wanting to be labelled an "armchair driver" but not sure where they would have failed a route test on the 62. They managed to get Dennis Lances and long-wheelbase Tridents around the route without any issues. At least ADL now do a slightly shorter version of the electric DD now Heard it was the turn out of Gascoigne Road onto the A13 where it wasn't possible to make the turn without use of the middle lane, drivers of the Enviros and previously Tridents often hump the curb there and I'd imagine a 10.9 BYD wouldn't be able to make a turn without using both lanes. It's a turn which can probably be done but due to its use of the middle lane of the A13 it got failed.
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