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Post by DT 11 on Sept 13, 2024 18:03:42 GMT
If I was a driver, the last thing I would care about is the blinds of the vehicle. As long as the bus runs then I highly doubt the driver will do anything. I am not a driver but I am pretty sure it’s their responsibility to make sure the correct blinds are displayed! If they are not on the blind set then at least set the display to blank. Are passengers meant to be mind readers? In relation to the badly blinded bus a few things I have to say. Most buses have smart blinds or even LED blinds now when it comes to a driver having a bus with manual blinds it is a rare thing now. A lot of new drivers would have no idea the efforts to wind those blinds so in effect they won’t bother even though they should. About 20 years ago every bus driver had to do this unless you were driving a fancy VWL out of BV or MA or a Artic! The first McKenna smart blind vehicles I believe were the SPs for Route 148 or the Es for the 486? Correct me if I’m wrong. On a personal note when I was at DT it was highly annoying taking over from a driver who did not change the rear or side blinds to the correct route! The 492s DAF DWs required a special T key to change the rear blind I believe. I once had one the 428 that had 492 on the back and had no idea how to change them someone got on and thought it was a 492 then complained…
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Post by ServerKing on Sept 13, 2024 18:29:12 GMT
The shunting staff could have at least wound the blind to black blanks when preparing the bus. Even if the driver had to do this it would have only been a one time effort at the garage or in the stand. The worse thing is there was no attempt to display the now custom A4 paper window display. TfL should withhold payment for a bus put out in that condition. I think that would be harsh... they should just retrofit LEDs as slipboards and A4 sheets are generally only good in daytime. Dud the 276 buses get their LEDs fixed?
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Post by WH241 on Sept 13, 2024 19:12:47 GMT
Noticed electrics ex route 276 electrics are used in the late evening on the W13 / W14 almost daily. I assume its probably some type of scheduling and probably easier to take these bus back out after meal breaks when the garage is starting to fill up.
In reply to ServerKing the LED blinds are much better on the 276 buses now. You still get the odd dodgy one but generally its better than it was. I think all the units were being replaced by the supplier as far as I recall.
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Post by DE20106 on Sept 13, 2024 19:53:08 GMT
Noticed electrics ex route 276 electrics are used in the late evening on the W13 / W14 almost daily. I assume its probably some type of scheduling and probably easier to take these bus back out after meal breaks when the garage is starting to fill up.
In reply to ServerKing the LED blinds are much better on the 276 buses now. You still get the odd dodgy one but generally it’s better than it was. I think all the units were being replaced by the supplier as far as I recall.
Yes McKenna apparently replaced/repaired them according to a knowledgeable forum member. And they are far far better now, and all the better for it too as thise 276 destinations and route number programmed to perfection
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Post by capitalomnibus on Sept 13, 2024 21:58:00 GMT
I am not a driver but I am pretty sure it’s their responsibility to make sure the correct blinds are displayed! If they are not on the blind set then at least set the display to blank. Are passengers meant to be mind readers? In relation to the badly blinded bus a few things I have to say. Most buses have smart blinds or even LED blinds now when it comes to a driver having a bus with manual blinds it is a rare thing now. A lot of new drivers would have no idea the efforts to wind those blinds so in effect they won’t bother even though they should. About 20 years ago every bus driver had to do this unless you were driving a fancy VWL out of BV or MA or a Artic! The first McKenna smart blind vehicles I believe were the SPs for Route 148 or the Es for the 486? Correct me if I’m wrong. On a personal note when I was at DT it was highly annoying taking over from a driver who did not change the rear or side blinds to the correct route! The 492s DAF DWs required a special T key to change the rear blind I believe. I once had one the 428 that had 492 on the back and had no idea how to change them someone got on and thought it was a 492 then complained… The 492 DW's were practically the same as the VLW. It was the stumpy T key for the rear blindbox IIRC, the same one for the cab door. There were a few powerblind buses even in the 1990's. The SLW and LLW's had them. So did the first ALX200's SLD1-9. The ex route W13,W14,397 ADL's had the exact same type of powerblinds in 2000.
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Post by MetrolineGA1511 on Sept 14, 2024 6:08:51 GMT
Following on from the discussion on the Metroline thread, I will need to confess that older buses are much more interesting. I do love the Hybrids on the 56 excluding the interior. My question is are the 56 & 205/other 2014 Hybrids not exactly the same? Seems to me they behave a tad different. I was so surprised to spot the blue seating in the route 56 hybrids in February that I scrapped plans to ride route 30. I then rode an HT VMH on route 4 instead. I have subsequently rode them on route 30 en route from Euston towards my brother's flat.
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Post by MetrolineGA1511 on Sept 14, 2024 6:12:15 GMT
On the topic of the 247, it’s funny how most routes in Romford & Rainham are currently E400 operated (247, 128, 165, 365, 252, 287, 256, 496) and route 66 from Arrivw (Soon) will all be replaced in the next year or so, with the 247 already awarded and fhe RM routes to be awarded, the GY routes converting to hybrid allocations. I really hope Stagecoach keep to the ADL type in Romford going from Tridents to E400s to MMCs to hopefully the new E400 EV for the NS/RM routes with appearances from the Electroliners (86) and BYD E400 City’s (174) Personally I’m hoping for ADL as I much prefer it to the other manufacturers I always feel their designs are far superior, if they decide upon Electroliners it’ll basically convert the whole of Romford bar a few routes to Gemini 3 operation as the 66 is expecting HVs in the long run which I imagine will likely be the same for the 175/103/370. Surprisingly should the RM routes become electric, the only Classic E400 contractually allocated E400s (Bar the school routes) will be the 128. Among all large interchanges I reckon Romford has the highest average age of buses in the area. I may be going there early next year to ride some.
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Post by mkay315 on Sept 14, 2024 11:32:10 GMT
On the topic of the 247, it’s funny how most routes in Romford & Rainham are currently E400 operated (247, 128, 165, 365, 252, 287, 256, 496) and route 66 from Arrivw (Soon) will all be replaced in the next year or so, with the 247 already awarded and fhe RM routes to be awarded, the GY routes converting to hybrid allocations. I really hope Stagecoach keep to the ADL type in Romford going from Tridents to E400s to MMCs to hopefully the new E400 EV for the NS/RM routes with appearances from the Electroliners (86) and BYD E400 City’s (174) Personally I’m hoping for ADL as I much prefer it to the other manufacturers I always feel their designs are far superior, if they decide upon Electroliners it’ll basically convert the whole of Romford bar a few routes to Gemini 3 operation as the 66 is expecting HVs in the long run which I imagine will likely be the same for the 175/103/370. Surprisingly should the RM routes become electric, the only Classic E400 contractually allocated E400s (Bar the school routes) will be the 128. Among all large interchanges I reckon Romford has the highest average age of buses in the area. I may be going there early next year to ride some. Nice to see the 20s ultra caps making appearances on both the 56 and 257 in recent times
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Post by DE20106 on Sept 14, 2024 11:54:02 GMT
On the topic of the 247, it’s funny how most routes in Romford & Rainham are currently E400 operated (247, 128, 165, 365, 252, 287, 256, 496) and route 66 from Arrivw (Soon) will all be replaced in the next year or so, with the 247 already awarded and fhe RM routes to be awarded, the GY routes converting to hybrid allocations. I really hope Stagecoach keep to the ADL type in Romford going from Tridents to E400s to MMCs to hopefully the new E400 EV for the NS/RM routes with appearances from the Electroliners (86) and BYD E400 City’s (174) Personally I’m hoping for ADL as I much prefer it to the other manufacturers I always feel their designs are far superior, if they decide upon Electroliners it’ll basically convert the whole of Romford bar a few routes to Gemini 3 operation as the 66 is expecting HVs in the long run which I imagine will likely be the same for the 175/103/370. Surprisingly should the RM routes become electric, the only Classic E400 contractually allocated E400s (Bar the school routes) will be the 128. Among all large interchanges I reckon Romford has the highest average age of buses in the area. I may be going there early next year to ride some. These days a higher average age is no bad thing. My mantra is certainly newer doesn’t mean better
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sw2
Conductor
Posts: 51
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Post by sw2 on Sept 14, 2024 21:59:33 GMT
Had 36325 today on the W5 as opposed to the usual electric bus. Personally the old battered E200 handled the pretty extreme speedbumps on the route much better compared to the new Metrocity buses. The ride on the new buses feels extremely stiff and is genuinely a uncomfortable experience to the point where it makes you wonder if they’re even the right vehicle for the route…
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sw2
Conductor
Posts: 51
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Post by sw2 on Sept 14, 2024 22:00:00 GMT
Had 36325 today on the W5 as opposed to the usual electric bus. Personally the old battered E200 handled the pretty extreme speedbumps on the route much better compared to the new Metrocity buses. The ride on the new buses feels extremely stiff and is genuinely a uncomfortable experience to the point where it makes you wonder if they’re even the right vehicle for the route…
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Post by DE20106 on Sept 14, 2024 22:19:37 GMT
Had 36325 today on the W5 as opposed to the usual electric bus. Personally the old battered E200 handled the pretty extreme speedbumps on the route much better compared to the new Metrocity buses. The ride on the new buses feels extremely stiff and is genuinely a uncomfortable experience to the point where it makes you wonder if they’re even the right vehicle for the route… Those MetroCities are frankly diabolical. I sat at the back of when on the W11 and it physically sent pain through my back going over all the bumps on that route. By far and away the worst electric single decker around. This is a big claim, but I’d go as far as to say they’re worse than StreetLites
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Post by vjaska on Sept 15, 2024 0:54:48 GMT
Had 36325 today on the W5 as opposed to the usual electric bus. Personally the old battered E200 handled the pretty extreme speedbumps on the route much better compared to the new Metrocity buses. The ride on the new buses feels extremely stiff and is genuinely a uncomfortable experience to the point where it makes you wonder if they’re even the right vehicle for the route… Those MetroCities are frankly diabolical. I sat at the back of when on the W11 and it physically sent pain through my back going over all the bumps on that route. By far and away the worst electric single decker around. This is a big claim, but I’d go as far as to say they’re worse than StreetLites We have complete opposite experiences by the sounds of it. I have rode a number on the 322 which has plenty of speed humps and they are no problem comfortable wise (even rode 1013 yesterday so a mate of mine could experience one and we had no issues with them). Maybe it's the seats in the Stagecoach examples that are the issue as I've also rode the Transport UK examples on the 315 & H20 with no issue as well as the EMC's on the 312 a while ago
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Post by DE20106 on Sept 15, 2024 7:42:29 GMT
Those MetroCities are frankly diabolical. I sat at the back of when on the W11 and it physically sent pain through my back going over all the bumps on that route. By far and away the worst electric single decker around. This is a big claim, but I’d go as far as to say they’re worse than StreetLites We have complete opposite experiences by the sounds of it. I have rode a number on the 322 which has plenty of speed humps and they are no problem comfortable wise (even rode 1013 yesterday so a mate of mine could experience one and we had no issues with them). Maybe it's the seats in the Stagecoach examples that are the issue as I've also rode the Transport UK examples on the 315 & H20 with no issue as well as the EMC's on the 312 a while ago Hmm interesting I’ve not actually taken a TUK one yet, but the Stagecoach one are utterly horrific. I’ll reserve judgement on them until I’ve taken a TUK one, maybe TUK spec better suspension as they like to have all the bells and whistles?🤷🏻♂️😂 all different batches of the Stagecoach ones are terrible, the TT-ordered ones, CTPlus-ordered ones, the native W11 ones all of them The EMCs were quite nice actually I forget about those, that was in a period when Optare were making decent buses
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sw2
Conductor
Posts: 51
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Post by sw2 on Sept 15, 2024 8:42:54 GMT
Had 36325 today on the W5 as opposed to the usual electric bus. Personally the old battered E200 handled the pretty extreme speedbumps on the route much better compared to the new Metrocity buses. The ride on the new buses feels extremely stiff and is genuinely a uncomfortable experience to the point where it makes you wonder if they’re even the right vehicle for the route… Those MetroCities are frankly diabolical. I sat at the back of when on the W11 and it physically sent pain through my back going over all the bumps on that route. By far and away the worst electric single decker around. This is a big claim, but I’d go as far as to say they’re worse than StreetLites Interesting you say that, as I too sat at the back on the Metrocity. The W5 is very harsh however and I’d like to try them on another route first.
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