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Post by capitalomnibus on Sept 24, 2022 23:16:00 GMT
Most enthusiasts, unfortunately, have a blinkered view of things. Many say on the first day of a route going to a new operator how dreadful the new operator is (on day one) because they’ve seen bunching etc and wish the previous operator was back, etc etc. Most normal passengers - of whom the network is run for - don’t usually notice imo Except when Stagecoach takeover a route, somehow there is never any criticism on any groups. In addition some think it is strange for a bus to be curtailed on the first day of operation with a new operator... There was from me about the 173
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Post by capitalomnibus on Sept 24, 2022 23:17:30 GMT
Except when Stagecoach takeover a route, somehow there is never any criticism on any groups. In addition some think it is strange for a bus to be curtailed on the first day of operation with a new operator... People have their favourites don’t they ! God forbid RATP or Arriva ever take over a Go Ahead route. When the W4 was won, there was a major change in the way the route was run. Struggling to work out why it was not running as good at [NP] as it should have been
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Post by borneobus on Sept 25, 2022 0:37:52 GMT
No, just enthusiasts online. The passengers are probably enjoying some comfier seats. Most enthusiasts, unfortunately, have a blinkered view of things. Many say on the first day of a route going to a new operator how dreadful the new operator is (on day one) because they’ve seen bunching etc and wish the previous operator was back, etc etc. Most normal passengers - of whom the network is run for - don’t usually notice imo I agree with ibus246. I don't know any specifics about the 248 (have only ridden it twice) but I've worked in busy operational environments and it's always challenging to implement new processes, products and services As an observation no matter how much training, familiarisation and communication is undertaken in advance, there are always unexpected challenges on day 1. The key is to use good quality data to help identify and understand the issues together with feedback from the operation (in this case drivers) and customers (in this case passengers) - then to implement a prioritised plan to drive improvements again driven by data (not anecdotes).
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Post by vjaska on Sept 25, 2022 0:52:12 GMT
Except when Stagecoach takeover a route, somehow there is never any criticism on any groups. In addition some think it is strange for a bus to be curtailed on the first day of operation with a new operator... Yes, I remember when Metrobus first took over the 293 and there were some Ewell Village turns. The “backlash” received from the “enthusiast community” was quite something. Yeah, it's a bit much from some enthusiasts - many routes do start out with issues like this but the vast majority end up at a good standard a few months in.
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Post by vjaska on Sept 25, 2022 0:58:14 GMT
So far on the first day there are lots of people already not fans of the new 248. If anything will unify the entire bus community clearly it’s a hatred for LTs and Streetlites… I do not see what is wrong with them apart from the electrical problems. I do not see anything wrong with Streetlites either. If anything I would prefer the ride on the LT on the 248 than the Scania's. The ride on the Scania was poo imo. Only looked good from the outside and the sound of the engine is interesting. I also prefer the LT's on the 5 than the WVL. I am not a fan of the slow B9TL and its characterless engine/gearbox combo. I find LT's, outside of the ride, quite poor vehicles from a customer point of view. More comfortable than a Scania for sure but the seats on LT's aren't great personally and the interior is very dingy and that's before I get to the poor air cooling systems many examples have. The exterior looks, which aren't the most important thing admittedly, are horrible personally. I never understood a lot of the hate for Streetlites though I can understand it when it comes to the front end and the Cummins examples which were pretty sluggish things. I'd take a B9TL over most modern double deckers - whilst the MMC is my favourite exterior wise, the B9TL is comfortable, good air cooling which is odd when the LT has such a poor one yet same bus builder and contrary to what you say, an interesting engine/gearbox combination and in the right hands, quick especially on hills.
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Post by barrypotter on Sept 25, 2022 7:00:21 GMT
People have their favourites don’t they ! God forbid RATP or Arriva ever take over a Go Ahead route. When the W4 was won, there was a major change in the way the route was run. Struggling to work out why it was not running as good at [NP] as it should have been Takes me back to 2001, when AR took over the W4. On the first morning, there were a lot of puzzled drivers.... turns out W4 was not available on the ticket machines. Had to run with 41 for the first half of the day.
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Post by DT 11 on Sept 25, 2022 7:22:19 GMT
So far on the first day there are lots of people already not fans of the new 248. If anything will unify the entire bus community clearly it’s a hatred for LTs and Streetlites… I do not see what is wrong with them apart from the electrical problems. I do not see anything wrong with Streetlites either. If anything I would prefer the ride on the LT on the 248 than the Scania's. The ride on the Scania was poo imo. Only looked good from the outside and the sound of the engine is interesting. I also prefer the LT's on the 5 than the WVL. I am not a fan of the slow B9TL and its characterless engine/gearbox combo. I have driven both LTs and SLSs. I used to dislike LTs however they are very comfortable to drive. SLSs are the most horrid single deckers I have ever driven and would much prefer a MMC over them, who designed a modern vehicle that the engine must be switched off to adjust the steering wheel and such irritating vibrations when the vehicle is stationary, such nasty practices
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Post by DT 11 on Sept 25, 2022 7:34:04 GMT
Yes, I remember when Metrobus first took over the 293 and there were some Ewell Village turns. The “backlash” received from the “enthusiast community” was quite something. Yeah, it's a bit much from some enthusiasts - many routes do start out with issues like this but the vast majority end up at a good standard a few months in. Indeed as usual critics forget the previous team are used to driving, controlling and the bus type on the route... then make fuss over curtailed buses on the first day idiots... A new garage has to get used to everything, the route, the bus type and controllers have to get used to the route as well. Give it about a month and most of the staff on the 248 will be used to it. Funny enough was reading on another group yesterday it it remained with the previous operator it would have got brand new Electrics... says who? This same operator put ex 208 buses on the 128 no one complained... and as usual expect every tender award to be new buses with this firm...
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Post by DT 11 on Sept 25, 2022 7:48:42 GMT
Except when Stagecoach takeover a route, somehow there is never any criticism on any groups. In addition some think it is strange for a bus to be curtailed on the first day of operation with a new operator... There was from me about the 173 I have too over the 181 & 284 they were better without live changeovers and I find to this day these routes are still poorly run. The 160 under Stagecoach is no good either at times there are generally huge gaps in the service. The 75 late evening service is find buses are usually running very close after 1030pm pretty obvious there is not enough running time seeing two buses at once at this time half empty does not make sense.
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Post by SILENCED on Sept 25, 2022 8:49:46 GMT
Yeah, it's a bit much from some enthusiasts - many routes do start out with issues like this but the vast majority end up at a good standard a few months in. Indeed as usual critics forget the previous team are used to driving, controlling and the bus type on the route... then make fuss over curtailed buses on the first day idiots... A new garage has to get used to everything, the route, the bus type and controllers have to get used to the route as well. Give it about a month and most of the staff on the 248 will be used to it. Funny enough was reading on another group yesterday it it remained with the previous operator it would have got brand new Electrics... says who? This same operator put ex 208 buses on the 128 no one complained... and as usual expect every tender award to be new buses with this firm... Who is to say the LT option was not specified in the ITT, or did Arriva magically know that other operators would have surplus LTs they would transfer to them?
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Post by Londontransport3 on Sept 25, 2022 8:51:54 GMT
Most enthusiasts, unfortunately, have a blinkered view of things. Many say on the first day of a route going to a new operator how dreadful the new operator is (on day one) because they’ve seen bunching etc and wish the previous operator was back, etc etc. Most normal passengers - of whom the network is run for - don’t usually notice imo Except when Stagecoach takeover a route, somehow there is never any criticism on any groups. In addition some think it is strange for a bus to be curtailed on the first day of operation with a new operator... I have noticed that aswell, All the comments I seen online oh there goes reliability and now it's gonna be run badly.. I have seen other companies run worse.. Considering it was their first day of 248s yesterday it actually ran quite well.
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Post by Londontransport3 on Sept 25, 2022 8:52:55 GMT
First day route 248 [GY101] LT140, LT137 [GY102] LT92, [GY103] LT136 [GY104] LT91 [GY105] LT89 [GY106] LT142 [GY107] LT93, LT90, LT93 [GY108] LT90, LT93, LT176 [GY109] LT176, LT178 [GY110] LT178 [GY111] LT90 [GY112] LT141 [GY113] LT138, LT140 [GY114] LT88, LT138 LT91 Was lovely for my 1.5 Rounders 🤣
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Post by busoccultation on Sept 25, 2022 10:05:12 GMT
Except when Stagecoach takeover a route, somehow there is never any criticism on any groups. In addition some think it is strange for a bus to be curtailed on the first day of operation with a new operator... I have noticed that aswell, All the comments I seen online oh there goes reliability and now it's gonna be run badly.. I have seen other companies run worse.. Considering it was their first day of 248s yesterday it actually ran quite well. I agree RM hasn't been that perfect with the 248's in the last few months of their tenure of the route with a lot of staff cuts happening on the route and across other RM routes as evident with the number of their buses parked at Romford Station stand without a driver for that bus. From what I've seen yesterday there has been an effort by GY to run the 248 as best as they could have even with some struggles like traffic and I do think they will eventually run the 248 pretty well once they get used to with the route.
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Post by SILENCED on Sept 25, 2022 10:53:33 GMT
The variation on style, size and placement of the Arriva logos on the acquired LTs is surprising. Additionally the fleet numbers on the front on some, is this a) allowed (there seems to be universal marking standards) , b) needed, as you have matching registration numbers.
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Post by SILENCED on Sept 25, 2022 11:04:06 GMT
First day route 248 [GY101] LT140, LT137 [GY102] LT92, [GY103] LT136 [GY104] LT91 [GY105] LT89 [GY106] LT142 [GY107] LT93, LT90, LT93 [GY108] LT90, LT93, LT176 [GY109] LT176, LT178 [GY110] LT178 [GY111] LT90 [GY112] LT141 [GY113] LT138, LT140 [GY114] LT88, LT138 I have seen a photo of LT94 in operation yesterday. Did not track on LVF, and presumably not tracking on your system? Are there any holes in your allocations that you can see?
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