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Post by 6HP502C on Feb 24, 2023 20:51:12 GMT
Thanks for those. What I like about the Citaro is more than just the engine, it's also the bodywork and ride quality. The SPVs are perfect for the type of work they do. Admittedly I don't know much about Tempos and there aren't many around to sample but I'd want something that at least equals Citaros in all those aspects. With respect to C2s, I've carried out some research on them. Cardiff Bus and McGills have a load of them and seem to get on well with them. There are also loads running on the continent. Presumably they have a maintenance programme which gets the best out of them. I spoke to Cardiff Bus and they're very happy with them. Operators who are getting rid, given the age of this bus type, it’s worth establishing why as the reason could impact the viability going forward. Aren't Blackpool moving to all electric, maybe just virtually all? That would make sense I suppose!
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Post by 6HP502C on Feb 24, 2023 20:51:25 GMT
Replacement Bus Hire updates.
SPV1 and SPV2 have been hard at work but are both VOR. Running a bus operation is challenging - part of that is pulling all the stops out to reduce fleet downtime. Supply chain issues and workshop staff availability can slow down fleet repair times, but with the will and time there are ways to overcome this.
The articulated Mercedes Citaros are great fun but RBH is moving towards only retaining vehicles that are self sustaining or have a low cost of ownership. There are many issues with the artics. Every week new routes are done sees new routes added to the banned list for them. Storage isn't cheap and they guzzle more fuel than a double decker. If a regular route is found they can stay.
Replacement Bus Hire is active in London next Sunday and it'll be one of the SPV class allocated to the job.
Fleet updates
23065 - VOR
SPV1 - VOR while awaiting a bracket which is caught up in supply chain complications
SPV2 - VOR - in workshop awaiting diagnosis for a fuel supply issue and charge pipe repairs.
TA23 - cosmetic work to be carried out and awaiting repairs to engine block
VLA170 - on loan to another operator. Runs reliably and its transmission has recently had electrical repairs carried out.
VLA176 - withdrawn. Has been taken off commercial insurance but will remain taxed for the time being. It's a shame to have withdrawn it due to it being reliable. However there are components inside the engine block that are reaching life expiry and require replacement. The options are to replace the piston rings, liners and camshaft bearings, or roll the dice with a replacement engine - and not one that costs £23k plus VAT. As no viable option is currently on the table, it will remain out of service until a decision is made on it.
VNW32423 - VOR, engine to be inspected for final diagnosis.
That's all for now.
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tts
Conductor
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Wished he got all Tridents driven like how he got TN33186 driven!
Posts: 76
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Post by tts on Feb 26, 2023 9:06:04 GMT
Replacement Bus Hire updates. SPV1 and SPV2 have been hard at work but are both VOR. Running a bus operation is challenging - part of that is pulling all the stops out to reduce fleet downtime. Supply chain issues and workshop staff availability can slow down fleet repair times, but with the will and time there are ways to overcome this. The articulated Mercedes Citaros are great fun but RBH is moving towards only retaining vehicles that are self sustaining or have a low cost of ownership. There are many issues with the artics. Every week new routes are done sees new routes added to the banned list for them. Storage isn't cheap and they guzzle more fuel than a double decker. If a regular route is found they can stay. Replacement Bus Hire is active in London next Sunday and it'll be one of the SPV class allocated to the job. Fleet updates23065 - VOR SPV1 - VOR while awaiting a bracket which is caught up in supply chain complications SPV2 - VOR - in workshop awaiting diagnosis for a fuel supply issue and charge pipe repairs. TA23 - cosmetic work to be carried out and awaiting repairs to engine block VLA170 - on loan to another operator. Runs reliably and its transmission has recently had electrical repairs carried out. VLA176 - withdrawn. Has been taken off commercial insurance but will remain taxed for the time being. It's a shame to have withdrawn it due to it being reliable. However there are components inside the engine block that are reaching life expiry and require replacement. The options are to replace the piston rings, liners and camshaft bearings, or roll the dice with a replacement engine - and not one that costs £23k plus VAT. As no viable option is currently on the table, it will remain out of service until a decision is made on it. VNW32423 - VOR, engine to be inspected for final diagnosis. That's all for now. Are you on Greater Anglia or SWR rail replacement may I ask?
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Post by 6HP502C on Feb 26, 2023 13:13:33 GMT
Are you on Greater Anglia or SWR rail replacement may I ask? It’ll be Hampton Court. With all of the Citaros VOR a backup plan is in place if they’re not back during the week but hopefully won’t be necessary!
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Post by allentc on Feb 28, 2023 16:01:35 GMT
Well, it ticks enough boxes to fit into the SPV pool ![8-)](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/cool.png) How about this Wright bodied Scania L94UB at Odyssey Coach Sales for £6k+VAT. Advert says it has had a replacement engine fitted recently: Don't think RBH have had a Scania before?
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Post by 6HP502C on Mar 5, 2023 10:49:00 GMT
Well, it ticks enough boxes to fit into the SPV pool ![8-)](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/cool.png) How about this Wright bodied Scania L94UB at Odyssey Coach Sales for £6k+VAT. Advert says it has had a replacement engine fitted recently: Don't think RBH have had a Scania before?
Thanks for the link, nice bit of bus that. Cheap price given the work carried out. At the moment I'm working with Mercedes and Volvo, setting up the necessary engineering support takes a bit of time and I know little about Scanias. One thing I do know is I prefer buses with shorter gear ratios as they burn less fuel!
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Post by 6HP502C on Mar 5, 2023 10:55:32 GMT
Two new additions to the fleet.
SPV3 - MX55 FGU - Volvo B7RLE / Wright Eclipse Urban SPV4 - MX55 FHC - Volvo B7TLE / Wright Eclipse Urban
These buses are allocated to the leasing pool. SPV3 is out on Clapham Junction to Hampton Court today, likely as a one off.
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Post by snowman on Mar 9, 2023 19:52:22 GMT
I think my local bus company Faresaver in Chippenham is about to sell ex Arriva London VLW100 which has been using private registration PSV444
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Post by 6HP502C on Mar 11, 2023 9:04:29 GMT
It would fit in nicely with the fleet but is a high price for its age!
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Post by 6HP502C on Mar 15, 2023 20:47:45 GMT
Fleet updates23065 - is back with Replacement Bus Hire following an extended period at Evobus Coventry for substantial life extension works. A few more bits need doing ahead of MOT test but it's almost there. One thing I requested was for the pedal to be recalibrated as previously it had to be pressed through the floor to engage the kickdown and even then only gave about 80% throttle. So although it would rev to 2200rpm it was less aggressive with downshifting. It now gives 100%. However in first gear it now revs to almost 2000rpm before the torque break which is on the high side. Looking into changing it to economy mode to get that down to about 1700 and allow earlier upshifts in higher gears. SPV1 - VOR - cold weather has caused window contractions which now require attention ahead of its MOT. It held up well on roads that were literally like an ice rink - first time I turned a steering wheel and the bus kept going straight with the road surface cracking beneath the tyres SPV2 - VOR at Mercedes awaiting repairs to fuel delivery system and charge pipe. It is in a queue waiting to be looked at and could be off the road for months unless I get it towed out of there and sorted by someone else. SPV3 - had a PMI before entering service and some modifications. The transmission has been put into economy mode. Power mode prevents it from upshifting before 1700rpm. It might be desirable to ease up on the throttle without it changing up a gear on mountainous routes, but it's not good for town work. It would seem that various buses in London had been switched to power mode as they behaved in an identical manner - AVL45, PVL240, PVL247, VLP15, WVL244 and so on . VLA176 had this done electronically as a trial but I had that deactivated within minutes given the kickdown is enabled and it has a 6 button selector. SPV3's speed limiter was also increased from 50 to 60mph. It was out weekend before last - a video was made by "Frozzles" to mark the occasion - youtu.be/_6YlofKM5qk?t=404The bus was in limp mode - it became apparent the bus had a well hidden hole underneath a clamp on the pipe connecting the turbocharger to the intercooler, resulting in boost pressure escaping into the engine bay and out of the grille. Among other things it was hampering the performance and fuel economy. That has been rectified and the performance is now positively terrifying up to about 35mph. It goes through the gears like a 6 speed B7TL but has the longer gear ratios of a 5 speed B7TL. Fuel economy has improved massively due to it no longer being appropriate to use the kickdown constantly and the engine runs at a much lower temperature on the motorway. The day the boost pipe was fixed, the bus suffered a suspension issue on its way back to the yard. This was down to a failed level valve which was very promptly repaired. SPV4 - on loan to another operator SPV5 - looking into ZF 5HP silencer options for the gearbox as I'm the aim of the game is to run buses not an orchestra! Also looking to govern it down as it has short gear ratios and accelerates like a car, upsetting motorists who want to beat the bus. Otherwise ok. TA23 - a option has been presented for engine repair but at £8k, not including the cost of removal and refitting it's a big ask. To remain in storage for now. VLA170 - on loan to another operator. VLA176 - stored pending engine repairs. VNW32423 - stored unserviceable. That's all for now.
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tts
Conductor
![*](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/stars/star.png)
Wished he got all Tridents driven like how he got TN33186 driven!
Posts: 76
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Post by tts on Mar 15, 2023 20:55:02 GMT
Fleet updates23065 - is back with Replacement Bus Hire following an extended period at Evobus Coventry for substantial life extension works. A few more bits need doing ahead of MOT test but it's almost there. One thing I requested was for the pedal to be recalibrated as previously it had to be pressed through the floor to engage the kickdown and even then only gave about 80% throttle. So although it would rev to 2200rpm it was less aggressive with downshifting. It now gives 100%. However in first gear it now revs to almost 2000rpm before the torque break which is on the high side. Looking into changing it to economy mode to get that down to about 1700 and allow earlier upshifts in higher gears. SPV1 - VOR - cold weather has caused window contractions which now require attention ahead of its MOT. It held up well on roads that were literally like an ice rink - first time I turned a steering wheel and the bus kept going straight with the road surface cracking beneath the tyres SPV2 - VOR at Mercedes awaiting repairs to fuel delivery system and charge pipe. It is in a queue waiting to be looked at and could be off the road for months unless I get it towed out of there and sorted by someone else. SPV3 - had a PMI before entering service and some modifications. The transmission has been put into economy mode. Power mode prevents it from upshifting before 1700rpm. It might be desirable to ease up on the throttle without it changing up a gear on mountainous routes, but it's not good for town work. It would seem that various buses in London had been switched to power mode as they behaved in an identical manner - AVL45, PVL240, PVL247, VLP15, WVL244 and so on . VLA176 had this done electronically as a trial but I had that deactivated within minutes given the kickdown is enabled and it has a 6 button selector. SPV3's speed limiter was also increased from 50 to 60mph. It was out weekend before last - a video was made by "Frozzles" to mark the occasion - youtu.be/_6YlofKM5qk?t=404The bus was in limp mode - it became apparent the bus had a well hidden hole underneath a clamp on the pipe connecting the turbocharger to the intercooler, resulting in boost pressure escaping into the engine bay and out of the grille. Among other things it was hampering the performance and fuel economy. That has been rectified and the performance is now positively terrifying up to about 35mph. It goes through the gears like a 6 speed B7TL but has the longer gear ratios of a 5 speed B7TL. Fuel economy has improved massively due to it no longer being appropriate to use the kickdown constantly and the engine runs at a much lower temperature on the motorway. The day the boost pipe was fixed, the bus suffered a suspension issue on its way back to the yard. This was down to a failed level valve which was very promptly repaired. SPV4 - on loan to another operator SPV5 - looking into ZF 5HP silencer options for the gearbox as I'm the aim of the game is to run buses not an orchestra! Also looking to govern it down as it has short gear ratios and accelerates like a car, upsetting motorists who want to beat the bus. Otherwise ok. TA23 - a option has been presented for engine repair but at £8k, not including the cost of removal and refitting it's a big ask. To remain in storage for now. VLA170 - on loan to another operator. VLA176 - stored pending engine repairs. VNW32423 - stored unserviceable. That's all for now. May I ask, what is the license plate of vehicle SPV5?
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Post by richard on Mar 15, 2023 21:37:34 GMT
Fleet updates23065 - is back with Replacement Bus Hire following an extended period at Evobus Coventry for substantial life extension works. A few more bits need doing ahead of MOT test but it's almost there. One thing I requested was for the pedal to be recalibrated as previously it had to be pressed through the floor to engage the kickdown and even then only gave about 80% throttle. So although it would rev to 2200rpm it was less aggressive with downshifting. It now gives 100%. However in first gear it now revs to almost 2000rpm before the torque break which is on the high side. Looking into changing it to economy mode to get that down to about 1700 and allow earlier upshifts in higher gears. SPV1 - VOR - cold weather has caused window contractions which now require attention ahead of its MOT. It held up well on roads that were literally like an ice rink - first time I turned a steering wheel and the bus kept going straight with the road surface cracking beneath the tyres SPV2 - VOR at Mercedes awaiting repairs to fuel delivery system and charge pipe. It is in a queue waiting to be looked at and could be off the road for months unless I get it towed out of there and sorted by someone else. SPV3 - had a PMI before entering service and some modifications. The transmission has been put into economy mode. Power mode prevents it from upshifting before 1700rpm. It might be desirable to ease up on the throttle without it changing up a gear on mountainous routes, but it's not good for town work. It would seem that various buses in London had been switched to power mode as they behaved in an identical manner - AVL45, PVL240, PVL247, VLP15, WVL244 and so on . VLA176 had this done electronically as a trial but I had that deactivated within minutes given the kickdown is enabled and it has a 6 button selector. SPV3's speed limiter was also increased from 50 to 60mph. It was out weekend before last - a video was made by "Frozzles" to mark the occasion - youtu.be/_6YlofKM5qk?t=404The bus was in limp mode - it became apparent the bus had a well hidden hole underneath a clamp on the pipe connecting the turbocharger to the intercooler, resulting in boost pressure escaping into the engine bay and out of the grille. Among other things it was hampering the performance and fuel economy. That has been rectified and the performance is now positively terrifying up to about 35mph. It goes through the gears like a 6 speed B7TL but has the longer gear ratios of a 5 speed B7TL. Fuel economy has improved massively due to it no longer being appropriate to use the kickdown constantly and the engine runs at a much lower temperature on the motorway. The day the boost pipe was fixed, the bus suffered a suspension issue on its way back to the yard. This was down to a failed level valve which was very promptly repaired. SPV4 - on loan to another operator SPV5 - looking into ZF 5HP silencer options for the gearbox as I'm the aim of the game is to run buses not an orchestra! Also looking to govern it down as it has short gear ratios and accelerates like a car, upsetting motorists who want to beat the bus. Otherwise ok. TA23 - a option has been presented for engine repair but at £8k, not including the cost of removal and refitting it's a big ask. To remain in storage for now. VLA170 - on loan to another operator. VLA176 - stored pending engine repairs. VNW32423 - stored unserviceable. That's all for now. Is that the end of VNW32423?
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Post by 6HP502C on Mar 16, 2023 19:30:31 GMT
May I ask, what is the license plate of vehicle SPV5? BX54 EBD. Is that the end of VNW32423? It's in storage, nothing less, nothing more.
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Post by 6HP502C on Mar 17, 2023 2:10:54 GMT
I'm glad to see my suggestion was of use ![:)](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/smiley.png) Are you planning on keeping those Neoplan wheel trims? Yes, thanks, although I did negotiate on the asking price! I asked for those wheel trims to be removed and donated them back to the sellers. It’s a good bus but will be spending a fair amount of time in the workshop when time permits. Five SPVs is enough. No more acquisitions planned and it is still intended to reduce the decker fleet to just TA23 and VLA176.
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Post by cc5426 on Apr 10, 2023 11:53:02 GMT
Sorry if it might sound a little personal, but one aspect of the costs remains a curious one—how do the numbers add up with a fleet which is wholly non €6 (but entirely capable of retrofitting) and yet always runs into the LEZ, to the tune of £100-300 per job?
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