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Post by mark on Jan 17, 2024 16:26:18 GMT
It would be interesting to know the combined value of the submitted bids. Even accounting for some Expressions of Interest not becoming formal bids, I think we will count the 50+ bus bids that win a share of the £129 million pot on one hand. ...although looking at the rantings in the comments pages of the Daily Heil following last week's Electroliner fire in Wimbledon I'm not sure that the average Tory voter cares that much about battery-electric buses. Separately, HCC is saying that it'll withdraw all funding for local bus services from April 2025 - see www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hampshire-67313030It was one of the (infamous?) Metrodeckers, not Electroliners, that caught fire in Wimbledon. Of course it was - typo on my part!
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Post by mark on Jan 17, 2024 16:38:54 GMT
Firstly, of Go South Coast’s Southampton base (the ex SCT/First garage in Portswood it says: “Go South Coast operate an extensive bus network branded as Bluestar, covering the Southampton travel to work area, from a large purpose-built bus depot in Southampton which lacks the spare grid capacity needed to accommodate charging of battery electric buses. This operator was therefore not included in the HCC bid”. I know Go South Coast/Southampton were considering a ZEBRA2 bid for Unilink but judging by an article about GSC regarding this it doesn't appear to be happening, somewhat disappointing for such a large city. There was an unsuccessful bid for ZEBRA funding last time round for Unilinks which was predicated on installing charging infrastructure at Barton Park. As this is an industrial park outside of Eastleigh I'm guessing that the power supply is less of an issue (failing that they could always run an extension lead from the South Western mainline...). There is still an aspiration for ZE buses on the Unilinks service and I'm pretty certain that the current contract originally called for a mid-term fleet replacement (which would have been last year).
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Post by smiler52 on Jan 19, 2024 15:42:27 GMT
I know Go South Coast/Southampton were considering a ZEBRA2 bid for Unilink but judging by an article about GSC regarding this it doesn't appear to be happening, somewhat disappointing for such a large city. There was an unsuccessful bid for ZEBRA funding last time round for Unilinks which was predicated on installing charging infrastructure at Barton Park. As this is an industrial park outside of Eastleigh I'm guessing that the power supply is less of an issue (failing that they could always run an extension lead from the South Western mainline...). There is still an aspiration for ZE buses on the Unilinks service and I'm pretty certain that the current contract originally called for a mid-term fleet replacement (which would have been last year). all unlink work as now as now moved to Southampton depot at empress the former first Southampton depot along with most of the bluestar routes out of Eastleigh and Eastleigh is now only used as a out station
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Post by TB123 on Jan 19, 2024 16:05:49 GMT
There was an unsuccessful bid for ZEBRA funding last time round for Unilinks which was predicated on installing charging infrastructure at Barton Park. As this is an industrial park outside of Eastleigh I'm guessing that the power supply is less of an issue (failing that they could always run an extension lead from the South Western mainline...). There is still an aspiration for ZE buses on the Unilinks service and I'm pretty certain that the current contract originally called for a mid-term fleet replacement (which would have been last year). all unlink work as now as now moved to Southampton depot at empress the former first Southampton depot along with most of the bluestar routes out of Eastleigh and Eastleigh is now only used as a out station Allegedly Empress Road is not suitable for electrification at this time
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Post by TB123 on Jan 22, 2024 14:34:09 GMT
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Post by TB123 on Jan 22, 2024 15:43:46 GMT
Notice in this tweet from the Stagecoach South East commercial director that they are bidding for 28 electric double deckers for Eastbourne in the ZEBRA2 scheme. Looks like this is the basis of the ESCC (East Sussex) EOI mentioned on route-one.... Further to this a copy of the bid has now appeared: www.eastsussex.gov.uk/media/a04f31jp/escc-zebra-2-application-form-redacted.pdf28 E400EVs preferred option (Volvo BZLs back-up) for routes 1/1A and 99 at Stagecoach Eastbourne
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Post by TB123 on Feb 20, 2024 13:00:12 GMT
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Post by TB123 on Feb 21, 2024 12:11:15 GMT
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Post by SILENCED on Feb 21, 2024 12:16:58 GMT
So many bids for a finite sized pot of money. I have a feeling there will be many disappointed local authorities. Any that received money last time I feel will be disappointed, unless the bid meets the rural criteria.
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Post by TB123 on Feb 21, 2024 12:31:39 GMT
So many bids for a finite sized pot of money. I have a feeling there will be many disappointed local authorities. Any that received money last time I feel will be disappointed, unless the bid meets the rural criteria. Portsmouth is doing a lot of very good things re buses recently, they seem to be a council that is very ambitious and gets it, and has so far been successful with BSIP and ZEBRA deals. If any urban ZEBRA2 bid was to be funded this would seem a good shout. www.route-one.net/news/90-minute-hopper-ticket-among-latest-portsmouth-bsip-deliveries/ - this article is quite a good read re this
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Post by TB123 on Feb 25, 2024 13:34:24 GMT
www.westsussex.gov.uk/media/20155/zebra2_app.pdfWest Sussex County Council is leading on a bid with Metrobus for 43 additional hydrogen buses - 15 standard-length single decks, 4 long-length single decks and 24 double decks at Crawley depot for routes 21, 22, 23, 61, 93 200, 270, 271, 272, 273, 281, 291 and 400 - Gatwick Airport, Surrey County Council and Kent County Council also listed as contributors. Wrightbus listed as preferred manufacturer or ADL/Caetano as a 'back-up' alternative.
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Post by TB123 on Feb 25, 2024 13:37:36 GMT
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Post by lonmark on Feb 25, 2024 16:29:50 GMT
Sorry to ask, but is Kent council asking for any bus fund or any bus company in the Kent area? Does it seem a poor choice for the Kent bus service?!
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Post by TB123 on Feb 25, 2024 16:38:02 GMT
Sorry to ask, but is Kent council asking for any bus fund or any bus company in the Kent area? Does it seem a poor choice for the Kent bus service?! Kent are contributing to the West Sussex-led ZEBRA2 bid which would include hydrogen buses for the 291 which runs across to Tunbridge Wells, which comes under Kent. They also have 33 electric buses coming from ZEBRA1 for Dartford and Dover Fasttrack services.
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Post by TB123 on Feb 26, 2024 10:59:37 GMT
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