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Post by coldestszn on Jun 16, 2024 22:06:44 GMT
I wonder what happened to Go-Ahead’s EM1 Equipmake Jewel E Bus, it was supposed to be trialled in service but never did
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Post by ADH45258 on Jun 16, 2024 23:11:47 GMT
Are there any Metrodecker demonstrators around still, which Go Ahead could acquire? There was one used by Go-Ahead on the 36 as MD1, a 17 plate electric Metrodecker - last pictures of it on Flickr shows it in 2021 at John Coopers Yard, Killamarsh on a trailer but was with Centaur on University of Greenwich shuttle work in London before that. TBH, we have no idea whether it will be written off or not - it's a relatively new electric bus so it depends how big the repair bill is in comparison to the cost of the vehicle I think Metroline also sent one OME back to Optare, after the 134 had a PVR cut? Would be two years newer than MD1, but not sure where it is now.
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Post by greenboy on Jun 17, 2024 5:26:01 GMT
The fault with the Me’s seems very much like a manufacturing fault so I’d be surprised if GAL had to foot any bill to the repairs to be honest I bet Go Ahead and TFL would love it if Optare just offered them a refund to take the buses off their hands and it just be accepted the WVLs on the 157 would move to the 200 till hybrids off the 22/88172/188 could be used till the next retender. It's not really TfL's problem and it's up to Go Ahead and Optare/Switch to resolve the problem and surely GAL should have to get some double deckers from somewhere even if it means hiring them from another operator?
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Post by southlondon413 on Jun 17, 2024 6:39:11 GMT
I bet Go Ahead and TFL would love it if Optare just offered them a refund to take the buses off their hands and it just be accepted the WVLs on the 157 would move to the 200 till hybrids off the 22/88172/188 could be used till the next retender. It's not really TfL's problem and it's up to Go Ahead and Optare/Switch to resolve the problem and surely GAL should have to get some double deckers from somewhere even if it means hiring them from another operator? Of course it’s TfLs problem. At the end of the day they are the public facing owner of the route and are fully responsible for ensuring it is operating within its terms and conditions.
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Post by greenboy on Jun 17, 2024 7:52:11 GMT
It's not really TfL's problem and it's up to Go Ahead and Optare/Switch to resolve the problem and surely GAL should have to get some double deckers from somewhere even if it means hiring them from another operator? Of course it’s TfLs problem. At the end of the day they are the public facing owner of the route and are fully responsible for ensuring it is operating within its terms and conditions. Go Ahead took on the contract and they take the risks that go with it and if Optare/Switch have sold them a load of junk it's between them two. TfL should be reminding GAL that double deckers are specified in the contract and that's what they expect to see.
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Post by southlondon413 on Jun 17, 2024 7:55:41 GMT
Of course it’s TfLs problem. At the end of the day they are the public facing owner of the route and are fully responsible for ensuring it is operating within its terms and conditions. Go Ahead took on the contract and they take the risks that go with it and if Optare/Switch have sold them a load of junk it's between them two. TfL should be reminding GAL that double deckers are specified in the contract and that's what they expect to see. Go Ahead won’t have placed the single deckers out without approval from TfL. Go Ahead don’t have autonomy, not TfL operator does. They merely franchise the right to operate a route from the owner, which is TfL. You are right that the vehicles are between Go Ahead and Optare but TfL have a vested interest in a speedy resolution from both.
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Post by DT 11 on Jun 17, 2024 8:07:35 GMT
Of course it’s TfLs problem. At the end of the day they are the public facing owner of the route and are fully responsible for ensuring it is operating within its terms and conditions. Go Ahead took on the contract and they take the risks that go with it and if Optare/Switch have sold them a load of junk it's between them two. TfL should be reminding GAL that double deckers are specified in the contract and that's what they expect to see. Overall it is better to have something operational on the route that is safe to use for the time being. Do not be surprised if they order ADL E100 for the R Network. Also if anyone actually remembers the 200 tender was actually existing Hybrids and changed to Electric shortly after the tender announcement.
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Post by WH241 on Jun 17, 2024 8:29:19 GMT
The MEs maybe coming back to full service from 17 June Nope! I am guessing you assumed that based on the couple of odd workings over the weekend.
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se10
Conductor
Posts: 50
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Post by se10 on Jun 17, 2024 8:45:32 GMT
Go Ahead took on the contract and they take the risks that go with it and if Optare/Switch have sold them a load of junk it's between them two. TfL should be reminding GAL that double deckers are specified in the contract and that's what they expect to see. Overall it is better to have something operational on the route that is safe to use for the time being. Do not be surprised if they order ADL E100 for the R Network. Also if anyone actually remembers the 200 tender was actually existing Hybrids and changed to Electric shortly after the tender announcement. Little off topic but after seeing the interior designs, I’m hoping they award E100s for the 470 next contract as it goes
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Post by M1104 on Jun 17, 2024 11:05:46 GMT
Of course it’s TfLs problem. At the end of the day they are the public facing owner of the route and are fully responsible for ensuring it is operating within its terms and conditions. Go Ahead took on the contract and they take the risks that go with it and if Optare/Switch have sold them a load of junk it's between them two. TfL should be reminding GAL that double deckers are specified in the contract and that's what they expect to see. Single deckers were likely allowed on the 200 in particular because roughly three years ago it was spec'd with that type, thus showing it can practically tolerate them again for the time being. Had it been for fictional example the 280's new kits that were problematic and the only spare buses available were single deckers it's likely they'd be allocated to the 200 with their Mes loaned to the 280. Despite this ongoing situation Go Ahead still do try their best to allocate any available deckers whenever possible, the odd B9TL, WHV and E showing up on almost a daily occurrence. In essence TfL are pretty decent in allowing non standard vehicles on route if the alternative is no buses at all for one reason or another. Sometimes it's to disadvantages like the 200 whereas other times it has been to advantages like with the 152 when Travel London (and again as Abellio) had shortages of single deckers at the same time they had surplus double deckers.
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Post by greenboy on Jun 17, 2024 11:44:56 GMT
Go Ahead took on the contract and they take the risks that go with it and if Optare/Switch have sold them a load of junk it's between them two. TfL should be reminding GAL that double deckers are specified in the contract and that's what they expect to see. Single deckers were likely allowed on the 200 in particular because roughly three years ago it was spec'd with that type, thus showing it can practically tolerate them again for the time being. Had it been for fictional example the 280's new kits that were problematic and the only spare buses available were single deckers it's likely they'd be allocated to the 200 with their Mes loaned to the 280. Despite this ongoing situation situation Go Ahead still do try their best to allocate any available deckers whenever possible, the odd B9TL, WHV and E showing up on almost a daily occurrence. In essence TfL are pretty decent in allowing non standard vehicles on route if the alternative is no buses at all for one reason or another. Sometimes it's to disadvantages like the 200 whereas other times it has been to advantages like with the 152 when Travel London (and again as Abellio) had shortages of single deckers at the same time they had surplus double deckers. I think the 200 is generally ok with single deckers anyway other than school times but that's not the point, if double deckers are specified in the contract that's what should be operated. Passengers shouldn't have an inferior service because GAL have seemingly purchased a load of junk from Optare/Switch. If GAL can't rustle up enough spare double deckers from within their own fleet they should hire some diesels from other operators and send the bill to Optare. If I had a 21 plate car that I hadn't been able to use for months I'd expect at very least the manufacturer to provide me with a replacement.
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Post by southlondon413 on Jun 17, 2024 11:52:02 GMT
Single deckers were likely allowed on the 200 in particular because roughly three years ago it was spec'd with that type, thus showing it can practically tolerate them again for the time being. Had it been for fictional example the 280's new kits that were problematic and the only spare buses available were single deckers it's likely they'd be allocated to the 200 with their Mes loaned to the 280. Despite this ongoing situation situation Go Ahead still do try their best to allocate any available deckers whenever possible, the odd B9TL, WHV and E showing up on almost a daily occurrence. In essence TfL are pretty decent in allowing non standard vehicles on route if the alternative is no buses at all for one reason or another. Sometimes it's to disadvantages like the 200 whereas other times it has been to advantages like with the 152 when Travel London (and again as Abellio) had shortages of single deckers at the same time they had surplus double deckers. I think the 200 is generally ok with single deckers anyway other than school times but that's not the point, if double deckers are specified in the contract that's what should be operated. Passengers shouldn't have an inferior service because GAL have seemingly purchased a load of junk from Optare/Switch. If GAL can't rustle up enough spare double deckers from within their own fleet they should hire some diesels from other operators and send the bill to Optare. If I had a 21 plate car that I hadn't been able to use for months I'd expect at very least the manufacturer to provide me with a replacement. That would be down to your insurer and whatever your warranty says but the manufacturer wouldn’t just replace it without a thorough investigation which can take months. The fact is that as long as TfL signed off then there isn’t anything that can be done. Point out an operator that has 19 spare TfL spec double deckers sitting around. Many don’t and wouldn’t be keen to deplete their own reserves.
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Post by greenboy on Jun 17, 2024 12:02:25 GMT
I think the 200 is generally ok with single deckers anyway other than school times but that's not the point, if double deckers are specified in the contract that's what should be operated. Passengers shouldn't have an inferior service because GAL have seemingly purchased a load of junk from Optare/Switch. If GAL can't rustle up enough spare double deckers from within their own fleet they should hire some diesels from other operators and send the bill to Optare. If I had a 21 plate car that I hadn't been able to use for months I'd expect at very least the manufacturer to provide me with a replacement. That would be down to your insurer and whatever your warranty says but the manufacturer wouldn’t just replace it without a thorough investigation which can take months. The fact is that as long as TfL signed off then there isn’t anything that can be done. Point out an operator that has 19 spare TfL spec double deckers sitting around. Many don’t and wouldn’t be keen to deplete their own reserves. There are diesels being withdrawn regularly from various operators that would be ok in short term, obviously it's up to GAL to come up with a permanent solution.
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Post by M1104 on Jun 17, 2024 12:08:06 GMT
Single deckers were likely allowed on the 200 in particular because roughly three years ago it was spec'd with that type, thus showing it can practically tolerate them again for the time being. Had it been for fictional example the 280's new kits that were problematic and the only spare buses available were single deckers it's likely they'd be allocated to the 200 with their Mes loaned to the 280. Despite this ongoing situation situation Go Ahead still do try their best to allocate any available deckers whenever possible, the odd B9TL, WHV and E showing up on almost a daily occurrence. In essence TfL are pretty decent in allowing non standard vehicles on route if the alternative is no buses at all for one reason or another. Sometimes it's to disadvantages like the 200 whereas other times it has been to advantages like with the 152 when Travel London (and again as Abellio) had shortages of single deckers at the same time they had surplus double deckers. I think the 200 is generally ok with single deckers anyway other than school times but that's not the point, if double deckers are specified in the contract that's what should be operated. Passengers shouldn't have an inferior service because GAL have seemingly purchased a load of junk from Optare/Switch. If GAL can't rustle up enough spare double deckers from within their own fleet they should hire some diesels from other operators and send the bill to Optare. If I had a 21 plate car that I hadn't been able to use for months I'd expect at very least the manufacturer to provide me with a replacement. I totally understand as part of me was still a little gutted that the 200 was predominantly single deckers. I do on the other hand have been on the other side of the coin where I myself have been allocated the occasional Dennis Dart on the 49 (1996-1998 period) due to a shortage of Metros at the depot, proving that sometimes it's not possible to source one decker on a regular routine let alone a whole route pvr of deckers to provide next day. As you said the 200 can handle single decks for the time being, abeit with a bit of strain, so may as well in this case take advantage on the surplus single deckers
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Post by southlondon413 on Jun 17, 2024 12:09:04 GMT
That would be down to your insurer and whatever your warranty says but the manufacturer wouldn’t just replace it without a thorough investigation which can take months. The fact is that as long as TfL signed off then there isn’t anything that can be done. Point out an operator that has 19 spare TfL spec double deckers sitting around. Many don’t and wouldn’t be keen to deplete their own reserves. There are diesels being withdrawn regularly from various operators that would be ok in short term, obviously it's up to GAL to come up with a permanent solution. So Go Ahead could be stuck with a bill to bring them up to their maintenance standard with the potential for a lot of additional parts needed when it can just stick with its own vehicles. Maintenance standards vary wildly across the operators, just look at the ex-Abellio MMCs GAL took on for the B12/469. They are awful and constantly break down. As I’ve said as long as TfL aren’t publicly kicking up a fuss and how allowed it there really isn’t much left to say. No doubt TfL is working with Go Ahead and Optare to ensure the Me return as soon as possible.
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