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Post by greg on Jul 24, 2024 21:57:40 GMT
Seems all the dirty buses and nasty refurb bloats get chucked onto the 88, WHVs and etc I travelled on EH15 coincidentally for my go and return journeys and it just felt ugly. Dirty, torn apart if you know what I mean, but it did have a louder iBus. I noticed the interior is more of a turquoise blue than the original batch, quite irregular and offputting. For a third journey, I caught WHV94 and it was gutless and slow. I had seen it broken down at Vauxhall at around the afternoon but it was the bus that took me back home from PHF. None of the other SW routes gets this treatment observationally from my locals, 11, 44, 77, 87, 88 WHV94 sounds like an anomaly to me, the 155’s buses are almost always very quick. As I said above they massively improve the 44 and I quite like how they’ve taken over the 44’s evening service as the drivers are usually faster then. The 88 is allocated the older less clean EHs so it uses them, the 118’s and 337’s older Es are also somewhat dirty and tired so it’s not just the 88. The 11/44/77/87 all use newer vehicles, I can think of a few other garages where the older buses look terrible when the newer ones don’t so it’s not like it’s unusual I understand totally what you mean and you are absolutely correct, but it just seems the nastiest of nastiest buses get put on the 88 no matter what. They are allocated older EHs, but some of the 13 reg ones are spotless, but you’ll find them on a route like the 155 instead while a nasty, uncleaned WHV is used on the 88 instead. Hopefully that made sense
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Post by BK15AZR on Jul 24, 2024 22:03:18 GMT
WHV94 sounds like an anomaly to me, the 155’s buses are almost always very quick. As I said above they massively improve the 44 and I quite like how they’ve taken over the 44’s evening service as the drivers are usually faster then. The 88 is allocated the older less clean EHs so it uses them, the 118’s and 337’s older Es are also somewhat dirty and tired so it’s not just the 88. The 11/44/77/87 all use newer vehicles, I can think of a few other garages where the older buses look terrible when the newer ones don’t so it’s not like it’s unusual I understand totally what you mean and you are absolutely correct, but it just seems the nastiest of nastiest buses get put on the 88 no matter what. They are allocated older EHs, but some of the 13 reg ones are spotless, but you’ll find them on a route like the 155 instead while a nasty, uncleaned WHV is used on the 88 instead. Hopefully that made sense The 13-reg EHs on the 88 are still in relatively better condition, and they're fast buses nonetheless. I'd blame the poor level of maintenance at RR for the poorer condition on EH14/15 - they already looked tatty when they're in East London.
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Post by M1104 on Jul 25, 2024 4:12:14 GMT
Seems all the dirty buses and nasty refurb bloats get chucked onto the 88, WHVs and etc The 88's present contract is spec'd for LTs, the route using them up until its rerouting and extension to Parliament Hill Fields. It was due to the LT's inability to turn around properly at the new terminus that they were moved to the 87 in return for that route's hybrids
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Post by LD71YLO (BE37054) on Jul 25, 2024 10:28:41 GMT
There have always been problems with them although I think that the average number of WHVs on the 44 has been creeping up gradually since SW took over. Absolutely not complaining, the WHVs accelerate so much faster, sound nicer and make the 44 much more fun to use The 155 has been using a lot of EHs every day for a while too. I think the chances are very high of the WSDs being disposed of when the 44’s contract renews. I think it’ll get new EVs as that seems to happen quite often with sole bidder tenders (can’t imagine anyone else trying for the 44), but even if it’s existing vehicles GAL have got a huge plethora of hybrid vehicles to use and replace them with. I was so happy when they got jettisoned to SW, so I don’t have to suffer them on the 131 anymore You can't see QB going for the 44? I think they might just get the route with new Electroliners.
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Post by ilovelondonbuses on Jul 25, 2024 10:42:51 GMT
I think the chances are very high of the WSDs being disposed of when the 44’s contract renews. I think it’ll get new EVs as that seems to happen quite often with sole bidder tenders (can’t imagine anyone else trying for the 44), but even if it’s existing vehicles GAL have got a huge plethora of hybrid vehicles to use and replace them with. I was so happy when they got jettisoned to SW, so I don’t have to suffer them on the 131 anymore You can't see QB going for the 44? I think they might just get the route with new Electroliners. Could be a possibility. Go-Ahead have not been the lowest bidder for route 44/N44 in its last two tendering rounds in 2012 and 2017, so perhaps third time's the charm for Transport UK winning the route? In addition, I do think Battersea would be a better base for the route than Stockwell.
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Post by M1104 on Jul 25, 2024 11:02:11 GMT
There have always been problems with them although I think that the average number of WHVs on the 44 has been creeping up gradually since SW took over. Absolutely not complaining, the WHVs accelerate so much faster, sound nicer and make the 44 much more fun to use The 155 has been using a lot of EHs every day for a while too. I think the chances are very high of the WSDs being disposed of when the 44’s contract renews. I think it’ll get new EVs as that seems to happen quite often with sole bidder tenders (can’t imagine anyone else trying for the 44), but even if it’s existing vehicles GAL have got a huge plethora of hybrid vehicles to use and replace them with. I was so happy when they got jettisoned to SW, so I don’t have to suffer them on the 131 anymore One could be forgiven in assuming disposal's already started, given as eight WHVs are presently on the 44 for a route that on paper has an abundant of surplus WSDs (route allocation plus spares plus four extras, one mind you being fire damaged)
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Post by M1104 on Jul 25, 2024 11:08:03 GMT
I think the chances are very high of the WSDs being disposed of when the 44’s contract renews. I think it’ll get new EVs as that seems to happen quite often with sole bidder tenders (can’t imagine anyone else trying for the 44), but even if it’s existing vehicles GAL have got a huge plethora of hybrid vehicles to use and replace them with. I was so happy when they got jettisoned to SW, so I don’t have to suffer them on the 131 anymore You can't see QB going for the 44? I think they might just get the route with new Electroliners. They could win it also with existing E40Hs as they have enough with the ongoing conversions of the 133 and 381, even more so if the 270 is lost (most likely then to Go Ahead)
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Post by M1104 on Jul 25, 2024 11:13:58 GMT
You can't see QB going for the 44? I think they might just get the route with new Electroliners. Could be a possibility. Go-Ahead have not been the lowest bidder for route 44/N44 in its last two tendering rounds in 2012 and 2017, so perhaps third time's the charm for Transport UK winning the route? In addition, I do think Battersea would be a better base for the route than Stockwell. Out of interest despite the 44 being SW based some drivers are from AL, which partially explains why changeovers are still being done at Tooting Broadway and why no EHs have been seen with 44 on their blindsets
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Post by LD71YLO (BE37054) on Jul 25, 2024 11:22:06 GMT
You can't see QB going for the 44? I think they might just get the route with new Electroliners. Could be a possibility. Go-Ahead have not been the lowest bidder for route 44/N44 in its last two tendering rounds in 2012 and 2017, so perhaps third time's the charm for Transport UK winning the route? In addition, I do think Battersea would be a better base for the route than Stockwell. Although having said that this is usually quite a strong time for Go-Ahead joint bids, with the 37/N37, 77, 87/N87, 171/N171, 219, 337, 424 & 485 included in the 2017 joint bid, which are all up for retender at the same time, alongside the 386, G1, SL7 and quite a few routes (196, 270, SL5, 241, 330, 474) of which one or two could be thrown in. Nonetheless, the reason I mentioned that is a considerable number of the routes are in a worse position for Go-Ahead to retain them i.e. 44/N44 at Stockwell, the 171 terminus arrangement change, 337 and 424 at Stockwell, 485 at AL. Another interesting observation is that this joint bid stronghold is likely to be split up upon their subsequent retendering, with some retendered in 2030 and some in 2032, considering some (219/485) will almost certainly get new vehicles, and others (77/87) almost certainly retaining hybrids.
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Post by DE20106 on Jul 25, 2024 11:24:14 GMT
I think the chances are very high of the WSDs being disposed of when the 44’s contract renews. I think it’ll get new EVs as that seems to happen quite often with sole bidder tenders (can’t imagine anyone else trying for the 44), but even if it’s existing vehicles GAL have got a huge plethora of hybrid vehicles to use and replace them with. I was so happy when they got jettisoned to SW, so I don’t have to suffer them on the 131 anymore You can't see QB going for the 44? I think they might just get the route with new Electroliners. Nah not this time, it’s nearly full now I can’t imagine them throwing bids out there for the sake of it just to fill QB to the brim with whatever they can get. If the expected targets that TfL specify in the 44 contract are too tight then it won’t be worth it (but obviously I don’t know what they are, they could be generous). That’s why the 393 and 444 only had one bidder this time (thanks to the amazing knowledge of capitalomnibus)
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Post by M1104 on Jul 25, 2024 12:24:22 GMT
You can't see QB going for the 44? I think they might just get the route with new Electroliners. Nah not this time, it’s nearly full now I can’t imagine them throwing bids out there for the sake of it just to fill QB to the brim with whatever they can get. Baring in mind the 196 and 415 are still awaiting award, plus the 45 at WL. I wouldn't be surprised if the 44/N44 is lost it'd be in conjunction with a gain of a route lost by TUK
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Post by southlondon413 on Jul 25, 2024 13:00:40 GMT
Nah not this time, it’s nearly full now I can’t imagine them throwing bids out there for the sake of it just to fill QB to the brim with whatever they can get. Baring in mind the 196 and 415 are still awaiting award, plus the 45 at WL. I wouldn't be surprised if the 44/N44 is lost it'd be in conjunction with a gain of a route lost by TUK Didn’t the 415 only start a contract in 2022? I can’t see Abellio picking off the 44/N44. Go Ahead should be able to easily joint bid across 919 & 920 as they have many times before.
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Post by M1104 on Jul 25, 2024 13:05:28 GMT
Baring in mind the 196 and 415 are still awaiting award, plus the 45 at WL. I wouldn't be surprised if the 44/N44 is lost it'd be in conjunction with a gain of a route lost by TUK Didn’t the 415 only start a contract in 2022? I can’t see Abellio picking off the 44/N44. Go Ahead should be able to easily joint bid across 919 & 920 as they have many times before. TUK opted to end the 415 contract early, renewal now brought forward to March 2025
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Post by ADH45258 on Jul 25, 2024 13:15:53 GMT
Nah not this time, it’s nearly full now I can’t imagine them throwing bids out there for the sake of it just to fill QB to the brim with whatever they can get. Baring in mind the 196 and 415 are still awaiting award, plus the 45 at WL. I wouldn't be surprised if the 44/N44 is lost it'd be in conjunction with a gain of a route lost by TUK The 44 and 196 have the same PVR, so if they lose the 196 the E40H/MMCs could be used to bid for the 44. Arriva have a lot of spare capacity at BN/N, so could be keen to gain the 196 and 415. They were the lowest bidder last time on the 196 (but didn't have the space then), and there are just about enough spare hybrids still - could bid with the ex-78/SL1 HAs?
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Post by vjaska on Jul 25, 2024 13:40:27 GMT
Baring in mind the 196 and 415 are still awaiting award, plus the 45 at WL. I wouldn't be surprised if the 44/N44 is lost it'd be in conjunction with a gain of a route lost by TUK The 44 and 196 have the same PVR, so if they lose the 196 the E40H/MMCs could be used to bid for the 44. Arriva have a lot of spare capacity at BN/N, so could be keen to gain the 196 and 415. They were the lowest bidder last time on the 196 (but didn't have the space then), and there are just about enough spare hybrids still - could bid with the ex-78/SL1 HAs? I don't think they would operate either route from BN in any respect - if they win one of the 196 or 415 because I don't see them picking up both, I suspect they'll run from N. If I was to guess, changeovers for the 196 outside N and 415, maybe they travel on the many buses from the garage to Tulse Hill.
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