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Post by Jack on Apr 17, 2011 18:03:17 GMT
OT7 is now at AV, no sign of OT5 or 6 though
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Post by deppy42 on Apr 23, 2011 6:33:32 GMT
OT7 is now at AV, no sign of OT5 or 6 though OT7 was brought to AV as an additional type training vehicle, OT1-4 are fit for service with OT5-8 still in the process of having ETM and MDT's fitted, (the contract engineers that fit these have loads to do which is delaying the OT's). I have heard that the decision to get mercs' was due to Optare unable to guarantee delivery times on more OT's. Still 8 short for the H37 order!! |
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Post by Volvo on Apr 23, 2011 10:01:34 GMT
I didn't know opatre was that busy as to why they are taking so long to deliver or could it be something else.
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Post by snowman on Apr 24, 2011 7:51:08 GMT
I didn't know opatre was that busy as to why they are taking so long to deliver or could it be something else. I think the problem at Optare is that they are about to relocate the Leeds factory. The lease on current premises runs out in a few months and they have plans for a new state of the art production line. But until that is up and running (Autumn ?) presume it is hard to plan. Also isn't there a traditional summer holiday factory shutdown in Northern English factories. I suspect the current problems are exacerbated by the number of hybrid and EV orders as the components for these tend to take longer to arrive than diesel versions so production sequences must be all over the place. |
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Post by londonbusboy on Apr 25, 2011 20:18:12 GMT
Not sure if this has been posted but heres a pic of SN51 SZZ being sourced for parts! tinyurl.com/3shvuq3 |
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Post by deppy42 on Apr 28, 2011 19:01:55 GMT
As from today OT7 and OT9 used as training vehicles. OT1-6 & OT8 avaliable for service.
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Post by snowman on May 2, 2011 7:40:47 GMT
Does anyone know if there is a consultation or proposed changes on the 81. Tender bids are due in in 3 months and it now uses London Uniteds oldest low floor double decks, a mix of VA and VP
For many years this was single deck operated, but these shortish double decks were introduced a few years ago. What I'm thinking is does it really need double decks or would the route be an ideal candidate for new Tempos (which carry upto 78) as presumably normal single decks (capacity 60) are a bit small.
My other thought was if it was to stay double deck what would be chosen, the existing fleet would be very old for a 2012 renewal. The only double decks introduced recently by LU are E400hybrids and I can't see about 14 extra hybrids (unless used in Central London to displace something). It will also be well over 2 years since last Scania SPs were delivered so unlikely to be more SPs (not even sure if the design still manufactured ?).
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Post by southlondonbus on May 2, 2011 11:18:35 GMT
I think the 81 should stay DD. The reduced Sunday freq means it was unofficially DD long before and often both decks would be full as they can be in the week. People also travel a fair distance on the route and want a seat. A Tempo has a large standing capacity but not a large seating capacity.
I think the Omni is still in production as Metrobus ordered some last Summer for the 320.
LU may go for the standard E400 as they have a large fleet of Tridents already. LU seemed to have reached a stage where they just dont need to buy any new buses and most TA routes are just starting new contracts (57, 94,131, 281).
One posibility is that when the 220 (now using route 94 TLA's) could get new buses as the 04reg buses are considered too old and these could move to the 81 and part 120 (other part SP1-15). Im guessing the 12m tender option tested for the 222 would see the end of the DD workings which also use the oldest DD with the 81 so again no real oppurtunity for a lage order of DD's.
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Post by jamaal on May 2, 2011 11:38:59 GMT
I think the 81 should stay DD. The reduced Sunday freq means it was unofficially DD long before and often both decks would be full as they can be in the week. People also travel a fair distance on the route and want a seat. A Tempo has a large standing capacity but not a large seating capacity. I think the Omni is still in production as Metrobus ordered some last Summer for the 320. LU may go for the standard E400 as they have a large fleet of Tridents already. LU seemed to have reached a stage where they just dont need to buy any new buses and most TA routes are just starting new contracts (57, 94,131, 281). One posibility is that when the 220 (now using route 94 TLA's) could get new buses as the 04reg buses are considered too old and these could move to the 81 and part 120 (other part SP1-15). Im guessing the 12m tender option tested for the 222 would see the end of the DD workings which also use the oldest DD with the 81 so again no real oppurtunity for a lage order of DD's. What '04' Reg Buses are you talking about? |
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Post by southlondonbus on May 2, 2011 11:49:59 GMT
Sorry not 04 reg, I meant the 53 reg that were introduced in early 2004 on the 94. By the time the 04 reg came along LU had switched to the VE/VLE.
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Post by snowman on May 2, 2011 13:55:08 GMT
I think the 81 should stay DD. The reduced Sunday freq means it was unofficially DD long before and often both decks would be full as they can be in the week. People also travel a fair distance on the route and want a seat. A Tempo has a large standing capacity but not a large seating capacity. I think the Omni is still in production as Metrobus ordered some last Summer for the 320. LU may go for the standard E400 as they have a large fleet of Tridents already. LU seemed to have reached a stage where they just dont need to buy any new buses and most TA routes are just starting new contracts (57, 94,131, 281). One posibility is that when the 220 (now using route 94 TLA's) could get new buses as the 04reg buses are considered too old and these could move to the 81 and part 120 (other part SP1-15). Im guessing the 12m tender option tested for the 222 would see the end of the DD workings which also use the oldest DD with the 81 so again no real oppurtunity for a lage order of DD's. Although the 81 can get busy you do wonder why TfL continue to subsidise it, lets face it Slough is a long way outside the area of London Council tax payers, so why not cut it back to TfL boundary. In fact the route seems to be a hangover from Green Line days and when the tube ended at Hounslow West. There are now other routes from Slough to the extended tube at Heathrow. Interesting that you mention the 220 as it (and 27 and 267) are all up for tender a few months after the 81. If all these routes are retained I would guess the 27 would be most likely to get new buses, so there could be quite a fleet cascade. |
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Post by southlondonbus on May 2, 2011 16:39:31 GMT
Prob more chance the 267 TBH as the 27 would need a much larger amount of new buses than the 267 and LU dont need that many to cascade.
Though of course the 81 could just be retained by LU and get new buses itself which could likely be Omnis as ADL have got large orders from London at the moment plus elswhere where as LU would prob want the new buses on the route before 2012 to save having to make any modifications to the current buses for the LEZ and Scania could prob deliver fairly promptly after an order is placed.
As for cutting the 81 to the Greater London boundry you could end up with a route like the 375 that has little purpose.
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Post by snowman on May 3, 2011 5:18:09 GMT
Prob more chance the 267 TBH as the 27 would need a much larger amount of new buses than the 267 and LU dont need that many to cascade. Though of course the 81 could just be retained by LU and get new buses itself which could likely be Omnis as ADL have got large orders from London at the moment plus elswhere where as LU would prob want the new buses on the route before 2012 to save having to make any modifications to the current buses for the LEZ and Scania could prob deliver fairly promptly after an order is placed. . Both the 27 and 267 use SLE Scania Omnidekers with top ups. I think the 27 uses a few VLEs and 267 officially has SP25-28 allocated. At the moment the SPs are covering other FW routes and a few TLAs are substituting whilst remaining TAs are refurbished. I see the logic in buying more before the LEZ upgrade but I thought the B7TLs could be made compatible. What I'm not sure about are the 14 Olympians (4 Trainers, 10 commercial) meeting upgraded LEZ. Deppy would probably be best to answer this. |
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Post by Jack on May 12, 2011 17:45:34 GMT
Both OT5 & 6 ramps refused to come out today at Hounlslow bus station. Both drviers were trying to get theres down for the man but were unable to and in the end just had to leave him. Not very good for bsues which have literally just entered service
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Post by deppy42 on May 12, 2011 18:51:10 GMT
Both OT5 & 6 ramps refused to come out today at Hounlslow bus station. Both drviers were trying to get theres down for the man but were unable to and in the end just had to leave him. Not very good for bsues which have literally just entered service OT ramps are working fine on all vehicles. They are tested each morning b4 service. Sounds more of a training issue, to operate the ramp the bus must have all doors closed, handbrake applied and gear in neutral for the ramp to operate. I will still check these buses in the morning. Thanks for the info Jack. could you mail me the times that you witnessed the ramp problems, so I can talk to the drivers concerned. |
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