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Post by southlondonbus on Aug 2, 2024 22:04:30 GMT
217 is heading to Arriva AR. I'm guessing they have some spare DWs to operate it with. |
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Post by adl on Aug 2, 2024 22:05:27 GMT
217 is heading to Arriva AR. I'm guessing they have some spare DWs to operate it with. I don't think any DWs are spare, there are certainly spare E400s but no DWs. |
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Post by DT 11 on Aug 2, 2024 22:05:40 GMT
It will operate with W3 fleet
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Post by adl on Aug 2, 2024 22:08:01 GMT
217 is heading to Arriva AR. Source? It was Metroline minutes ago  Confirmed by DT11 has stated that the route will operate with E400s from route W3. |
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Post by ServerKing on Aug 2, 2024 22:09:13 GMT
It will operate with W3 fleet Perhaps they can add to the BZL order for the 217 next year  |
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Post by londonbuses184 on Aug 2, 2024 22:14:50 GMT
217 is heading to Arriva AR. Drama  |
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Post by sp17 on Aug 2, 2024 22:17:11 GMT
He’s saying what everyone else is thinking but won’t say. Do you think experienced engineering managers really believe electric buses are the future? This isn’t the same as switching from coal to diesel, there’s so many problems with electrics that no one would dare admit. They are the future for Londoners for at least the next 14 years with thousands out on the road now . Range issues were/are a problem in the first few batches of EV buses as TfL rushed to the scene, but without TfL rushing so early, I dont think the EV bus industry would've advanced as far as they have now in terms of effiency and range etc. Not being paid is also unprofessional; it’s a breach and causes distrust and a loss of respect. Strongly agree, I made the same point initially but now I'm wondering if TfL were witholding funds due to an inadaquate service TfL clearly have no money but the son of a bus driver is insistent that every tender needs new buses, it’s ridiculous. Might want to check out the latest tender updates... Why are Volvo B9s with a shelf life of 20 years being withdrawn at 7 years old. Why are 2016 deckers leaving London? It’s all a joke really. Suited to the big corps who just shut up and play ball. It's not like they're heading straight to the scrap yard. They serve a much more peaceful life in the home counties and beyond where the operating company (Stagecoach, Arriva, Go Ahead, Metroline) or leasing companies see fit. TfL don't pay for the whole life of a bus when issuing a tender with new buses, they just pay est. maintanence cost the operating company thinks they will need for the next 7 years or however long said contract is I don’t think you understand much of what I’m saying but with that said I do get your point. The one-off non electrics mean very little in the grand scheme of things. Buses are run-ragged when they leave London by the way. There’ nothing peaceful about places such Tunbridge Wells or Gateshead for example. |
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Post by DE20106 on Aug 2, 2024 22:18:13 GMT
So the biggest issue is lack of vehicles (a sizeable portion of the fleet is VOR) and a lack of drivers, particularly for the W9 I do wonder at what point TfL say "no sorry, that's enough- we're terminating your contracts for failure to deliver" Looks like that point was today!! (Well sort of, but one could infer it was Sullivan jumping before they were pushed) What a mad day in TfL world today. First the entire Circle Line and western District Line goes down due to a catastrophic signal system failure at probably the biggest junction of the sub surface tube network, then a whole London operator goes down! While I’m absolutely shocked that Sullivan’s cessation happened so suddenly, we all knew they were slowing winding down TfL work. I suspect the biggest disruption will be the 217, a really key and busy artery route where passengers really will feel the squeeze if it doesn’t run. The 231 and 317 will get hammered tomorrow, but at least all of its stops are covered by other routes so passengers will be able to work around it, with a bit of patience. I guess we’ll never know what caused this dramatic breakdown of TfL/Sullivan’s relations, but looks like it’s a case of ‘six of one, half a dozen of the other’. In Sullivan’s case they were owed £200k of money TfL had to contractually pay to them. Having said that, £200k really is chump change to TfL who run a network and budgets of billions and billions, so I wonder if it’s a case of TfL begrudgingly putting off paying Sullivan’s this money rather than them not being able to afford it. In TfL’s point of view they might think ‘if the services aren’t being run to an acceptable standard, and the vehicles look like they’re fit for the scrap heap, not to mention treating us with general contempt, then why should we be dealing with Sullivan’s proactively and amicably’ It’s a shame all of this had to end so explosively and in such bitter terms. In complete contrast to First who were very careful to exit the TfL market on good terms, and even CT Plus who still managed to communicate with TfL and get arrangements in place for Stagecoach to take over the company. I have to say though, the very blunt notice saying the depot is now closed does give a bit of an indictment as to how the company was being ran, and could say something about the general management |
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Post by adl on Aug 2, 2024 22:20:21 GMT
So far we have:
Route 549 to Stagecoach London | Garage: WH? TBC
Route W9 to Stagecoach London | Garage: AW? TBC
Route 299 to Go-Ahead London | Garage: NP
Route 399 to Go-Ahead London | Garage: NP
Route 389 to Go-Ahead London | Garage: NP
Route 217 to Arriva London | Garage: AR - Using ex-W3 Enviro 400s.
Route 298 to UNO | Garage: HF
Route 327 TBC and School routes TBC.
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Post by DT 11 on Aug 2, 2024 22:20:54 GMT
It will operate with W3 fleet Perhaps they can add to the BZL order for the 217 next year Well when it is tendered. Tbh the most sensible place to run that with EV would be WN. Overall TFL must be working overtime to get these routes running tomorrow. In addition have heard Stagecoach are definitely taking over the 549. Overall this makes sense because it will become the W14 in 6 weeks. Lots of banditry tomorrow. I can imagine NP & WH have spare blinds from when they ran the routes before. 217 I can see Special Service on display. Overall since the operator has ceased they could just remove and sell the blinds to the new operators. |
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Post by vjaska on Aug 2, 2024 22:24:32 GMT
Definitely, for a while the comments made by Dean on things such as TfL not willing to help smaller operators even when Uno have bidded for TfL work themselves and even Ensign who stepped up to run school extras during covid on behalf of TfL and various opeators, then at one point he said something about Sullivan not willing to invest on electric buses for TfL work has just shut the doors on bidding TfL work in the long term. The fact the Uno is, by appearances at least, making a decent show of running TfL routes suggests the issue is more with Sullivans rather than SMEs. The way the toys have been thrown out of the pram remind me of the reaction from the company when they lost the 383 the first time round to Metroline. In all fairness, when they lost the 383 to Metroline, the route was top 3 performing routes in London so I can understand them being rather aggrieved by losing it. That’s a lot different to the current situation where now, most routes aren’t performing well. |
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Post by lj61nwc on Aug 2, 2024 22:25:48 GMT
Perhaps they can add to the BZL order for the 217 next year Overall TFL must be working overtime to get these routes running tomorrow. In addition have heard Stagecoach are definitely taking over the 549. They are working their *ss off right now, in communication with UNO, Arriva, Stagecoach and GAL all at one. Has lead to some miscommunication here and there but they are pulling their weight. A statement is being written up right now at this time of day |
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Post by SILENCED on Aug 2, 2024 22:26:44 GMT
So far we have: Route 549 to Stagecoach London | Garage: WH? TBC Route W9 to Stagecoach London | Garage: AW? TBC Route 299 to Go-Ahead London | Garage: NP Route 399 to Go-Ahead London | Garage: NP Route 389 to Go-Ahead London | Garage: NP Route 217 to Arriva London | Garage: AR - Using ex-W3 Enviro 400s. Route 298 to UNO | Garage: HF Route 327 TBC and School routes TBC. I was just trying to work out the same ... reassuring that my working out were same as yours, just not so detailed! |
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Post by sp17 on Aug 2, 2024 22:28:58 GMT
Overall TFL must be working overtime to get these routes running tomorrow. In addition have heard Stagecoach are definitely taking over the 549. They are working their *ss off right now, in communication with UNO, Arriva, Stagecoach and GAL all at one. Has lead to some miscommunication here and there but they are pulling their weight. A statement is being written up right now at this time of day Contact was made prior to the announcement, this isn’t as last minute as it seems. |
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Post by vjaska on Aug 2, 2024 22:31:21 GMT
We only know what Dean has been posting. I don’t want to sound too harsh but some of his social media posts have been far from professional and not what you would really expect from a TfL contractor. He’s saying what everyone else is thinking but won’t say. Do you think experienced engineering managers really believe electric buses are the future? This isn’t the same as switching from coal to diesel, there’s so many problems with electrics that no one would dare admit. Not being paid is also unprofessional; it’s a breach and causes distrust and a loss of respect. TfL clearly have no money but the son of a bus driver is insistent that every tender needs new buses, it’s ridiculous. Why are Volvo B9s with a shelf life of 20 years being withdrawn at 7 years old. Why are 2016 deckers leaving London? It’s all a joke really. Suited to the big corps who just shut up and play ball. What was the last low floor bus to make 20 years service on TfL routes in London? |
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