Single Deckers On Double Deckers (And Vise Versa)

[Nathan]

Hello Everyone,

The other day I mentioned seeing blinds for a few Fulwell (FW) DD routes on a FW E200. I've seen a few posts saying that it's quite unprofessional for companies to be doing this. But on the other hand of the argument people have also said that it's better than no bus at all. All of this gave me an idea to create this thread for us to list what SD and DD buses have been sighted on (or at the least blinded for) its opposing route type. I'll start off with a couple, and leave the rest to you guys (and gals):

• OmniDekkas have made it on to the 202 at times. I've also seen blinds for the 284 on a few. (I think it's safe to say that most of Metrobus's DDs are blinded for most of the SD routes they have).
  
  
• E200s have blinds for the 160 and 492.

[DT 11]

Mar 27, 2014 16:52:23 GMT Nathan said:

Hello Everyone,

The other day I mentioned seeing blinds for a few Fulwell (FW) DD routes on a FW E200. I've seen a few posts saying that it's quite unprofessional for companies to be doing this. But on the other hand of the argument people have also said that it's better than no bus at all. All of this gave me an idea to create this thread for us to list what SD and DD buses have been sighted on (or at the least blinded for) its opposing route type. I'll start off with a couple, and leave the rest to you guys (and gals):

• OmniDekkas have made it on to the 202 at times. I've also seen blinds for the 284 on a few. (I think it's safe to say that most of Metrobus's DDs are blinded for most of the SD routes they have).
  
  
• E200s have blinds for the 160 and 492.

Interesting Topic.

I personally think it is better than no bus at all, but it should not be a thing where it becomes regular.

I think it is more unprofessional to have no bus than the inappropriate sized vehicle if it is a One off. I have been on a Single decker on the 75, 160, 161, 261, 320, 353 and out of them all the 75 suffered the most and it was a one off.

A perfect example I have is the 61.

Route 61 is on the blinds all TB Citaros and E200s. I'm not sure about 36581-36583 though.

Single Deckers have appeared on the 61 numerous times at TB and they normally get them subbed as soon as a double decker is available, it has happened early mornings and afternoons and normally this is probably to ensure School Routes have the appropriate double Deckers. It has not happened for a long while though and tbh I think this is the best practice from any garage I have seen.

Arriva Kent Thameside imo are worst at doing this. In the days when the 160 was operated with DLAs without fail half of the allocation was single decker on a daily basis, and it still happens quite a lot with the new allocation of E400s, 4, 3994, 4027, 4029, 4030 single Deckers have been on the route for the last 3 days and they keep them in service all day, but I'm thankful most of the service is double decker, I'd rather any bus turn up than none as the service is totally crap anyways.

Part 2, the 160 is mainly lightly used off peak so it can actually cope with single deckers, but during the peaks the route can be pretty much very packed.

In addition I have seen single Deckers on the following double decker routes with my own eyes on the following routes, 64, 75, 119, 160 and a 9.4m Cadet, 161, 261, 320, 353, 492

[Deleted]

Route 241 used to see almost daily single deckers up until a few years ago.

Route 147 also used to have very occasional single deckers back in the early 2000s.

The least said about single deckers on route 69 back in the late 90s the better

[Deleted]

Route 275 when run by Arriva used to use single deckers in the evenings.

Route D6 used to see double deckers under First.

Route 66 has always seen a mixture under Blue Triangle and Arriva (DX) and now Arriva Grays.

[Nathan]

If I'm correct, Garston routes always have had strays on almost all of their routes.
SDs on the 142 and 340
DDs on the 288, 303, and 305.

[M1104]

The 151 has had recent single deck sightings on route.