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Post by vjaska on Jan 21, 2015 15:07:31 GMT
Hi everybody, I'm new here so please be gentle! I work for Bullocks Coaches in Manchester and we are in the process of buying 10 ex Arriva DAF AXL400 double deckers. I have reserved fleet numbers DLA357 through to DLA366. From what I can see and have read off pictures on Flickr, they all got refurbished around 2011. I have a couple of questions: What are they like from a drivers/passengers point of view? Are they reliable? What are the interiors/bodywork like? Are they warm in the winter?! Did they get new interiors when refurbished by Hants & Dorset trim shop? We are expecting them to be towed to Manchester at the end of the month. They will be used by Bullock's mainly as school buses and will probably keep the London Red colour scheme. The only alterations we will have to do is disconnecting the centre doors. Bullocks operated the first low floor double deckers in Manchester back in 1998, they were DAF Optare Spectra's so we are not a stranger to the DAF working gear. Thanks in advance for any comments/answers. Cheers Mark They generally are better than the early euro2 versions and once moving and with kickdown switch enabled are very fast. They have 3 speed Voith gearboxes so not the best for Motorway work, but would easily make 62.5mh on Motorways. They do get warm in the winter, although one or two of the cab heater matrix on them needs changing as it barely just blows warm. The passenger saloon has a switch in the cab for the lower deck blowers which is two speed and usually warm with the lower saloon blower motor on the offside rear wheelarch area. The upper saloon has bar radiators, you have to have the taps in the engine bay fully opened and the at the back seat on the upper deck to the nearside, there is a hatch, open that then turn the thermostat dial from * . 0 1 2 3 4 5 to the heat setting desired. Driving they held the road good, although one or tow of them do pull slightly at times. If overloaded with passengers a light in the cab would come on to reflect this and bus would crawl at flywheel speed. Brakes were good and strong with discs up front. Only the chassis auto levelling could get irritating at times. Although suspension is very good and better than the Trident and Volvo B7TL from my opinion driving them. It has VERY good steering lock, although the steering wheel being so huge can feel a bit cumbersome. If they have a faulty wastegate on the turbo it would barely move, but once sorted they would be a rocket. When they got refurbed, it was just the usual, repaint, and seat cushions replaced. at the time they were done, Arriva subcontracted a lot of work out to Hants & Dorset as Enfield was too full of work. They also got the combined LED indicator/LED side light changed at the front, the one that went Hants & Dorset. And also engine bay fire surpression kits fitted. I have attached some pics of DLA362 from June 2011 after it came back from refurb and on route 34. They do have there breakdowns from time to time like any bus does. View AttachmentView AttachmentView Attachment
You forgot the loud horn too lol. |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 21, 2015 15:59:35 GMT
Thanks for that. From the pictures and the reports I am getting they sound like they will serve us well.
I am expecting them to start arriving the first week in February.
Thanks again for the info.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 21, 2015 16:46:10 GMT
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Post by YY13VKP on Jan 22, 2015 6:40:27 GMT
You forgot to add dot matrix blinds!  . These look good in your livery |
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Post by capitalomnibus on Jan 22, 2015 12:19:31 GMT
They generally are better than the early euro2 versions and once moving and with kickdown switch enabled are very fast. They have 3 speed Voith gearboxes so not the best for Motorway work, but would easily make 62.5mh on Motorways. They do get warm in the winter, although one or two of the cab heater matrix on them needs changing as it barely just blows warm. The passenger saloon has a switch in the cab for the lower deck blowers which is two speed and usually warm with the lower saloon blower motor on the offside rear wheelarch area. The upper saloon has bar radiators, you have to have the taps in the engine bay fully opened and the at the back seat on the upper deck to the nearside, there is a hatch, open that then turn the thermostat dial from * . 0 1 2 3 4 5 to the heat setting desired. Driving they held the road good, although one or tow of them do pull slightly at times. If overloaded with passengers a light in the cab would come on to reflect this and bus would crawl at flywheel speed. Brakes were good and strong with discs up front. Only the chassis auto levelling could get irritating at times. Although suspension is very good and better than the Trident and Volvo B7TL from my opinion driving them. It has VERY good steering lock, although the steering wheel being so huge can feel a bit cumbersome. If they have a faulty wastegate on the turbo it would barely move, but once sorted they would be a rocket. When they got refurbed, it was just the usual, repaint, and seat cushions replaced. at the time they were done, Arriva subcontracted a lot of work out to Hants & Dorset as Enfield was too full of work. They also got the combined LED indicator/LED side light changed at the front, the one that went Hants & Dorset. And also engine bay fire surpression kits fitted. I have attached some pics of DLA362 from June 2011 after it came back from refurb and on route 34. They do have there breakdowns from time to time like any bus does.
You forgot the loud horn too lol. Oh yeah, that is one good thing about DAF/VDL and Scania products they use an Air horn, so very loud which should be standard for all buses imo. Plus the fuel tank gauges in a few of them don't work. But I guess as they get refilled everynight it shouldn't be a problem.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 22, 2015 12:38:19 GMT
I am hoping to install LED destinations in them, although I may have to get some good old fashioned roller blinds made up for the time being.
Air horns! Brilliant!
Yeah, I remember our old DAFs had fuel gauges in them.
What is the space like in the drivers cab?
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Post by YY13VKP on Jan 27, 2015 22:15:28 GMT
@mark1484 when these join Bullocks, will they carry any new fleet numbers?
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Post by Deleted on Jan 28, 2015 10:36:08 GMT
Zubin434, No they won't.
We tend to use the last 3 letters of the registration as a fleet reference.
If we do decide to use fleet numbers I will keep you updated.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 28, 2015 22:54:00 GMT
Hello mate. The DLA's are ok. Ive driven quite a few and they do what they say on the tin. Not the quietest bus ever built in terms of rattles and squeeks. They are old you have to remember that. Im biased, i like them. You look after them they will look you. Hope this helps.
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Post by YY13VKP on Jan 31, 2015 12:47:30 GMT
YY13VKP, No they won't. We tend to use the last 3 letters of the registration as a fleet reference. If we do decide to use fleet numbers I will keep you updated. Oh i see, so for example, DLA365 will be MWE (as its reg is LJ03MWE) |
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Post by LX09FBJ on Jan 31, 2015 22:27:05 GMT
Went on DLA362 on Thursday and it was EPIC! Lovely journey on the 125 including a lovely hilly bit between Southgate and Winchmore Hill were the bus went very fast!!
I may have not had much experience with Arriva but these buses are a reminder of the haydays of Arriva. Only around 30 left of a type which once totaled over 400.
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Post by vjaska on Jan 31, 2015 23:11:22 GMT
Went on DLA362 on Thursday and it was EPIC! Lovely journey on the 125 including a lovely hilly bit between Southgate and Winchmore Hill were the bus went very fast!! I may have not had much experience with Arriva but these buses are a reminder of the haydays of Arriva. Only around 30 left of a type which once totaled over 400. The hay day of Arriva? Surely, it was when the excellent L's & M's were still ploughing along lol. |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 31, 2015 23:15:17 GMT
Well the 125 is DLA no longer. Today was the 1st day with new kit. Its a shame. That now only leaves a few very early members at Norwood. The later and final batch at Thornton heath seems fairly intact at present. So enjoy them while you can.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 7, 2015 21:02:21 GMT
Just a quick thank you to everybody that has replied and commented on the Arriva DLAs thread. They have started to arrive today in Manchester after driving up from London. I will be picking one up tomorrow and next week we will start to prep them for service. No news on what the color scheme will be, we can't make up our minds! Some of them will probably be fully converted to single door operation whilst others may just have the middle doors immobilised and used as a luggage hold. Destination wise, I am trying to get hold of some second hand LEDs but blinds could be an option.
If anybody wants updates on these vehicles, please don't hesitate to contact me.
Regards
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Post by YY13VKP on Feb 7, 2015 21:08:51 GMT
Have the first of the batch reached you yet @mark1484?
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