Arriva New Bus Orders 2014/15

[Bob]

Get rid of Wardles?

[arrifirststage]

Cannot see much for the Midlands here


Arriva UK Bus is investing £45m in new buses over the next 12 months. The operator is implementing a three stage roll out of over 230 new carbon efficient vehicles, which are expected to improve service provision across both new and existing routes nationwide. It is investing in: 165 ADL Enviro400s, 11 ADL Enviro200s, 12 Wrightbus 10.8m StreetLite Midi Hybrids, 34 Wrightbus 11.5m StreetLite Max Hybrids, four Wrightbus 8.8m StreetLite Micro Hybrids and six Optare 8.8m Solos.

The first wave of investment will see 62 ADL Enviro400s go into service across the north west. Each will be fitted to Arriva's standard spec with e-Leather seating, CCTV and free Wi-Fi. They are intended to reinforce capacity on key city routes, whilst also freeing up the one and two year old single deckers for refurbishment and redeployment elsewhere in its Midlands, south east and north east operations. A further 47 Enviro400's will enter service in the north west in the latter half of the year. The following stage, due to launch in the autumn, will see six premium Sapphire and two inter-urban express MAX routes bolstered by the introduction of a further 56 Enviro400s.

A further 28 buses, built to Sapphire's exacting specification, including e-leather seating, power points and extra leg room, are on route for use on Durham's route6 and in Northfleet. These will be Wrightbus StreetLite Maxs with Cummins Euro5 engines and Wrightbus' Micro Hybrid Technology. The remainder of the investment will include the addition of 12 Wrightbus Hybrid StreetLite Midi vehicles for use in the Southern Counties. The Wrexham, Rhyl and Luton depots will then receive a fleet of ADL Enviro200s, which utilise a new automated manual transmission (AMT) designed to cut fuel consumption and emissions by around 13%

This whole order seems pretty few.........I must admit I would have thought that 232 buses would be for the North West alone,never mind the other fleets.
Makes you wonder if Arriva plan any retrenchment anywhere,possibly starting with Wardles?

Also noticeable is the absence of any Wright Streetdeck order.Is this because there has been insufficient time to test the Derby example so far or ..................

[Dennis]

Cannot see much for the Midlands here


Arriva UK Bus is investing £45m in new buses over the next 12 months. The operator is implementing a three stage roll out of over 230 new carbon efficient vehicles, which are expected to improve service provision across both new and existing routes nationwide. It is investing in: 165 ADL Enviro400s, 11 ADL Enviro200s, 12 Wrightbus 10.8m StreetLite Midi Hybrids, 34 Wrightbus 11.5m StreetLite Max Hybrids, four Wrightbus 8.8m StreetLite Micro Hybrids and six Optare 8.8m Solos.

The first wave of investment will see 62 ADL Enviro400s go into service across the north west. Each will be fitted to Arriva's standard spec with e-Leather seating, CCTV and free Wi-Fi. They are intended to reinforce capacity on key city routes, whilst also freeing up the one and twio year old single deckers for refurbishment and redeployment elsewhere in its Midlands, south east and north east operations. A further 47 Enviro400's will enter service in the north west in the latter half of the year. The following stage, due to launch in the autumn, will see six premium Sapphire and two inter-urban express MAX routes bolstered by the introduction of a further 56 Enviro400s.

A further 28 buses, built to Sapphire's exacting specification, including e-leather seating, power points and extra leg room, are on route for use on Durham's route6 and in Northfleet. These will be Wrightbus StreetLite Maxs with Cummins Euro5 engines and Wrightbus' Micro Hybrid Technology. The remainder of the investment will include the addition of 12 Wrightbus Hybrid StreetLite Midi vehicles for use in the Southern Counties. The Wrexham, Rhyl and Luton depots will then receive a fleet of ADL Enviro200s, which utilise a new automated manual transmission (AMT) designed to cut fuel consumption and emissions by around 13%

This whole order seems pretty few.........I must admit I would have thought that 232 buses would be for the North West alone,never mind the other fleets.
Makes you wonder if Arriva plan any retrenchment anywhere,possibly starting with Wardles?

What does Wardles have to do with the group new bus order?

If the were looking to sell or close Wardles they wouldn't be buying new buses for it... But if they're keeping it then it doesn't justify new vehicles anyway!

[Tony]

So Arriva are spending £45 Million on 230 new buses for a fleet of circa 5900 buses.

Whilst NX group are spending £34 million on a fleet of 171 new buses for NXWM's fleet of circa 1526 buses.

It certainly makes NX's levels of investment all the more impressive.

Perhaps it says more about the amount of stuff that needs to be withdrawn before it falls to pieces/becomes non compliant with legislation?

Also don't forget that the West Midlands conurbation returns a far greater profit margin than most former NBC territories and always has done. Particularly when you have the local authorities in your pocket.

I would have thought Arriva still have more than 230 pre 2001 single deckers in the fleet which need to be either made DDA compliant or replaced this year, so looks like some conversions are planned.

230 buses a year gives a life expectancy of near 25 years which I cannot see a lot of Arriva vehicles managing, not because of Arriva, but just they are of lightweight design which generally have a shorter life

[winston]

So Arriva are spending £45 Million on 230 new buses for a fleet of circa 5900 buses.

Whilst NX group are spending £34 million on a fleet of 171 new buses for NXWM's fleet of circa 1526 buses.

It certainly makes NX's levels of investment all the more impressive.

Perhaps it says more about the amount of stuff that needs to be withdrawn before it falls to pieces/becomes non compliant with legislation?

Also don't forget that the West Midlands conurbation returns a far greater profit margin than most former NBC territories and always has done. Particularly when you have the local authorities in your pocket.

NXWM only need to replace the following by the end of 2015:

15 x B6LE
16 x B10L
54 x Mercs

85 in total, so could have got away with ordering half what they actually have. Once they have gone, NXWM's oldest single deckers will be 56 plate B7RLE/Wright

The Presidents are complaint beyond 2017, with only Spectra's need to be withdrawn by the end of 2016

[PM]

So Arriva are spending £45 Million on 230 new buses for a fleet of circa 5900 buses.

Whilst NX group are spending £34 million on a fleet of 171 new buses for NXWM's fleet of circa 1526 buses.

It certainly makes NX's levels of investment all the more impressive.

Perhaps it says more about the amount of stuff that needs to be withdrawn before it falls to pieces/becomes non compliant with legislation?

Also don't forget that the West Midlands conurbation returns a far greater profit margin than most former NBC territories and always has done. Particularly when you have the local authorities in your pocket.

NXWM only need to replace the following by the end of 2015:

15 x B6LE
16 x B10L
54 x Mercs

85 in total, so could have got away with ordering half what they actually have. Once they have gone, NXWM's oldest single deckers will be 56 plate B7RLE/Wright

The Presidents are complaint beyond 2017, with only Spectra's need to be withdrawn by the end of 2016

The Presidents may well be compliant beyond 2017 but God help us if they are still active in their current state.

They were comprehensively refurbished back in 2007/8 and are pretty immaculate inside...

[PM]

So Arriva are spending £45 Million on 230 new buses for a fleet of circa 5900 buses.

Whilst NX group are spending £34 million on a fleet of 171 new buses for NXWM's fleet of circa 1526 buses.

It certainly makes NX's levels of investment all the more impressive.

Perhaps it says more about the amount of stuff that needs to be withdrawn before it falls to pieces/becomes non compliant with legislation?

Also don't forget that the West Midlands conurbation returns a far greater profit margin than most former NBC territories and always has done. Particularly when you have the local authorities in your pocket.

I would have thought Arriva still have more than 230 pre 2001 single deckers in the fleet which need to be either made DDA compliant or replaced this year, so looks like some conversions are planned.

230 buses a year gives a life expectancy of near 25 years which I cannot see a lot of Arriva vehicles managing, not because of Arriva, but just they are of lightweight design which generally have a shorter life

Couple of things to add on this one.

I broadly agree with the general consensus that this round of investment is nothing to get particularly excited about.

However, this investment seems to exclude the London fleet so the vehicles being replaced should be seen as a fraction of the regional fleet and not the overall, including London figure, as that will get "investment" through leased BorisMasters etc.

What should also be remembered is the ex London buses being cascaded out. My local route has ex Arriva London e200's on there, now fully refurbished etc. At only 5 years' old, their arrival replacing X reg darts is still a fairly decent investment, just not with brand new vehicles. If Arriva London continues to lose contracts, that frees up yet more decent mid-life/pretty new vehicles for cascade to regional fleets although that doesn't seem the most ideal way to upgrade regional fleets as not only is London stock not new but has also been worked hard and continuing to lose work at London is sure to affect overall group turnover, if not profit to quite the same extent.

[PM]

So Arriva are spending £45 Million on 230 new buses for a fleet of circa 5900 buses.

Whilst NX group are spending £34 million on a fleet of 171 new buses for NXWM's fleet of circa 1526 buses.

It certainly makes NX's levels of investment all the more impressive.

Perhaps it says more about the amount of stuff that needs to be withdrawn before it falls to pieces/becomes non compliant with legislation?

Also don't forget that the West Midlands conurbation returns a far greater profit margin than most former NBC territories and always has done. Particularly when you have the local authorities in your pocket.

NXWM only need to replace the following by the end of 2015:

15 x B6LE
16 x B10L
54 x Mercs

85 in total, so could have got away with ordering half what they actually have. Once they have gone, NXWM's oldest single deckers will be 56 plate B7RLE/Wright

The Presidents are complaint beyond 2017, with only Spectra's need to be withdrawn by the end of 2016

The Presidents may well be compliant beyond 2017 but God help us if they are still active in their current state.

They were comprehensively refurbished back in 2007/8 and are pretty immaculate inside...

Yes, that was 7/8 years ago. They are now in many cases shot to bits and disgusting to travel on. I don't know which ones you see but I take it you don't live on or use the Outer Circle.

Well some WB ones were refurbed more recently than that but still, the rest are pretty nice to travel on even if refurbished longer ago. They're smooth, warm, comfortable and I'd say generally extremely smart inside.

[winston]

Couple of things to add on this one.

I broadly agree with the general consensus that this round of investment is nothing to get particularly excited about.

However, this investment seems to exclude the London fleet so the vehicles being replaced should be seen as a fraction of the regional fleet and not the overall, including London figure, as that will get "investment" through leased BorisMasters etc.

What should also be remembered is the ex London buses being cascaded out. My local route has ex Arriva London e200's on there, now fully refurbished etc. At only 5 years' old, their arrival replacing X reg darts is still a fairly decent investment, just not with brand new vehicles. If Arriva London continues to lose contracts, that frees up yet more decent mid-life/pretty new vehicles for cascade to regional fleets although that doesn't seem the most ideal way to upgrade regional fleets as not only is London stock not new but has also been worked hard and continuing to lose work at London is sure to affect overall group turnover, if not profit to quite the same extent.

So Arriva are spending £45 Million on 230 new buses for a fleet of circa 4300 buses (Excluding London - 5900 with London)

Whilst NX group are spending £34 million on a fleet of 171 new buses for NXWM's fleet of circa 1526 buses.

It certainly makes NX's levels of investment all the more impressive.

There will be plenty of cascades from Arriva London (but doubt anything that modern), as Arriva have lost a number of Tfl routes to various operators on re-tender.

[Tony]

Couple of things to add on this one.

I broadly agree with the general consensus that this round of investment is nothing to get particularly excited about.

However, this investment seems to exclude the London fleet so the vehicles being replaced should be seen as a fraction of the regional fleet and not the overall, including London figure, as that will get "investment" through leased BorisMasters etc.

What should also be remembered is the ex London buses being cascaded out. My local route has ex Arriva London e200's on there, now fully refurbished etc. At only 5 years' old, their arrival replacing X reg darts is still a fairly decent investment, just not with brand new vehicles. If Arriva London continues to lose contracts, that frees up yet more decent mid-life/pretty new vehicles for cascade to regional fleets although that doesn't seem the most ideal way to upgrade regional fleets as not only is London stock not new but has also been worked hard and continuing to lose work at London is sure to affect overall group turnover, if not profit to quite the same extent.

So Arriva are spending £45 Million on 230 new buses for a fleet of circa 4300 buses (Excluding London - 5900 with London)

Whilst NX group are spending £34 million on a fleet of 171 new buses for NXWM's fleet of circa 1526 buses.

It certainly makes NX's levels of investment all the more impressive.

There will be plenty of cascades from Arriva London (but doubt anything that modern), as Arriva have lost a number of Tfl routes to various operators on re-tender.

See my note in Hinckley Bus - Midlands are getting some 13 year old darts

[winston]

See my note in Hinckley Bus - Midlands are getting some 13 year old darts

Just seen that, they are also only currently returning 52 plate DAF/Presidents & 03 plate DAF/ALX400's off lease as well.

[domino.99]

Bit late but Arriva have announced the bus orders for this year. It looks as if they are getting E200MMC going to Rhyl and Wrexham.

http://www.route-one.net/industry/orders/arriva-announces-2015-orders   This is the article

[Sayeed]

Tony already mentioned this on previous year order thread;)

http://wmbusphotos.com/forum/index.php?topic=2769.msg133264#msg133264

[James4368]

I Spotted 2x New Boris Buses For Arriva London Today

https://www.flickr.com/photos/115199517@N06/18450802139/in/dateposted/