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I think its weird they are owned by Arriva... i think the 4.70 was good value and wy day ticket. I like first geminis on X6 though they sound alot different to nx gems. I will going up there again end of month hopefully. This time doing fitzwilliam to wakey to Huddersfield/halifax

The Geminis on X6 Are (95% of time) B9TLs Whilst NX only have B7TLs

Its a shame the MetroMaster ticket (Any Bus in West & South Yorkshire) is only available monthly

I sampled 4409 the other day and was very impressed. A smooth rattle free ride. There are a few noticeable differences between these and NX examples that I haven't seen mentioned yet.

There is no single seat behind the driver, and I think they may contain the new 'squarecase' both features being features on the MMC E400. The rear external roof dome is also a different design, being flat, unlike NX Enviros.

The Single seat behind driver is for full height models (Firstbus as well as NX examples have this) but as Arriva`s are low height (so is stagecoach`s as standard) they do not have it.

Looking at the ADL website (which I should have done before posting) the euro 5 E200 comes in an 11.3m version which should seat over 40, but the Euro 6 only goes up to 10.8m which would be 37 - 39 seats.

I Dont think ive ever seen a 11.3m 1 Door version,think london has a few that seat around 34

I think I'm right in saying the E200 comes in a long version for around 41 seats - as this is so close to a 12m E300 which is around a 43 - 44 seater perhaps there is no need for E300s.

Longest E200 seats 39,E300s seem to range from 41-45 Seating

The "MAX" offering is one step down from "Sapphire", intended to upgrade service levels on the interurban routes. As stated it offers leather seating and free wi-fi, but without the dedicated drivers, power points etc.
It will be introduced first on the X10/X11 Blyth-Newcastle express services, then rolled out on the X14/14's, X15, X18 later in the year, X14 with ADL E400's converted, X15 is getting cascaded coaches (from Shires??) and X18 new ADL E400. The X10/X11 will be launched on the existing branded VDL Geminis. The livery is due to be a sort of opposite to Sapphire, with the colours swapped around, similar to the example shown on the E200 mock-up for Arriva Yorkshire's Wakefield network.

Thanks for that tyresmoke-really, really useful. And welcome to a new member!! :)

I know a lot of the current e400's in Newcastle are currently off for refurb but I didn't know they intended to up their game that much. The X15 really does need coaches on there, as do the 85, 685, X85 routes down South. Certainly ANE is getting a bit of an upgrade this year!!

Do you have a link to this Arriva Yorkshire e200 as I can't seem to find it...

Thanks!

Here it is

What is interesting, it that all the First Group orders are Euro 5 and Wright & Optare are still offering Euro 5 models. But the article below does suggest that all new vehicles will need to be delivered before the end of 2014

http://www.busandcoach.com/newspage.aspx?id=8221&categoryid=0

The Streetlite Micro Hybrid concept is also interesting and saves a further 10% on fuel over a standard diesel equivalent

This suggests that NX could still buy more B7RLE/Wright for 2014 at least.

Volvo have stopped taking orders for Euro 5 Buses,its only Optare,ADL & Wright that are currently taking orders this year for euro 5 - If NX order volvo it will have to be the B8RLE

Best:

Reading Greenwave Enviro 300s:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/51253260@N05/8871235076/in/photolist-evVp7U-eQ75kP-bLhdcx-4ghbVY-5Evj2X-eQis9j-bojdq6-87NVUe-8DePdG-dyBhgJ-aLtABR-aqBdta

Go North East Red Kite Branding
http://www.flickr.com/photos/35759580@N03/5662672818/in/photolist-9CoFkY-86xaMF-86A8CJ-9pMMZ3-diyiz6-dxbnCg-dRDv7H-dRpFyZ-btuWZb-8qWr55-bQQW7z-9cjHiV-awS7zp-9p6Awd-bJDFvP-9cnnAL-9ascLU-bmGG8t-6pkwwc-bBSXP4-9W584P-ehA9jv-6MVW1h-5tziJH-5tzinF-5tDFRs-a3Zuo4-bw4dDe-a3tF43-a43k4S-bEEZXz-9W3Uvp-8iT6PK-bEEGT6-8iMZ4v-8iT6Np-8iT6PD-9mZ8Ht-b6D6kP-brnHVF-e2YaeJ-brKQvL-9aq7sz

& Another Vote for Yorkshire Coastliner Wright Gemini 2s
http://www.flickr.com/photos/92384708@N07/8630061736/in/photolist-e9BjFS-dR4sWS-e9vG9x-cuPoQC-e9vF98-diPdTa-diNSVC-diQmyF-cSJx89-dPk1bF-dR4epJ-dR4jbu-dMPFYn-dMPGfT-9u7NkP-eiUqxe-eYYZaC-bgeuhM-dKeLPy-eidRmM-c6mCVj-efWYke-ca1rKY-ecJKbD-dZZCzE-akEDtE-dXD5na-cDHkwm-aQoZvT-duRK31-duRK6d-dfsXLh-ai8crc-dyjQLY-dLTCH6-arLT2G-awaJMP-e6Zxtx-aQpoAn-duRHES-bMcfL4-ajXHVe-bAhY2W-9BZX8s-dizbMv-dKAozA-9BZWXQ-bAhY9f-9F8iXK-c6mAFE-aDW7ig


Worst:

First Beeline 2013 Version (sorry,im all for bring history back but this doesnt work at all)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/17669268@N03/9219447478/in/photolist-f3G5x1-e9yjhL-c9wah1-eUDFcQ-dWPiSe-cZCY7u-eh89g3

Newbury & Districts Versas (Boring,Boring,Boring)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/93036047@N02/9107665336/

& Of Course NXWM
http://www.flickr.com/photos/chrisbell50000/7243140478/

[Merry Hill]

Worse

- Merry Hill For Reasons Listed above,too many services not enough stands
- Manchester Piccadilly Same problem as Merry Hill - At peak times you have have almost 20-30 buses (most of time Enviro 400s) trying to Que/Overtake around plus if a bus breaks down your pretty much screwed,Plus theres no toilets that i know of
- Rochdale Bus Stn Old,Smelly,thank god its getting replaced soon.but on plus side,Overcrowding isnt much of an issue these days

Best
- Barnsley Interchange Perfect amount of stands,easy to get from stand to stand,Kept very clean but you do have to pay to use toilets
- Bradford Interchange Same As Barnsley,Plus its the only Bus Stn within West Yorkshire were travel centre is open on Sundays (Even if it is for just getting bus timetables)
- Manchester Shudehill Nice Neat Little Bus Stn,Not Very good for travel info but it serves basically its purpose,plus considering its right in the heart of Manchester City centre there isnt that many youths there on a evening

What makes the MCV evolution on dart chassis better than the sold ones?

MANs are thirsty on fuel & overheat at the first sight of a hill

First and Stagecoach- particularly the latter- have got HUNDREDS of Volvo Olympians to remove and are not ordering sufficient new buses to replace them.  Stagecoach will HAVE to cascade if they are to meet the 2016 DDA deadline, mainly from the 17xxx series Dennis Tridents.

If London goes for leasing, who is going to buy new? 

sconehead85

im sure both Stagecoach & Firstbus have got plans for it

- Firstbus can now order more buses for other fleets in next years order without having london to update
- Stagecoach,If stagecoach order 500 new buses next year for 14/15 then thats DAA Sorted

First throw several thousand pounds away every year. A good example is fleetnumber 61353 (L206 KSX) a driver trainer at Oldham, retaxed for 12 months in January this year (£220), sold to PVS for scrap in February this year without claiming the unused VED back. so £200 wasted.

I could find you a couple of hundred vehicles First have done that with recently, some were even retaxed after they were last used at £400!

another thing is that firstbus seem to like Repainting buses to them in storage (they did them with Leeds Fusions a few year ago & more recently with Alexander Royale`s) plus a few buses have been repainted into Barbie Livery still.Another thing (i know this sounds like nit-picking) but with the new livery,why have the "cared for by..." stickers,i mean most of the general public dont realy care & they still carry normal Legal Lettering.Say it costs £5 per sticker & a bus moves round 5 times in a year,thats £25 just on small stickers for 1 bus!

Cannock do have buses ( darts & sb120s) with worse interiors but these dont get refurbed either
Fact is they dont give a s##t about their Cannock operation end of

ever thought if you used cannocks buses more instead of moaning,& did your bit to increase passenger ussage then maybe you might get rewared with referbishments & maybe a few new buses  ;)

22x E400 For X1,I Think your meaning Volvo B9TL/Wright Geminis

No, Kings Lynn are due 22 brand new ADL Enviro 400 for the X1 (from the batch of 42 on order) to release the current 17 x 58 plate Volvo B9TL/Gemini's on less demanding work.

First Group don't have on Volvo B9TLs on order

sorry i didnt know about E400 On order,my mistake as i mis-read your comment  :-[

if i was first i`d get rid of london & slowly buy Second hand buses untill around 6-12 month before DDA Deadline,then when the price lowers get aload cheap & done & dusted - theyve got ample time.

Also most if not all of the Dennis Lancs have been withdrawn from Somerset & Avon & Alot of olympians have been withdrawn.Devon & Cornwall they couldnt even manage to sell for a decent asking price so i could see them just axing & letting other operaters pick up the pieces,Cymru is almost fully DAA Apart from some Early Low Floor Darts/1 Step Entrance but the latest orders should see that sorted.For WY They can just easily give up a few school services to withdraw there olympians - same for manchester,South Yorkshire are due Around 50 Streetlites what will go towards getting rid of the Olympians,First Glasgow have only got 1 PS Left in service,a few Early Low Floor Darts & i think a few Olympians left? but cutbacks at cumbernauld should help that.

Another thing of cause is what 2014/15/16 orders are,for all we know Firstbus might order 300 DDs & 200 SDs next year! (highly unlikely i know)

First is in big trouble I think. How did I get to this conclusion well its simple really, the average age of fleets in the Midlands Essex Kernow Devon Wessex are pritty low which means First will have to spend Millions to sort it out. What is the quick soloution? Well lease the London Fleet off like Stagecoach do and then transfer all the London Buses out in to areas that need new buses.

First's East of England fleet is currently been updated as follows:

15 x Enviro 200's  (Chelmsford)
4 x ADL Enviro 350 Hybrids (Chemsford)
19 x Volvo 7900 Hybrids (Basildon)
22 x ADL E400 (Route X1 @ Kings Lynn)
12 x Volvo B7RLE/Wright 05 plate ex Wyvern 66976-66987 (Colchester) only 66981 & 66987 still to move
plus further ex London Tridents

Bristol are also due a sizeable batch of Wrightbus Streetlites to allow step entrance Darts to be withdrawn

Plus Somerset & Avon Are getting Ex-London Wright Geminis to get allow Volvo Olympians move to Devon & Cornwall - also the 22x E400 For X1,I Think your meaning Volvo B9TL/Wright Geminis

CRP-  Transdev ARE presiding over a shambles, because they are only leasing new buses and sending mid-life buses back, leaving them with a polarised fleet, either new/nearly new or very old.
They wil have to revert to buying new buses to specifically replace older vehicles if they are to meet the DDA deadlines.  New buses could displace the next oldest to take over the school work.
Mid-life buses should be bought off lease until the fleet is DDA compliant.  And dont forget the Leyland Olympians were themselves "mid-life" in 1995!

BACK TO FIRST - First needs to purchase about 30 used LF dds so as to replace the non-Volvo Olympian fleet.

sconehead85

Well most of transdevs Public Services are DAA Compliant & they seem to be reducing there school services what use olympians - plus like i said there slowly getting ex-london stock.Im sure theyve got long term plans for what to do

Anyway,With Firstbus - theyve got around 25 Ex-Jersey Transbus/SCC Darts so that should be the minibus fleet all low floor,All together i think around 70 DAA Compliant Double Deckers to fully replace All Step entrance/Low Floor & Non-DAA Buses if you also count the number of new DDs due.Also it looks like first might have to buy second hand as its now rumored to have sold London (nothing confirmed as of yet).I Think firstbus could do with starting to buy bigger batches of buses from the likes of Ensign or from Leasers.Im actully surprised they never went for Some of the ex-dublin 2000 Alx400s - same age,same chassis & same body but no doubt in better nick!