theres been 4 low floor Gemini's transferred in to Newcastle, are they just going to be used on Schools like the Olympians? Cos thats a waste. They should go on the 20 to Crewe thats a really busy route. Also how many Volvo Olympians have transferred in? I saw a P-TGD R type and a P reg Royale. Are the G-XRE 's history now? and the M-DUS ones?
Quote from: bob on September 16, 2012, 12:02:27 PM
theres been 4 low floor Gemini's transferred in to Newcastle, are they just going to be used on Schools like the Olympians? Cos thats a waste. They should go on the 20 to Crewe thats a really busy route. Also how many Volvo Olympians have transferred in? I saw a P-TGD R type and a P reg Royale. Are the G-XRE 's history now? and the M-DUS ones?
No, they are on the 25 route which goes out to the University.
The G-XRE are still in use at the moment, the Geminis have so far just replaced single deck B7s which have passed to Leicester
what are the P reg ones used on
Volvo Olympians SHOULD be replacing the G-XREs which are 23 years old. One should be preserved, the rest scrapped.
sconehead85
oh right so the P regs are mainly going to be confined to Schools work
No bob- With bus operators there is a difference between WHAT SHOULD HAPPEN and what actually does! First have got to get out of the habit of hanging on to geriatric buses if theyve any hope of complying with the DDA in 2017.
sconehead85
The 101 stafford to hanley definately needs Deckers ! well, on a Sat at least! been on it today and people were standing all the way to the back ! the driver had to keep checking whether he could allow any more on! Awful! the Omnicitys arent big enough! All the other 101s we passed had standees as well!
Quote from: sconehead85 on September 16, 2012, 08:45:32 PM
No bob- With bus operators there is a difference between WHAT SHOULD HAPPEN and what actually does! First have got to get out of the habit of hanging on to geriatric buses if theyve any hope of complying with the DDA in 2017.
sconehead85
There's a few years yet!! cut them some slack! Arriva have gone low floor mad here in Leicester and due to that and expenditure, it is one of the reasons why we have a current shortage of vehicles....
Im not actually suggesting low floor double deckers replace the G-XRE Olympians just perhaps a handful of Volvo Olympians from the late 1990s in the interim. What I was saying is if First are to meet the DDA deadline they wont do it by hanging on to vehicles well into their twenties. Its not just in Stoke, theeyre dotted all over the First empire. For example, seven of the LFDDs loaned to Weymouth for the Olympic sailing events could have stayed there and the seven Leyland Olympians of 1990 withdrawn. First not only have 400 step entry double decks to get rid of, they have Volvo B10Ms, Dennis Darts and Lances to remove. Add to that the bubble of late 1990s LF single decks ageing too, which arent going to wait until 2016/7 to conk out.
Sorry Bruce, First need the lead TIGHTENING not loosening!
I didn't know it was that bad!!!
in that case we need to give them one of those electrical shock dog training collars I think... ;)
Ive just discovered First in Weymouth have only four Leyland Olympians now 34342/4/5 and 34623. Still, its time they were retired.
sconehead85
do they use them in normal service or just schools? it makes me laugh how first call the 25 to keele 'Gold Service'! whats gold standard about an 8 yr old decker even if it is more modern than the rest of the fleet?
I suspect schools, bob, as they are the oldest in Weymouth.
sconehead85
Do the p reg potteries ones appear in normal service? cos the G-XREs always did
Do any of the Olympians appear in normal service or is it just school work?
The Weymouth deckers are used on anything and everything, I photoed on in August!
(https://wmbusphotos.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Ffarm9.staticflickr.com%2F8038%2F7944564494_17cab1788f.jpg&hash=bf741b90ee7bdb833c539f7c50d1a0ef724f5df5) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/adampriseman/7944564494/)
First Hampshire and Dorset 34344 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/adampriseman/7944564494/) by NX4737 (http://www.flickr.com/people/adampriseman/), on Flickr
They all seem to appear on the 25, X25 and most Newcastle Under Lyme routes ... When they need to off course!
Any recent news of G753/5/7/8/62 XRE and Volvo Citybus 38125? This MUST surely be their last school year of service. I simply dont believe First cannot find six Volvo Olympian replacements.
sconehead85
I will answer my own query by stating that according to the uk buses fleetlists Leyland Olympian 30038 is withdrawn.
sconehead85
THIS is the place for discussion of Potteries deckers. It may be that 38125 is the last closed top Volvo Citybus with First, if 38098, 38121/2 were withdrawn last week at Northampton. Of the Leyland Olympians G753/5/7/8 XRE remain despite the abundance of replacements within First.
sconehead85
Stop being pedantic haha :-P
Quote from: sconehead85 on May 28, 2013, 12:28:52 AM
I will answer my own query by stating that according to the uk buses fleetlists Leyland Olympian 30038 is withdrawn.
sconehead85
30038 is still showing as 'in preperation'
Quote from: bob on June 28, 2013, 04:52:16 PM
Stop being pedantic haha :-P
ho ho ho
Anyway this is the place for Potteries deckers. As well as (with preserved exceptions) Barnsley.
sconehead85
Any news? Surely the Leyland Olympians and Volvo Citybus have not been reprieved for another school year?
sconehead85
Quote from: sconehead85 on July 29, 2013, 01:37:34 AM
Any news? Surely the Leyland Olympians and Volvo Citybus have not been reprieved for another school year?
sconehead85
I've not seen any reports of any cascaded lowfloor deckers due for Potteries, the 2 x 54 plate B7TL/Wright Gemini currently at Northampton are understood to now be going to Leicester
Manchester are thought to be receiving ex FSY B7TL/ALX400 to allow the remaining step entry deckers to be withdrawn, but those due to replace the Olympians will hardly be any newer
Plus theyve repainted 34286 into the new livery so another year looks possible and i wouldnt complain
Quote from: sconehead85 on July 29, 2013, 01:37:34 AM
Any news? Surely the Leyland Olympians and Volvo Citybus have not been reprieved for another school year?
sconehead85
The Leylands are regularly out on normal service at the moment, I would have thought they would have withdrawn them at the end of the school year if they didn't intend keeping them
Quote from: Ashley 4569 on August 01, 2013, 08:08:58 AM
Plus theyve repainted 34286 into the new livery so another year looks possible and i wouldnt complain
That one is a Volvo, and considerably newer than the Leylands
Anyone know the last time a decker was used on the stafford route? It always used to be a VR or olympian
I know its a Volvo Tony. I wasn't being specific to the Leylands but hopefully the Leylands stay another year
According to uk uses fleet list Leyland Olympian G758 XRE is withdrawn, leaving G753/5/7 XRE.
sconehead85
Quote from: sconehead85 on September 03, 2013, 08:31:03 PM
According to uk uses fleet list Leyland Olympian G758 XRE is withdrawn, leaving G753/5/7 XRE.
sconehead85
The official first group fleet list I get show s it as unfit for service for the last two months but not actually withdrawn. With the arrival of some Gemini from Eastern Counties due any time I doubt it will return
Quote from: Tony on September 03, 2013, 08:58:18 PM
Quote from: sconehead85 on September 03, 2013, 08:31:03 PM
According to uk uses fleet list Leyland Olympian G758 XRE is withdrawn, leaving G753/5/7 XRE.
sconehead85
The official first group fleet list I get show s it as unfit for service for the last two months but not actually withdrawn. With the arrival of some Gemini from Eastern Counties due any time I doubt it will return
Tony, are Potteries due some of the 58 plate Excel X1 Geminis?
Quote from: Winston on September 03, 2013, 09:38:13 PM
Quote from: Tony on September 03, 2013, 08:58:18 PM
Quote from: sconehead85 on September 03, 2013, 08:31:03 PM
According to uk uses fleet list Leyland Olympian G758 XRE is withdrawn, leaving G753/5/7 XRE.
sconehead85
The official first group fleet list I get show s it as unfit for service for the last two months but not actually withdrawn. With the arrival of some Gemini from Eastern Counties due any time I doubt it will return
Tony, are Potteries due some of the 58 plate Excel X1 Geminis?
I believe the first couple are already in the latest livery ready to come West
Quote from: Tony on September 03, 2013, 09:55:20 PM
Quote from: Winston on September 03, 2013, 09:38:13 PM
Quote from: Tony on September 03, 2013, 08:58:18 PM
Quote from: sconehead85 on September 03, 2013, 08:31:03 PM
According to uk uses fleet list Leyland Olympian G758 XRE is withdrawn, leaving G753/5/7 XRE.
sconehead85
The official first group fleet list I get show s it as unfit for service for the last two months but not actually withdrawn. With the arrival of some Gemini from Eastern Counties due any time I doubt it will return
Tony, are Potteries due some of the 58 plate Excel X1 Geminis?
I believe the first couple are already in the latest livery ready to come West
According to The X1 blog it looks as though it is the 07 x plate B7TL/Gemini (37156-37160) that are currently being painted i.e. 37158 has just been done with 37157 going to paint, and it these that are due to go to Potteries rather than the 58 plate B9TL/Wright may be staying within First East England no doubt moving to Norwich?
http://fecx1news.blogspot.co.uk/
Are they for any particular route?
Newcastle-under-Lyme depot need four double decks, but for schools only Volvo Olympians are needed for the next year or so.
sconehead85
Oh. So the olympians will be used on schools & the new arrivals will go into normal service tben? They could do with sticking one or two on the 101 at certain times, it can get pretty busy
From Newcastle to Stone on an evening 101 last week so deckers could breathe new life into the route
Whats the latest on the B9TL transfer?
Quote from: Ashley 4566 on October 13, 2013, 08:00:53 PM
Whats the latest on the B9TL transfer?
They aren't B9TL that are due, there are B7TL 37156-37160 07 plate examples
What route are they for
Quote from: bob on October 13, 2013, 08:13:55 PM
What route are they for
All five are now at Newcastle depot, some have been used on the 25 so far
Oh yes they are B7's, thanks Winston
37156/8 were on the 25 yesterday, 37157 was on the 98/99/99a, saw it arriving into Newcastle from Ball Green and was seen leaving on a 99A to Mow Cop.
I wish theyd put some on the stafford service :)
Newcastle dont run the 101 though, Adderley Green do, even though it should have deckers
Ahhh bugger. Adderley green dont have any do they
Nope, all they have are scania beasts, shit scanias, solos and dart sheds
Gold service?
http://wmbusphotos.com/FirstPotteries/34311.html
'L' reg Olympians might be quality to enthusiasts, but hardly match First's Gold service criteria, suprised they programmed the GOLD SERVICE into the destinations on olympians.
Any news on the Leyland Olympians and Volvo Citybus 38125, which may now be the last closed top one with First given the demise of Northampton depot.
sconehead85
Think there are a few closed top citybuses still knocking about in devon and cornwall but 34125 is still in service. Didn't see any olympians for the first time on monday morning. Think there are a leyland trio in Newcastle depot withdrawn or may be scrapped by now
Quote from: Ashley on January 02, 2014, 08:20:28 PM
Think there are a few closed top citybuses still knocking about in devon and cornwall but 34125 is still in service. Didn't see any olympians for the first time on monday morning. Think there are a leyland trio in Newcastle depot withdrawn or may be scrapped by now
There hasn't been any closed to Citybuses in Devon & Cornwall for a long time. The only Citybus in service is 38125 at Potteries, there are three more in store at Northampton, and 6 open-top in reserve at Devon & Cornwall
As for Leyland Olympians 30031 & 30033 are still in service at Potteries, 30038 is withdrawn
34615 & 34629 are still in service, closed top at Cambourne with open-top 34626 in reserve
30722 (B46PJA) is still listed as owned for special purposes at Halifax
I thought the list I had was too good to be true given its now january 2014
Citybus 38125 was in Crewe bus station today around 15:55, don't know if it was in service or not as I only saw it from a distance, when looking out of the window of the adjacent Cheshire East Council building.
Two Potteries deckers seem to arrive around that time on a Sandbach schools and go away empty.
I take back any previous comments about Potteries deckers being only for schools. Got a message via Yahoo today saying 30029 34285 and 34288 were on 25's today
32054 has transferred from Leicester to Newcastle
Is it intended for normal service? Surely they won't want a 14 yr old bus on the 25, an alleged gold service? Lol
Well it's been noted on the 25/A today along with 30033 and 34286
Quote from: Ashley on February 14, 2014, 05:46:21 PM
32054 has transferred from Leicester to Newcastle
At least one more has also transferred
Quote from: Tony on February 14, 2014, 07:38:05 PM
Quote from: Ashley on February 14, 2014, 05:46:21 PM
32054 has transferred from Leicester to Newcastle
At least one more has also transferred
For some reason I had a feeling some of the ALX400's may transfer from Leicester but until today I didn't expect it to actually happen.
Are they ever gonna decker the 101? It can get horribly crowded at times as can the 20 to crewe that should be a candidate for them too
101 - contender for a "Platinum" upgrade perhaps?
Quote from: Tony on February 14, 2014, 07:38:05 PM
Quote from: Ashley on February 14, 2014, 05:46:21 PM
32054 has transferred from Leicester to Newcastle
At least one more has also transferred
32053,i think saw it in newcastle to day.
Quote from: pb2012 on February 14, 2014, 08:23:24 PM
Quote from: Tony on February 14, 2014, 07:38:05 PM
Quote from: Ashley on February 14, 2014, 05:46:21 PM
32054 has transferred from Leicester to Newcastle
At least one more has also transferred
32053,i think saw it in newcastle to day.
32053/32054 both left Leicester on Monday I believe.
Quote from: Ashley on February 14, 2014, 08:06:21 PM
101 - contender for a "Platinum" upgrade perhaps?
To be fair its got some of the most modern buses in the fleet on it at the moment. But when your most modern buses are 06 plate Omnicities.....well....lol
Quote from: bob on February 15, 2014, 11:18:15 AM
Quote from: Ashley on February 14, 2014, 08:06:21 PM
101 - contender for a "Platinum" upgrade perhaps?
To be fair its got some of the most modern buses in the fleet on it at the moment. But when your most modern buses are 06 plate Omnicities.....well....lol
I thought the 101 was not decked???
Quote from: Dylan4579 on February 15, 2014, 02:05:56 PM
Quote from: bob on February 15, 2014, 11:18:15 AM
Quote from: Ashley on February 14, 2014, 08:06:21 PM
101 - contender for a "Platinum" upgrade perhaps?
To be fair its got some of the most modern buses in the fleet on it at the moment. But when your most modern buses are 06 plate Omnicities.....well....lol
I thought the 101 was not decked???
Its not, they are single decker OmniCities on the 101
G755XRE, L311PWR, P658UFB were noted on peak 25/A's this afternoon (info from my Yahoo feed)
Also, has the lastest First Midlands fleetlist been released anywhere on the interweb yet? Thanks
Quote from: Ashley on March 11, 2014, 07:54:53 PM
G755XRE, L311PWR, P658UFB were noted on peak 25/A's this afternoon (info from my Yahoo feed)
Also, has the lastest First Midlands fleetlist been released anywhere on the interweb yet? Thanks
Mine is correct to the end of January 2014
Quote from: Tony on March 11, 2014, 07:56:38 PM
Quote from: Ashley on March 11, 2014, 07:54:53 PM
G755XRE, L311PWR, P658UFB were noted on peak 25/A's this afternoon (info from my Yahoo feed)
Also, has the lastest First Midlands fleetlist been released anywhere on the interweb yet? Thanks
Mine is correct to the end of January 2014
I've got my notes correct from your January list Tony. Hopefully I will get the time at the weekend to go up there but I was just wondering whether the various Volvo's had moved over from Leicester but thank you
32056 was noted in Newcastle today, think it was on the 25A.
Quote from: Cheese on March 12, 2014, 04:11:49 PM
32056 was noted in Newcastle today, think it was on the 25A.
I believe 3 have so far transferred
Are all the deckers only intended for 25/25a/x25 ? Or any plans to convert other routes
At a guess, more deckers on the 34/34A/20/20A which would help most times of the day
Quote from: Cheese on March 12, 2014, 04:11:49 PM
32056 was noted in Newcastle today, think it was on the 25A.
32054 is also at Potteries. At a guess, 32055 will be the third
http://www.flickr.com/photos/34487875@N07/13122072363/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/34487875@N07/12799659465/
Quote from: John on March 13, 2014, 09:17:23 AM
Quote from: Cheese on March 12, 2014, 04:11:49 PM
32056 was noted in Newcastle today, think it was on the 25A.
32054 is also at Potteries. At a guess, 32055 will be the third
http://www.flickr.com/photos/34487875@N07/13122072363/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/34487875@N07/12799659465/
32053 is the other one, saw this and 32054 in Newcastle yesterday.