Messages

Solo 2488 was used for a couple of days after arrival here and hasn't been out since now almost a month.
And B9TL 4115 seems to be here from Leicester.

2488 currently having some work done on it

Looks like the The Kingfisher has been fished from the pond...

I have a feeling D&G will step in as a result and increase or amend the 32(X). 

First Potteries are now using the same style of destination blinds as Worcester and Leicester.

Must say I much prefer the new style as it stands out more. Any ideas on what font First use in these boards as I'm looking to recreate them for myself?

Noted on Bustimes earlier was a new Metrocity on the 16 to Leek (149 - YJ67 GBX)

Saw it in Newcastle on 94s today, white all-over with airport luggage racking

In other Oswestry Depot news, the Oswestry Town 40x routes will be ran by someone else. The 70/70A are being replaced by the X4/X5. There isn't a timetable yet that I can see but this will certainly be interesting.

The timetable's now up - not sure if it's just me but some of the journeys on X4/X5 now make no sense timings wise?

Could this be to be re painted? Rather than actually transferring? I know they've done some painting in Potteries before?
Although.. these have already been painted recently so I guess not.
Can only think something to do with the Euro 6 scrapped.. we might get some older vehicles back (hoping for 32646 which is still in LCC livery in Worcester).

Both repainted with Potteries names so guessing long term transfers

https://www.vehicle-operator-licensing.service.gov.uk/search/find-registered-local-bus-services/details/574721/
;
cancelling the 14 - unless its on two different licences?

From the D&G website:

From 4th April services 14 and 14W will be replaced within Stoke-on-Trent by new services 24 and 24A. New links are provided to Biddulph, Blurton, Newstead and Longton and additional journeys have been added at busy times.

Journeys on service 14 within Staffordshire will operate to a revised route and timetable from 4th April following a retendering exercise by Staffordshire County Council. Details will be posted here as soon as they are finalised.

2146 (previously 11 branded) now painted into the new livery.

As much as I dislike the new Arriva livery, I must admit it does make the E200s look rather smart.

Just seen a pic - looks stunning and they've given it a re-trim by the looks of things. New livery really does suit Enviros

If a bus was only capable of 29mph it was probably genuinely in Limp mode. Buses go into limp mode for a reason, and that is because carrying on driving them normally would cause damage because something is seriously wrong, so that seems like a perfectly valid change

Oh absolutely I know I was trying to show that it is perfectly reasonable to swap a bus if it's too slow

In the case I was told, the bus was allocated to an inter-urban route that travels along a 60mph road.  I think it was mainly down to the driver's preference more than anything.

Once had a driver on the 5 in Telford swap a Pulsar for a Streetlite because it could only top 29mph it was that limp!

Yes.  Have heard stories of drivers refusing buses because they are 'too slow'.  Now, is that a driver's definition of too slow, or anyone else's?🤣

If it's too slow moving off then surely that would be unsafe to drive?

Hi All in the Potteries !!

Can anyone tell me what's happening with 32646 ? - - according to the bus times tracker, it hasn't been used for a long time, - so if it's being worked-on, what's being done to it ??

Thanks.

It was on loan from Leicester while we were waiting for the 3 ALX400s before it went down to Worcester. It was tracking as 32649. Wasn't in the yard on Tuesday and haven't seen it in service since Christmas

Pretty old age profile then.  By my reckoning the youngest are 2 of the Solos at 11 years and the oldest the Cadet 2748 at 18.  Apparently there are others coming from Centrebus, be interesting to see how old they are.

From what I've heard D&G have acquired a couple of 13-plate Enviros and a few StreetLites that are sitting at their Adderley Green yard, getting prepped for Chaserider

Pre pandemic, were Arriva keeping their own timetables in the stops up to date?

Suppose the best we can hope for is 'Chaserider', along with Select & NX, continue to keep them updated & not to cover up each other's information, especially on the Walsall corridor.

D&G have not had any timetables at bus stops in Stoke for whatever reason - I believe it is mostly, if not all, online. Whether Chaserider will be the same is another thing - quite possibly?

On a separate note, First seems to have re-introduced the X25 after being scrapped before lockdown due to low numbers, but no announcement or timetables, nor a change to the registration for either 25 or the cancelled X25 on VOSA's website.