Diamond Bus - Discussion

[Jack]

After about 6 months of usage the rattles started, they were sluggish pulling off from junctions (like Streetdecks), poor turning circles for the size of the bus, even the MIDI version, and passengers often complained about the seats being cramped and very uncomfortable (obviously other operators may have chosen better seating on their vehicles but the First ones weren't great), the vibrations when stopped with the handbrake on and poor heating.

I know the engineers like them as they were fairly easy to maintain and had decent fuel economy but I can't see these vehicles really improving the passenger experience over what Diamond already operate.

E200s are far better.

I'd much rather a Streetlite, Diamonds current examples (68 plates upwards are very good) the older ones are naff though. But least the Streetlites just rattle as much as E200's...

[MW]

After about 6 months of usage the rattles started, they were sluggish pulling off from junctions (like Streetdecks), poor turning circles for the size of the bus, even the MIDI version, and passengers often complained about the seats being cramped and very uncomfortable (obviously other operators may have chosen better seating on their vehicles but the First ones weren't great), the vibrations when stopped with the handbrake on and poor heating.

I know the engineers like them as they were fairly easy to maintain and had decent fuel economy but I can't see these vehicles really improving the passenger experience over what Diamond already operate.

E200s are far better.

I disagree with E200s being far better from a drivers point of view.

Bar the gearbox, I find early Streetlites better than E200s to drive. The cab is slightly bigger on Streetlites legroom wise and at higher speed, when you eventually get there, are far more stable compared to every single E200 I've driven. E200s have always had rubbish steering.

ERZ2028 / GN14LPL when performing as they should were better to drive than the ex Central Buses E200s when they first arrived at Diamond IMO. 

The MMCs though are in a different league when coupled with the Allison gearbox.

Passenger point of view wise; yes I agree that E200s rattle less. It was usually the Emergency Exit rattling on Streetlites that was an issue.

I'm not sure which generation of Streetlite Midi you drove, but the Micro Hybrid versions from around 2015 did have a slightly better turning circle.

[j789]

I disagree with E200s being far better from a drivers point of view.

Bar the gearbox, I find early Streetlites better than E200s to drive. The cab is slightly bigger on Streetlites legroom wise and at higher speed, when you eventually get there, are far more stable compared to every single E200 I've driven. E200s have always had rubbish steering.

ERZ2028 / GN14LPL when performing as they should were better to drive than the ex Central Buses E200s when they first arrived at Diamond IMO.

The MMCs though are in a different league when coupled with the Allison gearbox.

Passenger point of view wise; yes I agree that E200s rattle less. It was usually the Emergency Exit rattling on Streetlites that was an issue.

I'm not sure which generation of Streetlite Midi you drove, but the Micro Hybrid versions from around 2015 did have a slightly better turning circle.

We had a 64 plate batch of Midi Streetlites then 65 plate full size, along with a few StreetDecks. It's good to hear later vehicles were better but I'm guessing these 13 plate ones still have some of the flaws mentioned. Hopefully they have had adaptations made to them though so they are better than they were.

[MW]

We had a 64 plate batch of Midi Streetlites then 65 plate full size, along with a few StreetDecks. It's good to hear later vehicles were better but I'm guessing these 13 plate ones still have some of the flaws mentioned. Hopefully they have had adaptations made to them though so they are better than they were.

The seats on the First spec Streetlites of that era (https://flic.kr/p/RYGvHq) are the same as Diamonds standard specification on new vehicles, so they shouldn't be any different to Streetlites that Diamond's passengers are already accustomed to, other than having a pink grab handles inside.

I can't see there being any modifications though. At most, maybe First have remapped the Gearbox to behave in a more smooth manner (as certain Arriva ops have done).

[j789]

The seats on the First spec Streetlites of that era (https://flic.kr/p/RYGvHq) are the same as Diamonds standard specification on new vehicles, so they shouldn't be any different to Streetlites that Diamond's passengers are already accustomed to, other than having a pink grab handles inside.

I can't see there being any modifications though. At most, maybe First have remapped the Gearbox to behave in a more smooth manner (as certain Arriva ops have done).

Knowing First they probably retuned the engines to make them more sluggish to increase fuel economy. However, I'm guessing if they were rental vehicles there may have been restrictions on what the company could do with the vehicles in terms of making significant changes.

[MW]

SK18TKF (20154) seen at Warwick Services (Northbound) earlier. The question is how far north is it heading?

https://flic.kr/p/2oQDK7C

[BN]

Rotala have acquired a further 10 ex First Streetlites via Ensign that are being returned off lease, they will be for Diamond WM (Depot TBC):

32284	SM13NDJ
32285	SM13NEO
32286	SM13NEU
32287	SK63KGO
32288	SK63KGP
32289	SK63KGU
32290	SK63KGY
32291	SK63KGZ
32292	SK63KHA
32293	SK63KHB

A number are still currently in service at First South Yorkshire

Tividale and Kidder, then release E200s to Burton and withdrawn the 05 Scanias. Would help try and tidy up number of types at each depot.

[Solo1]

Never know might move the other versa's over & scrap the 07 Wright Eclipse Urban's

[winston]

Tividale and Kidder, then release E200s to Burton and withdrawn the 05 Scanias. Would help try and tidy up number of types at each depot.

@BN not this time, if you look in the Diamond Kidderminster thread, there's a list of bus due to be withdrawn from Kiddy.

[winston]

Never know might move the other versa's over & scrap the 07 Wright Eclipse Urban's

Burton didn't want any more Versa's, that's why 30970 has been sold rather than transferred to Burton to join 30967. 

[hlliwmai]

Burton didn't want any more Versa's, that's why 30970 has been sold rather than transferred to Burton to join 30967.

Well that's interesting as I was always under the impression that 30968, 30969, 30970 (before it was sold) would of all gone to Burton at some point, but from your comments @winston I assume the last 2 (968/969) will spend there days/years/months (delete where appropriate) splitting there time between Tivi & Tamworth now

[Solo1]

How come they don't want any more versa's & wonder if the ones at Burton will be sold & replaced 

[winston]

Well that's interesting as I was always under the impression that 30968, 30969, 30970 (before it was sold) would of all gone to Burton at some point, but from your comments @winston I assume the last 2 (968/969) will spend there days/years/months (delete where appropriate) splitting there time between Tivi & Tamworth now

I was expecting 30968-70 would join Burton, but when 30970 became available for transfer, Burton didn't want any more buses. 

[Solo1]

Could of sent the versa's there to replace the 05 buses at Burton 

[Tony]

Could of sent the versa's there to replace the 05 buses at Burton

Didn't you read Winston's reply?