Withdrawn Vehicles

[2206]

Coventry's single-decks will be replaced by BYD E400s from Perry Barr, so that's 9x Enviro200s and 20x Wright Eclipse B7RLEs freed up.

Thats interesting, so i'm guessing the first batch of these electroliners might end up at Perry Barr?
Depending on how many they displace, will Perry Barr operate 2 types of electric double decks? Or 3 if E334 puts in an appearance?

[Ingleboro261F]

There are definitely 130 more new electric double decks on the way, however I'm not confident they'll all be delivered and in service before the end of this year! Which is why I think we'll still have a number of Scanias still in service next year.

It would seem that their days at Yardley Wood may be numbered though, I'm counting 13 left there now, and if they are to be replaced by Enviro200s from elsewhere, those will likely just be 'straight swaps' with OmniLinks going to WB and/or WA in return. The 27 is the only route at YW that 'needs' single decks, I guess that the revised version of this route will need 7-8 vehicles at most, so allowing for 'spares' then I expect YW will have 10 Enviro200s.

The rest of the 'shuffling around' of the single-deck fleet will be interesting to watch. I think we can rule out Pensnett to get any Scanias. Which leaves Perry Barr, Walsall and West Brom with that type.

Coventry's single-decks will be replaced by BYD E400s from Perry Barr, so that's 9x Enviro200s and 20x Wright Eclipse B7RLEs freed up.

If Wolverhampton get some Electroliners, then they could have some B7RLEs shifted out.

Neither PB or WB have had Wright Eclipses before, so could this be a new type for either of them? Then again, YW never had these earlier Enviro200s before, so I'd not be ruling anything out at this stage!

Maybe more B7RLE for AG ik it sounds stupid but with the 17 being extended to the airport, maybe a few more single decks could go there?

[Stu]

Thats interesting, so i'm guessing the first batch of these electroliners might end up at Perry Barr?

That's not what I said, I never said 'first batch', but it's what might happen eventually.

Depending on how many they displace, will Perry Barr operate 2 types of electric double decks? Or 3 if E334 puts in an appearance?

Given the current circumstances, I doubt we'll ever see E334 as part of the NX fleet.

[Stu]

Maybe more B7RLE for AG ik it sounds stupid but with the 17 being extended to the airport, maybe a few more single decks could go there?

Well as part of the 'shuffling around', it's entirely possible that AG's E200MMCs could be displaced and replaced with older Wright Eclipse 2s from elsewhere.
But then you'd get the usual complaints about AG 'never getting any new buses' and 'new buses end up getting transferred elsewhere'.
As well as 'AG needs more double decks, not single decks'.

[BBS]

There are definitely 130 more new electric double decks on the way, however I'm not confident they'll all be delivered and in service before the end of this year! Which is why I think we'll still have a number of Scanias still in service next year.

It would seem that their days at Yardley Wood may be numbered though, I'm counting 13 left there now, and if they are to be replaced by Enviro200s from elsewhere, those will likely just be 'straight swaps' with OmniLinks going to WB and/or WA in return. The 27 is the only route at YW that 'needs' single decks, I guess that the revised version of this route will need 7-8 vehicles at most, so allowing for 'spares' then I expect YW will have 10 Enviro200s.

The rest of the 'shuffling around' of the single-deck fleet will be interesting to watch. I think we can rule out Pensnett to get any Scanias. Which leaves Perry Barr, Walsall and West Brom with that type.

Coventry's single-decks will be replaced by BYD E400s from Perry Barr, so that's 9x Enviro200s and 20x Wright Eclipse B7RLEs freed up.

If Wolverhampton get some Electroliners, then they could have some B7RLEs shifted out.

Neither PB or WB have had Wright Eclipses before, so could this be a new type for either of them? Then again, YW never had these earlier Enviro200s before, so I'd not be ruling anything out at this stage!

The B7s could go AG for the 17/17A. But there needs to be a shift to get those E200mmcs out, use them to replace scanias, get the b7rles from CV / WN for 17/17A ( and if AG gets the 98/99 ). Rest needs to be decker there can't be singles on routes that don't need singles 

[Jack]

The B7s could go AG for the 17/17A. But there needs to be a shift to get those E200mmcs out, use them to replace scanias, get the b7rles from CV / WN for 17/17A ( and if AG gets the 98/99 ). Rest needs to be decker there can't be singles on routes that don't need singles

Again where do you expect the E200MMC's to go? Theres routes at PB and WA where they would struggle getting about with their awful turning circle. They are also not allowed on all of WB's routes for the same reason.

At least with AG they can fit round most of their routes, excluding the 5 and 73 (although the 73 begs belief considering I've caught them on there a few times and they've got round fine, considering they've been used on the 73 since they was new as well...)

[Zander]

Again where do you expect the E200MMC's to go? Theres routes at PB and WA where they would struggle getting about with their awful turning circle. They are also not allowed on all of WB's routes for the same reason.

At least with AG they can fit round most of their routes, excluding the 5 and 73 (although the 73 begs belief considering I've caught them on there a few times and they've got round fine, considering they've been used on the 73 since they was new as well...)

The 2200s are allowed on most routes, I've seen one on 80, 74, 5, 3(when we had it), 3a, 13/12s, I've even had one on 48/20 to Bromsgrove but I do I agree their steering turning circles aren't the best.

Only routes I wouldn't put them on is the 22, 47 and 89, although I'm sure one has appeared on the 47 and 89 in the past.

[Jack]

The 2200s are allowed on most routes, I've seen one on 80, 74, 5, 3(when we had it), 3a, 13/12s, I've even had one on 48/20 to Bromsgrove but I do I agree their steering turning circles aren't the best.

Only routes I wouldn't put them on is the 22, 47 and 89, although I'm sure one has appeared on the 47 and 89 in the past.

They was used quite a bit on the 89 when it went to Birmingham. 

The 47 has had them rarely but it's very tight, also why you don't often see Scania's on there. They was banned off the old 46 for not being able to make the turn at Scott Arms, so that rules them out off the PB 28 too. I've not seen one on the 49 in ages so not sure if they can still do it but I'm sure they can. 

[Zander]

They was used quite a bit on the 89 when it went to Birmingham.

The 47 has had them rarely but it's very tight, also why you don't often see Scania's on there. They was banned off the old 46 for not being able to make the turn at Scott Arms, so that rules them out off the PB 28 too. I've not seen one on the 49 in ages so not sure if they can still do it but I'm sure they can.

They probably could do the 49, only problems there would be turning onto the wolvo rd by warley water tower with the steering.

I struggled when I had one on the 89 round Rolfe Street, and turning right onto Smethwick High Street by the job centre.

Scanias aren't allowed on the 47 for the narrow roads around Millfields estate, any driver that takes one is doing so at their own risk. 

[Mike K]

Is this turning circle issue specific to the early NXWM examples or to E200MMCs in general? They're heavily used by lots of operators nationally but the turning circle issue sounds quite restrictive. 

[BBS]

Again where do you expect the E200MMC's to go? Theres routes at PB and WA where they would struggle getting about with their awful turning circle. They are also not allowed on all of WB's routes for the same reason.

At least with AG they can fit round most of their routes, excluding the 5 and 73 (although the 73 begs belief considering I've caught them on there a few times and they've got round fine, considering they've been used on the 73 since they was new as well...)

West Bromwich is more than capable, they have mmcs don't they? Their scania issue can be sorted with E200mmcs, the 52 can do just perfect with them, or the 12/13. Doesn't have to be Perry Barr or Walsall

[Jack]

West Bromwich is more than capable, they have mmcs don't they? Their scania issue can be sorted with E200mmcs, the 52 can do just perfect with them, or the 12/13. Doesn't have to be Perry Barr or Walsall

Keep them at AG if they get more Deckers then they may aswell stay for their single routes. Send a few elsewhere and the B7's can see off Scania's.

No the 12/13 or 52 are really not candidates for those things either. One of them made an appearance on the 52 a few weeks ago and it struggled with the tight corners in Perry Beeches, something an Omnilink can get round with ease. The 12/13 suffer enough with a lot of singles as it is.

[BBS]

Keep them at AG if they get more Deckers then they may aswell stay for their single routes. Send a few elsewhere and the B7's can see off Scania's.

No the 12/13 or 52 are really not candidates for those things either. One of them made an appearance on the 52 a few weeks ago and it struggled with the tight corners in Perry Beeches, something an Omnilink can get round with ease. The 12/13 suffer enough with a lot of singles as it is.

It struggled, not "it didn't make it". 2 different things Jack, 12/13 don't have to suffer, but the E200mmcs are much better interior wise than scania's. Just as you want the 12/13 "suffer enough", the 4/4A also suffers enough

[Steve3229vp]

Whilst I hate the the Omnilinks with a passion, they are much better service buses than the MMC200's.

[Jack]

It struggled, not "it didn't make it". 2 different things Jack, 12/13 don't have to suffer, but the E200mmcs are much better interior wise than scania's. Just as you want the 12/13 "suffer enough", the 4/4A also suffers enough

Take it you've been on Beeches on certain days and certain times haven't you? On a Friday or Saturday afternoon/evening when the Beeches pub parking has spilled out onto all the surrounding streets and the buses struggle navigating the turns because of awfully parked cars. Because if you would have seen these you'd see that Omnilinks and even Deckers which are shorter even struggle a lot, but just about manage to do it. Now I would love to see an E200MMC try and navigate that and become stuck instantly because the turning has completely locked. Also when it's school kick out time the estate becomes a bottleneck at times, would love to see an E200MMC try and attempt to turn around at the top of Beeches Road by the terminus when it's full of parked cars, or even along Turnberry Road when it becomes jammed with traffic.

But hey what do I know it's not like i've lived around here for the last 20+ years.

The 12/13 are struggling with leaving people at stops as it is and those routes aren't as frequent as the 4/4A which does see much more Deckers again now but obviously no that's not good enough for you is it... Also the 52 funnily enough was upgraded to Electric's last year only to be downgraded again back to mainly Single Deckers since it's been at WB, which I can also say does much deserve the extra capacity during the peaks like the 12/13 which neither as frequent as your beloved 4/4A's

The E200MMC are much more suited to AG's single decker services and they all operate there perfectly. It would make sense if a few did leave when they get Electrics but I can't see them getting rid of the whole allocation purely because you don't like them.

(Sorry for the rant post, but would be nice if people had a clue what they was saying).