Acocks Green Garage

[MW]

Meanwhile 2204 has arrived (or I've seen it now), so that's seven I believe. 2201/2/4/5/6/7/8 and they're all dumped in the corner until "someone from ADL comes and fixes them" lol

[Tony]

Meanwhile 2204 has arrived (or I've seen it now), so that's seven I believe. 2201/2/4/5/6/7/8 and they're all dumped in the corner until "someone from ADL comes and fixes them" lol

and 2203

[Stuharris 6360]

I wonder if any other companies are having problems with the MMCs or is it just NE?

[MW]

I wonder if any other companies are having problems with the MMCs or is it just NE?

Without offended anyone, a lot of staff are saying they are heaps of s*it. Both YW and AGs.

[GeminiFan1991]

The 5 year exclusive deal with ADL seems some what questionable now with all problems as of late !  :P

[Liberator9]

@MW

Doesn't surprise me - NX should've gone Wright Volvo - always been a good combination and never had this sort of problem. Always been quality issues with ADL - yet they still sign a 5 year deal....

[GeminiFan1991]

@MW

Doesn't surprise me - NX should've gone Wright Volvo - always been a good combination and never had this sort of problem. Always been quality issues with ADL - yet they still sign a 5 year deal....

I agree here, I always wanted to NX to purchase the Gemini 2s in bulk, The current livery would have suited them well.

[Stuharris 6360]

@MW

Doesn't surprise me - NX should've gone Wright Volvo - always been a good combination and never had this sort of problem. Always been quality issues with ADL - yet they still sign a 5 year deal....

You can understand why they have done it, presumable with a 5 year contract, NE get a discount on the buses for the loyalty, BUT and it's a big BUT, as i have said before, put all your eggs into one basket and you risk trouble.

IMO, always buy a variety of buses from different manufacturers, maybe slightly more expensive but i think you get better value in the long run.

[Stuharris 6360]

As Tony says, NE aren't rushing to get rid of the B6/10, Spectra's and Mercs at the moment, however there is still the case that brand new expensive buses are not turning a wheel because they need fixing.

Plus NE said on the website

"We'll be launching brand new single decker buses on our busy 37 service between Solihull and Birmingham, which will shortly be followed by our 71 and 72 services between Solihull, Sutton Coldfield and Birmingham. Buses will arrive in late may for the 37 bus service, with the first buses arriving for the 71 & 72 in mid to late June."

Its not very good publicity for NE when its the 1 July on Wednesday and no new single deckers have entered service, although to be fair, its not NE's fault!

[Tony]

You can understand why they have done it, presumable with a 5 year contract, NE get a discount on the buses for the loyalty, BUT and it's a big BUT, as i have said before, put all your eggs into one basket and you risk trouble.

IMO, always buy a variety of buses from different manufacturers, maybe slightly more expensive but i think you get better value in the long run.

Might be slightly more expensive? It would be a logistical and costly nightmare. The spares inventory alone would cost a fortune as well as losing all your bulk purchase discounts, getting ripped off by spares providers (Hello Arriva and DAF parts).

If you were buying from a variety of manufacturers you have less chance of a solution to problems as the manufacturers will care less, whereas I guarantee you A-D will be doing everything possible now to get these vehicles right. The thought of losing the rest of a what could be £30m order for the next four years because you have cocked up (you don't think there isn't get out clauses or break points if anything goes wrong?)

Armchair MDs always know best because they are not actually risking any money

[winston]

Might be slightly more expensive? It would be a logistical and costly nightmare. The spares inventory alone would cost a fortune as well as losing all your bulk purchase discounts, getting ripped off by spares providers (Hello Arriva and DAF parts).

If you were buying from a variety of manufacturers you have less chance of a solution to problems the manufacturers will care less, whereas I guarantee you A-D will be doing everything possible to know get these vehicles right. The thought of losing the rest of a what could be £30m order for the next four years because you have cocked up (you don't think there isn't get out clauses or break points if anything goes wrong?)

Armchair MDs always know best because they are not actually risking any money

Additionally, NX are unlikely to release payment for the E200MMC's until they meet their expectations & the outstanding issues resolved

[Stuharris 6360]

Additionally, NX are unlikely to release payment for the E200MMC's until they meet their expectations & the outstanding issues resolved

I would hope that NE would receive some compensation for the problems that have been encountered.

If i was the MD (which thankfully i am not), the question i would be asking the manufacturer is why these problems have occured and what they are going to do in the future to ensure that nothing like this happens again. What has happened to quality control?

[busfan2847]

I would hope that NE would receive some compensation for the problems that have been encountered.

If i was the MD (which thankfully i am not), the question i would be asking the manufacturer is why these problems have occured and what they are going to do in the future to ensure that nothing like this happens again. What has happened to quality control?

If it is anything like where I work, it has been sub-contracted out to the lowest bidder!

[Bryan]

If it is anything like where I work, it has been sub-contracted out to the lowest bidder!

The quality should still be acceptable for purpose.

[Mike K]

Might be slightly more expensive? It would be a logistical and costly nightmare. The spares inventory alone would cost a fortune as well as losing all your bulk purchase discounts, getting ripped off by spares providers (Hello Arriva and DAF parts).

If you were buying from a variety of manufacturers you have less chance of a solution to problems as the manufacturers will care less, whereas I guarantee you A-D will be doing everything possible now to get these vehicles right. The thought of losing the rest of a what could be £30m order for the next four years because you have cocked up (you don't think there isn't get out clauses or break points if anything goes wrong?)

Armchair MDs always know best because they are not actually risking any money

I am certainly no expert on such matters but what was the rationale for dual sourcing DDs a few years back when NX was buying both Tridents and B7TLs? Was that a strategic decision or was it that one manufacturer couldn't supply the volumes required? I guess it only really lasted from 2001 to 2006 and Wright / Volvo fell out of favour for DDs (coinciding with the B9TL replacing the B7TL).