First South Yorkshire

[T840MAK]

Does anyone know if the Optare Metrodecker 35000 is still on the X78? If so,when does the trial end?

As @JoNi says, still in service on X78s, unless things have changed since I saw it last on Friday. The seats aren't too bad on it tbh. Not sure when the trial is going to end yet though.

[Tiptonian]

Many thanks to both of you @JoNi   and @T840MAK . A trip is in order!

[T840MAK]

Not really much to report here, the Metrodecker demo is still in use , and the first of ten E200MMCs for Sheffield is 67141 YY16 YLN and has left the Scarborough factory this weekend. No idea what's being displaced here either.

[Dylanbusboy45]

The following were at the Sheffield Bus Running Day today:

32270 LT52WWR Volvo B7TL/Alexander ALX400
37230 YN08LCK Volvo B9TL/Wright Gemini (Doncaster Corporation livery)
37231 YN08LCL Volvo B9TL/Wright Gemini (Rotherham Corporation livery)
37524 YN58ETR Volvo B9TL/Wright Gemini (South Yorkshire Transport livery)
37528 YN58ETX Volvo B9TL/Wright Gemini (Sheffield 1913 livery)
67144 YY16YLR ADL Enviro 200 MMC

Except 37231 these were all static display

[T840MAK]

37528 YN58ETX Volvo B9TL/Wright Gemini (Sheffield 1913 livery)

This is 1930s livery. Was a good day out, although the amount of First, and vehicles of operators who predecessed First was far too high  ;)

[Dylanbusboy45]

This is 1930s livery. Was a good day out, although the amount of First, and vehicles of operators who predecessed First was far too high  ;)

Yeh I quite enjoyed it but there was lots of first stuff there

[T840MAK]

Massive bank holiday number list:

32957 33031 33032 33041 33052 33065 33065 33080 33082 DO-reserve
47482 47483 47484 47485 47486 47487 47488 47489 47489 OG-DO
63371 RO-reserve
67141 67142 67143 67144 67145 67146 67147 67148 67149 67150 reserve-OG

63371 is awaiting repairs from a major RTC.
The OG loan bus covering for Streetdeck branding / retrimming (I know, already!) at Rotherham is currently one of the biggest heaps of **** ever, 61636. In the last week this has been 60709, 60712, 60736 and 61639.

[winston]

£29.8m bus rapid transit scheme set for launch:
http://www.firstgroupplc.com/news-and-media/latest-news/2016/02-09-16.aspx

[T840MAK]

£29.8m bus rapid transit scheme set for launch:
http://www.firstgroupplc.com/news-and-media/latest-news/2016/02-09-16.aspx

Hmmm...our BRT system which you have to get through one of the most congested areas of the city to get to and is simply just a road which is going to be closed only to cars...yeah, I won't tell you my thoughts of it, except that it's a waste of time and money.

[T840MAK]

£29.8m bus rapid transit scheme set for launch:
http://www.firstgroupplc.com/news-and-media/latest-news/2016/02-09-16.aspx

The new BRT can be seen towards the end of this video I took onboard 35123 working the X1 on Monday, as you can see it's a very high tech road that clearly only buses can use  ::)

[T840MAK]

Under current proposals the Rotherham depot and refurb centre will close in February 2017.

There will be no further changes to routes in Rotherham. The issue is stemming from the depot losing money - not to do with the town network. Sadly this has been coming on for some time, and indeed the X78 was moved to Rotherham with an injection of new buses in 2007 to try and combat the issues that the depot was having.

The current plans are to run all services out of Olive Grove depot, with the X78 being split between OG and Doncaster.
So far the plans are:
Seven buses to Doncaster.
Seventy three buses to Olive Grove.

This will bring Olive Grove's total fleet up to 305 - biggest bus depot in UK again?

[markcf83]

Certainly among,if not,the largest in England. I believe that Caledonia-the replacement for Larkfield and Parkhead in Glasgow-has in excess of 350 buses allocated.

[volvodart]

Certainly among,if not,the largest in England. I believe that Caledonia-the replacement for Larkfield and Parkhead in Glasgow-has in excess of 350 buses allocated.

The capacity of Caledonia was said to be 450 buses.

[T840MAK]

Closure date for Rotherham 18/02/2017.

Just a Trident update - three of the four at Olive Grove are still parked up after blowing themselves up :D

Streetdeck branding is now also complete, although I'm not too sure which ones have had the treatment just yet.
31129 has been painted back into Olympia at Olive Grove.
Heritage liveried 37528 is at Rotherham for repaint.

[markcf83]

Closure date for Rotherham 18/02/2017.

Heritage liveried 37528 is at Rotherham for repaint.

Just as well I've got a picture of the Volvo then.....