Euro 6 Gemini's begin to enter service

[Stu]

I don't know what people have got against these, I'd love to see a batch of 40 ordered for the 11A/C, sounds like they'd be perfect for this route, and beats having Enviro400s introduced to Acocks Green!
http://www.volvobuses.com/bus/uk/en-gb/bus%20and%20coach/bus/Pages/B5TL.aspx

[Liverpool Street]

I don't know what people have got against these, I'd love to see a batch of 40 ordered for the 11A/C, sounds like they'd be perfect for this route, and beats having Enviro400s introduced to Acocks Green!
http://www.volvobuses.com/bus/uk/en-gb/bus%20and%20coach/bus/Pages/B5TL.aspx

Oh no, electric brakes for the B5tl! That means B7RLE joltyness again. Not that I'm complaining just I dislike those electric brake sensor systems.

[winston]

I don't know what people have got against these, I'd love to see a batch of 40 ordered for the 11A/C, sounds like they'd be perfect for this route, and beats having Enviro400s introduced to Acocks Green!
http://www.volvobuses.com/bus/uk/en-gb/bus%20and%20coach/bus/Pages/B5TL.aspx

I'd agree with that, I did think the B5TL being a tonne lighter & with a 5 litre engine may have reduced fuel consumption by more than 10% though

[Liverpool Street]

I don't know what people have got against these, I'd love to see a batch of 40 ordered for the 11A/C, sounds like they'd be perfect for this route, and beats having Enviro400s introduced to Acocks Green!
http://www.volvobuses.com/bus/uk/en-gb/bus%20and%20coach/bus/Pages/B5TL.aspx

I'd agree with that, I did think the B5TL being a tonne lighter & with a 5 litre engine may have reduced fuel consumption by more than 10% though

Not really, with bus mileage (rather then coach) 10% is a good margin.

[winston]

I don't know what people have got against these, I'd love to see a batch of 40 ordered for the 11A/C, sounds like they'd be perfect for this route, and beats having Enviro400s introduced to Acocks Green!
http://www.volvobuses.com/bus/uk/en-gb/bus%20and%20coach/bus/Pages/B5TL.aspx

I'd agree with that, I did think the B5TL being a tonne lighter & with a 5 litre engine may have reduced fuel consumption by more than 10% though

Not really, with bus mileage (rather then coach) 10% is a good margin.

Fair enough LS, I was thinking it may have fallen closer to the mid-range between a standard diesel double decker & a hybrid i.e. 15%+

[Liverpool Street]

I don't know what people have got against these, I'd love to see a batch of 40 ordered for the 11A/C, sounds like they'd be perfect for this route, and beats having Enviro400s introduced to Acocks Green!
http://www.volvobuses.com/bus/uk/en-gb/bus%20and%20coach/bus/Pages/B5TL.aspx

I'd agree with that, I did think the B5TL being a tonne lighter & with a 5 litre engine may have reduced fuel consumption by more than 10% though

Not really, with bus mileage (rather then coach) 10% is a good margin.

Fair enough LS, I was thinking it may have fallen closer to the mid-range between a standard diesel double decker & a hybrid i.e. 15%+

I mean that is a fair point and I can see where you're coming from, but with the lack of Stop Start and Brake Energy Recovery and similar Non-Hybrid systems on board the standard B5TL, then 10% is about the best what can be achieved without talking stupid numbers and chopping the chassis in half, so to speak.

[Stu]

Still, they have a better chance of managing a full day out on the Outer Circle without breaking down (or bursting into flames  ::)) than the current 14 year old Plaxton President B7TLs.

The B5TL is certainly a more affordable option than the hybrid B5LH, and as the B5TL is Volvo / Wrightbus' new flagship double decker, it should be fitting for the 11 Outer Circle, being NXWM's flagship iconic route.

[Liverpool Street]

Still, they have a better chance of managing a full day out on the Outer Circle without breaking down (or bursting into flames  ::)) than the current 14 year old Plaxton President B7TLs.

The B5TL is certainly a more affordable option than the hybrid B5LH, and as the B5TL is Volvo / Wrightbus' new flagship double decker, it should be fitting for the 11 Outer Circle, being NXWM's flagship iconic route.

Well saying that, what was the valid reason of Geminis being taken off for Presidents on the Circle? I was told by a mate at AG the plan was 100% President operation on the Circuit, but I presume thats fell through.

[John]

Well saying that, what was the valid reason of Geminis being taken off for Presidents on the Circle? I was told by a mate at AG the plan was 100% President operation on the Circuit, but I presume thats fell through.

It may have something to do with the LEZ in Brum, so Central had to lose all their Presidents, and they had around 30 at the time, so Acocks Green and Yardley Wood had them. It may be something entirely different though

[winston]

I don't know what people have got against these, I'd love to see a batch of 40 ordered for the 11A/C, sounds like they'd be perfect for this route, and beats having Enviro400s introduced to Acocks Green!
http://www.volvobuses.com/bus/uk/en-gb/bus%20and%20coach/bus/Pages/B5TL.aspx

I'd agree with that, I did think the B5TL being a tonne lighter & with a 5 litre engine may have reduced fuel consumption by more than 10% though

Not really, with bus mileage (rather then coach) 10% is a good margin.

Fair enough LS, I was thinking it may have fallen closer to the mid-range between a standard diesel double decker & a hybrid i.e. 15%+

I mean that is a fair point and I can see where you're coming from, but with the lack of Stop Start and Brake Energy Recovery and similar Non-Hybrid systems on board the standard B5TL, then 10% is about the best what can be achieved without talking stupid numbers and chopping the chassis in half, so to speak.

Every bus has it's own built in stop/start, it called the driver...............  ;)

[winston]

Well saying that, what was the valid reason of Geminis being taken off for Presidents on the Circle? I was told by a mate at AG the plan was 100% President operation on the Circuit, but I presume thats fell through.

It may have something to do with the LEZ in Brum, so Central had to lose all their Presidents, and they had around 30 at the time, so Acocks Green and Yardley Wood had them. It may be something entirely different though

No John, that was the exact reason. As the Presidents aren't min Euro 3. If AG were to loose a large chunk of their President allocation and NX intended to retain them for a couple more years options for cascade are limited

[Liverpool Street]

Well saying that, what was the valid reason of Geminis being taken off for Presidents on the Circle? I was told by a mate at AG the plan was 100% President operation on the Circuit, but I presume thats fell through.

It may have something to do with the LEZ in Brum, so Central had to lose all their Presidents, and they had around 30 at the time, so Acocks Green and Yardley Wood had them. It may be something entirely different though

Could be, I'll have a look into it. Cheers John.

I don't know what people have got against these, I'd love to see a batch of 40 ordered for the 11A/C, sounds like they'd be perfect for this route, and beats having Enviro400s introduced to Acocks Green!
http://www.volvobuses.com/bus/uk/en-gb/bus%20and%20coach/bus/Pages/B5TL.aspx

I'd agree with that, I did think the B5TL being a tonne lighter & with a 5 litre engine may have reduced fuel consumption by more than 10% though

Not really, with bus mileage (rather then coach) 10% is a good margin.

Fair enough LS, I was thinking it may have fallen closer to the mid-range between a standard diesel double decker & a hybrid i.e. 15%+

I mean that is a fair point and I can see where you're coming from, but with the lack of Stop Start and Brake Energy Recovery and similar Non-Hybrid systems on board the standard B5TL, then 10% is about the best what can be achieved without talking stupid numbers and chopping the chassis in half, so to speak.

Every bus has it's own built in stop/start, it called the driver...............  ;)

I'll let you off with that one Winny, ;)

Well saying that, what was the valid reason of Geminis being taken off for Presidents on the Circle? I was told by a mate at AG the plan was 100% President operation on the Circuit, but I presume thats fell through.

It may have something to do with the LEZ in Brum, so Central had to lose all their Presidents, and they had around 30 at the time, so Acocks Green and Yardley Wood had them. It may be something entirely different though

No John, that was the exact reason. As the Presidents aren't min Euro 3. If AG were to loose a large chunk of their President allocation and NX intended to retain them for a couple more years options for cascade are limited

But 100% President allocation?

[winston]

Well saying that, what was the valid reason of Geminis being taken off for Presidents on the Circle? I was told by a mate at AG the plan was 100% President operation on the Circuit, but I presume thats fell through.

It may have something to do with the LEZ in Brum, so Central had to lose all their Presidents, and they had around 30 at the time, so Acocks Green and Yardley Wood had them. It may be something entirely different though

No John, that was the exact reason. As the Presidents aren't min Euro 3. If AG were to loose a large chunk of their President allocation and NX intended to retain them for a couple more years options for cascade are limited

But 100% President allocation?

100% President allocation would be crackers, the Presidents already account for nearly 65% of AG's total double decker allocation, as they get older & older, more & more breakdowns will occur and a greater proportion of AG's routes would become more unreliable. I think the Presidents should be distributed a bit more evenly around other garages that can operate then to reduce the concentration at AG

[Liverpool Street]

As I say mate don't shoot the messenger, that's only what I've been told.

So, if you're doing the rounds, you could benefit from any of AG's fleet?

Maybe I should move these posts to the AG thread?

[winston]

As I say mate don't shoot the messenger, that's only what I've been told.

So, if you're doing the rounds, you could benefit from any of AG's fleet?

Maybe I should move these posts to the AG thread?

I wouldn't bother wasting your time, most conversations end up deviating from the original topic.....

I'm thinking:

- WB could take some more to see off further Mercs, the 48 would benefit from full double decker operation
- Dundee could take some more to see off the remaining B10L
- WA could take some to allow Tridents to be released to CV/PE or WN, again resulting in the removal of further Mercs or Mercs & Spectras - WA have operated them in the past

Or a batch of Presidents could also go directly to NXC which already operates Volvo double deckers, this could then allow withdrawal of Mercs  or allow cascading of Y- reg Tridents to other garages & wouldn't effect the average age too much