Questions for Simon from Arriva

[Simon@Arriva]

That's interesting... First time you will operate in the west mids other than the 1/2/3/110 for a while! Are these from iGo by any chance?

Yes from Igo

[Simon@Arriva]

What's going to be used on 19 solos

SR Solo as they have to be Euro 5

[Westy]

Hi

Timetables for our 19 and 25 tenders from Monday are now on our website. 

https://www.arrivabus.co.uk/midlands/services/19---walsall-to-bloxwich/

https://www.arrivabus.co.uk/midlands/services/25---kingstanding-to-bloxwich/

25 will be Sprinter operated.

What fleet numbers are Sprinters on the photos,  as I cant place one?

[Simon@Arriva]

What fleet numbers are Sprinters on the photos,  as I cant place one?

They were:

1011 - Hemel
1017 - Southend
1018 - Northfleet

Now renumbered 1002, 1003, 1004

[Bob]

Do you think the allocation of the unrepainted, absolutely threadbare Dart was an acceptable allocation on the Sapphire routes today? Considering the array of other vehicles that could have been used? Its Cannocks shabbiest vehicle. How many Sapphires were off the road? Take it more than one?

[l.murphy123]

Do you think the allocation of the unrepainted, absolutely threadbare Dart was an acceptable allocation on the Sapphire routes today? Considering the array of other vehicles that could have been used? Its Cannocks shabbiest vehicle. How many Sapphires were off the road? Take it more than one?

Might have to agree with Bob for once here - it was pretty poor I didn't want to sit down the seats looked grim. Also the front screen said '1 Walsall' ok but the route underneath was an illegible string of shapes. Not seen it around before so must have been short of vehicles or something.

[Tony]

Might have to agree with Bob for once here - it was pretty poor I didn't want to sit down the seats looked grim. Also the front screen said '1 Walsall' ok but the route underneath was an illegible string of shapes. Not seen it around before so must have been short of vehicles or something.

Perhaps the pair of you need to see what is involved with running a garage. If something happens and it can be as simple as someone being sick on a bus and the bus needs to be taken out of service. The a good operator will use the easiest available bus to keep the service running. That vehicle might be a ropey looking vehicle, but if it's legal and roadworthy then you use it in preference to leaving passenger standing on the roadside while you look for a better bus that will probably need removing from another service to replace it

[Simon@Arriva]

Do you think the allocation of the unrepainted, absolutely threadbare Dart was an acceptable allocation on the Sapphire routes today? Considering the array of other vehicles that could have been used? Its Cannocks shabbiest vehicle. How many Sapphires were off the road? Take it more than one?

Hi

This is not ideal but sometimes a choice is between a bus or no bus.  The vast majority of customers would like a bus.  It was not allocated in the morning as I was down in Walsall Bus Station for a couple of hours and it was all Streetlites on the 1/2 when I was there.

To be fair to the depot team they were dealing with mobilising the 19/25 tenders at the end of last week and that was on top of the normal day job.

We have a new General Manager for Cannock starting today who I suspect will be pretty focused on the allocation of vehicles and other service delivery related issues.

[l.murphy123]

This is not ideal but sometimes a choice is between a bus or no bus.  The vast majority of customers would like a bus.

Fair point :-)

[Bob]

Hi

This is not ideal but sometimes a choice is between a bus or no bus.  The vast majority of customers would like a bus.  It was not allocated in the morning as I was down in Walsall Bus Station for a couple of hours and it was all Streetlites on the 1/2 when I was there.

To be fair to the depot team they were dealing with mobilising the 19/25 tenders at the end of last week and that was on top of the normal day job.

We have a new General Manager for Cannock starting today who I suspect will be pretty focused on the allocation of vehicles and other service delivery related issues.

But what was tje point of a spare Sapphire bus if its not used as said spare?

[Simon@Arriva]

But what was tje point of a spare Sapphire bus if its not used as said spare?

It is not kept in the depot doing nothing all day - if not needed in the morning for run out it is allocated to another route.  If it can be swapped on to the 1/2 during the day to cover then it will be but not always possible at short notice.

[Bob]

It is not kept in the depot doing nothing all day - if not needed in the morning for run out it is allocated to another route.  If it can be swapped on to the 1/2 during the day to cover then it will be but not always possible at short notice.

Just a general question , was there a particular reason that the Pulsar was refurbed to a far lower standard compared to the ones at Leicester of similar vintage done for the 158? High backed seats, next stop announcements etc? 3795 is pretty much like a standard cannock refurbed example only with a different seat trim

[Simon@Arriva]

Just a general question , was there a particular reason that the Pulsar was refurbed to a far lower standard compared to the ones at Leicester of similar vintage done for the 158? High backed seats, next stop announcements etc? 3795 is pretty much like a standard cannock refurbed example only with a different seat trim

No particular reason.

[Bob]

Thought it may be cost/income generated in comparison

[Tony]

3795 is currently loaned to Tamworth along with 2370

3795 is certainly not on loan to Tamworth. It has just passed me in Hednesford on the Pye Greens