Repaints and refurbishments 2023

[Tony]

@Tony  appreciate there's a lot happening operationally with refurbs, repaints and vehicle transfers for the main fleet - is the heritage fleet of ex Walsall Corporation and the Jumbo et al, still going ahead as a viable hire and revenue stream?

Paused at the moment while NX finances are sorted out

[Straightlines]

Paused at the moment while NX finances are sorted out

Basically the toybox isn't commercially sustainable.

[jasmine]

Will these branding images get replaced with the new livery like the red stripe livery was with this or nah? just wondering

they did:

[JosephR]

they did:

Granted this is me paying too much attention to detail. Though if you look intensively you can see this is an e400mmc, with the same thin white vinyl (under the top and bottom window, and in between the headlights) that the new electrics have. Will the platinum repaints have more of an effort made with the livery as per above with the branding? Normally repaints have the red vinyl at the front in between headlights, though this looks white.

[Mike K]

Granted this is me paying too much attention to detail. Though if you look intensively you can see this is an e400mmc, with the same thin white vinyl (under the top and bottom window, and in between the headlights) that the new electrics have. Will the platinum repaints have more of an effort made with the livery as per above with the branding? Normally repaints have the red vinyl at the front in between headlights, though this looks white.

You'd expect the platinum repaints to be the same as the 61xx repaints currently in progress. In which case they'll be the same as other repaints, just dark grey with the red diagonal - see photo of 6104 on the main site. 

[BN]

4985 now at paint

[JosephR]

Didn't know where else to put this. I have long wondered why NX don't like to use faux leather seats, I don't imagine they would harbour half as much dirt/ bacteria, and would be way easier to clean. I doubt they would wear out that bad by the time NX get round to their regular refurb process too. 

[Tony]

Didn't know where else to put this. I have long wondered why NX don't like to use faux leather seats, I don't imagine they would harbour half as much dirt/ bacteria, and would be way easier to clean. I doubt they would wear out that bad by the time NX get round to their regular refurb process too.

Awful things. Sweaty in the summer, cold in the winter, ask any of the drivers who have had to sit in them when cabs seats made of it

[j789]

Awful things. Sweaty in the summer, cold in the winter, ask any of the drivers who have had to sit in them when cabs seats made of it

Yep, anyone with memories of the old Fleetline red plastic seats would agree with that. Even modern versions aren't much better - First had a fleet of Streetlites with grey versions of these sort of seats, they were uncomfortable driving in the cab at the best of times and awful when it was hot.

Also, I'm no scientist but I remember enough from school to know that bacteria won't survive very well in such conditions as on a bus seat - too cold/warm, too much disturbance caused by constant backsides sitting down and getting up, etc. Something that isn't spotlessly clean doesn't mean that it is also a health risk, it obviously isn't.

I know the dust from the seats has never been very nice if you hit the padding but in any enclosed public space you will be breathing in the same dust particles anyway. Just don't hit the seat too hard and it's not an issue!!!

[Mike K]

Yep, anyone with memories of the old Fleetline red plastic seats would agree with that. Even modern versions aren't much better - First had a fleet of Streetlites with grey versions of these sort of seats, they were uncomfortable driving in the cab at the best of times and awful when it was hot.

Also, I'm no scientist but I remember enough from school to know that bacteria won't survive very well in such conditions as on a bus seat - too cold/warm, too much disturbance caused by constant backsides sitting down and getting up, etc. Something that isn't spotlessly clean doesn't mean that it is also a health risk, it obviously isn't.

I know the dust from the seats has never been very nice if you hit the padding but in any enclosed public space you will be breathing in the same dust particles anyway. Just don't hit the seat too hard and it's not an issue!!!

Remember the upstairs rear bench seat on Fleetlines? Absolutely rock hard. If the bus took a corner too quickly you'd slide from one end to the other. 

[Wumpty]

Remember the upstairs rear bench seat on Fleetlines? Absolutely rock hard. If the bus took a corner too quickly you'd slide from one end to the other.

Yeeeessssss! It was a two-piece moulded bench-esque seat, and I swear the cleaners used to polish them before the school services!

[Wumpty]

Awful things. Sweaty in the summer, cold in the winter, ask any of the drivers who have had to sit in them when cabs seats made of it

We did some customer research at Choice waaaaay back in the day, and one of the areas that scored very low on the Leyland Nationals was the vinyl seats. Customers found them exactly as @Tony describes - sweaty in the summer, freezing cold in the winter and uncomfortable. The drivers hated them too - imagine doing 8-12 hours in one.

Customers actually preferred the refurbed Fleetlines that NX ran on the 301 against the 171 before the Superline partnership. 

These faux leather DP seats look good, sound good, though I'm sure are rather uncomfortable if you travel for more than an hour in one.

[JosephR]

The wet fabric on a rainy day is my main concern. The seats get damp and start to smell. We the passengers get wet/damp. Really isn't pleasant. I can agree leather gets quite 'sticky' in summer. Some people may find them cold in winter though I don't think it's noticeable while wrapped up warm. 
there is pros and cons to both

[2900]

6992 will be long term off the road, involved in substantial N/S front RTC 

[BK63 YWP]

The platinums receiving a refurbishment, will they be getting the same leather and cloth replacement for the seats ( the cloth being the new moquette) or will the seat just be all over cloth? (Like what happened to 47** high back seat E400s)