Cannocks tatty fleet

[Bob]

Does anyone else agree that Cannocks fleet needs a bit of an upgrade? the BU03 HRE/J/K daf's are in an awful state! the seats are threadbare! Also the Sb200s used on the 1 need a refurb, the S reg darts need to go, swiftly followed by the 51 plate MPDs, they arent really suitable for the 32/33 anymore as theyre not big enough. The B10BLE's ( v reg) are nice buses but they need repainting/refurbishing like V603 DBC was....

[Discodave]

Cannock needed a decent fleet for years still has some step buses I think only has new buses for some routes and gets cascaded crap from elsewhere like the number 1 sb200 buses they were knackered when they come from lecicester 3704 was the worse eventually found the turbocharger and intercooler were shot (this was a while ago) most of the other sb200's and sb120's were cast offs and some are only refurbed if been in bumps if the 825 is sent to stafford (see arriva changes posts) you can say bye bye to the new VDL buses would not be suprised if the 74/5 went there too and it would be complete all the decent buses gone ready for all the Midlands s**t 

[Bob]

Theres only 1 step bus atm, R417 TJW, but not seen it about for a couple of weeks. Hey maybe if the 825 and 74/5 went to stafford, they could use some of the 51 plate b7 deckers on the 60 and cannock locals?

[andy]

Theres only 1 step bus atm, R417 TJW, but not seen it about for a couple of weeks. Hey maybe if the 825 and 74/5 went to stafford, they could use some of the 51 plate b7 deckers on the 60 and cannock locals?

3417 is back at Tamworth. There must be a bit of a vehicle shortage as they have had that back, are running a Hill Top Enviro on 6's every day and there has been a B6 on 110's everyday, so a decker shortage too...I wouldn't be surprised to see one of those ex London Geminis turn up there as a spare as you can't get away with single deckers on the 110 on a regular basis...unless this is something to do with the Caetanos and the switchover. The allocation is being upped so not all of the B6's might get released.

[Bob]

whenever ive seen the 110 go in or out of birmingham its always half empty! theres never anyone sitting upstairs...

[D10]

whenever ive seen the 110 go in or out of birmingham its always half empty! theres never anyone sitting upstairs...

I have to say that I did catch the 1405 service 110 from Tamworth yesterday and it was around 3/4 full upstairs where I was sitting, and due to the comings and goings it must have been virtually full downstairs too. It definitely needed the capacity of a DD.

But I did see others heading past that weren't carrying that many, I guess that like a lot of routes certain journeys need the extra capacity of a DD and others don't.

[andy]

whenever ive seen the 110 go in or out of birmingham its always half empty! theres never anyone sitting upstairs...

I have to say that I did catch the 1405 service 110 from Tamworth yesterday and it was around 3/4 full upstairs where I was sitting, and due to the comings and goings it must have been virtually full downstairs too. It definitely needed the capacity of a DD.

But I did see others heading past that weren't carrying that many, I guess that like a lot of routes certain journeys need the extra capacity of a DD and others don't.

You've hit the nail on the head D10.....you just never know which trips are going to be like that, there's no pattern to it it can be very random!  If you end up with a B6 on a trip like that one you are in trouble and leaving people at stops. People always judge it by loadings in Birmingham and forget about the other end....Birmingham is very hit and miss depending on where all the NXWM vehicles are, if they've bunched for any reason you can be extremely busy on a 110.

I do sympathise with Cannock though with its current allocation, I despise Dennis Darts. Surely there will be some investment soon, they are busy recruiting drivers at the moment so there must be some vehicles due soon and I can't see them doubling the amount of Darts.

[Bob]

theyll probably end up with alot of the Midland darts, i hope they get some deckers though or permanently put full size singles on the pye greens  , darts can be murder on there!

[Discodave]

whenever ive seen the 110 go in or out of birmingham its always half empty! theres never anyone sitting upstairs...

I have to say that I did catch the 1405 service 110 from Tamworth yesterday and it was around 3/4 full upstairs where I was sitting, and due to the comings and goings it must have been virtually full downstairs too. It definitely needed the capacity of a DD.

But I did see others heading past that weren't carrying that many, I guess that like a lot of routes certain journeys need the extra capacity of a DD and others don't.

You've hit the nail on the head D10.....you just never know which trips are going to be like that, there's no pattern to it it can be very random!  If you end up with a B6 on a trip like that one you are in trouble and leaving people at stops. People always judge it by loadings in Birmingham and forget about the other end....Birmingham is very hit and miss depending on where all the NXWM vehicles are, if they've bunched for any reason you can be extremely busy on a 110.

I do sympathise with Cannock though with its current allocation, I despise Dennis Darts. Surely there will be some investment soon, they are busy recruiting drivers at the moment so there must be some vehicles due soon and I can't see them doubling the amount of Darts.

No they will just double the darts Cannock never gets investment only a few here and there new buses then they are shunted off as always Cannock will always have shit

[Bob]

lol cannock always had shit even in MRN days..

[BU07 LGO]

Just had a look through Tony's site to check whats so bad and it looks decent! A few shit MPD darts i can see but loads of newish VDL Eclipse, the new 61 plate ones, a few 57 plate Optare centro's. They seem above average i would say?

[2200 Bus]

I've been told that the b6's are off to midland and that the three x31 Scania are Off to Tamworth to provide additional buses for the 112

[Bob]

been on x31 today theres still no passenger notices saying it ends next Sat n the bloody drivers on both trips hadnt got a clue! one said it was going, but said 'mind you there was a meeting with centro yesterday so im not 100%' the other said it might be moving to hill top!

[Bob]

on bus on way to wolves with mates on a night out, its one of those BU51 plate MPDS, they are absolutely HORRID things to travel on! rattly and HORRENDOUSLY noisy! i duno y Darts were so popular they are truly shit buses

[nx4737]

Theres only 1 step bus atm, R417 TJW, but not seen it about for a couple of weeks. Hey maybe if the 825 and 74/5 went to stafford, they could use some of the 51 plate b7 deckers on the 60 and cannock locals?

3417 is back at Tamworth. There must be a bit of a vehicle shortage as they have had that back, are running a Hill Top Enviro on 6's every day and there has been a B6 on 110's everyday, so a decker shortage too...I wouldn't be surprised to see one of those ex London Geminis turn up there as a spare as you can't get away with single deckers on the 110 on a regular basis...unless this is something to do with the Caetanos and the switchover. The allocation is being upped so not all of the B6's might get released.

Tamworths Gemini deckers are B9TL not B7TL, so as much as I'd like to see some ex London deckers, I doubt well get any...