Centrebus

[Mayfield]

I see 931 is was tracking on the hop which isn't possible as it was in the workshop when I passed ay 10.30 this morning, wonder what's got 931 ticket machine

[Magikrabby]

I see 931 is was tracking on the hop which isn't possible as it was in the workshop when I passed ay 10.30 this morning, wonder what's got 931 ticket machine

It was 842. It was one of those mini machines that Hop uses so wasn't the actual machine from 931 - it must have been messed up to track as the wrong vehicle id somehow. I remember one of them sometimes tracked as 912 last year so isn't the first time

[Glenfieldmathk1]

I see 931 is was tracking on the hop which isn't possible as it was in the workshop when I passed ay 10.30 this morning, wonder what's got 931 ticket machine

Yep, not possible as it's having work done on it to prepare for uni shuttles in Summer.
Re 925 it is out in service, but display still needs full programming. I believe (from what I heard from a driver) it has the uni shuttle display installed but doesn't fit the screen properly.
As for not tracking, the office staff are aware and addressing this issue. Seems like the 4G isn't connecting properly 

[47609FireFly]

Yep, not possible as it's having work done on it to prepare for uni shuttles in Summer.
Re 925 it is out in service, but display still needs full programming. I believe (from what I heard from a driver) it has the uni shuttle display installed but doesn't fit the screen properly.
As for not tracking, the office staff are aware and addressing this issue. Seems like the 4G isn't connecting properly

From my observations around Wenlock Way, 931 is having absolutely nothing done to it. It is parked, by the fence, at the New Star Road end of the yard and hasn't moved for ages. Personally, given its age, I would say the safest bet is that it has reached the end of the road and is due an appointment with the gas axe.

Be wary of bus driver gossip. They're not always the best at assimilating all the facts and presenting an accurate picture of events. 

Looking at the Centrebus ticket machines, and comparing them with those on Arriva's and First's buses which have been upgraded to 4G, they're still 3G.

[Mayfield]

As I've already stated 931 was in the workshop when I passed at 10.30ish Friday 

[Magikrabby]

It was stated in a facebook group by a trusted employee back in March that it is off for repairs before MOT, and there was no rush because of the uni's easter break - this doesnt seem like gossip to me. Plans can and do change, but since it was seen in the workshop yesterday I'd say that's unlikely. Probably didn't move for a while whilst waiting for parts. It had a very noisy air leak from the front door for a couple of weeks prior to being taken off road which I expect is one of the things they are repairing.

[Glenfieldmathk1]

From my observations around Wenlock Way, 931 is having absolutely nothing done to it.
Be wary of bus driver gossip. They're not always the best at assimilating all the facts and presenting an accurate picture of events.

Correct, drivers cannot always get everything right as they just assume. However like just stated in quote below, it was mentioned by a driver with knowledge and a high up personnel of staff.. "there's no rush to get it back up as won't be back out until after Summer for start of the uni services".

Of course.. things could change - as the Grantham deckers arrived. So they may well decide actually it's the end of 931. But equally I believe they are looking at an all double deck uni shuttle for next year.

It was stated in a facebook group by a trusted employee back in March that it is off for repairs before MOT, and there was no rush because of the uni's easter break - this doesnt seem like gossip to me. Plans can and do change, but since it was seen in the workshop yesterday I'd say that's unlikely. Probably didn't move for a while whilst waiting for parts. It had a very noisy air leak from the front door for a couple of weeks prior to being taken off road which I expect is one of the things they are repairing.

This is correct 👍
By moving it inside for these repairs I would assume it's being made ready for MOT / having the works done so it's ready for the end of summer. (Maybe even be back before then!).

[Magikrabby]

But equally I believe they are looking at an all double deck uni shuttle for next year.

It would be almost all double deckers - the uni shuttle uses 7 vehicles! 5 of them are on uni all day. One does morning, then goes off to do Melton Foods contract and S1005 before returning late afternoon - this is usually a decker. The last one starts at about 1pm and does early afternoon, goes off to do Beauchamps college run and returns to do uni in the evening.

I'm hoping that the increase in deckers will improve the student's perception of the service. The uni shuttle has a pretty bad reputation amongst students, to the point that many prefer to pay for Ubers to get to uni than catch the free bus. While most just like to complain for the sake of it, the one valid complaint I hear is that the buses are always full. In fact me and my friends would try and schedule to catch a double decker to increase our chances of actually getting on!

[Glenfieldmathk1]

It would be almost all double deckers - the uni shuttle uses 7 vehicles! 5 of them are on uni all day. One does morning, then goes off to do Melton Foods contract and S1005 before returning late afternoon - this is usually a decker. The last one starts at about 1pm and does early afternoon, goes off to do Beauchamps college run and returns to do uni in the evening.

I'm hoping that the increase in deckers will improve the student's perception of the service. The uni shuttle has a pretty bad reputation amongst students, to the point that many prefer to pay for Ubers to get to uni than catch the free bus. While most just like to complain for the sake of it, the one valid complaint I hear is that the buses are always full. In fact me and my friends would try and schedule to catch a double decker to increase our chances of actually getting on!

902, 909, 910, 925 & 931 (+924 if not deputising a 912/913 on 22), would certainly help the uni shuttles. Although wouldn't expect it all day as like you say some go on different contracts. But it would certainly be a strong output for that uni contract.
From what I gather Saturdays are less busy than the weekdays. Although Wednesdays are busiest as operate a slight route variation?

[Magikrabby]

902, 909, 910, 925 & 931 (+924 if not deputising a 912/913 on 22), would certainly help the uni shuttles. Although wouldn't expect it all day as like you say some go on different contracts. But it would certainly be a strong output for that uni contract.
From what I gather Saturdays are less busy than the weekdays. Although Wednesdays are busiest as operate a slight route variation?

That definitely would be a good output!

Wednesday afternoons are reserved for sports with not many lectures, so it's actually the quietest point of the week! Buses go past the uni sports ground which adds 5 mins to the journey, so the frequency is decreased slightly to account for this. I must say I have never actually seen anyone use the extra stop, but it's a nice change of scenery being on roads that don't see any other buses!

Saturdays sees just 2 buses which were usually full-size singles deckers. The demand is significantly lower on Saturdays so I don't think deckers would be required, but they might choose to use them anyway now that they have them.

[Mayfield]

I note 931 is not longer on Bustimes have they disposed of it as not viable to MOT it
Also does anyone know what is happening with 555, 578, 621 and 726 all long time out of use

[Magikrabby]

I note 931 is not longer on Bustimes have they disposed of it as not viable to MOT it
Also does anyone know what is happening with 555, 578, 621 and 726 all long time out of use

Yeah 931 needed a lot of repairs and wasn't deemed financially viable due to its age. It won't have been disposed of yet, will be stripped for parts first.

555 had an engine failure, and is currently getting a decent engine from a withdrawn dart fitted. 726 is currently awaiting repairs. No idea about 578 and 621, but I expect that 578 is broken again.

[Mayfield]

Thanks for reply, surprised but nice to see 555 being repaired, as it's out of MOT I presume
It's been assessed before engine repairs.
Not sure what useful spares could be used of of 931
578 does seem to spend a lot of down time since purchase.

[Magikrabby]

Thanks for reply, surprised but nice to see 555 being repaired, as it's out of MOT I presume
It's been assessed before engine repairs.
Not sure what useful spares could be used of of 931
578 does seem to spend a lot of down time since purchase.

555 is a very popular vehicle among customers and drivers. It is longest-lasting vehicle in the fleet, and Grantham's pet vehicle so they take very good care of it. I expect they want to keep it as long as possible!

931 does have some parts that could be useful, such as the destination displays and the CCTV system. I believe it also has a speaker system, no idea if it works, but could save some cost when they are fitting next stop announcements in other buses. There will probably be other parts too that are compatible with other vehicles that are inside so are invisible to us

[47609FireFly]

555 is a very popular vehicle among customers and drivers. It is longest-lasting vehicle in the fleet, and Grantham's pet vehicle so they take very good care of it. I expect they want to keep it as long as possible!

931 does have some parts that could be useful, such as the destination displays and the CCTV system. I believe it also has a speaker system, no idea if it works, but could save some cost when they are fitting next stop announcements in other buses. There will probably be other parts too that are compatible with other vehicles that are inside so are invisible to us

Finger on the pulse or yet more guesswork? As it happened, as I walked around Wenlock Way on 14/06/2024, 931 was on the back of a flatbed lorry, ready to be carted off for scrap - its upper deck pillars cut so that the roof section would sit lower on the lorry. Yes, that's SCRAP not being taken away somewhere to be prepared for the uni, like was continually touted on here. The remains of 772 had also gone.