National Express Coaches

[winston]

NX are significantly ramping up services between London & Stansted Airport from this Friday 12th July:

https://www-bishopsstortfordindependent-co-uk.cdn.ampproject.org/c/s/www.bishopsstortfordindependent.co.uk/news/amp/national-express-ramps-up-capacity-between-stansted-airport-9370720/

A6 has a 77% increase in the number of journeys per day

A7 has a 245% increase in the number of journeys per day

A9 has a 25% increase on the number of journeys per day. 

I believe Jason Edwards Travel are covering the Pvr uplift on the A6 & they appear to have received 22 & 72 plate Levante 3's from withing NETS (Lucketts & Kings Ferry)

Assume NX Ops will cover the increased Pvr on the A7 & A9. 

Also the 788 is withdrawn from the same date & will be partly replaced by new service 786 between Cambridge & Luton Airport. 

[Mayfield]

It's only a demo on 4 weeks trial on London - Standard routes with NX, for both Pelican & NX to gain operating experience.

I believe Caetano are developing a hydrogen powered coach too.

Did the electric actually do the 4 week trial

[Mayfield]

NX are significantly ramping up services between London & Stansted Airport from this Friday 12th July:

https://www-bishopsstortfordindependent-co-uk.cdn.ampproject.org/c/s/www.bishopsstortfordindependent.co.uk/news/amp/national-express-ramps-up-capacity-between-stansted-airport-9370720/

A6 has a 77% increase in the number of journeys per day

A7 has a 245% increase in the number of journeys per day

A9 has a 25% increase on the number of journeys per day.

I believe Jason Edwards Travel are covering the Pvr uplift on the A6 & they appear to have received 22 & 72 plate Levante 3's from withing NETS (Lucketts & Kings Ferry)

Assume NX Ops will cover the increased Pvr on the A7 & A9.

Also the 788 is withdrawn from the same date & will be partly replaced by new service 786 between Cambridge & Luton Airport.

Wow the A7 is a serious increase, they will be travelling in convoy 

[Tony]

Did the electric actually do the 4 week trial

Yes, very successfully, was out 24 hours a day most days with superfast charging taking place in Stansted Airport layover bays during the layover time

[900]

Would NX go with double again like the Volvo 9700DD or are they staying away from doubles with the issues they had with the boa vistas 

[Mayfield]

What issues have the Boa's had.

[winston]

What issues have the Boa's had.

Lack of luggage space on DD coaches. 

That's why NX went down the Van Hool Altano route I.e. large luggage capacity + large passenger capacity. 

[Mayfield]

Ooh never thought of that, wrongly assumed mechanical issues, could stick some trailers on the back lol

[winston]

Ooh never thought of that, wrongly assumed mechanical issues, could stick some trailers on the back lol

That is why the 66 plate Boa Vista's started life at NX Ops at Luton on the A1 & were eventually transferred to Edwards for 040, too much luggage space required on Airport runs. 

[IMarkeh]

I think it is extra Levantes initially until another high capacity vehicle can be sourced

Any sort of higher capacity vehicle would need to be a double decker or overdecker style vehicle. For the UK/Ireland, other than VanHool, I can't seem to find any overdecker vehicles. Double deckers are VDLs Futura, Neoplan Skyliner and the Volvo 9700DD but I am going to guess all double deckers would have the same issues as the Boa Vistas.

Are there any other examples of anyone building overdecker/double decker coaches? I've found Ayats and Beulas building an overdecker for Europe and both have done buses for the UK/Ireland but they don't seem to be in very big numbers in the UK, not sure if there is a specific reason why though.

[winston]

Any sort of higher capacity vehicle would need to be a double decker or overdecker style vehicle. For the UK/Ireland, other than VanHool, I can't seem to find any overdecker vehicles. Double deckers are VDLs Futura, Neoplan Skyliner and the Volvo 9700DD but I am going to guess all double deckers would have the same issues as the Boa Vistas.

Are there any other examples of anyone building overdecker/double decker coaches? I've found Ayats and Beulas building an overdecker for Europe and both have done buses for the UK/Ireland but they don't seem to be in very big numbers in the UK, not sure if there is a specific reason why though.

NX don't want DD coaches due to location & access to luggage storage & lack of storage capacity.

[IMarkeh]

NX don't want DD coaches due to location & access to luggage storage & lack of storage capacity.

Granted. I was looking partly as DD coaches as sometimes DD coaches could be used as an overdecker. Remove some of the downstairs seats and make that into additional luggage space. Downstairs then becomes toilet, very small wheelchair area (and a few companion seats) and then just convert the rest to additional baggage.

As for just overdeckers though, you aren't blessed for choice, certainly not without getting a custom build for the UK. It will be interesting to see what option NX goes for.

[900]

It seems Travelstar have had some new toys 

UK24 TSE
GB24 TSE  

[winston]

It seems Travelstar have had some new toys

UK24 TSE
GB24 TSE 

They've had 3 in total:

TS24 TSE aswell

[900]

They've had 3 in total:

TS24 TSE aswell

Seems another one has joined the party NX24 TSE

Shame the 73 plate travelstar have hasn't got a TSE reg