NX 2013 Bus Orders

[Ashley]

Transdev have still got A reg Olympians kicking about all over the north of england if not older ones haven't they?

[danny]

Sooo guys in an ideal prsctical world what do we think the order will be, :)

[BU07 LGO]

I love the Mercs as well. After reading the article posted on here the other day about Arriva Tamworths new Citaro's i worked it out to be £148,000 per bus which surely is about the same as any single decker?

[Andrew1991]

Sooo guys in an ideal prsctical world what do we think the order will be, :)

If its 130 each year, I'd say 21 hybrids (already known about) possibly more b7rle's, maybe some mcv evolutions (if they like the demonstrator) some scania omnicity's, and possibly some more midi buses to replace the solo's and remaining b6's.

[JackC]

I love the Mercs as well. After reading the article posted on here the other day about Arriva Tamworths new Citaro's i worked it out to be £148,000 per bus which surely is about the same as any single decker?

I couldn't find much to go with, but I took a look at the NXWM site and found the article about the 29 new B7's at WN, where it states that it was an investment of over £3m. So, you're looking at a rough estimate of maybe £100k-£110k per bus.

[winston]

By my reckoning (hope the numbers are correct) the following vehicles are due for imminent replacement:-

NXWM
Mercedes 0405N (1515>1627)  86
Volvo B10L                                 46 (includes 2 ex Dundee)
Volvo B6L                                   50 (includes 1 ex Airlinks)
Optare Excel                                6
Optare Solo                               14
Optare Spectra                          21
Total                                        223

NXD (not included Solos)
Volvo B10L                                  18 (Includes 7129)
Volvo Olympian                             5
Total                                           23

So that's a total of 246 buses to be replaced by 30? Midibuses + 120 (TBC) buses for 2013
This would leave 96 to be replaced in 2014 plus a start on withdrawing the second batch of Mercs and Dundee Volvo B10LEs
By my reckoning without any fleet expansion, there will still be T reg 1999 (16 year old) Mercs floating around in 2014 so the 120 new vehicles/year is not keeping pace with fleet replacement needs.

NXWM
Mercedes 0405N (1515>1627)  86
Volvo B10L                                 46 (includes 2 ex Dundee)
Volvo B6LE                                 48 (includes 1 ex Airlinks)
Dart SLF                                      2 (7084 & 7086)
Optare Excel                               6
Optare Solo                               14
Optare Spectra                          21
Total                                        223

Although I see where your coming from re - fleet investment, once the 30 x Midi's enter service & are hopefully followed by a further 120 new buses during 2013, I think eventually when NX withdraw the remaining B10L's / B6LE's / Excel's and further early Merc's that will make a big improvement to the quality of the fleet. Eventually having a fleet of no older than 13 yrs assuming the current investment levels continues is pretty good, remember any investment of new vehicles needs to stay in service long enough to cover the costs of the initial purchase & depreciation. None of the other big groups will have such a modern fleet across the group, and don't forget NXWM have been 100% low floor for sometime while the other big groups still operate step entrance vehicles. As long as some of the older vehicles are at least repainted & re-trimmed, there isn't a lot wrong with using them on the less frequent / less profitable routes

NX will have a similar issue once the 2000-2004 start to come due for withdrawal as there are 658 double deckers that are currently in service from that era, and then there was a lull on double decker deliveries of any size until 2007

[Wolves256]

I agree with your comments, I was not criticising NX just giving an overview of current fleet replacement
In addition NX are clearly placing a huge effort on improving the presentaion of the fleet with all the refurbs on the mid life double deckers

[don]

NX will have a similar issue once the 2000-2004 start to come due for withdrawal as there are 658 double deckers that are currently in service from that era, and then there was a lull on double decker deliveries of any size until 2007

Which equals 131.5 buses per year  ;)

But I'm guessing that The Presidents and later Mercs/early Tridents will be replaced concurrently at 130 vehs per year maybe from 2014/2015.

[tank90]

I think if Citaros ever do come into NXWM, it will be a special order of some sort and not just fleet replacement. Maybe to upgrade a route to Showcase or something.

They could go down the Transdev Route and buy the bog standard and tart them up them selves and get what they want for a fraction of the price. Just a thought.

[danny]

Hello guys are their any conformatioms of what the nxwm order will be for next year beside hybrids, or any well sources rumours.

[NXWM Spectra]

I'm expecting more Wright bodied (or MCV, but I prefer the Wright) B7RLE.
More midi-buses should be coming soon too, in addition to those on order.

[Gareth]

The B7RLE is being discontinued next year I think or maybe 2014. Maybe some new B8RLE's in future orders? And the new Wright / Volvo 'Streets Ahead' double decker.

[Ex BC driver]

Heard the other day that BC may be getting new double deckers, either to go on the 900/957, or the Pershore Road 45/47

[NXWM Spectra]

The B7RLE is being discontinued next year I think or maybe 2014. Maybe some new B8RLE's in future orders? And the new Wright / Volvo 'Streets Ahead' double decker.

Shame that its being discontinued, I thought it was a very profitable bus for Volvo.
Even more reason to buy another batch then.

[winston]

The B7RLE is being discontinued next year I think or maybe 2014. Maybe some new B8RLE's in future orders? And the new Wright / Volvo 'Streets Ahead' double decker.

Shame that its being discontinued, I thought it was a very profitable bus for Volvo.
Even more reason to buy another batch then.

The B7RLE has been popular chassis for Volvo, but you may find the chassis is being changed to suit the new Euro 6 emission standards due in not too distant future, plus operators are always looking for more fuel efficient vehicles. Maybe the chassis is being re-designed to make further weight savings etc