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Post by Deleted on Oct 6, 2011 23:27:11 GMT 1
All three Arriva Scannia's currently operating on the airports 500 route are about to head off to pastures new. If anyone has not already got a photo of these then you need to get some ASAP. It was hoped to replace these with bendies but from what I'm hearing they won't be allowed into the city centre bus stations. I find that strange but that's what I've been told by the other drivers. So, three vehicles currently operating on the 79 route will be repainted into the airport livery and branded 500 instead. Familiarity training is now underway for the new deckers and these are to replace all existing route 79 and 82 vehicles. So, last few days for them should you want shots of them too. To give a good idea of what to get photo's of on Speke depots routes it is hoped that that apart from a few X reg Cadets and Y reg Milleniums (most are going) the oldest vehicle in the Speke fleet will be a 55 reg by April next year. Away from Arriva but still in the local area, South Lancs Travel (SLT) who operate in the Bolton, Wigan, and Leigh areas have just been bought out by D&G Travel. The new owners haven't given any indication as to whether or not it is to be absorbed into the D&G brand or remain as it is but just incase it does get rebranded it's probably a good time to get a few photos of these too. To give you an idea of what to look for I've posted a link to SLT's web site below. www.southlancs.com/Services.htmlHappy snapping Steve
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Post by RICEY on Oct 12, 2011 12:34:50 GMT 1
D&G Own Strawberry bus in st helens aswel steve. a guy from Hough Green Recovery was telling us on friday after he dropped a bus off at its new home. Ive heard from one of the regular 500 guys and a few other sources bendys are coming for the 500, for that to work they will have to bypass queen sqaure as the stand it uses isnt big enough. i have heard the scanias are off to the north east or scotland, will be a shame to see these go, end of all scanias at speke then
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Post by LPL on Oct 12, 2011 14:25:26 GMT 1
They could do as they do when the bendy bus uses the stop outside the Students Guild and block the road.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 14, 2011 21:56:05 GMT 1
Looks like the bendies are too big for the city area. I seem to recall (prior to the redesign of Liverpools roads) a European Directive for the UK to make plans to improve roads in order to accept the larger 12 - 18 mtre vehicles. Got a shock when they became smaller. The 699 can only operate bendies during the day as the route in the evenings and at weekends is unsuitable for them. They can't negotiate the junction where Mount Pleasant meets Brownlow Hill. Even if the 500 could get into Williamson Square it's going to take a lot of road space up and imagine if one should break down or even have to be diverted. Yes, the Scannia are following the high floor versions we had across the border. The B10's are heading North East and the 2400's are moving to Green Lane Also seems strange that D&G are expanding in our region as they sold their Staffordshire arm to Arriva in June this year. Arriva subsequently merged it with Wardel, anther Stoke based company they bought a few month prior to that. Here's a little more about it; www.thisisstaffordshire.co.uk/D-G-Buses-bought-Arriva-owners-blame-subsidy-cuts/story-12754174-detail/story.html
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Post by davel on Oct 21, 2011 8:59:18 GMT 1
I've seen the new buses on the Speke estate and very nice they look but others I've seen seem to be ancient to say the least! By the way I was passing Ogdens travel in St. Helens and they look like they have had 5 bendy buses delivered (all Irish registered (Dublin Bus?)) What a holiday company are doing with these I don't know, do they do other routes as well and if so, where will they use these?
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Post by speedbird1960 on Oct 21, 2011 12:28:26 GMT 1
I've seen the new buses on the Speke estate and very nice they look but others I've seen seem to be ancient to say the least! By the way I was passing Ogdens travel in St. Helens and they look like they have had 5 bendy buses delivered (all Irish registered (Dublin Bus?)) What a holiday company are doing with these I don't know, do they do other routes as well and if so, where will they use these? Hi Davel. I called Ogdens and they said they where storing them for another operator. According to one forum i was on they need to have the speed governors taken off as they where restricted to 39mph. Here's a photo of them in Ogdens yard. en-gb.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150438863847516&set=a.10150155962352516.359033.363443557515&type=1&theaterMike / Speedbird
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Post by RICEY on Oct 29, 2011 23:15:05 GMT 1
one scania has been repainted into the new standard livery so expect the others to follow suit soon
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Post by RICEY on Nov 7, 2011 13:35:01 GMT 1
as i said now the final 2 have been repainted ans are getting prepped for a move to the NE
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Post by RICEY on Nov 16, 2011 23:33:17 GMT 1
past few days now there has been bendy buses out on the 500 so far without any problems
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Post by Deleted on Nov 21, 2011 1:41:12 GMT 1
Yes, a bendy was sent out to evaluate the route a few days ago and it was found to be OK. Since then they have been on the 500 every day. I was unfortunate enough to be behind one at the traffic lights at Ranelagh St/Charlotte St. Normally we get two to three buses at a time through these lights but guess what - the lights turned to green the bendy moved off but before the back end had got through they turned back to red. So lets hope they don't become too popular in the city centre.
The Scanias have now been removed from the Speke fleet to the 500 drivers delight (they sure won't be missed). I was told they were heading for Scotland but there are strong rumours about that they may end up in Durham. Looks like it's going to be one of those wait and see things.
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Post by RICEY on Nov 21, 2011 14:14:01 GMT 1
2061 has already gone to Jesmond Depot in the North East as apparently they were supposed to be going there till they got diverted to the NW for the 500
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